“The company is failing,” he said simply. I had to admit, I was surprised to hear that. “We aren’t destitute or anything. Far from it. But, our profits aren’t what they need to be. Things are changing in the market, and we’re floundering in the face of our competitors.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I lied. “But I don’t see what that has to do with me.”
“Our team decided the best way to turn things around is to bring in a fresh face,” he explained. “Someone who can be the face of the company and change our brand. We’re hoping you would consider being that person.”
I blinked. My arms fell to my sides, and I smiled weakly. My smile quickly turned to a laugh as I watched my father’s face. He stared back at me impassively. I laughed, but I wasn’t amused.
“You’re kidding,” I said. “Surely, this is a joke.”
“No,” he shook his head. “Sean, it isn’t. I don’t think there is anyone better for us than you. You’ll bring in the right kind of customers. The motorcycle community would love you. You’re exactly what we need.”
“Me?” I asked. I laughed again. “I’m a mechanic.”
“You’re more than that, and you know it,” he argued. “With your history… You have the right look, Sean.”
“You mean I fit the image of a rebel biker,” I corrected. “The no good, low life.”
“That’s not what I said,” Ray said.
“No, but it is what you meant.” I felt my anger growing by the second.
“Sean, this isn’t an insult,” Ray insisted. “It’s a job offer. If anything, it’s a compliment.”
“And what about me?” I snapped. “What do I get out of this?”
“Money.” Ray’s answer was simple and to the point. He didn’t bullshit or pretend to be any more noble than he was. He didn’t pretend he was here for anything other than business. I respected him more for it. If he’d tried to roll out some line about wanting to be my dad again, I might have thrown a punch. Instead, he added, “We’ll pay you well. More than well. You’ll also have stocks in the company. If things turn around, you could easily make millions. Maybe even more.”
As my father spoke, I clenched my hands into fists. I held my arms tightly to my sides so I wouldn’t be tempted to do something I might regret. His words felt like knives flying at my head. All I wanted was for him to stop talking. I wanted to forget everything he said and pretend like I never saw him.
“You need to leave,” I said. Without waiting for him to respond, I stepped around him and walked up the porch steps to my front door.
“Sean,” he said. I didn’t turn around. “Will you at least consider it?”
“No,” I said. My hand was almost to the doorknob when I heard him exhale sharply. I could picture the defeated look on his face. It was almost enough to make me turn around.
“I know you weren’t expecting this,” he said. “I know you have a lot going on right now, but this could be the best thing for you. Think of what this money could mean for Paisley. It would take care of everything. College. Her wedding. Everything. If you won’t do it for me or for the company, then do it for your daughter. What kind of life do you think you can give her working as a mechanic? She deserves more than that. You know she does. With this job, you can give her more. Just think about it.”
With that, Ray walked across the lawn and climbed behind the wheel of his Jaguar. I stayed on the porch, my hand poised on the doorknob, until I was sure he was gone. Once I could no longer hear his engine, I sighed and dropped my hand. I turned around and faced the street. The car was gone, but it still felt like my father was standing right there. I could still see his eyes boring into mine as he offered me that job.
We hadn’t spoken in years, my father and I. The last thing I expected was for him to show up on my doorstep the day of Claire’s funeral, let alone to offer me a job. That company was his life, and it always had been. I couldn’t imagine he would want me anywhere near it. After years of silence, who the hell did he think he was? In that moment, I knew I could never accept his job offer. No amount of money could make me go crawling back to that man.
My decision was made as I turned back around. I moved toward the door again, but something caught my eye. Paisley was standing in the living room window peering outside. Our eyes met, and she turned to walk away. My father’s words echoed in my mind. “She deserves more than that. You know she does. With this job, you can give her more.” I watched her go, my decision no longer set in stone.
CHAPTER SIX
Tara
“So, basically, it’s a shit show right now,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “I’m just hoping Ray can convince Sean to work with us. Otherwise, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“Are the numbers really that bad?” Niki asked. She looked at me sympathetically and took a sip of her iced tea.
“Worse,” I nodded. “I had no idea until Ray showed us the numbers at that meeting.”
“Why didn’t he tell you sooner?” Niki asked.
“He didn’t want to worry anyone until the time came,” I said. “Just saying it makes it all seem so ridiculous, but I respect Ray, you know? I understand his thought process. Even if I don’t agree with it.”
“I don’t know how you could agree with it,” Niki said. She shook her head and sat back in her chair. It had been almost a month since Niki and I were able to meet up for lunch. I’d missed her so much, but now that we were together, all I could think about was getting back to work.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“The longer you work for that company, the less I understand it,” Niki explained. “Working for a corporation like that? Being the right hand to Ray Yates himself? It’s not you, Tara.”
“It’s not?” I asked with a laugh. “So, what? Was I just supposed to let my business degree go to waste?”
“Of course not,” Niki said. “But we spent our entire childhood complaining about businesses like that, remember?”
“We aren’t kids anymore,” I told her. “I had to grow up eventually.”
“We all do,” Niki agreed. “But we don’t have to sell out in the process.”
“I’m not selling out,” I argued. The great thing about my friendship with Niki was that we could tell each other anything. No matter how much we disagreed or how quickly we pissed each other off, we always kept talking. When you know someone your entire life, you stay bonded forever. Through anything.
As I nibbled at my food, I tried to focus on lunch, but my mind kept drifting back to work. I wondered how Ray’s conversation with Sean went. I hoped Ray convinced Sean, and I secretly wished that Sean would be the breaking point for Zach. Nothing would make work better quite like getting rid of Zach for good.
“What are you thinking about over there?” Niki asked, pulling me back to reality. “Still work?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m sorry, Nik. I can’t help it.”
“I know you can’t,” she sighed. “I don’t blame you for it. I just wish you would lighten up sometimes.”
“Me? Lighten up?” I scoffed. “Keep dreaming.”
“I’m serious, Tara,” she said. “When was the last time you had any real fun?”
“I have fun,” I argued.