2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
“If Dad wants to sell the company, SheTime needs to be dissolved,” Harris said, leaning against the cold window of his brother’s corner office. His gaze drifted down to the gridlocked traffic far below. Cars jammed the streets, mirroring the irritation growing inside him.
“Harris, we’ve been over this. Dad’s just trying to get you back into the business. He doesn’t really want to sell.” Dean, his younger brother and the current CEO of Ryan & Ryan, stood from his sleek mahogany desk. He stared at Harris in disbelief, though it was hard to take him seriously in his football jersey.
“Dad doesn’t make empty threats.”
“That’s why I asked you to come back and talk some sense into him.”
Harris pulled his hand from his pocket and ran it through his hair. “Once Dad makes up his mind, there’s no talking sense into him. You know that as well as I do.” Their dad was as stubborn as a mule, and he wasn’t likely to change his mind about his most recent decision—to retire and pass on the family business to both of his sons.
“You seriously think Dad’s going to retire and spend his days cruising the Bahamas? Or doing crossword puzzles?” Harris couldn’t hide the snark in his questions. Their dad was not the average seventy-year-old. He didn’t know the meaning of “relaxation.” Never had. Harris couldn’t picture him not working. He’d always meddle with the company, in some form. In fact, if it weren’t for his new wife, their dad would continue working until death came knocking at his office door.
“Nah.” Dean shook his head. “More like trips to Paris and Italy. Karen’s already planned a month in Europe for her and Dad in the spring. And then they’re going to spend the summer at the lake house. They want the grandkids to come visit them.”
Harris nearly choked on his tongue. “Seriously?”
“Serious as a snowman in a heatwave.” Dean rounded his desk and Harris squinted at him, not able to connect the father he knew with the husband Karen was hoping for. The only vacations Harris remembered from his childhood were before his mother had passed. His father would fly in to join them for a day or two. Or not at all.
Pressing the length of his arm against the window, Harris leaned into the chilled glass. “Didn’t take her long to convince him to retire, huh?”
Dean furrowed his brow. “What do you mean? They’ve been married for seven years, and she’s been bugging him to retire since the wedding.”
“Seven years?” Had it really been that long?
“I think you’d actually like Karen if you took the time to get to know her. She’s good to Dad and the kids love her.”
Harris nodded, slowly. He didn’t really have a reason not to like Karen. It was his dad he didn’t trust. Karen was his fourth wife. He’d remarried a few years after Mom passed, and it’d taken Harris most of his teenage years to warm up to his stepmom. Then, after high-school—once she felt like family—his dad and she divorced and Harris lost another major part of his life. He married again for a few short years in his fifties. Even now, Harris didn’t trust that his dad fully committed to much, at least outside of work.
“I’m sure she’s nice. She’s got to have the patience of a saint to put up with Dad,” Harris said, and Dean shrugged in agreement. “But I’m not here to talk about Dad’s marriage. I’m here to talk about the future of Ryan & Ryan.” His shoulders squared, considering the ultimatum Dad had given them. “I’ve got my own life. I can’t just drop everything because Dad decided it’s time for me to play the dutiful son.”
Dean sighed. Worry etched his face. Their dad wanted both his sons working for the family business. If that didn’t happen, he’d sell Ryan & Ryan next year to their largest competitor, a billion-dollar conglomerate that’d turn and burn the business. That was why Harris was here, standing in Dean’s office and placating their father.
Though he wasn’t here for their father. He was here for Dean.
“I get it,” Dean said. “I really do. But it’s not just about the company, Harris. It’s about us. We’re a family. We built this together. I don’t want to lose the company Grandpa started with blood, sweat, and tears. Do you?”
The brothers locked eyes, the weight of family history and expectations hanging in the air.
“Grandpa is rolling over in his grave right now, Dean. He’d smack Dad upside the head for even considering the situation he’s put us both in.” Harris shook his head. His brother wanted to take over the family business. It was all he’d ever wanted since they were little. Harris was content to live the life he’d created for himself in New York City. But their dad had thrown a wrench into both of their plans, mainly because it irked him that Harris had made his own way. He had his own thriving business, making it hard for his dad to control him.
“I’m here for you.” Harris fixed his stare on Dean. “I’ll stay through Christmas. Hopefully, we can persuade Dad to sell to you by then.” Even if it forced Harris to work alongside his dad, something he swore he’d never do again. But if they couldn’t change their dad’s mind by Christmas, Harris was certain his mind would never change.
Dean’s shoulders sagged in obvious relief, and he gave Harris a crooked smile. “Thanks for coming, brother.”
Harris nodded. He stood from the window, rubbing a hand over his jaw in thought, but a throb of pain reminded him of the headbutt he’d received this morning—from a curiosity of a woman. Picturing her, Harris wondered what she did at Ryan & Ryan. She didn’t fit the mold, and that intrigued Harris. Even now, he couldn’t help grinning at her explanation of the cat sweater. Harris was sure it irked his father to no end. His dad loved football and needed everyone around him to fall in line with his way of thinking. Particularly if they were on his payroll.
Harris smirked, appreciating her tenacity. But when his mind wandered to her angelic face and the gentle curve of her lips—which he had studied when she had been draped on top of him—he cleared his throat and shifted to a new subject. The last thing he needed was to get distracted by a woman. Especially, one that worked for his father.
“I’m going to run a full analysis on SheTime,” Harris announced. “I ran the financials last night, and that division is bleeding money.” At least he could make himself useful while he was here.
“It’s an investment in our future. There’s a lot of marketing involved in growing a new brand.”
Harris crooked an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with the economical soaps we’ve been manufacturing for fifty years?”
“Nothing’s wrong with them,” Dean said. “They’re the bread and butter of Ryan & Ryan, but we also need to change with the times. SheTime is a premium line for women. It’s diversifying our business, and it’s got a lot of potential.”
Dean had always been a “big picture” kind of guy, while Harris focused on the details. He was analytical, making decisions based on sound data and financials. “I’m all about diversification, but only if it’s profitable. From what I saw in the quarterly reports, SheTime’s running on slim margins and has been for a while. Doesn’t make sense to keep throwing money at a failing business. Dissolving that division would help the bottom line. Even if Dad ends up selling, it’d increase profitability and guarantee a better sale price.”
Dean gave a quick shake of his head. “We can’t just get rid of an entire division at the drop of a hat. Do you want me firing a bunch of people before Christmas?”
“When you put it like that, you make me sound like a complete grinch.”
Dean stared at him, not arguing the grinch part.
Ouch.
“You don’t have to fire everyone,” Harris added. “I’m sure you could move some roles within the company.”
“How about instead of dissolving SheTime, you help me fix it ?” He put air quotes around the last two words, challenging Harris.
Harris slid a hand in his pocket. “I’ll pull together a full financial analysis and recommendation by the end of the week. I already started with last quarter’s—”
Dean held up a hand. “You need to understand the business outside of reports and spreadsheets.”
Was there a more efficient way? Harris cocked his head. “What do you have in mind?”
“I want you to take over as SheTime’s director.” Dean looked way too excited for his own good. “While you’re here,” he added.
“Have you been sitting on that the entire time we’ve been talking?”
“Maybe.”
Harris huffed. “Don’t you already have a director?”
“She’s leaving. Just put in her resignation. Pregnant with baby number three and wants to stay home with her kids.”
“Well, that’s inconvenient.” Harris rubbed a temple with two fingers.
Dean laughed. “Inconvenient for who?”
“Me. You.”
“Come on,” Dean urged. “This way, you can learn the intricacies of that division’s business. I’ll let you do whatever you want in the next two weeks, and if by Christmas, you still think SheTime should be dissolved, then I’ll take your recommendation.”
Harris would rather learn from behind a computer, but liked the idea of making the calls for the next few weeks. And if interacting with the sales and marketing team was the only way to open Dean’s eyes, he’d do it. From the numbers he’d seen, the team needed direction, anyhow. Besides, the annoyance would be short-lived. “Alright, but I’ll need access to everything—financials, operations, marketing strategies.”
Dean jerked his arm back like the Bears had finally made a touchdown. “You’ll have it. Gigi, the marketing director, can brief you on her current projects.”
“Gigi?” Harris raised an eyebrow, immediately associating “Gigi” with the slim margins he’d reviewed. She didn’t focus on the right metrics and frivolously spent on extravagant packaging, advertising, and events, seriously cutting into profits.
“Yeah, she’s been doing a great job. Smart. Creative. You’ll be in good hands.”
“Mm-hmm,” Harris said, going along with his brother’s positivity. Even though he didn’t agree with it.
“Actually, I’ll introduce you now. Kim called a meeting to tell the team about her resignation. They should still be in the conference room.”
Harris had tougher topics to address with their father, but playing director would make it look like he was interested in diving back into the family business. That’d give him more leverage in their conversations.
Buttoning his suit coat, Harris nodded at Dean. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”