Page 6 of Bachelor CEO

But that didn’t mean she had to enjoy it.She’d always been a private person, never wanting others to know she wasn’tquite like them. They’d known, though. In high school they’dlooked down on her, called her names behind her back. In college she’d stayedout of the social scene.

Miranda squinted behind her shades, thinkingshe saw a big red barn looming ahead.

AFTER LUNCH WITH HIS grandfather andsiblings, Chase paced the enclosed sunporch. Normally everyone retired for asiesta, but Chase had asked to talk with his brother and sisters.

“You have to help me change his mind. Please.”

“Maybe this will be a good thing for you,”Cecilia mused. She rubbed her stomach, her belly protruding with the baby dueat the beginning of August.

“How can this be good?” Even after sleeping onhis grandfather’s decision, Chase had woken up not liking it one bit. “He’ssupposed to be retiring. He’s eighty today.”

“We know. We all sang happy birthday firstthing this morning,” Chandy soothed.

“He’s not going to live forever,” Chaseprotested.

“And you have plenty of life left. He’s toldyou you’ll be CEO if you want. It’s only for one year,” Chris pointed out. Hisbrother was the compromiser in the family, always looking for the silverlining.

“Grandpa never breaks a promise. Remember whenI asked for horseback lessons? It took awhile but he didn’t forget,” Chandysaid.

She’d been a toddler when their parents died,so Leroy was really the only parent she’d ever known. The youngest, Chandy hadbeen raised like a little princess, with Leroy her hero. Because of that,Chase’s sister was blind to their grandfather’s flaws.

“This isn’t like that. He’s feeling guilty. Hethinks he’s held me back from achieving my dreams, from doingthe things you all did. He wants me to have a choice about being CEO, butthat’s not necessary.”

“For some reason he thinks it is,” Chris said.

“But why now? I’m ready. I don’t need to gofind myself.”

“Have you told him that?” Cecilia asked.

Chase dragged a hand through his hair. “Yes.But you know how stubborn he is once he’s made up his mind.”

“Well, it’s what Grandpa wants for you,” Chrisreplied pragmatically. He was smaller than his brother, topping out at fivefoot ten inches, but he had similar features. All the McDaniel children did.Blond hair was predominant and they all had blue eyes.

“Well,Iwant to beCEO. That’s why I need your help,” Chase tried to explain.

His siblings couldn’t understand, he suddenlyrealized. They’d moved out, moved elsewhere. They flew home for major holidaysand family events. They phoned, e-mailed and sent cards.

Only Chase had remained in Chenille. He’dstepped into their father’s shoes and the life their father had loved. Chasehad considered it an honor to have such a duty, and he’d thrived. He’d metevery expectation, aside from finding a wife and having a bunch of kids. Chrishad taken care of that, and Cecilia would next.

His sister reached out and put a slim hand onhis arm. She’d always been tall and graceful, and even pregnant, her dancer’sbody remained svelte and lean, but with a baby bump. “We can see that you’reupset. We’re not against you on this. We love you and we’ll see what we can do.We’ll all talk to him, although like you said, it probably won’t do any good.But we’ll try.”

“Thank you,” Chase said.

His sister nodded at theothers. “We owe it to Chase.”

“Grandpa only wants to help,” Chandy insisted.

“Yes, but he may have misread the situation,”Cecilia replied.

She glanced through the glass dividing theporch from the great room, where her husband sat reading a book. “The guestsshould be arriving for the festivities sometime after four. I suggest we letGrandpa have his nap, and talk to him when he wakes up. Hopefully, he’ll spareus a minute. Walter is here already, and you know how thick those two are.”

“Once the party starts it will be absolutelyimpossible,” Chandy predicted.

“We’ll try to get to him before the guestsarrive,” Cecilia said.

It was the best Chase could ask for. “Thanks.”

He looked out the porch windows. On the flatback lawn behind the house, the caterers had set up tents and tables, and wereworking on food preparation. Over ninety guests were expected.

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