Page 29 of One Night with Cinderella

Most times it was cute. In this moment Gabe found it annoying. His father needed reprimanding not consoling.

“Since everyone is rooting for me to retire and fade to black, as if I have nothing to offer,” Phillip Sr. said, pressing a kiss to Nicolette’s palm before setting aside her hand and rising from his seat, “why don’t each of you tell me why you want to be CEO?”

“I’m the eldest and the most experienced working within the company,” Phillip Jr. immediately asserted.

“Sean?” Phillip Sr. asked.

“Honestly?” Sean asked, pausing in pouring himself a glass of Perrier from the bar in the corner. “I’m the star of the company. The most well-known, and my face on the company will only grow the brand.”

Gabe turned, assuming he was next by order of age.

“Cole?” Phillip Sr. said.

Surprised by his father’s move, he turned back to his view.

“Because you don’t think I can do it, and I want to prove you’re just as wrong about that as you are about plenty of things,” Cole stated.

“Coleman!” Nicolette gasped at his insolence.

“Laisse-le être, bébé,”Phillip Sr. said in her native tongue.

Leave him be.

Their father was as used to Cole’s shtick as everyone else.

“Lucas?”

“Because you want one of your sons to step in and fill your shoes,” Lucas admitted.

“Gabriel?” Phillip Sr. finally called to him.

Again, he looked over his shoulder as he slid his hands into the pockets of his pants. “To grow the company into other culinary markets that will secure the future of Cress, INC. for generations to come,” he replied with ease and honesty.

Phillip Sr. nodded and splayed his hands. “And that is why Gabriel would be my top choice were I to step down,” he said.

Gabe hated the pleasure that glimmer of approval from his father gave him.

“But imagine my disappointment when you mentioned to your mother and I just last week that you missed being a chef and wished you could find a way to do so in some capacity while still working for Cress, INC. A bunch of nonsense I will never support.”

Gabe’s hand tightened into a fist inside his pocket as he remembered the comment he’d made in passing to his parents. “I also said in a perfect world, and trust me, I know this is far from that,” he said, unable to take the censure from his tone.

Cole chuckled. “Careful, Gabe, you’ll lose the top spot and your award for The Perfect Son,” he teased.

“Enough, Cole,” Phillip Sr. said, his voice low but hard and unbending.

Gabe released a heavy breath, swallowing his own anger as the tension in the room seemed to roar. “But if I’m not guaranteed the position of CEO then why should I—or any of us—alter our lives on the chance of gaining nothing?” he asked.

“Why should I trust the future of the company to someone not willing to make the sacrifice?” Phillip Sr. shot back.

“Because the happiness of your sons should matter,” Gabe retorted.

Phillip Sr. threw his hands up in exasperation. “Then be happy and go cook, Gabe, but you cannot have two loves. One will always suffer.”

“Good advice, Dad,” Cole said suddenly with obvious sarcasm.

Everyone in the room looked at Phillip Sr. and Cole as they shared a long look before Cole turned and strode to the door. “I’m out,” he said before leaving.

Gabe had found their brief exchange odd, but barely had time to give it much thought as his father stood and took his mother’s hand in his and walked across the conference room, as well. For him, the conversation was not done, but for now, it was clearly over.

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