2. Dan
CHAPTER 2
DAN
D an hesitated in the lobby for a few minutes after the beautiful redhead had left. It wasn’t that he had any business hanging around RMA after the work day had ended, but he wasn’t quite ready to leave yet.
Dan was visiting his father, the venerable Richard Marley, founder of RMA Pharmaceuticals, this evening. Now in his seventies, Richard was really slowing down. He was growing more interested in tending his garden and spending time with his wife, Dan’s mother, than in the ins and outs of running RMA. Yet he still refused to fully hand over the reins to Dan, despite years of dropped hints that Dan was ready.
Dan loved his father dearly, but it was becoming frustrating that Richard didn’t seem to trust him with the company. Dan had proven himself time and time again, yet his father didn’t seem to notice.
Dan let out his breath in a long sigh. There was no use dwelling or delaying. He needed to leave now if he was going to make it to his parents’ house on time for dinner.
As Dan exited the building and walked to his car, he purposely put all thoughts of RMA Pharmaceuticals and his father out of his mind. Instead, surprisingly, he found himself thinking about Leah Adams.
He’d met the researcher several times before, mostly in meetings with other research-and-development leaders. Each time, he’d been impressed with her. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful — although she certainly was, with that curly auburn hair that framed her face, her green eyes that always reminded Dan of a forest, and her attractive curves under her lab coat. No, what always impressed Dan most was how thoughtful she was. Leah rarely spoke in meetings, but when she did, it was almost always with a creative, insightful idea that solved whatever issue they were discussing.
When his marketing team had suggested that Dan join Leah at the conference to announce Forenal, he’d been more than happy to say yes. Not only was the conference an opportunity to promote a winning drug; it was a chance to spend more time with Leah.
Not that Dan would be interested in a relationship with her, or with anyone. He was single and liked it. Staying a bachelor and dedicating all his energies to RMA Pharmaceuticals was the only way he could make sure the company continued breaking records and dominating the market — and prove to his father that he was capable of inheriting the business.
Dan shook his head. He was back to the topic he’d been trying to avoid. In another attempt at distraction, he turned on the radio to a talk station and listened to the hosts discussing the rising price of eggs. It wasn’t exactly fascinating material, but it was a good diversion.
When Dan arrived at his parents’ house twenty minutes later, he went straight inside. The delicious scent of his mother’s lasagna wafted out of the kitchen and Dan smiled.
“Is that you, Dan?” Richard’s voice rang out through the house.
“Hi, Dad,” Dan called back.
“Hi, honey!” Jane, Dan’s mother, called from the kitchen. “Dinner will be a few more minutes.”
Richard appeared in the hallway. He beamed at his son. “How are you?”
“Not bad. It was a busy day.”
“Care to join me for a beer on the porch while we wait? We can’t let this good weather slip away.”
“Sure thing.” Dan followed his father out back, where they sat beside each other in the matching white rockers Dan’s parents had received as a gift from Dan’s sister, Jenny. She lived halfway across the country in San Francisco, but still did her best to be an involved daughter. Dan tried, too, but his schedule was so hectic that he rarely made it out for dinners like this.
“The hydrangeas are really blooming,” Richard said, gesturing to a row of bushes in the back.
“Hmm.” Dan took a sip of his beer. “The garden’s looking great.”
“Thank you. But I’m sure you have much more interesting things going on. How is your life?”
It was the perfect segue. As much as Dan wanted to spend time with his parents, he’d had a bit of an ulterior motive in planning this visit. He needed to talk to Richard, seriously, about handing the company over.
“It’s going well. Our new blood-pressure drug, Careax, grossed almost twice as much as we expected last quarter thanks to our new marketing strategy. Plus…” Dan went on for several more minutes, outlining the successes that RMA had seen under his management during the last quarter. Richard listened, pausing now and then to take a sip of his beer.
“Really,” Dan concluded, “RMA is doing better than ever. Which is something I wanted to talk to you about, Dad. I’ll never cease to be amazed by how you built RMA from the ground. But lately, I’ve had a hands-on role, and I’ve helped bring the company to new heights. I know you love being at home. I have to admit that I’m a little confused about why you haven’t handed over the reins yet. I think I’ve shown that I’m more than ready to take over.”
It was the most straightforward Dan had ever been, yet, despite everything, he felt like a little boy as he waited for his father’s response. Richard took a long drink of his beer before he answered.
“Of course I want you to take over RMA. And I think you are ready. You’ve done great work in the last few years. But I’m worried about you, Son. When I asked about your life, you did nothing but talk about work.”
“Because work is so important to me.” Dan took a breath. “Isn’t that why I’m ready to take over? I’m ready to prioritize RMA.”
“But what about the rest of your life?” Richard shook his head. “I’m sorry, Dan. I can’t let you take over until you’ve fulfilled your professional life, too.”
Dan was bowled over. This was not what he’d expected at all.
“Dad, my personal life is fulfilled.”
“I don’t think so. Do you know why I started RMA in the first place?”
Dan wasn’t in the mood for a story, but he shook his head. “Why?”
“I wasn’t always a CEO. For most of my twenties, I worked at other pharmaceutical companies in lower-level roles. Then I met your mother, and you and your sister came along. Suddenly, a paycheck wasn’t enough. I wanted to be sure that I could always provide for my family. That’s why I offer such good family leave policies and why I encourage our employees to follow their passions, not just punch the clock. Family is what RMA was built on. Family is why we’ve been so successful all these years.”
Dan bit his lip, but he nodded. “I understand that. I know the values RMA was built on, and I will always respect them.”
“It isn’t that easy. Running a company is so hectic and all-consuming that it becomes too easy to put everything else aside — even to ignore the needs of your workers to meet your bottom line. Family is what kept me grounded all these years. Without that, I worry that you’d struggle. And it doesn’t seem like you’re on the right path now. You haven’t even been on a date in years!”
Dan felt like all his hard work was slipping away. He’d spent years preparing to take over RMA. He’d put his personal life on hold. He’d studied and worked and put his nose to the grindstone to make the company all it could be. And now his father was telling him that none of that was as important as his relationship status? It was unbelievably unfair. Dan wanted to argue with his father, but he knew that Richard was as stubborn as a mule when he wanted to be. If he’d decided that a family was what Dan needed in order to become a good CEO, there was no way Dan could escape that.
And so, with his whole future on the line, Dan blurted out the only thing he thought might help. “I actually have a girlfriend.”
Richard paused. His eyes widened slightly. Then he turned to Dan. “You do?” He didn’t quite sound convinced.
“Yes.” Dan felt terrible lying to his father, but he wasn’t sure what other choice he had. He couldn’t lose RMA Pharmaceuticals now. Not when he’d devoted his whole life to it. “We’ve been dating for a while now. But I didn’t want to tell you about her until I was sure it was serious.”
The joy on Richard’s face was even greater than when Dan had set a record for the highest-grossing quarter last quarter. Dan felt another surge of annoyance. It didn’t make sense for his father to be this much more thrilled about a (fake) girlfriend than he’d been about the success of the company he’d built.
“Oh, Dan. That’s wonderful. Will you tell me about her?”
“I’d like to.” Dan thought fast. “But I think I’d rather just introduce you. I need a little time, though.”
“Yes, of course. Whenever you feel ready.” Richard put a hand on Dan’s. “Really, Son. If this girl is the one for you, you’ll understand why family is so important to me. And to RMA Pharmaceuticals. I know I sound like a rambling old man, talking so much about family when you’re already so successful. But believe me; no professional success can compare to the sight of your wife on her wedding day, or the laugh of your firstborn. You’ll see.”
“I think I’m starting to,” Dan lied.
Richard beamed. “I’m so happy to hear it. I need to tell your mother.” Richard hurried off to the kitchen, leaving Dan alone on the porch.
He was reeling. The lie had really spiraled out of control. Dan might have saved his reputation in his father’s eyes for now, but he also needed to produce a girlfriend — and fast.
He sank his head into his hands and rubbed his temples. Richard had a point that Dan hadn’t been on a date in years — and hadn’t had a serious relationship for a long time before that. At thirty-eight, Dan was as single as he’d ever been. He didn’t even have a list of women in mind who he could ask out.
Dan let out a muffled groan. Short of hitting the dating apps, he wasn’t sure what to do. Strangely, an image of Leah Adams drifted through his mind, but Dan quickly moved on. He admired Leah greatly, but there was no way he was going to ask her out just to trick his father into getting past his old-fashioned requirements for running a company.
“Dan!” Jane called from the kitchen. “Come in! I’ve heard that you have exciting news!”
With another muffled sigh, Dan got to his feet and made his way into the kitchen, braced for the onslaught of questions. Sure enough, he’d barely sat down before his mother was shooting questions at him. In her seventies, Jane was just as keen-sighted and sharp as she’d been when Dan was young, and he knew there was every chance she’d see through him if he tried to lie. Plus, he’d already dug himself into a hole with his claim that he was dating someone. So, Dan waved off every question with an assurance that they would meet his girlfriend soon when he brought her over for dinner and that they could ask her all the questions themselves then.
By the time Dan said his goodnights and headed home, he was beyond exhausted. Lying to his parents felt horrible, but he hadn’t been sure what else to do. And both Richard and Jane had been so thrilled that he knew he couldn’t go back on his word.
He was just going to have to find a girlfriend and introduce her to his parents. Maybe he could hire a local actress… Thoughts spiraled through his head until he was more tired and confused than ever. When he finally reached home, he fell into bed like a stone yet couldn’t sleep. Thoughts of his father, his mother, the company, and, for some reason, a fuzzy bride who looked a little like Leah, danced through Dan’s head until he finally fell into a restless slumber.