Page 49 of The Enemies With Benefits Deal

It’s just like college all over again.

Even though she said she didn’t want the CEO position, that could have changed.

Jade barely talks about business when we’re not at work. I used to think it was because we were spending the evenings wrapped up in each other.

Maybe that was all a game so I wouldn’t see what she was really up to.

Logan chuckles at something someone says that I don’t quite catch. “There’s no way that Leo is going to put Grayson in charge. If it was going to happen, it would have happened years ago.”

My teeth grind together as I clear my throat and step into the lunchroom. “I didn’t know that there was a competition going on.”

The color drains from their faces.

Logan is the first to swallow and meet my eyes. “From the way we heard it, Jade is going to try to become the CEO too. We heard her talking to Lara about expanding her career the other day.”

This is the first I’m hearing about that conversation.

I move past them and to the fridge, hauling open the door with a little more force than necessary and grabbing my leftovers. “Well, whoever gets the position will have earned it with all the hard work that’s being put into the rebrand.”

Though it’s not what I want to say, it’s the only thing I can say.

Anything else would make its way around the office and back to Dad.

Then, he would think that I’m not ready to take over the company, even though I’ve done everything I can to show him that I’m ready.

I’ve spent my entire life trying to impress him, but nothing I do ever seems to be enough.

That is, not until Jade showed up and I started helping her revitalize the company.

Dad was starting to see me in a new light, I think, and now we’re starting to slide backward. If he’s really thinking about naming her CEO, then it’s time I put an end to her scheming.

With how well things have been going between me and Jade, she should’ve mentioned if she was thinking about taking this job. She knows I’ve spent my entire career working for it.

She knows how much this means to me — just like she did with the internship — and yet she’s still willing to take it away from me.

Twelve years is a long time, but apparently, it’s not long enough to change who a person really is.

I abandon my leftovers, tossing them out before storming back to the offices. I have to talk to Dad and find out what’s going on, but I have to do it without sounding like a petulant child.

Dad looks up from his desk, shoving some papers to the side. “You look like you’re off to a bad morning.”

“Didn’t sleep well last night. Jade and I have been spending a lot of time making sure the app is entirely functional before the launch. It’s a lot of back-and-forth with Pelletier Design.”

“You’ve been working hard. I know you’ve heard the rumors going around about the CEO position, and while I haven’t made an official announcement yet, you know that it’s in the cards soon.”

This is the moment.

It’s everything I’ve been waiting for. He’s going to tell me that the rumors about a competition are all just made up. Dad is going to hand over the CEO position.

Jade really didn’t want any part of this company.

Dad leans back in his chair, hands folding together. “There are a couple different people the board is considering as my replacement. I’m in agreement with them and the people they’ve put forward, and I’ve spoken to another candidate.”

And just like that, reality comes crashing back down around me.

I force a grin to my face. “I’m glad to hear that you’re finally going to take some time to slow down.”

He nods. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the course of the last two months, it’s that I don’t have the energy or the desire to keep up with the younger market. It’s time that someone more in touch with today takes over.”

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