Page 90 of Why Not Forever?

They’ve decided on a hotel in North Vancouver they want to add to the portfolio. It’s been for sale for the last three months with no offers, so the sellers will be eager. They want me to write up the proposal for next week with the lowest offer I think they’ll take based on the information we have, basically forcing them to sell at a loss since we’re the only ones interested.

Richard closes the folder in front of him and slides it over to me. “So Tanner can—”

“No,” I cut in. Because I can’t. I just can’t do it anymore. I hate this job so much, the wheeling and dealing. Offering less than what a place is worth in order to gain the most profit.

“Excuse me?” Richard says, turning to face me.

“No. I won’t write up this proposal. I’m done being led around like I’m some good little dog with the CEO position held out like some treat. I’m tired of you and this old boys’ club of a Board. I’ve given you dozens of options for properties that would have been excellent investments over the years. Companies that needed our help. But because you didn’t think they fit with the aesthetic of the company—”

“Brand,” Richard interjects.

“Whatever. You decided they weren’t going to work. We could have been millions ahead of where we are today if you had listened to me. I’m done listening to you.”

I close my laptop and disconnect it from the cable, making the screen behind me go blank. I pack up the rest of my stuff without speaking.

“What are you doing?” Richard asks when I’m about to leave the room.

I pause at the door, more angry than I’ve ever been. Not just with Richard. With myself for staying here far longer than I should have. I turn toward him. “I’m done. I’ve tried to leave this company four times. You’ve reeled me back in over and over. I can’t do this anymore.”

“If you walk out that door, you’ll never be allowed back. You won’t see a sliver of this company.”

I take a breath. “When I take over, are you going to let me run Sterling, or are you going to step in at every turn, overturning any decision I make if you think I’m wrong?”

Richard looks at me, then at the Board members, then back at me.

“I won’t let you run my company into the ground, but I won’t have to do anything massive. You know how I want this company run. You wouldn’t do anything drastic.”

“So if I decide to go ahead with the coffee shop in Surrey once I’m in charge, you’re not going to put a halt on it?”

“Well. The coffee shop doesn’t fit with the Sterling brand. Of course I’d step in if you were going to go that route.”

“Right.” I look down at my shoes, gaining the composure I need to say the rest. Then I look up and meet his eyes squarely. “You want to know something, Richard? I never wanted this company. I only went along with your scheme because Vic wanted it. You remember her? Your daughter? The one who built a multi-million dollar business in a matter of seven years? The one who you think isn’t good enough to take over? You’re wrong. If you want to give the business to someone, it should be her.”

I leave the boardroom and return to my office. I must be scowling or something because as soon as she sees me, my assistant, Carly, sits up straight and scrambles to follow me inside.

“Is everything all right, sir?” she asks.

“No, everything is not all right. I just quit.”

“Quit?”

She sounds confused. Which makes sense. The whole company knows by now that Richard had been setting me up to take over. Now, here I am, leaving a mere two weeks before the big change. Leaving without getting control of the company. The company I promised twenty-five per cent shares of to my wife. Who only married me in the first place because of that promise.

What have I done?

Chapter 33

Vic

I’vejustaboutfinishedmy end-of-year reports when my phone rings. It’s my personal cell phone instead of the office phone, so I dig it out of my purse to see Dad’s face on my screen.

My brows draw down as I stare at my phone for a moment. My dad doesn’t call me almost ever. If he does, he would never call during work hours. Then my heart clenches as I wonder if something has happened to Tanner.

“Dad?” I answer. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” he all but yells. “What’s wrong is your husband walked out. He left.”

“Tanner left work early?” That doesn’t make any sense at all. Tanner would only leave early if he’d cleared it ahead of time or if he was really sick. “Is he okay?”

---