Chapter 31
Thirty-One
S ybil
“I have good news,” I tell Lance Vale at our next Friday morning meeting.
Sitting in my dad’s old office hurts, but I try not to think about the time I spent here over the years and the many meaningful conversations that happened when I started working for him.
At least Vale has changed the furniture and switched the artwork. A photo of a much younger him while with his wife on a vacation sits on his large oak desk.
“I take it filming went well this week?”
“More than well.” I smile from ear to ear.
King Media’s primetime tv network has already slotted Top of the World in for the fall.
I have a feeling it’s going to be a massive hit, especially since they’ve agreed to run with Perry’s idea of having the episodes air alongside live social media reactions.
I can already imagine the funny, unhinged things people are going to say.
“I couldn’t be present for all of filming,” I say, “but I pop in as often as I can. Perry sends out nightly emails to keep everyone up to speed.”
He’s also been pretty good at the group text between him, me, and Cooper. We all want this to work—are all gunning for the same juicy footage that’s going to make our show a big hit.
“Tell me more about that,” Vale prods. “What was the best thing you filmed this week?”
My cheeks flush, but I instantly think of the scene that’s going to have women at home screaming at their television sets.
“Well, the film crews are following the stars around their daily lives, but we also have stationary cameras filming twenty-four-seven. One of those picked up a steamy kiss in a hot tub.” It was between Gloria and Benton, to nobody’s surprise.
He raises a bushy eyebrow. “There’s a hot tub at Cooper King’s penthouse, is there?”
I shrug. “It’s on the rooftop, yes.”
Cooper and I were in the screening room when the kiss happened. He’d given me a charged look, the kind that made my panties melt, but he quickly ruined the moment by asking if I was jealous my booty-call had moved on.
“I’ve been with Laurence for most of my career, so I can’t say I know a whole lot about reality tv,” Vale says. “The few holdings we with had with King weren’t in the entertainment media space. I’ll admit, I don’t watch trashy tv at home.”
I can’t imagine he would.
“That’s fair, but you know how they say sex sells? Showmances are a big deal.”
“Showmance?”
I wave my hand. “Trust me, this will help the show tremendously. People are going to lose their minds.”
“Hmm.” Vale leans in his chair, the age-lines in his face more prominent as he considers. “I can’t help but wonder if Laurence has gotten into something untoward here. Is there a chance this will reflect poorly on us?”
My stomach sinks. “Not at all. There’s going to be a lot of variety on the show besides romance. The point is to make money, and it’s going to make us a ton when advertisers are lining up to work with Top of the World.”
He seems skeptical. “I hope you’re right. As I recall, Top of the World cost us over a hundred million.”
I swallow hard. King and Laurence each invested three hundred million—Laurence in pure capital, and King in a mix of money and resources. It’s one of the highest investments ever in this space.
“I believe in Perry and Top of the World,” I assure him. “As far as company reputation, you really don’t have to worry. Nobody thinks of Laurence when they think of media—they think of King. This will be no different. If scandal does break up, it’s King’s liability, not ours.”
Besides that, they’re the ones airing the show.
His lips press together briefly as he tilts his head. “As we both know, King is rebuilding their reputations after the events of last summer. I’m sure they’re invested in making sure Top of the World doesn’t embarrass them further.”
My mood instantly sours. “Which means we’ll make sure everything is done well.”
I hate that my boss is grilling me, but I’m not scared of him. This show is going to be huge. I can feel it in my bones.
“Okay, good. How are things moving along with the foundation work?”
Just thinking about the foundation excites me and I sit up taller. “We’re on track with the planning for our gala scheduled the first Saturday in October, and I’ve got four meetings set up next month to fundraise for our causes.”
I slide a printout of my donor meeting schedule, pretty damned pleased with myself.
I’ve landed huge prospects and am thrilled to tell them all about our partners.
We work with some incredible nonprofits and are passionate about helping them grow.
I can get my nonprofits in front of people they’d never get in front of otherwise.
“Looks to me like this disability nonprofit gets a lot of your attention,” he says, peering through his glasses at the sheet of paper. “That’s great, but Laurence International raises for a number of charities which appeases the interests of various shareholders.”
“Yes, you’re right, but?—”
“It can’t be all about you and your passions. I understand Chandler has inspired your disability work, but don’t forget about the Foundation as a whole.”
His words are like a slap to the face. I take a deep breath and carefully word my reply.
“You’re right that I’m most passionate about the disability advocacy, but that doesn’t mean I’m not also passionate about our other nonprofit partners.
We provide a great deal of funds and resources to our environmental protection organization, the local nonprofit for feeding the hungry and housing the homeless here in our city, and then we have the international organization that uplifts women and children in developing nations. ”
And they’re all wonderful. Just because I’m not just as passionate about them as I am about disability advocacy doesn’t mean they’re not all near and dear to my heart, nor does it mean The Laurence Foundation neglects anybody.
He gives me a long, steady look, and I swear he’s disappointed. My entire body tenses. Honestly? It pisses me off.
“I already know who we support. I’m telling you to make sure you’re following through on all fronts. I want to see a schedule that reflects that.”
My cheeks burn. “Oh, of course, let me explain what you’re looking at there.
” I motion to the paper in his hands. “While the foundation supports all four charities year-round, we take quarters to direct focus on one of our nonprofit partners one at a time. Quarter three is for the disabled children. Quarter one is environmental protections.” He should know, that’s the one Laurence pours the most money into.
“Quarter two is for uplifting women and children across the globe. And quarter four is about feeding the hungry and housing the homeless right here in our city, which goes over great around the holidays.”
Take that!
“Hmm…very well, but we may want to rethink that down the road. Did you hire an assistant like I told you to?”
I can’t seem to win one today. “I thought that was more of a suggestion.”
He shakes his head, a line forming between his graying eyebrows. “Consider it a mandate. You have a lot on your plate. I only want to see you succeed. I’m sorry if I sound like I’m being rough on you, but it’s my job to push you to your fullest potential.”
Vale is looking at me like he expects no argument. Hiring someone sounds like tedious work, let alone training them, but I might not have a choice.
“I’ll get on that. Anything else?”
He studies at me for a beat. “Are you going to Nantucket this summer?”
My emotions immediately spiral. I haven’t been to Nantucket since Dad died.
I shake my head. “As you’ve said, it’s a busy summer for me. I don’t have time.”
His face softens. “The anniversary of your father’s death is coming up. Do you have someone to talk to? Mental health counseling? We can get you set up if you need help. Or you can always talk to me.”
My spine turns to steel, and I can’t move, can hardly even breathe.
Vale is not someone I want to be talking to about my father’s horrible death.
I don’t care if I’ve known Vale for years or that he was close to my dad.
It’s not like he’s close to me. We’re not friends; we were coworkers, and now he’s my boss. That’s all.
“I’ve got it handled.”
“It was a terrible tragedy. We’re all sad he’s gone. If I could bring him back, I would. Sometimes I hate that I’m sitting here instead of him.”
Does he, though?
The words fall flat, but that’s probably because I can’t handle this conversation.
“I do plan to take next Friday off of work,” I say. “I hope you understand why I won’t be in a state to work that day or have our weekly meeting.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t expect anything less. We’ll touch base in two weeks.”
“Is there anything else?” I scoot my chair away from the desk, readying myself to leave.
“There is one last thing.”
My legs shake as I sit back down. I want to get the hell out of this office. This conversation is taking way too long, and I’m practically crawling out of my skin.
“The hiring committee has officially recommended me for Laurence’s open CEO position.
They’ll be taking this recommendation to the board early next week.
I would appreciate it if you put in a good word with your siblings and mother.
I know your family’s vote is very important to the board in this matter. ”
As it should be; it’s our name on the doors of this building.
“Of course,” I assure him, but as I head to my office, I’m not sure how I feel about Vale being CEO. Do I really want to sit through more micromanaging conversations with him?
As much as I can see him taking on the position permanently, I have to admit… I don’t want it to be him.
Maybe that’s not his fault. Maybe it’s grief talking, and anyone in that role would rub me the wrong way. It’s so damn hard to accept that my dad will never be in this office again.