Page 48 of Bachelor CEO

“Miranda, you were born for this job. It’swhat your parents would’ve wanted for you. Don’t let a bad situation scare youaway.”

“Chase is family.” She swiveled so she couldlook out the window. Everything she could see was part of McDanielManufacturing. This was Chase’s birthright. Why had she deluded herself itcould be otherwise?

Walter didn’t buy that argument. “Chase isalso a playboy who has had everything handed to him. He’s lacked direction.He’s been spoiled.”

“He seems adept at crisis management.” Mirandadefended Chase despite herself. Within minutes of his arrivalat the hospital, the doctors had given Chase full details on Leroy’s condition.Miranda hadn’t been able to get squat.

“Miranda, you have a contract with McDaniel.You’re not going to lose your job. I’ve assured you of that. But what do youwant?”

Chase.

Now where had that thought come from? “I wassupposed to have at least a year to learn the ropes. I don’t have theexperience to run this firm.”

“Neither do half the other guys who becomeCEOs. They learn as they go. Some of the best ones I’ve seen have beenupstarts. They have fresh ideas. Unless you tell me otherwise, I’m going tomake a motion that Chase stand down, as Leroy requested, until his year is up.”

Miranda closed her eyes as her growingmigraine sent lancing pain through her head. Some black clouds had lifted. Butwith Walter’s offer others had blown in to take their place. “Thank you foryour support, but do you mind if I think about this first?”

“Think hard. Unless you tell me not to, I’mgoing to make a motion to unseat Chase. And Miranda, even though Chase is aMcDaniel, I’m Leroy’s best friend. I have just as much sway with these peopleas Chase does. I’ve been meeting with them for twenty years. If I reveal thetruth about Leroy’s wishes, they’ll change their minds and the job will beyours.”

After promising to call Walter before Monday,Miranda set her phone down. She stared around her office. She’d signed acontract when she’d taken the McDaniel job. She’d be committing career suicideif she resigned this quickly. She could probably contact a headhunter and havehim or her start quietly making inquiries, but Chenille had grown on her.Miranda had fallen in love with the little town. She’dbegun to build a life here.

Her younger sister had even come by threeweeks ago and commented on how content Miranda appeared. And she had been,until Leroy’s heart attack and Chase’s return.

Walter had just handed her her dream back. Ifanyone could convince the board to give Miranda the CEO job, it was him.

But the giddy feeling that she’d gotten monthsago upon being hired didn’t come. Instead, doom and gloom stole over her. Thiswas corporate politics. She was running with the big dogs; she had to playhardball.

Yet, deep down, Miranda was a person whocared. It shouldn’t matter that Chase would hate her for the rest of her daysif Walter’s motion overturned his, but it did. And he’d moved on.

She had to toughen up.

Chapter Eleven

Mike Storm had lived in Chenille his wholelife. A friendly looking man in his mid-forties, he owned the local furniturestore. He was also the Chamber of Commerce president, a member of the LionsClub and the secretary of the school board.

He hadn’t come to lunch alone, Miranda notedas she followed Diane to a table in one of Maxine’s back rooms. Mike saw herapproach and stood. So did the man who had his back to her.

The interloper didn’t even need to turnaround. Miranda already recognized him.

Chase had crashed her lunch.

“Miranda.” Mike reached out and grasped herhand in his bruising grip. “I’m so glad you and Chase agreed to meet with me.”

“The chamber is very important us,” shemanaged to answer as she extracted her hand. At least the pain kept her fromwanting to reach over and punch Chase in the nose. How dare he! This was hermeeting.

“I was just telling Chase that we’ve gotten anibble. Rhodes Printing is expanding. They’re looking to build a new plant inthe Midwest and Chenille’s made their short list of potential locations.”

“That’s great news,” Miranda replied, takingthe seat next to Mike’s, which put her directly across from Chase. “When willthe final decision be made?”

“They’re sending a scouting party here in twoweeks and they’ll stay five days while Iowa and Chenille woo them with ourproposal. I’ve already contacted the governor’s office and the statedevelopment agency, and I’ll be meeting with them tomorrow so we can get ourpresentation together. Three hundred permanent jobs based right here.”

“I’m sure you’ll do a fantastic sales job.”Miranda said.

Mike reached for his iced tea. “Thanks, butwe’ll need McDaniel’s help.”

“Anything we can do.” Chase jumped into theconversation as their waitress brought Miranda some iced tea. At Maxine’s, onceyou were a regular, the staff knew what you wanted and brought it without beingasked.

“We’ve never had this type of interest in ourtown. When I requested this meeting it was to ask McDaniel to underwrite a fallfestival we’d like to hold in October. But Rhodes Printing’s expansion is muchmore important.”

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