Page 47 of Convincing Him
“I didn’t meet the expectations of your ultimatum,” Gabe quietly informed him. “Britney and I are not getting married before your deadline. I felt it would be better press for the company and family to simply say I resigned rather than have to explain to the board and the public the real reasons.”
“The wedding isn’t until Saturday,” huffed James. “Find someone else.”
“No,” Gabe was firm. “There is no one else I’m willing to marry.”
“Why not?” demanded James. “You are going to give up your legacy for some girl who doesn’t even want you?”
Gabe refused to be drawn into an argument. “What’s done is done, Dad. I have resigned. I’m sorry if I have disappointed you.”
“Disappointed?” sputtered James, his face turning red. “Are you going to leave the business to Parker? He doesn’t know how to lead a company like Ramesly Hospital and Medical Corporation. He’s a surfing bum! Is he who you want to take your place? He’ll bankrupt the business!”
Gabe narrowed his eyes. He didn’t appreciate his father’s lack of confidence in Parker. “Right now, the company has a complex issue which could involve a very negative impact on this family and the security of Ramesly HMC if anyone were to find out. Do you know who has been handling the issue? Parker. He discovered the problem, has developed a solid strategy to get the company through the problem and is implementing it. I would say I’m more than comfortable leaving Parker in charge. He’s proved himself to me many times. Since you’ve retired, I have been giving Parker more and more responsibilities and he’s excelled. The only person I would be just as comfortable giving the company to is Marshall and we both know Marshall would have difficulty not bankrupting the chain of hospitals. He has such a big heart and wants to save everyone.”
“Neither of them are ready for being the head of the company,” growled James. “You are the first born. I groomed you for this.”
“Your ultimatum had unintended side effects,” Gabe pointed out.
James shook his head in disappointment. “You are such a wimp. You a Ramesly. You can have anyone. I want to be certain when I die, this company I built from its inception is safe and has a future.”
“I don’t want anyone. I want Brit,” Gabe could feel his temper rising. He leaned forward in his chair. “Why is it this company is more important to you then your sons’ happiness? Parker is more than capable of running the company. In fact, he’ll be better at it than I am because it’s his passion. He loves it as much as you do. Why can’t you see that? Why can’t you just have some faith in him? You are always putting Parker down, always tearing into him. Why?”
Gabe waited with bated breath. Maybe finally, his father would just admit the truth.
James turned an alarming shade of puce before letting out an aggravated breath. “Because I can’t forgive him!”
“Finally,” murmured Gabe. “Finally, the secret is out.”
James lowered his brows, frowning at Gabe. “What are you talking about? You knew?”
“Parker isn’t your son?” Gabe leaned back, folding his arms. “I have known it for years. You cheated on mom with your secretary and Mom cheated on you with Uncle Oscar.”
“It was a party. They both had too much to drink,” muttered James, his color abating back to the dull grey. “I was away and your aunt Mary… well, let’s just say she’s not the easiest person to live with. It happened one time. I forgave Dotty the moment she confessed the whole episode to me. As for my affair, it was a mistake. Your mother forgave me.”
“You forgave Mom, but you couldn’t forgive Parker? What choice did he have? It wasn’t his fault his father isn’t you,” challenged Gabe in disgust.
“Every time I look at him, I see Oscar,” grimaced James. “I had to be harder on him. Otherwise he might turn out to be like your worthless, lazy uncle. Oscar always needed constant babysitting. He wasn’t a businessman. If he had his way, he would be at a continual party on some beach. We practically ran his business for him. I had to make sure Parker didn’t take after Oscar.”
“That’s why you hate the surfing so much,” realized Gabe.
“Surfing is a bum sport,” groused James. “Rameslys play golf. A true gentleman’s game.”
Gabe shook his head in disbelief. “You need to forgive and make peace with Parker. He’s the one who is going to be leading the company into the future. Not only that, but he has been raised to be your son. You owe him forgiveness and acceptance, or you owe him the truth.”
A silence stretched out between them as James thought it over. “You are certain you are not going to resume your position?”
“When I resigned if felt right,” admitted Gabe. “I have never thought of doing anything other than leading Ramesly Hospital and Medical Corporation, but leaving my position to Parker was the right thing to do. I believe in him.”
“You think he’ll do a good job?” a hopeful James asked reluctantly.
“I know he will,” affirmed Gabe. He slowly put a hand out to his father. “Thank you for teaching me and trusting me to take your place when you stepped down. I learned a lot.”
“First time you’ve ever said it,” grumbled a pleased James as he shook his son’s hand.
Gabe stood up, looking down on his father who was becoming more and more frail. “It was about time I did say something. Past time, really.”
“You can visit you know,” a gruff James announced. “The prison I’ll be going to allows visitors. They have these things called day passes.”
“When is your hearing?” a somber Gabe questioned.
