Page 77 of Scarlett and the Big Bad Billionaire
“Would you?” he asked. “If moneywasn’tan issue. Would you like to have your own business?”
“Well of course I’dliketo. This is what I enjoy doing more than anything else. But there’s still the issue of my job at Mixitall.”
“And there’s no one else who could do that job better?” he asked.
“Well…”
I’d never really considered that before. In truth, Iwasn’tthe best person for the job at Mixitall. I kind of sucked at accounting.
I mean, I worked hard and got the job done, but it had never come naturally to me. A real accountant could probably do what I did each day in a third of the time.
There was a bubbling sensation in my chest, and it didn’t feel terrible. It was a sort of light, airy feeling.
But then the bubbles popped. David liked the idea of working with family. Hetrustedme. He’d been disappointed when Maddie left the company to stay home with her kids.
He would hate the idea of hiring a stranger to do the books. I was afraid it would break his heart-and my mom’s—if I quit.
In fact, they were hoping I’d take over the company one day.
“I don’t know. Maybe,” I admitted. “But David relies on me. As good as he’s been to me, I don’t want to let him down. It’s a family business. My mom works there, too, part-time. My sister did, but she left, so I feel like it’s all on me.”
“I respect that,” Gray said. “You’re loyal to your family. That’s a great thing. You should also be loyal to yourself, though—to whatyoureally want in life. Because ultimately, you’re the one who’s got to live it. Eventually David’s gonna retire. Your mom’s gonna retire. When they aren’t there anymore… would you still want that job? Do youwantto run that company someday? Or will you wish you’d pursued your own dream?”
Vivi spoke up. “After what happened with Stuart and your father—I can tell you this—I would never encourage a parent to pressure their child to give up their passion in favor of the family business. I’m sure your mother and stepfather, if they’re as loving and supportive as you say they are, wouldn’t want that either. Do they know you’re unhappy in your work?”
“I’m not unhappy,” I said. My voice lost some of its vigor as I added, “I’m just nothappyhappy.”
I pulled the next batch of cookies from the oven and tried not to think about the significance of that admission.
While they cooled, I went upstairs to change and get ready for whatever Gray had planned for us. My phone beeped with a text notification. It was from Maddie.
-Now a good time to talk?
I hit the little phone symbol beside her name. My sister answered immediately, a laugh in her voice.
“I guess that’s a yes,” she said.
“Hi. I miss you. How are you?”
“Great. Busy. Trina’s having fun at the pool every day and looking forward to starting second grade. James is talking non-stop and climbing literallyeverything. How are you? How are things with the grandmother?”
“Vivi. She’s awesome, actually. We’re having fun together, and I’m trying to help her as much as I can while I’m here.”
“Of course you are.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just that you’re a caretaker. You’re always trying to make sure everyone else is okay,” she said. “I was watching Trina with James the other day, and it made me think of us when we were younger. She’s only four years older than him, but she’s like a second little mommy to him, always trying to teach him things and take care of him.”
“So sweet,” I said.
“It is. And it’s normal. But Mom told me you were like that even before I was born—with your father. She said your roles were kind of reversed, that he was so hurt, and you were always trying to take care of him instead of the other way around.”
“I don’t even remember that,” I told her.
“It’s a lot to ask of a kid,” she said. “You weren’t much older than Trina. Situations like that when a child has to ‘parent’ their parent can have a lasting effect. They can turn you into a pleaser.”
“You think I’m a pleaser?” I asked in a state of semi-shock.
