Page 14 of The Estate
It was a compromise Cal could work with. Pops had said he’d pay for Cal’s college if his parents didn’t, but Cal knew every dime Pops had went into the estate. The trust payments only went so far; Pops covered the rest.
Over the years, he and his parents had come to an uneasy truce. They thought he just needed time to come to his senses regarding working as a stockbroker. Cal thought they just needed to loosen up and realize he had his own dreams to pursue.
Cal wouldn’t give his father the satisfaction of knowing his dig at Cal’s business degree hit a nerve. So he schooled his face to give nothing away, as his stomach churned. Ignoring his dad’s comment, he said, “What I’ve started and the plans I have for the propertyaregood business. You’ve hired an outside firm to come tell us what to do with it, but you won’t even listen to what I want to do to it. I have a roadmap for the estate’s next five years that creates a solid foundation for continued success and sustainability.”
Cal exhaled sharply. He was tired of arguing with them. He had hoped turning the estate into an event venue was the start ofa new chapter. An opportunity for them to realize what he could do and what the estate could become.
He’d been wrong.
“I realize you don’t understand my desire to run the estate events and open the distillery, but I need to do it. It’s where my interests lie, and I excel at it.”
He hesitated before saying, “I know your wish is for me to work at your firm, but that’s never going to be my chosen life.”
Although he wasn’t surprised when his parent’s only response was more disappointing looks, that didn’t stop his chest from hurting. He would never win, but he had a hard time not continually trying to reach them.
Perhaps it was simply unreasonable to expect that they ever be proud of him. From any outside measurement, he was a successful businessman, but to his parents he continued to be a failure. It was a weird and depressing dichotomy to live in.
If he’d been able to attract other types of events besides weddings to the venue, he had no doubt that he would have met or exceeded the profitability goals his parents insisted on. With time, he was confident he could do that, but that was the one thing he lacked. Time. With hiring this firm, his parents had made their decision clear. Even if they used the trust payment for a commercial kitchen, the distillery and his other plans would be delayed for years.
He stood there a moment wondering how else this day could suck, when his phone rang.
Seeing the call screen, he knew he’d just jinxed himself. As he rubbed his forehead, the annoying pulsing in his head flared into an outright tension headache. He nodded goodbye to his parentsand started walking toward his car. There was nothing else for him to say. He should stop trying.
Resignedly, he answered the call. “Hey Trace. Did the remaining shipment arrive?”
Chapter Six
Running with the Bulls
Rachel couldn’t get enough distance between her and the conference room. Of all the crappy things to have happened in that meeting, having Cal—sorry,Alaric—walk in attained a height of horror even she couldn’t have foreseen. Thankfully, Seth hadn’t waited for her. After shaking hands with the Fitzgeralds, he’d given her a quick tilt of his head and walked away.
Back in her office, Rachel dumped her notes and fell into her chair. Now that the shock and anger of seeing Cal was waning, panic was filling its space. How could she work with this obnoxious guy? There was clearly tension between him and his parents. His parents who were her clients. The clients who expected her to dig into every nook and cranny of White Hall Estate and make intelligent business recommendations to them. The business run by their egotistical, condescending son.
Glancing down at her notes, she saw where she’d written ‘potential issue with son’ on her paper, complete with a big circle around it. Even before she knew their son was Cal, there was a high probability of problems. Knowing it was Cal seemed to move that into the certainty column. This project was her chance to show Seth what she could do. She needed to shine on this assignment while Cal seemed like he’d be hell bent on derailing her.
Closing her eyes with a sigh, she rested her head back on the chair.
“Well, that doesn’t look good,” she heard. As she opened her eyes, she spied Lisa leaning against the doorjamb.
“This is a nightmare,” Rachel replied.
Lisa searched her eyes before scowling. “Damn,” she checked her watch. “I only came here to poke at you about the super attractive guy I saw join your meeting, but it’s clear you’re serious. Actually, if you of all people say it’s a nightmare, it’s most assuredly true.
“I have to be at this meeting now.” Lisa glanced down the hall. “It will probably last a bit, and then I have an appointment off-site, but I’ll swing back before then and you can tell me what’s up.”
“Thanks Lisa,” Rachel replied. “But no need. I’ll be fine.”
Lisa looked her over again with a critical eye. “No. You won’t. But let’s compromise. Dinner tonight at my house. You can help me pull Lottie away from her latest wedding gown project.”
The corners of Rachel’s mouth turned up. A night with Lisa and Lottie did sound like fun, but still she hesitated. She wasn’t one to have a venting session with friends. Usually it was friends talking to her. She was a superb listener. Although she couldn’t deny her heart ached to confide in someone about this.
“I’m making burgers on the grill,” Lisa sang. “And my sneaky sangria with s’mores for dessert.”
Rachel laughed. “You had me at dinner with you and Lottie.” Lisa looked unconvinced so Rachel conceded, “Okay. Your burgers, sangria, and s’mores did sweeten the pot a bit.”
“I knew it,” Lisa pushed off the door. “I have to go. How does six tonight work?”
“Perfect.”
