Chapter 35
THEO
It’s been a week since my talk with Alex, and I’ve been working nonstop. I’m tired, but working has been rewarding in a way I wasn’t expecting. At times, it even keeps my thoughts occupied long enough that I forget all about Sienna. Those moments are fleeting, though.
The day I joined Alex for breakfast, he helped me plan the next couple of weeks.
I mentioned to him what Sienna had said to me about making a presentation for Roman, and Alex agreed.
He said that while I might have great ideas for the company, they usually don’t mean shit in business unless I can back them up with a detailed plan.
I realize now that I need to show Roman I’ll be a great business partner, not just a great brother. Unfortunately, I haven’t been either lately.
I’ve been working the front desk at Alex’s gym every day since our talk. Any downtime I’ve had between shifts has been spent working on my business proposal for Roman, finally putting my degree to good use.
Matt and Jessie have been up my ass about not attending their various “end of the summer” parties. I don’t care, as the sense of accomplishment I feel over my proposal is worth it. Locking myself in my room every night, instead of partying, this is the most effort I’ve ever put into anything.
I’d be lying if Sienna hasn’t been the driving force behind my recently increased work ethic. I’m not sure I’ll ever have another chance with her, but if I do, I need to make sure I’m someone she can easily fit into her plans. Not someone she just wants to have fun with.
Checking the recently downloaded calendar app on my phone, I stand outside the building, with my family’s name displayed on the front in letters several feet tall—the Kane Construction building.
I’m fifteen minutes early, which means I’m right on time per Roman’s standards.
Donning my nicest black slacks, button-down shirt, tucked in of course, and blazer, I open the front doors, stepping inside the lobby.
I’ve been here plenty of times over the years. I practically grew up here with Roman putting in late hours while I did my homework in a small corner of his office or in one of the conference rooms. I feel like an idiot for not realizing how much work he’s put into this company.
Shaking off the nerves, I approach Sharon at the front desk. Her short gray hair is pinned back perfectly as usual, and I take note of the new baby photo sitting on her desk.
“Theo! What a pleasant surprise.” She takes note of my outfit. “Don’t you clean up nice.” Seeing as how I usually visit in a sweatshirt and sneakers, I register how shocking my outfit must be. I try to push past the feelings of impostor syndrome creeping into my bones as I make small talk.
“Hi Sharon, how are you?” I adjust the three-inch binder, filled to the brim, in my hands. “Rebecca had her baby, I see. How does it feel to finally be a grandma?” I flash her my most charming smile that she’s loved since I was little.
“Oh, it’s everything I thought it would be and more. You’re so sweet to ask.” She waves me off, pointing toward the elevator. “Roman is in his office. You can just go right on up.”
“Actually, this is more of an official visit today. If you wouldn’t mind telling him that I’m here, I’d like to keep things professional.”
“Oh, I see.” She picks up the phone, winking at me as she talks into it. “Roman, your one o’clock is here.”
I hear his muffled response on the other line and straighten my blazer in anticipation of his arrival. Sharon reaches up to tuck a strand of hair out of my face. At the same time, I hear the elevator, and Roman steps out, wearing a suit that costs three times as much as mine.
As he looks me up and down, I hear him mumble, “Let’s get this over with,” motioning for me to follow him.
I take one last look at Sharon before following Roman, and she waves me off, giving me a thumbs-up while mouthing, “Good luck.” I thank her as I follow Roman to the conference room on the first floor. The one he usually uses for salespeople he has no interest in doing business with.
I could use all the good luck I can get right now.
Roman takes a seat at the head of the conference room table, opposite the large TV screen hanging on the wall.
I set the binder down in front of him, having already memorized the entire thing. After getting my presentation set up on the screen, I begin, “Thank you for the opportunity to present my business proposal today. I know you are very busy…”
I proceed with my business proposal to expand Kane Construction into the commercial sector. Not moving away from residential but instead creating a whole new branch of the company that I would help oversee.
Throughout the entire presentation, Roman doesn’t move once. He listens diligently but the only movement he gives me is the slight tap of his finger against the table every so often.
“Thank you for your time.” I finish my presentation, the nerves washing away now that it’s over, with a sense of pride.
Not only is this a great idea, but I have the stats to back it up, too. All of which I presented to Roman today. Only an unskilled businessman would say no to a proposal like this.
“No.” I wait for Roman to say more, but he doesn’t.
“No? That’s it? No?”
Roman stands from his chair. “I appreciate the proposal, but I’m not interested.”
As Roman heads for the door, I look at the binder he left on the table. The binder containing the research, statistics, graphs, charts, and budgets I spent two weeks putting together. Hours of sleep missed, and fun times with friends sacrificed. All for him to say no.
That’s when it hits me. Over the past two weeks, I’ve experienced a fraction of the sacrifices Roman spent years making.
The smallest look into what he must’ve gone through so many years ago.
Sienna’s words echo in my ears. She had said some people have to start at the bottom and work their way up.
Something that takes hard work, grit, and determination.
I now see that both she and Roman have it, and I’ve barely scratched the surface of earning the position here.
Before he can open the door, desperation seeps into my voice, and I say, “I’m sorry.”
He stops just moments before his hand reaches the doorknob.
“You were right about everything. I’m sorry I wasn’t listening, but I’m ready to make a change.” That gets his attention long enough for him to actually turn toward me.
“Go on,” he says as he crosses his arms over his chest.
“I’ve been an entitled asshole who thought I was deserving of a position here because I believed it was Dad’s company.
I know now that it’s not. Kane Construction wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for you.
I know about all of it. The money you put away for us, the endless nights you spent working to build this company into what it is today.
I’ve been an ungrateful asshole about all of it. ”
“You weren’t supposed to know about any of that. Did Leo talk to you?” he grits out through his teeth.
“No, Alex did. He overheard you and Leo talking about everything when we were kids. I had no idea about any of it until now. Why didn’t you say anything?”
He runs his hand across his face, his posture loosening. “You were only six when Mom and Dad died. You saw them in a light that the rest of us weren’t able to. Especially Dad. I couldn’t ruin the image you had of them.”
“So instead you ruined yours?”
He puffs out a semi-laugh. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
I round the table to meet Roman where he is, grabbing the binder in the process.
Handing the proposal over to him, I say, “I want to work with my brother. You might not see it, but I think we could be a really good team.” I let out a sheepish laugh.
“I hate to admit it, but you’re the one I’ve always looked up to.
The only reason I got a degree in business was so I could work here with you. ”
He takes the binder from me. “I’ll think about it. I still don’t like what you pulled at the lake house.”
A sense of relief washes over me at his first words.
“Yeah, I know I fucked up. Big time.” He nods in approval of my admission.
“If it helps, Sienna and I haven’t spoken since that night.
I’m pretty sure she wants nothing to do with me, and I don’t blame her.
She deserves better.” I pause before continuing, “And…I’ve listed the Mustang for sale. ”
“Mmm.” He looks at me carefully, as though he’s thinking through what to say next. “That’s a shame on both accounts, considering you love that car, and you love Sienna even more.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Love? Who said anything about love? She hates me. She said everything was a mistake, and practically agreed with everything you had said that night.”
“If you honestly think she hates you, you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”
“Smart, huh?” I adjust my jacket, standing a little taller, trying to change the subject from the one person I’ve been failing to avoid thinking about for weeks now.
“Don’t change the subject.” He points a finger at me, and I swat it away.
Continuing, I offer him a new deal. “Don’t make me your partner. At least, not at first. Think about the proposal and have me shadow one of the project managers. I want to earn my position here, like you did.”
He looks as though he’s contemplating my offer for a moment before speaking. “Okay, you have the job. You can work your way up under my mentorship, and we’ll put your proposal into place once you’re ready. But I’ll only agree to this on two conditions.”
“Anything, what is it?” I’m embarrassed at how eager I am, but I can’t help my excitement at the chance to prove to my brothers I’m not a kid anymore. That I can work just as hard as they have.
“When I was your age, I spent countless nights building this company. To help take care of you and your brothers. I don’t regret a single moment doing that after seeing where you’ve all ended up today.
” Roman sighs. “But it didn’t leave much room for personal endeavors.
Needless to say, I want you to promise not to make the same mistake I did. ”
Roman puts a hand on my shoulder. “If you love Sienna, go after her. You have plenty of time to build a career here, but the right woman only comes around once. If you let her go now, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
He speaks as though he has experience with this regret, but when I catch the look in his eyes, I decide against asking him about it.
“I don’t think she wants to see me again, even if I do love her.” Shit, do I? “I’m not sure I could get her back.”
“I might have an idea.” Roman throws his arm around my shoulders as he pulls us out of the conference room. “Let’s discuss it over lunch in my office. I have a few questions about this proposal we can discuss as well.”
I nod my agreement, and we head toward the elevator. As we ride the elevator to the top of the building, I realize I’ve only agreed to one of his conditions.
“Hey, what was the second condition?”
“Oh, right. Don’t sell your Mustang,” He pulls on my shoulder, whacking me lightly with the binder. “Dad always did have good taste in cars.”
By the time we reach his office, Roman and I are both laughing. For the first time in weeks, I don’t feel like a complete fuckup.