Page 1 of Something Blue

1

Andy

Andy Reed maintained a calm expression as he met each of the board members’ gazes. A shareholders’ meeting was not the ideal way to spend time at work, but today things were bound to change. His father had given him backhanded hints for months, and it was time Andy’s sacrifices and excellent leadership were rewarded.

“Before we adjourn,” the chairman said, “I need to make an announcement.”

Andy’s fingers stilled on the desk. This was it! Solid proof that a promotion hadn’t been in his head this whole time. As vice president of Wysh Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, there weren’t many more advancements he could earn. Only one was left, and Andy deserved it.

The chairman—his father—cleared his throat to end the meeting, and all eyes trained on him. “As you all know, I’m not as spry as I once was. The cancer I had a few years ago took a toll on my body, and my son has done an amazing job in my absence.”

Andy bit back a smile, but it took a Herculean effort. Praise was hard to come by, and he wouldn’t soon forget it.

“It’s time to make some big changes in the company,” Chairman Reed continued, getting the attention of the room, which quickly filled with low murmurs and whispers.

Andy crossed his arms and sat back. There was no doubt the board members would support him, especially after single-handedly running the business for the last year. Maybe it was his own self-confidence. In his experience, associates usually distrusted a young whipper-snapper in his early thirties, but once they saw his dedication and skill, they would swiftly get on board.

Hopefully.

If things went sour, his closest ally, Mr. Mark, a family friend and second dad to Andy, would be of assistance. His nerves shook as he glanced across the table at Mr. Mark. When he gave Andy a quick wink, it was the boost of confidence he needed.

Andy turned back to his dad, who’d waited patiently for the room to quiet. His dad’s once salt-and-pepper hair had almost completely become a fashionable silver. He was dressed to impress in a new Armani suit and would leave his position in style. Andy expected no less.

“I’m sure it’s not a shock to you that I want this company to remain in my family’s possession,” the chairman said. “We’ve worked hard to build a legacy, and it would be a shame to pass it on to someone else, no matter how excellent or qualified they are. We believe we have the talent in the family to keep it going for a while.”

Andy straightened his shoulders and wore a look of confidence. There were some perks to being an only child.

“With that said,” Chairman Reed continued, “I’m sure some of you will be surprised by my announcement.”

For the first time, his father met his eyes. It wasn’t the expression he’d expected, but one he knew as sharply as a pin prick.

Unease settled in Andy’s chest. He lifted his hand to run it through his hair, but remembered he had gelled it that morning, and lowered the hand to the table. His dad accepted only the best. Andy’s hand shook as he waited for his father to continue.

“The president of this company is a person who needs to be respected by employees, his patrons, and board members. He is someone in whom they can put their trust.”

Andy swallowed hard, wondering what curve ball his dad was going to throw at him now. His father had never made working in the company a piece of cake. Starting at the bottom as a janitor during high school, Andy learned the ways of the company in baby steps: studying hard while earning degrees and maintaining his job. He’d sacrificed relationships and had given up dating altogether to remain constantly available at a moment’s notice. No one deserved this job more than him. He stilled his hands, pressing them down against the cool mahogany as he kept his gaze on his dad. There was nothing to worry about.

“Although, I naturally want to give this position to my son, I’m sorry to say, I cannot do that.”

Refusing to show any emotion, Andy dragged his hands out of sight and clenched them into fists in the shadow of the table.

“At least, I can’t give it to him yet.” His stare settled on Andy, making him shrink back in his chair. “There is no better way to show good faith to your employees than settling down and showing some stability in your personal life.”

Andy stilled. No! No way was his dad bringing this up now. Up until now, he’d done everything by the book. Long hours, rises in sales, building relationships with partners. There was nothing he hadn’t tried. But his personal life was another matter. After his college girlfriend, Jenna, ripped out his heart and stomped on it with her off-brand stilettos, he’d found most women treated him differently once they knew his future plans to run his father’s company. His dad knew Andy was done with love, so what was going on?

“Dad, you’ve—”

“Chairman Reed, I think you meant to say,” his father interrupted. With a no-nonsense look that shut Andy up, he turned to the other board members. “I have called Henry Mark as interim president while we wait for my son to find a wife and settle down.”

Andy hid his fists under the table, wanting to keep up with decorum. Hot blood flowed through his neck and face. How dare his dad bring personal matters into this! His mind was a blur as Mr. Mark was unanimously called as interim president without any discussion. Traitor.

“A motion to call this meeting to an end?” Chairman Reed asked with an even tone.

Mr. Mark called for a motion to adjourn, and it was seconded faster than Andy could blink. After the quickest vote in Wysh history, the meeting he’d waited all year for was over. Other board members took it as their cue to leave and gathered their things and departed without any more prompting.

When he and his dad were the only ones left in the room, Andy relaxed his fists and took a deep breath. Blowing up at anyone never worked, especially blowing up at his dad. “That is my rightful place, and you’re telling me I have to be married to deserve it? What kind of business are we running?”

“A family one,” his dad said. Then with one swoop of his arm, he gathered his things and stood up. “If you don’t like it, then this is your chance to figure out your priorities. Work is not everything, son. I realize I haven’t been the best example of a family man, but cancer has given me perspective. I want to wittle away my life in the arms of your mother, not these constricting walls.”

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