Page 118 of From Rivals to I Do

“Obviously, I’ve seen better days,” he says with a hearty laugh. “I’ve been trying my best to balance the business without letting my own personal matters

get in the way. But it can be overwhelming at times.”

“Don’t worry about any of that,” I quickly interject. “That’s what I’m here for. All of us, you have a team of people that will help you while you’re going through this.”

“I know, son,” he says in a calm voice. “That was another thing I wanted to speak to you about today.”

We stare at each other for a while, and I realize what he’s about to say.

“With my health issues and my old age, I think it’s about time I retire,” he says with a resoluteness in his voice. “Which means I’d be handing all of this

down to you if you think you can handle it.”

He laughs when he throws in the last part. He knows I can handle it. I was born and raised in this business, and I know all of its implications and

procedures. If anyone could run this like my father, it would be me.

“You taught me everything I know,” I say confidently. “I can run this business.”

“I know you can.” He pauses for a moment, and the smile on his face falls. “When I approached the board with the idea of handing it down to you, they

brought up an interesting point. Your lifestyle.”

I give him a confused look and shake my head like I don’t understand what he is saying.

“The heart of the business is family, son. We sell homes, and we market to families. Your jet-setting lifestyle doesn’t uphold the family values we need the

leader of our company to reflect,” he says.

I wrinkle my forehead, not understanding why that would have anything to do with how to run a business. I know as well as anyone the value of

appearances, but people wouldn’t avoid buying from us because the company's CEO was single. The idea is preposterous.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand why my dating life is any of the board’s concerns,” I say defensively.

“It’s just what’s best for the company, Leonard,” he says, his voice exhausted as if he is tired of this conversation.

He dismisses me from his office shortly after, and I walk back down the stairs to my own, completely overwhelmed by everything that just happened. My

dad has cancer and is going to leave me the business. But only if I settle down?

Chapter five

Chapter Five

As soon as I got the email saying my interview would be in Manhattan, I regretted agreeing to it. There’s nothing wrong with Manhattan. I love it there. But the

train ride there takes at least an hour, and with a four-year-old to take care of, the travel time is just too much. I needed something closer to home.

My mom convinced me to go. At least, she argued, I’d have some income while looking for something closer to Queens.

“Why don’t you leave a little earlier and go look around the shops in the city or something?” my mom suggested while she helped me dig through my bags to

throw together a decent outfit.

“I can’t just leave Charlee here with you all day, Mom,” I say, slightly annoyed by my poor packing decisions. I brought plenty of comfy clothes but nothing

to wear to a job interview.

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