Page 53 of Selfless

I snort. “Well, I could have guessed that was gonna happen. What is it that she wants?”

“The company.”

I blink twice. “Come again.”

He places his forearms on his desk. “She wants fifty percent of the company. She says she is owed that.”

I start shaking my head. “She can’t … Can she …?” My mother owning half of this company will be the biggest mistake ever! She doesn’t know a single thing about it except that it makes money. And not to mention she would be up my ass every fucking day! “What are you gonna do …?”

He holds up his right hand. “I have a solution.”

“I’d love to hear it.” I snort, sitting back in my chair.

“Give her what she wants.”

“What?” I demand. “You’re gonna give her half the company?”

He shakes his head. “Either I give her half or I walk away.”

“Why would she want you to do that?”

“‘Cause she wants me as miserable as she is, and she knows how much this job means to me.”

“That’s not a solution. You can’t walk away …”

“No, but I can demote myself. Make it look like I’ve stepped away for now. And you’re gonna take my position.”

I sit there and stare at him more confused than I was a minute ago. “This is not a joke, Dad,” I decide to say.

“I’m not joking.” He stands up and turns to face the windows that overlook Central Park. He places his hands in his pockets. “I’ve made up my mind, Ryder. All you have to do is tell me if you can do it or not.”

I run a hand through my hair, not really knowing what to do or say. “Dad, this company is your life.”

He slowly turns around and walks around his desk. He leans back against it. “I can’t argue with that. I have put a lot of time into this company, but it has also taken a lot from me.” He sighs. “I missed so much of your and Becca’s life. And I would say if I could go back in time and do things differently, I would, but that isn’t an option.” He looks away from me and swallows. “I know I give you a hard time as your boss and as your father, but you’re ready, Ryder.” He looks back at me. “You know what it takes. You’ve seen what it takes. The question is, are you willing to give it what it needs?”

**

The only lights in my apartment are what’s streaming into the floor-to-ceiling windows from Manhattan as I sit on my couch. I’m still dressed in my suit, and I have a glass of whiskey in my hand as I think about what my father told me earlier. And my anger for my mother rises. For her to do this to him. She won’t give him what he wants unless he walks away. She wants him to lose just as much as she would.

“Babe?” I hear Ashlyn call out as the front door opens. “I picked up the pizza.”

“In here,” I say, looking down at my almost empty glass not in the least bit hungry.

She comes into the living room and looks down at me with a wide smile. The moment her eyes meet mine, it falls. “What’s wrong?”

I sigh, and she plops down next to me. “What’s wrong, Ryder?” she asks more concerned.

“Today, my father told me he wants me to take over his position at the company,” I say softly.

She gasps and grips my hand tightly. “That’s great news, baby.”

I wish I felt her excitement. She doesn’t know that it has to do with my mother, and I feel that part isn’t important right now. I let go of her hand and stand, making my way over to the window. I look out over the town that I have grown up in, the only place I call home, and I feel a pain in my chest.

“Why do you not sound happy about this?” she asks, her excitement now gone.

I turn around and face her. “I’m not sure I can do it.”

She frowns. “Why would you say that?”

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