Page 42 of The CEO's Sweetheart Deal
"I don't know," she admits with a small shrug. "It didn't seem relevant before. And I thought you might take it the wrong way, like I was threatening to leave or something."
"Was it a good offer?" I ask, genuinely curious.
"Very good. Corner office, significant equity stake, complete creative control." A wry smile tugs at her lips. "Pretty much everything I have at Rooted Pantry, except without you hovering over my shoulder."
I wince slightly at her characterization but can't really argue with it. "So why did you turn it down?"
Alice is quiet for a moment, considering. "I thought I knew the answer to that question," she says finally. "I told myself it was because I couldn't abandon Rooted Pantry — that I'd poured too much of myself into building it to walk away now."
"And that wasn't the reason?"
"It was part of it," she concedes. "But I think the real reason was that I couldn't stand the thought of someone else — even you — taking what I created and turning it into something unrecognizable. If I left, who would fight to preserve the company's soul?"
I already knew all of this, of course, but hearing her talk about it now — her passions, her values — strikes a new and deeper chord. People do change… and perhaps I’m becoming more like her than I ever expected to.
"I respect that," I tell her sincerely. "Your commitment to what you believe in. It's… rare."
She looks surprised by my comment. "Even when what I believe in directly contradicts what you want?"
"Especially then." I shift to face her more fully. "Do you know how many yes-men I have in my life, Alice? People who agree with every word I say because I sign their paychecks? It's refreshing to have someone challenge me. Someone who cares enough to fight for something bigger than profits."
A hint of color touches her cheeks. "I'm not trying to be difficult."
"I know." I smile at her. "You're trying to be right. And most of the time, you are."
The admission seems to catch her off guard. She studies me for a moment, as if trying to determine whether I'm being sincere or playing some angle. I hold her gaze steadily, letting her see that for once, there's no hidden agenda.
A jogger passes by, breaking the moment. Alice looks away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear in a gesture I rememberfrom our younger years. It's oddly comforting to see that some things haven't changed.
"I'm glad you stayed," I say quietly. "Rooted Pantry wouldn't be the same without you."
"I thought you'd try to push me out," she admits. "When you first came in. I was so prepared for that fight. But you… you’ve grown on me."
I sigh, leaning back against the bench. "I considered it," I confess, knowing I owe her honesty for honesty. "That first day, when I realized who you were and how… complicated things might get. I even told Cole we should offer you a generous severance package."
"What changed your mind?"
"You did." I turn to look at her again. "Well… it took Cole reminding me… but he pointed out that no one knows this company like you. It wouldn’t be what it is today without you, and if you leave, even if I do my best, I wouldn’t be able to uphold it the way you do."
Alice is quiet for a long moment, processing my words. The late afternoon light catches in her hair, turning the brown strands to copper and gold. I resist the urge to reach out and touch them.
"I've been so angry at you," she says finally. "For so long."
"I know."
"I'm not sure I'm ready to let that go."
"I'm not asking you to." I keep my voice gentle. "But maybe we can find a way to work together that doesn't involve constant warfare."
A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. "A ceasefire?"
"At minimum," I agree, returning her smile. "Though I was hoping for more of an alliance."
"Let's not get carried away," she quips, but there's a warmth in her eyes that hasn't been there before.
We sit in companionable silence for a few minutes, watching as the sun sinks lower in the sky. The air is turning cooler now, but I'm in no hurry to leave. These moments of peace with her feel too precious to cut short.
"You know," she says eventually. "I always wondered what happened to you after you left for that fancy job. I mean, I saw the business news, obviously. 'Oscar Glynn, wunderkind entrepreneur, builds health food empire'. But I wondered about the real you, behind all the headlines."
