Page 166 of Anti-Hero

Wren has always been a wild card. She and I were designated the family troublemakers decades ago. My title might be in jeopardy, thanks to a recent series of responsible decisions, but it sounds like Wren is still earning her label.

“I won’t keep you,” Oliver says, standing. “Just wanted to check in.”

I stand, too, buttoning my jacket. “As your nephew—and your employee—Iamsorry for not disclosing everything sooner. I planned for you to hear the news from me; I was just waiting for the right time. Trying to juggle my responsibilities to this company with the new ones outside of it. But I want you to know that I take my role here seriously.I would never intentionally jeopardize it.”

Oliver nods. “Idoknow that, Kit, but thank you for saying it. And I’m not saying your father acted unreasonably, but I think shock played a role.” He smiles. “Me calling him Gramps probably didn’t help the situation either. I don’t think grandfather was a title Crew expected to take on so soon. You’re a lot like him, and he’s so proud of that. I also think it makes it hard for him to separate his choices from yours sometimes. A lot of factors went into his decision to come back here, but most of it was you. He wanted to see this”—he gestures to my office—“in person. Wanted the relationship with you that we’d both hoped for with our dad. Finding out you had kept a big secret from him—as your dadandyour boss—rattled Crew a bit. Made him feel like a failure in both roles. It’s a hard moment as a parent, feeling like your child doesn’t need you anymore, no matter how proud you are.”

I pick up a pen on my desk and spin it around one finger. “You’re still my uncle right now, right?”

This might be business-related, but it’s not something I’d ordinarily ask my boss.

“Right,” he says slowly, glancing at the couch. “Should I sit back down for this?”

I smile. “No. It’s not bad. I just … Dad brought me this cosmetics company as a possible acquisition right when I started working here. Things started out strong. We made a solid pitch, and they seemed interested. And then I got … distracted, and things went quiet for a while. They’ve met with other companies; we’re not the only ones interested. I had my team set up a meeting next week, so I know they’re still considering us. But it’s very possible, maybe even likely, that this deal won’t get over the finish line. I could go higher with our offer, but that’s a bigger risk. I’m not even sure this company is worth what we’re offering now. So, I—what?”

“Sorry.” Oliver coughs, but it doesn’t totally disguise his laugh. “Sorry, I just …” More laughter. “I can’t believe he Brock’d you and didn’t tell me.”

I frown. “Brock’d? What does that mean?”

Oliver chuckles a few more times before answering, “My first week at Kensington Consolidated, your grandfather gave me a company to look into. Brock Pharmaceuticals. They had decent earnings, solid financials, no red flags anywhere. So, I acquired them. Took us ten years to see any profit.”

“So, my dad gave me this company tonotacquire them?”

Oliver chuckles again. “He wants to see what decisionyoumake. A deal might be the right call. Or it might not be. It’syourcall. Crew gave you that company because he expects you to be the next CEO of Kensington Consolidated, Kit. So do I. Trust your instincts, and you’ll be fine.”

I nod. “I will.”

He turns to leave, then glances back. “Your grandfather knows about the, er, situation, by the way.”

“Which one?” I ask warily.

“Knowing Hanson, they probably both do. But Arthur, definitely.”

“Dad told him?” I’m a little relieved that I won’t have to. But I’m guessing Grandpa will make me pay for not being the one to inform him by making our first conversation about the topic especially uncomfortable.

Oliver barks a laugh. “No, Crew was definitely intending to have you be the one to handle that discussion with Dad. Dad was the one who toldme.”

“Then how did Grandpa find out?”

“My guess? He worked in this building for forty-three years. He hired half the people who have offices on this floor, and all of them are gossips.”

I groan. “Wonderful.”

I knew it was inevitable the news would spread through the company, but I didn’t realize it was already circulating.

“He asked if it’s a girl or a boy.”

“Oh.” Not the question I would have guessed my grandfather asked. “We’re, uh, waiting to find out.”

Oliver smiles. “We waited too. I’m looking forward to meeting him or her, even if it does make me feelextremelyold to have a nephew with a kid of his own.”

I smile back. “Thanks,Great-Uncle.”

“I’m back to being your boss, Kit,” he says, then walks out of my office.

44

Icount the binders one final time, releasing a relieved exhale when I confirm they’re all accounted for. Printing the exhibits for the deposition, sorting them, and then organizing them in these binders took me most of last week. If one magically went missing, I’d no longer have time to procure a replacement.

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