Page 12 of Love to Hate You

Stunned, unable to believe what I’m hearing, I watch as Ethan hands us each a white envelope and I take mine and look down to see my dad’s writing, always printed and in all capital letters, where he wrote “Nash.”

“Is this a joke?” Sawyer asks, just as bewildered as the rest of us.

“I don’t want his company,” Tanner says in a low voice.

“I have my own career,” Sierra says.

I swallow hard, trying to absorb the news.

Ethan raises his hands in a calm down gesture. “Thomas knew there would probably be a strong reaction from some of you and I ask you to please take a moment, somewhere private and quiet, to read his letter. Don’t make any rash decisions right now. You’ve all just inherited a billion-dollar corporation but there are specific stipulations that you must agree to.”

“Of course, there are,” Sawyer says. “You don’t think he’d just hand it over, do you? That’s not his style. Even from the grave, he’s going to try and control us.”

“What stipulations?” I ask.

“Thomas wanted the transition to be smooth. Before any permanent decisions are made, he asked that all four of you first visit TB Tech and meet the Interim President that the board chose and give it three months. After that, you are free to sell your share in the company or become a partner yourself. Anyone interested in the day-to-day operations,” he looks pointedly at me, “is welcome to stay on and will be groomed to step in and take over as the new full-time President, if you choose. Of course, you will need the board’s full approval.”

“Wow,” Crew mumbles. “I don’t know anything about tech shit, but I want to check it out.”

Of course, he does,I think. My brother sees a lot of dollar signs right now and wants to figure out the quickest way to cash in.

“The meeting with the Interim President and the board members is set for Monday at 10:00 a.m. Since the funeral is Saturday, we figured Sunday off would give you a day to settle in for those who traveled. I’m assuming everyone can attend Monday morning?” Ethan asks.

Everyone gives a reluctant nod and I suddenly frown. “Who was named Interim President?” I suddenly ask.

Ethan looks down at his paperwork then says, “Charlie Langley. It looks like he’s worked for TB Tech the last three years.”

Fuck me.

“Charlie is a woman,” I say and try not to sigh. Dealing with that bitch is the last thing I want to do.

Great. Just fucking great.

6

CHARLIE

When I hear the news that Thomas left everything to his estranged children, it takes a moment to register. It’s not even that, though. What throws me is the fact that I am merely to serve as Interim President for three months.

That’s it.

No provision to safeguard my job? It’s a devastating blow and I’m shaking after I speak to Mark Jenner.

Basically, the board handed me the position I’ve worked so hard to achieve and now they’re going to take it away after three lousy months. Of course, that’s after I waste my time explaining to Beckett’s kids how TB Tech runs, the day-to-day operations, clients, employees, overall structure and so much more. Then I can hand the reins over. It’s clear they’re using me to make sure it’s a smooth transition.

And afterwards? I’m willing to bet my last dollar that they’ll toss my ass out the moment they can.

Fuck that.Devastation morphs into anger and the more I think about it, the more my blood boils. Everything I’ve worked so hard for just went up in a puff of smoke. Betrayal doesn’t even begin to cover how I’m feeling about Thomas right now. Apparently, my cheerleader and my mentor didn’t believe in me quite as much as I thought.

Or he knew that Nash and I would never be able to run this company together without killing each other so he chose his son over me. The son he never got along with and who walked out on him while I stayed solid and strong by his side for three years. I can’t pretend it doesn’t sting because it does.

It stings like hell.

TB Tech is my life and I’ve devoted practically every waking hour to the damn place since I started here. And this is how Thomas repays me? He knew that Nash and I never saw eye to eye. We couldn’t stand each other so why would he do this to me? The first chance he gets, Nash is going to can me, and Thomas must’ve known that.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t make sense of the situation.

Mark informs me that the Beckett clan will arrive Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. to tour their new company and meet with the board and me. I don’t think I’ve ever dreaded anything so much in my life.

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