Page 33 of When You're Gone
Her eyes grew wide. “Why would they replace him? They don’t even know anything about his prognosis yet,” she insisted in a hushed whisper.
“V, he had a massive stroke. NorfolkStar is a multi-million-dollar enterprise. Even if he makes a full recovery, someone needs to step up and lead the company for the foreseeable future.”
Rhett sat up straighter then, turning to face her head-on. The stress and worry he’d been exhibiting all morning were still there… she could see it in his eyes. But a new emotion was present now. She’d know that look of determination in any scenario. His resolve was locked in; his plan was in motion.
She didn’t know if her mind was just sluggish today, or if part of her subconscious had been protecting her from seeing the truth. But in that moment, realization slammed into her like a freight train.
Panic gripped at her throat and made it hard to swallow, but she still managed to choke out, “And that someone is you?”
His face screwed up in bewilderment, but just for a few seconds. He blinked and replaced the confusion with that same steely determination.
“It is. At least, I think it will be. This is faster than anyone expected things to happen, so I guess it could still go sideways. I’ve been slotted to take over for Jonathan since I started interning a few years ago. The board already approved our most recent strategic plan that has me assuming the position in three years when my granddad planned to retire.”
She knew her mouth was hanging open in shock, but she couldn’t school her expression or slow her racing thoughts. Her husband was hours away from becoming the top executive at a huge corporation. Why hadn’t she realized any of this until now?
“Talk to me, Tori. What’s wrong?”
She slammed her mouth shut. She didn’t know what to say. He was acting like she knew all this, or at least she should have known. But she knew nothing. Or maybe she’d been so laser-focused on her own future for so long that she hadn’t been paying attention to Rhett’s blossoming career.
“How long have you known?” she demanded, wincing when the words came out harsher than intended.
“Known? Known what?”
“How long have you known you’d be taking over so soon?”
She watched his jaw work back and forth as he bit down on the inside of his cheek.
“V… I’ve known I was going to be CEO of this company since I was in high school. I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember. That’s why my granddad paid for me to go to Archway Prep. This is what I’ve been working toward for the last ten years. I wish it was under different circumstances…”
“If you’re the CEO, you’ll need to be in Norfolk all the time. You’ll need to live there permanently.” The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could filter them. Her tone was accusing instead of supportive. She knew she was getting this wrong, but she couldn’t seem to rein it in.
He scoffed before replying, “I do live there permanently.”
She slumped back in her seat, desperate for a moment alone with her thoughts. But she wasn’t going to get a moment. She was about to get on a plane and fly hours away from home to support her husband. Her skin prickled with the urge to stand up and walk out of the airport lounge. To get into her car and drive back to Hampton. To be anywhere but here.
Guilt filled her as she realized just how self-absorbed she had been and was still being. She felt sick to her stomach as she accepted the enormity of what they were about to do.
She thought she was coming on this trip to emotionally support her husband through a family crisis. It wasn’t until that very moment that she realized she was also about to bear witness to the passing of the torch as he became the CEO of a multi-million-dollar Virginia-based company.
“This is a big deal,” she whispered.
She chanced a glance at Rhett. He was leaning forward in his seat, elbows on his knees, fingers steepled against his forehead. He side-eyed her and met her gaze.
“This is a big deal,” he repeated tersely. He turned his attention back to his phone and left it at that.
Chapter eleven
Rhett
“Evening,Mr.Wheeler.Whereare we headed?”
Rhett clicked his seat belt into place and slumped back against the plush leather seat of the town car. He clawed at his tie, desperate to loosen it and shred some of the stress of the day.
“Just home, please, Charlie. No other stops.”
His driver nodded once before raising the privacy partition. Rhett let out a long breath, cracking his knuckles and craning his neck from side to side. He was in desperate need of release.
Things couldn’t have been worse where his granddad was concerned. Jonathan had survived the stroke, but barely. Because he’d been alone at the office, no one knew how long he’d been in distress. The doctors were vague and reserved in their assessment. Everyone at the hospital just kept saying he was lucky to be alive.
