Page 76 of Insufferable Boss

"If this is about the lawsuit, I really don't know that I can make any difference to what's happening now."

"Wow," he said, "You're already defending him before I even got started. Is it that serious between you two?"

"There's nothing happening between us," I said, and he smiled.

"Honestly, for the first time, I hope there is."

"What do you mean?"

"I went to him and told him to buy me out because, despite how hard it is for me to admit this, the fact of the matter is that he is right, and I really don't belong here. I'm not cut out for this, and playing dress-up is enough. I want out."

I stared at him.

"You know that's not possible."

"It is," he replied. "I consulted with my lawyer, and he says that it is, technically. There's a clause that allows decisions to be made on my behalf if I'm mentally incapable."

"By your lawyer?"

"Could be but can also be by any upstanding individual of my choosing, so this is how I'm going to go out."

I had to admit that even though we weren't particularly close, I was sort of hoping that our proximity to each other would somehow rectify things, that he had truly found a way to leave, but now it was not at all pleasant for me despite what he believed.

I put down my document and focused my attention on him.

"I'm not happy to see you leave," I told him. "I thought... I know there's no point in saying this, but a part of me had hoped that working closely together would give us a chance to... become a family again."

He stared at me, and I waited for whatever smartass comeback he had to deliver, but it didn’t come.

"We don't have to remain estranged," he said. "We don't even have to be in proximity to each other to be best friends. Picking up the phone helps and being polite enough and supportive of each other can go a long way as well.”

His sarcasm was as heavy as anything could be, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Alright," I said. "Tell me what you need."

"I went to Kane to buy me out," he said, and I sighed.

"Yet he rejected me, and truly I am surprised because I was sure he'd jump at the chance to finally get rid of me, but apparently not."

At my silence, he paused briefly and then explained.

"I would have come to you first, but I am actually in need of the money, and it is not a small payment. Plus, to pay me, you'd probably have to sell some of Dad's assets, and I don't know if you're willing or even ready to do that right now."

There was sense and consideration in his words, so I nodded.

"Anyway, he turned me down, so now I have no choice but to go to his sister.”

This wasn't a pleasant option, and he didn't need me to react to know this. But I was curious as to why Kane would turn him down.

"I know what you're thinking," he said and explained. "You're wondering why he would turn this down. Well, turns out he can be a moron as well."

I gave him a look, and he explained.

"He said something about wanting to honor Dad's wishes of making me actually work here for two years."

I considered his words and was touched.

"Yeah, I can see him thinking that."

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