Page 11 of Taming the CEO

"I'd like to see it. I personally think the property you already have is big enough for what you boys want to do, but I’d love to see what’s so special about the adventure park’s lot. I think it's great that you boys want to expand the Whitley legacy. We're so proud of you."

Fuck, I'd never get tired of hearing them say that.

From the moment they came to Maine and suggested we join Whitley Industries because it was ours as much as our half brothers, I’d vowed to never let them down.

And I hadn't. Until now.

I had no idea what happened to me back at that inn. I’d lost my composure. Most importantly, I'd lost track of my goal, and that never happened to me. I was going to fix it one way or another. I just had to think of a better strategy.

"I'm going to talk to her dad," I said.

"I think that's a sound decision,” Jake replied.

"Start with an apology," Leo offered.

"In case the guy wants to knock out your teeth or something," Nick added.

"He’s not the type. He's more like Santa Claus," Gabe said. "But you never know."

"Maddox did hit on his daughter," Cade chimed in helpfully.

"I didn't hit on her, exactly," I said even though I really didn't want to go into specifics.

"Huh, she shut you down that quickly?" Meredith asked. She was, in my opinion, the feistiest out of my brothers' women. "You didn't even get to that?"

"All right. I think I've had enough advice from you all. Some was helpful, but there's no sense beating a dead horse. I fucked up. I’m going to fix it."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Gran said. "It'll all work out in the end."

Somewhere at the back of my mind, I wondered why she didn't chastise me for swearing again. But I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I'd always felt like a teenager when I was at the receiving end of her scolding.

"I can’t wait to see the adventure park," she continued. "I can come with you when you go talk to Samuel. I want to get a feel for that place, maybe figure out why Cami doesn’t want to sell."

I frowned. "Okay. That could help." Empathy wasn't a strength of mine. I had a hard time putting myself in other people's shoes. Frankly, I had so many negotiations on a daily basis that it would be a nightmare to even try. Besides, most people didn’t have a deep emotional reason. They just wanted money, and they figured the Whitleys had it in spades and wanted to get us for all we were worth.

But this was completely different. It had to be about more than the money. Samuel had been open with us about the financial status of the company. That place wasn't a big moneymaker. It generated enough to pay decent salaries to the employees, but after that, there was little profit left over.

Fuck! I should have paced myself and tried to find out more about Cami. Instead, I went about it like a bull in a china shop. Of course she shot me down.

Still, I wasn’t sure Gran should travel back and forth even though it was only a forty-minute drive.

"There’s no need for you to come, Gran," I said. “Thank you for offering, but I already have some ideas.”

She smiled at me. "Oh, but I have tricks you don’t."

"All right, then. Why not?" If she wanted to come along and it made her happy, who was I to stop her?

I glanced at the rest of the table. Natalie and Jake were exchanging a glance I couldn't decipher. Meredith was clearly fighting laughter. Cade was elbowing her under the table, but everyone could see. Penny was just looking at Gran with appreciation. Spencer and Gabe were both laughing openly. I had no idea what had gotten into them.

One thing was certain: Jeannie Whitley had mad skills. She'd been a theater actress her whole life. She'd confided in me once that in order to play her characters, she spent a lot of time trying to put herself in their shoes, imagining what their life was like. If anyone could give lessons in empathy, it was Gran. I couldn't wait to show her the adventure park.

Jeannie Whitley might be exactly the secret weapon I need.

Chapter Four

Maddox

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