Chapter 32
"Some things are worth the upheaval." ~ Jeremy
Jeremy
“Are you certain this is what you want to do?” Chuck asks.
Am I certain I want to move across the country to live with the woman I love? There’s no doubt in my mind. I knew the second I stepped onto the jet to leave Smuggler’s Hideaway, it was the last time I’d leave Parker behind.
“This is going to cause a lot of upheaval in the company,” Jennifer, the human resources manager for Apparoo, adds.
The other members of the board – including Eli – haven’t questioned me once since I announced my desire to move the company to the island of Smuggler’s Hideaway. In fact, Eli smirked and muttered something along the lines of ‘about damn time’.
“You’ve never done something this impulsive before,” Chuck claims.
Eli barks out a laugh. “Never done something this impulsive before? Did you miss the time he thought up and developed an app while he was supposed to be on vacation? By the time he returned to the office, he had a marketing plan ready.”
Chuck waves a dismissive hand in the air. “I meant impulsive as in the business. Not the apps he designs.”
The apps are the business. He’s the operations manager, he knows this.
“Is this because of a woman?”
I glare at him. “None of your business.” Chuck is a member of the board, but we’re not friends. We’re colleagues.
“It is my business when a little baker from a small town in the middle of nowhere wraps you around her finger and doesn’t let you come home.”
Little baker from a small town? How does he know about Parker? I certainly haven’t told him. Has he been spying on me? Another reason to avoid social media.
“What are you talking about?”
He rolls his eyes. “Don’t avoid the question. Are we moving the entire headquarters of Apparoo to the middle of nowhere because a woman is leading you around by your dick?”
How dare he! Who the hell does he think he is? I jump from my chair and prowl toward him.
Eli steps in my way. “He’s not worth it.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What if he said those things about Paisley?”
“I’d laugh at him because he’s jealous and has a small dick.”
“Fine,” I mutter and return to my seat. I’ll let this go. I’ll be the bigger man.
“Remember what happened the last time you decided a woman was ‘the one’?” Chuck asks.
I growl at him. He’s a liar. Before Parker, I never thought a woman was ‘the one’. Hell, before Parker, I didn’t have relationships that lasted more than a weekend. She’s the exception to every single one of my rules.
“You ended up having to settle out of court when she threatened to sell company secrets to the highest bidder.”
“I didn’t tell her any secrets and you know it.”
The woman in question planted a bug in my phone. She came and sat by me in a hotel bar. We had one drink together and then said our goodbyes. She tried to get me to accompany her upstairs to her hotel room, but I declined.
Parker would never do any of those things. She’s too honest and loyal.
“I don’t like this,” Chuck continues to complain.
“And I don’t like how you lied to get me to come to California when you didn’t need me.” I could be in Smuggler’s Hideaway now with Parker. Instead, I’m in the office arguing with this asshat.
“You shouldn’t be away from headquarters for a month.”
Someone has gotten too big for his britches. He doesn’t get to decide when or how long I’m in the office. I’m in charge here. This is my company. Being a member of the board doesn’t give him license to control me.
“Who else agrees with him?” I scan the faces of the other board members. Chuck and Jennifer are the only ones nodding.
“There’s a simple solution here. Anyone who doesn’t want to relocate to Smuggler’s Hideaway can remain in California.” Chuck begins to smile. “You’ll receive a generous compensation package.”
Chuck scowls. “You’re firing us for not wanting to relocate?”
“You can’t do this,” Jennifer claims.
“I can and you know it.”
I didn’t trust Jennifer with the news about the relocation – she’s good at her job but she also enjoys gossiping in the break room entirely too much – so I hired an outside firm to handle the legalities of relocating the hundred employees at Apparoo headquarters to Smuggler’s Hideaway.
I phoned the firm while on my way to California. Nothing is delaying this move.
I fling a file across the table toward Chuck. “The details of your severance package.”
I had the package prepared in the hopes he wouldn’t want to move. Chuck has never been my favorite person but when he claimed he had an emergency and forced me to fly across the country at a moment’s notice for nothing, I was done.
Anyone who gets between me and Parker will find themselves on my bad side. She’s my priority. Everyone else is in the backseat. If they’re even in the car at all.
“Relocating is a good move for the company,” Eli says. He’s had my back since I made the announcement an hour ago, despite my not warning him in advance.
“You would say that,” Chuck sneers. “You live on the tiny island.”
“Which is why I know the operating costs will be significantly lower and there will be less competition for talent. I already have a meeting set up with the mayor to discuss tax incentives.”
When did Eli manage to set up a meeting with Lana?
“The quality of life is higher as well. No traffic, no smog,” I add. “Plus, this gives us a chance to shape a healthier, less toxic company culture.” I meet Jennifer’s gaze. “I’d think you’d be happy about these changes.”
She sighs. “My kids are in high school. I can’t afford to give up in-state tuition rates.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I pass her a package. “You’ll find the severance pay is more than reasonable.”
She flips open the folder and her eyes widen. “This is acceptable.”
I made sure it would be. I’m not messing around. I own the majority shares in Apparoo and Eli has a significant amount of shares as well. Together, we could push this relocation through without the support of the rest of the board, but I have no desire to get caught up in litigation or delays.
I will not be away from Parker any longer than necessary. She’s worried enough about us being in a long-distance relationship. She has enough worries in her life. I will not be one of them. My job is to alleviate her worries. Not add to them.
“Anyone else have any objections?”
When no one responds, I nod. “This meeting is adjourned.”
Eli and I slip out of the boardroom before Chuck can corner us.
“The jet is fueled and ready to go. Are you ready?” Eli asks.
“Hell, yeah. I’ve been gone too long as it is.” It’s only been a few days but it’s been a few days too many.
He claps me on the back. “Happy for you. Parker is a good woman.”
“I love her.”
He chuckles. “I assumed as much since you’re spending several million dollars relocating the business to the island.”
“With the lower operating costs and tax incentives, we’ll earn the money back in less than two years.”
I’ve done the calculations since Parker is going to lose her mind when she finds out about the move. Yes, I’m doing this for her.
But I know how guilty she gets about money. I don’t want her to feel any guilt when it comes to me. It’s bad enough she feels guilty about her parents paying for her to attend culinary school.
I check my watch. “Let’s head directly to the airport. If we don’t have too much traffic, I should make my meeting with the realtor.”
“Buying a house already? When you do something, you go all in.”
“This is not news to you.”
He groans. “As long as you don’t go all in on a keto diet again. The smell in our dorm room from your ‘intestinal issues’ was rank.”
I shrug. “You never should have bet me I couldn’t lose ten pounds in a month.”
“You’re as bad as my brothers.”
We arrive at the airport in less than thirty minutes. Not quite a record, but fast enough to ensure I’ll make my meeting with the realtor.
I dig out the house listings Jade sent me as we taxi onto the runway.
“Find anything interesting?”
“It’s tough. I want to be near the bakery. Parker prefers to walk to work.”
He grins. “Moving her in with you immediately?”
“I would if I could, but she’s stubborn.”
“All good women are.”
“I’m not moving once I settle on the island. I’m ready to buy my forever home.” Not an apartment. A home. I haven’t had one in years and I can’t wait.
Eli flips through the listings. “If she’s willing to bike to work, this place isn’t too far and it has an excellent view of the ocean. There’s a beach as well, although all beaches on the island are public.”
I study the picture of the house he indicated. It’s a Cape Cod with a wraparound porch. I imagine sitting on the porch with Parker, sipping on a beer at the end of the day, while watching our children run around the front lawn.
“If it doesn’t need too much work, I’ll buy it.”
“You haven’t seen it yet.”
I shrug. “I’ll fix anything Parker doesn’t like about it.”
He smiles. “I freaking love you being in love.”
“It scares the hell out of me,” I admit. What if Parker doesn’t love me back? What if I lose her? What if something happens to her?
He claps a hand on my shoulder in squeezes. “You’re on the right track if you’re scared.”
“I guess I’m on the right track then.”
The flight attendant appears and we order some whiskey to celebrate. I’ve missed my best friend. Soon, I’ll be living near him and the woman I love.
I never expected when I fled to Smuggler’s Hideaway to deal with my coding block, I’d end up falling in love but I wouldn’t have it any other way.