Page 17 of Boss's Baby: A Fake Fiance Romance

“My behavior doesn’t need ‘correcting,’ and even if it did, you’d be the last person I’d go to for that.”

I’d intended the comment to come off lighter than it had, but the scandalized expression on Sam’s face made it clear he’d taken it very seriously.

“Always with an attitude,” he said. “Maybe if you—”

“That’s enough,” growled Dad, stopping Sam midsentence. “Now, let’s hear what you’ve got for me.”

I crossed my legs and sat back, shooting one last look at Sam that made it clear I’d noticed he was the one who’d been silenced.

“All’s going about as well as we can hope,” I said. “The top brass told the executives in a meeting today, and word’s likely already filtered down through the rest of the company.”

“Good. Any objections?”

Again I thought of Cassidy. MacLand had told me she’d voiced her concerns about the buyout during the meeting. But I was certain she, and anyone else who had any misgivings, would come around eventually.

“Nothing worth noting. They were surprised, but it’s not like anyone decided to storm out and give the finger over their shoulder as they left.”

“One way to put it,” said Dad. “And all’s ready for you to oversee the operation at the beginning of the new year?”

“Don’t see any reason why not. Once the transition’s behind them, we should be ready to reap the rewards of having our own dedicated marketing department. Which will be a real benefit.”

Dad nodded, letting me know he’d heard all he needed to know. Then he turned his attention to Sam.

“And how are things in Oregon? Expansion taking hold?”

Sam smiled, clearly pleased to report what he was about to say. “Profits are already higher than anticipated. It’s been hard work, but our foothold in the region looks poised to make it one of our most valuable regions. All under my watch, of course.”

“Doesn’t hurt that you’re in the best logging region in the country, of course.” I couldn’t help myself. “Could probably stick a twelve-year-old in charge, and it’d make money.”

Sam shot me a hard look. “Excuse you?”

I raised my palms. “Just messing around. I’m sure you’re doing a hell of a job over there.”

Yeah, we were in our thirties. But damned if I couldn’t stop myself from busting Sam’s balls every now and then, especially when he got a little too cocky about how valuable an asset he was. But it was all in good fun—the adult equivalent of older brothers teasing their younger ones.

But he didn’t seem to think that way. “I’m busting my ass in Oregon to bring this company to the next level. Keep your comments to yourself.”

“Just making sure you don’t get too full of yourself,” I replied. “That’s what big brothers are for, right?”

“Don’t need you for that. But if I do want tips on how to embarrass this family by getting caught with an heiress in a dive bar bathroom, I’ll make sure to ask for some tips.”

“Hey, that happened once.”

“‘Once.’ Yeah, that specific embarrassment happened once. But you sure managed to give us plenty of them to deal with.”

I’d done a hell of a job straightening out my act over the last fifteen years, if I do say so myself. But that didn’t mean it’d been all smooth sailing. I wasn’t as bad of a heartbreaker as I’d been in high school, but I’d had my fair share of slip-ups over the course of my twenties. And the expression on Dad’s face made it clear he was just as annoyed now to hear about them as he’d been when they’d happened.

“Enough!” His voice boomed through the office.

Sam and I silenced, turning our attention back to Dad. I’d known since I was a kid that when he took that tone it meant he was done screwing around.

“I didn’t bring you both here to bicker like a couple of children. I brought you here for updates.” He sat back in his seat and let the silence hang in the air. “And because I wanted to discuss the future of the company.”

My heart rate quickened. I knew what this meant.

“Is that right?” asked Sam. “You mean—”

Dad nodded. “I had another appointment with Dr. Ford this past weekend. My condition is as it’s been—no better, no worse.”

Hypertension—that was the condition. Made him extra susceptible to heart attacks. I hated that fucking word. I was a grown man, sure, but that didn’t mean the idea of losing my old man didn’t scare the hell out of me.

“I told him about the year ahead of us, how it was likely to add pressure on top of pressure. And he told me that, for my own health, I was going to need to think about moving the process of retirement up.”

More silence. Sam and I exchanged a glance.

“Now, I don’t plan on stepping down into retirement. The next year is going to be a slow hand off, measured and careful.”

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