Page 54 of Flyboy
"Tell her. If she finds out from someone else, you'll be screwed, and the longer you wait the more likely that will happen. I don't know how she's not questioning Roark and the team now."
"She's too busy working," he growled.
"Ah, right, yes, Penny has mentioned she's rarely home."
"Penny? You're talking to Penny?"
"Yeah, we text all the time. Have done since they were here in Vegas."
"Really?" Huh, he hadn't known that. Penny hadn't mentioned talking to Maryn. Was she talking to the others?
"She's a great kid. Far too old for her years and I think she's got plans to take over Townsend sometime in the future which will piss off the barracuda when you let it happen."
"You think I'll let Penny have control of Townsend?"
"No. ButIwill after you've handed it over to me, and God, I can't wait to shove that up the barracuda's nose." Jack could imagine the grin on his sister's face; she'd probably be rubbing her hands together at the thought too.
"Ha! In your dreams, Sprite."
"No, in yours."
Yeah, it was something he dreamed about. He loved the Townsend Group, but his heart wasn't in it like it was flying. And unless he convinced the board to buy an airline he could run and pilot, he'd have to settle for splitting his focus.
It had been a lot easier since Maryn had come on board fulltime after college. And she'd made his move to Sunnyville seamless. Without her he never would have been able to take the break from the corporation he, his grandfather, and father had poured their hearts and souls into. He'd needed that break, still did to a degree except he was beginning to realize his time away was running out.
He would have to go back soon. But not before he'd convinced Lys to stay married and come with him.
"Thank you."
"Don't. As much as you don't want to be here day to day, I do. I've always wanted it, Jack."
"I know, but I kind of dropped you in at the deep end."
"Not really. I've been in these offices from before Dad died."
She had. He remembered her toddling through the halls behind him back when he'd been a raw teenager learning all things Townsend from the ground up. She'd started far earlier than him. The memories were bittersweet. "You were so inquisitive; even at five you asked questions about the business."
"I've never wanted to do anything except run this company."
"You're good at it." She was. She'd surprised him with how well she handled not only the work but the older generation on the board and in management roles. It shamed him to admit she'd had a few brick walls to scale due to her age and sex.
They were changing that—hadchanged it. Maryn was well respected and looked up to now. It had taken years, but the effort had been worth it. For him and her, not to mention Townsend itself. The company had prospered since she'd taken a leading role in management.
"I am good at it. I'd be better exceptsomeonewon't hand over the reins completely."
"Not yet. Soon. I think I'm going to need to."
"You want to stay in Sunnyville." It wasn't a question. They might not have spent as much time together in recent years but Maryn knew him.
"I want to be wherever Lys is. If I can't convince her to move to Vegas then yes, I'll stay in Sunnyville."
And there, decision made. He'd wait as long as it took for Lys to believe he wanted to be at her side forever. She could jump him in the dark and ignore him the rest of the time because he wasn't going anywhere.
He was her husband, and he was keeping the title and staying.
"Penny wants to work at Townsend this summer."
He rolled his eyes. "Of course, she does."
