Chapter 23 – Remington
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Dad’s request
Remington
I’m just putting on my suit jacket at the end of the day when Pauletta peeks her head in my office door.
“Glad I caught you,” she says in her soothing British accent. “Phoenix called and said he’s been trying to reach you, but you’re not answering.”
I reach for my cell in my pants pocket. “Shit. I think I forgot to turn my phone back on after that meeting. I’ll give him a call. Thanks, Pauletta.”
“See you tomorrow, sir.”
“Have a nice night,” I reply, already hitting the button for Phoenix’s number. He answers before the first ring has completed.
“Remi.”
I know immediately that something isn’t right. “What’s wrong?” I snap. “Is Reece okay? Did Jordie get hurt at practice?”
“No, it’s… It’s Dad. He’s had a stroke.”
My entire body goes numb, and I have no idea how my legs carry me to the anteroom outside my office. “Hold on a sec,” I tell my brother. “Pauletta, my dad is sick. Find me a flight to Houston as soon as possible. Tonight would be best. Get a charter if you have to.”
Her eyes are wide with fear as she nods, and I speak into the phone again. “Tell me everything.”
There’s a distinct sniffle in Phoenix’s voice. “His assistant went into his office and noticed his words slurring. She called 9-1-1 and got an ambulance on the way.”
“Is he…” I find the words difficult to push out around the bowling ball that’s wedged itself in my throat.
“He’s alive,” Phoenix replies, and I press a hand over my heart as I exit my office and jog to the lift.
“Thank god,” I breathe, pressing the button. It seems like the fucking car takes two days to arrive.
“The doctor said Mindy probably saved his life. She fed him aspirin while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.”
“Who’s Mindy?” I ask.
“Dad’s new assistant. Remember, we told you about her?”
“Right,” I answer. “You’re already at the hospital? What’s his condition now?”
“I rode with him in the ambulance. Mindy called me after 9-1-1, so I ran over to his office.” My brother sniffles again, and I have the overwhelming urge to hug him.
And to be hugged back. “Yes, I’m at the hospital, and everyone else is on the way.
He’s starting to get his speech back, and the doctors are optimistic. ”
I speak to no one as I stride through the lobby and out to my waiting car to find Antonio standing beside it with the back door open.
Before I can say a word, he says, “Pauletta called me. She booked a private charter, which leaves in two hours. We have time to stop by your flat if you’d like to change clothes and pack a bag. ”
Nodding, I mouth a thank you and climb into the car.
“Phoenix, I’m leaving in two hours. Tell Dad I’m on my way and…” My chest heaves with emotion, and my voice catches in my chest. “Tell him I love him.”
My knee bounces up and down like a jackhammer as I stare out the window and wait for the plane to take off. Antonio sits across from me, and I hear him quietly order two whiskeys from the flight attendant.
As she’s dropping them off, my phone rings and I snatch it up faster than a gunslinger, taking only a second to see Helix’s name before swiping to answer.
“Helix, what’s going on?”
“Hey, son.”
My heart stops when I hear my father’s voice, and I have to untwist my tongue and relearn how to talk. “Dad, hey. It’s so good to hear your voice. How are you?”
“Better than I have any right to be,” he answers, making me smile through the tremble of my lips.
“Good, Dad. I’ve been so worried. I’m on my way home right now.”
He makes a little tutting sound. “Aw, Rem, you don’t have to come all the way here.”
“I’m coming,” I insist. I lean forward a little, kneading the back of my neck. “So what are they saying?”
“That I’m going to have to change my diet. And they’re putting me on some medicine to thin my blood. Apparently I have gravy running through my veins.”
A smile crosses my lips at his humor. “Listen to them, Dad. They’re not telling you that for shits and giggles.”
“I’m listening, son. Trust me. I’m listening.
” His words come out raspier than before, and we’re both silent for a long moment.
I can hear him breathing, and my god, it’s the best sound I’ve ever heard.
Finally, he says, “I’m thinking of making some changes in my life, Rem.
This has scared the absolute shit out of me. ”
I press my thumb and middle finger into my eye sockets, feeling the moisture there. “Me too,” I manage.
“Feeling like my body wasn’t under my control was… it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and all I could think about was you guys. I know I worked a lot when you were growing up, and now I regret being so focused on the job when I should have been focused on my family.”
I wonder briefly if he’s thinking about how things ended with my mother, but this isn’t the time to open that particular can of worms. Instead, I say, “You were working to support your family, Dad. You were carrying on the business that’s been in the Hale family for generations.”
He blows out a long breath. “You’re correct on the second part, but we both know the first bit is a bunch of malarky. I could have retired years ago and still had enough money to keep a small country afloat.”
“Someone had to run the company, and you were the best man for the job because it was important to you. We all understood that, Dad. Please don’t worry about it.”
“You’re right, son. There’s nothing I can do about the past, but I can do something about the future.” He inhales and exhales a loud breath before saying, “I know we talked about this happening in a few years, but I’m ready to retire now, Remington, and I want you to take over as CEO.”
My jaw drops open, and I can’t seem to find the right words. “Wow.” Is all I come up with before getting my wits about me. “You’ve had a lot happen today. Why don’t you take some time to think—”
“I don’t need to think about it,” he says vehemently.
“I want to spend more time with Reece and my soon to be new grandchild. I want to be the kind of grandpa who goes to every ballgame, dance recital, and spelling bee and sits right in the front row. The kind who goes and picks them up, not because someone asked me to babysit, but because I just want to see them. Plainly put, I want time, Remi.”
A smile slides across my lips. “I want that for you too, Dad. And I accept.”
“Good,” he says with finality. “You can start next week.”
I bark out a surprised laugh, though I should have expected this when he asked. Once Haywood Hale makes up his mind about something, he doesn’t waver.
“Okay, I’ll make it work,” I assure him, thinking of all the things I need to do to move my entire life from one country to another in the span of seven days.
I have a place to live. I’ve been making real estate investments in Houston for the past few years, including the entire apartment building right behind the Hale Cosmetics office building.
“Thank you, son. Now just one more request.”
“Let me guess. You want me to get a pilot’s license in a day?” I tease.
Dad laughs, though it’s a bit weary sounding. I should probably let him go get some rest. “I want you to keep Mindy on as your assistant. She’s been going through a lot lately and really needs this job. I feel bad for quitting two weeks after I hired her.”
My nose scrunches. “Do you really think it’s a good idea, Dad? During my first couple months there, I really don’t need some newbie I have to train.”
“Trust me, son, she’ll be training you. She’s absolutely the most organized person I’ve ever met. Everything is color coded and runs like clockwork.” I can hear the smile in his voice. “It seems like she’s been at the company for years rather than weeks.”
“It would save me the trouble of having to interview and hire someone,” I muse, since Pauletta would never leave London. “I’m just not sure.”
“Every morning she brings the most amazing cookies from Whisk and Whimsy, which is a bakery near the office,” he cajoles, knowing all about my sweet tooth. “And she did save your father’s life today.”
I smirk. The old man is playing the guilt trip card, and I’m falling for it.
It would be awkward to fire this lady or reassign her to a lower position in the company after what she did for Dad.
Plus, how bad could it be if she’s kept up with my father’s busy schedule for the past two weeks and the company hasn’t collapsed?
He’s a shrewd businessman who would never keep someone around if they weren’t good for the company.
“Okay, I promise I’ll keep this Mindy as my assistant if she’s as good as you say.”
My dad sounds pleased. “Great, son. I just know you’re going to love her.”