Page 66 of My Book Boyfriend
My own father didn’t stay. Shouldn’t we have held each other to get through our grief over my mom’s passing? Instead, he disappeared, and I had to do it on my own. Not quite on my own. My friends helped.
I take a deep breath. Someone bumps me as they pass by. I retreat into the corner and close my eyes.
Now that Rupert has real competition for the CEO position, won’t he abandon me and the garden? We’ve just met, and he’s been working toward being CEO for ten years. What if he tries to save the garden, fails, and his grandfather chooses this Percy Anderson?
I made the right decision. I want him to focus on trying to make CEO. If he doesn’t make CEO because of me, how could we date?
I could losebothhim and the garden. I slump against the wall.
I open my eyes and stare at the signed band posters on the wall. All these photos of people looking cool and like they couldn’t care at all.
I care too much.
Chapter nineteen
Rupert
She’sright.She’sabsolutelyright. We should wait until the Oasis Garden issue is resolved.
But this doesn’t feel right.
I hail a taxi, and one swerves over to stop in front of me. I sink into the back seat. The cab driver has Frank Sinatra on the radio.
I do think Lily likes me—and not because she wants to persuade me to save the garden. But I don’t know if she likes meenough.
Not enough to keep holding hands this week while we go through this together.
I take a deep breath.
That bodes ill for our relationship continuing if Grandpa vetoes saving the garden. And if he does, how can I ever prove to Lily that I tried to save it? The board minutes are confidential.
What happens with the garden shouldn’t determine whether we date.
Outside the window, New York City flashes by as we drive uptown. As we cross west on 14thStreet, we pass one of the first buildings I ever worked on. During college, I spent my junior summer at the office. It was awkward to work with my uncle. As if I was betraying my dad. But Uncle Tom was fair then, willing to teach me with Rowena.
I want a relationship like my parents, and the last thing I need is one forged in conflict and opposition. My family has had enough of that.
What if Sebastian is right that I’m using her as a distraction? Her laughing face flashes before mine. My heart hurts. I hit my chest.
The taxi turns up Sixth Avenue.
Sinatra’s smooth tenor croons the lyrics to "My Way" on the radio. Grandpa loves that song.Why does Grandpa have the photo on his desk of that horrible dinner?
He doesn’t care about appearances. It can only serve as a grim reminder of his failure in the last succession fight. And yet, he set up a competition again as if he wants to repeat history. My eyes narrow. What if this is a test to see if we succumb and compete against each other?
It couldn’t be. What happens in this succession fight has serious family consequences, in addition to its impact on my love life. But if we don’t turn on each other here—when the CEO position is the ultimate reward—doesn’t that also show that we are not going to repeat either our family history or the Tell debacle?
I have to do it my way. The only way to show Grandpa we’re CEO material is to stand up for what we believe in. I need to save my family. If Rowena and I were no longer friends … I shudder.
Percy Anderson can’t just come in and take what Rowena and I have worked for.
Now the taxi races up Sixth Avenue, where Lily and I walked after the New York Public Library Gala. I take another deep breath and swallow the lump in my throat.
Chapter twenty
Lily
Ourapartmentdoorslamsbehind Bella. I emerge from the kitchen, Tiger in my arms. He’s been consoling me with his constant purring. But I still haven’t figured out what more I can do to save Oasis Garden.
