Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
IRIS
Everything with Max is up in the air. We meant to talk last Sunday, but I fell asleep on his couch.
When I woke up, he was sleeping so peacefully that I didn’t want to disturb him, so I left and headed back to my place.
I thought we might get together later in the evening, but when I went back to see him, his place was empty.
Even at work all this past week he has been so busy that he hasn’t had much time to talk other than shooting me a heated look or blowing me a kiss when no one is watching.
It has left me confused. Now it’s been over a week, and I feel like I’m missing something.
“Hey, is it cool if I go on my lunch?” Chad asks as he pops into my office.
Wait. I can ask Chad.
“Yes, but first I have a question,” I tell him.
“Sure, what’s up?” he asks as he steps inside.
“Shut the door first, please.”
Chad frowns but does as I ask. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine, but I need to know what’s going on.”
“Okay…”
“Do you know what Max is up to?” I ask.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he lies.
I know he’s lying because the corner of his mouth twitches when he does. I learned that when he told me he wasn’t getting shit from one of the other assistants who was angry they got passed over and didn’t get his job.
“Chad, you are an amazing assistant, but you are a shit liar. I know Max said he was meeting with employees to make the company better, but the board meeting is this week, and Max has made sure I won’t be there.
I need to know what is going on,” I tell him, remembering the email asking me to handle an issue at a hotel here in the city at the same time as the board meeting.
“I promised I wouldn’t say anything,” he admits
“It’s me. His CFO and best friend. Your boss too,” I remind him.
“Please,” he pleads.
“Give me something at least. I have his back. I need to know if I’m about to walk into a shitstorm.”
He looks away from me for a moment as he tries to decide how much to tell me. Finally, after what feels like eternity, he looks back at me.
“Look, I promised Max I wouldn’t say anything, and I refuse to break my promise. What I can tell you, though, is that a big change is about to happen.”
“How big?” I ask, heart racing.
What kind of change would Max keep from me? Has he decided to step down as CEO? Was he scared to tell me?
My mind races with the possibilities of what it could be.
“Major, but I think once it comes out, you’ll be excited. I know I am,” he confesses.
“Are you sure that’s all you can tell me?” I press again.
“I’m sure. I know it’s not your strong suit, but just be patient. Once it comes out, I think you’ll be happy. Can I go to lunch now?” he asks, pointing toward the door.
“Yeah, thanks. Have a good lunch,” I sigh.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you more.”
“It’s fine.” I force a smile as he steps out, shutting the door behind him.
Sighing, I look up at the ceiling.
A surprise that will leave me happy when it comes to light. That could be so many things, I don’t even know where to start speculating.
Maybe I should call the girls and see if any of them know. As I reach for my phone, it begins to ring. I wince when I see the number flash across the screen.
Shit. I don’t want to have this conversation, but I have to.
“Hello, Julius.”
“Iris, darling, how are you?” he asks in his posh accent.
“I’m good. How are you?”
“Quite lovely. I’m getting ready to leave the office for the day.”
My eyes drift to the clock, and I quickly do the time difference in my head.
“Working late?” I ask.
He chuckles. “Yes, I’m just tying up some loose ends before I go on holiday.”
“Ah, I hope wherever you’re going is lovely,” I tell him.
“Thank you. To get to why I’m calling, I was wondering if you had an answer for me.”
“I do actually,” I tell him hesitantly.
Julius groans, picking up on the tone of my voice. “You’re about to let me down now, aren’t you?”
“I am. I’m sorry, Julius, but I’m going to have to pass. While it does sound like an amazing job and one I would love, I don’t think I can.”
“May I ask you a personal question?” he asks.
“Sure.”
“What is stopping you from taking the job with us?” he asks bluntly.
“So many things. I realize there are direct flights back here, but it’s far from home and the people I call family.
Not to mention the fact that I love working for The Williamson Group.
They have been good to me and have rewarded me for my time.
I don’t think I can walk away from that type of loyalty. ”
He sounds disappointed when he says, “Iris, I hate to be the one to tell you, but you shouldn’t be loyal to a company when you don’t own it or have a stake in it. It can turn on you at any point and leave you high and dry.”
While that is true for the most part, he doesn’t know the connection I have with the Williamson brothers. I know that no matter what, they wouldn’t abandon me. We’re family even if it’s not by blood.
“Look, I would hate to see you walk away from this opportunity. If you do, I can guarantee it won’t ever happen again.
I want you to think about it for just a little longer.
In a week when I get back from my holiday, I’ll reach back out and see if you’ve changed your mind.
I really think we could make you happy here, Iris.
Will you do that for me? Can you give it another week? ”
I think of whatever big news Max is keeping from me. Should I leave this opportunity on the table for a week? What harm would it be?
I finally give in. “Okay, sure. I can do that.”
“Lovely. I’ll talk to you soon, doll.”
“Have a good holiday. Bye,” I say before hanging up.
I look around my office and take in everything I’ve built here. While it’s not my dream job, it is one that I love and adore. I meant it when I told him I can’t imagine myself leaving.
Even though my last name isn’t Williamson, I feel like this company is part of my legacy, which is why I know that I won’t be changing my mind.
As tempting as it is to live in my favorite city full time, it’s not going to happen.
I’m here to stay, and nothing is going to change that.
MAX
I sit at the head of the table, waiting the board members out.
I know they have questions. Shit, it’s like all they do is ask questions.
Even stupid ones that we’ve gone over more than once.
I want to tell them to turn their listening ears on like Olivia says to Ari when she’s being a terror (her words, not mine), but I can’t.
That wouldn’t be professional, and if I’m not professional, then they won’t take my proposal seriously.
And I need them to say yes.
Keeping this secret is starting to get to me. Iris is my person. I’ve told her everything for years, and keeping this from her is starting to weigh on me more than I ever thought it would. I just have to make it through this meeting.
Mason shifts in his seat on my left, making his presence known. He flew in just for this meeting and will head back to Boston as soon as it’s over. Then hopefully, if we have our way, Iris and I will be close behind.
“Does anyone have any other questions?” Mason asks before I can.
Mr. Marks steeples his hands in front of his face. “I won’t lie, this is a tempting offer. I can see the appeal, but will people really want to leave the city?”
“I believe so. Over the last two years a lot of our employees here have started families of their own and have started to look outside the city for homes. I think if we jump on it now, before they start to buy, they would be willing. If they don’t want to leave the city, we can offer them severance packages if their job isn’t one that can be done remotely.
Along with glowing recommendations,” I tell him.
“The remote thing. Would it be fully remote, or would it be remote and they have to come into the office once a month?” Mrs. Kent asks.
“It depends on the position, but we are proposing both. If it’s a position where they will have to spend time in Boston, say for meetings, then we will put them up in the hotel.
” I take a deep breath. “Look, I know most businesses flock to the city because this is the place to be. As businessmen and women, we become entranced with the idea of New York City, and while we are doing well here, we could be better back in Boston. We will keep the office building and rent out the floors we no longer need. We will keep a small office space for anyone who is unable to make the move or work remotely. We will still have a presence in the city, but it will be on a smaller scale.”
“Besides, Boston is home to The Williamson Hotel. It will be good press to be going back to our roots,” Mason adds.
“Your father wanted to be in New York,” Florian hisses. “I’m not sure why you are here. You aren’t CEO anymore.”
He’s been angry since I let him know I would not support him as chairperson. Now he is bitter.
“I am still a legacy of the company. I stepped back as CEO and named my brother as my replacement because of my family, but I can step in at any time and take my rightful place back. I wanted to provide my input. With the company moving to Boston, I will be more involved. Not only that, but many of you also reside in Boston. Wouldn’t it make sense for our home base to be there? ”
“We already have satellite offices across the world. It wouldn’t be hard to keep one going here,” I add.
“Why do you want to move now?” Florian challenges.
I keep my face neutral even though he angers me.
“As I outlined in my presentation, the cost of living in New York has risen by twenty-six percent in the last decade. That means we have had to increase wages to keep good employees on the payroll while also paying higher rates for our own utilities and such because of the increase. If we move to Boston, it would cut our costs by thirty-two percent. That is money that we can funnel back into the company or into the foundation as a tax write-off, saving the company money. Add in the publicity it would give us, and I think we could see the stock rising in the future.”
Mr. Marks nods while Florian seethes.
“I think we should vote,” Mr. O’Neal says. “Everyone has a piece of paper in front of them. Write down ‘approved’ or ‘denied.’ I will come around and collect them. I will then count them with a third-party, unbiased person who is waiting outside.”
Everyone does as he asks. After Mr. O’Neal collects all the strips of paper, he calls in his third party. Together they count three times before they look up.
“It has been approved. The Williamson Group will be moving to Boston.”
Fuck yes!
I’m so excited, I can barely hold back the smile threatening to form. I don’t want them to know how much this meant to me, though.
Mr. O’Neal passes around papers that I had him draw up ahead of time, and we take turns signing it, agreeing that this is going to happen. Even Florian reluctantly signs, making the votes unanimous.
The next thirty minutes go by in a blur until the meeting is over.
“Congratulations,” Miss Osborne says quietly as she stands.
“Thank you,” I tell her honestly. “I take it you voted for approval?”
She shrugs. “Hey, I’m all for family being with family. That’s what won me over in the end. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
As soon as she walks out, the room is clear with the exception of Mason and me.
I turn to my brother. “We did it,” I tell him, not bothering to hide my shock.
He places his hands on my shoulders and shakes me. “No, you did it.”
I shake my head. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Bullshit. We both know you could have. Fuck, you get to move home,” he murmurs before pulling me in for a hug.
I wrap my arms around my brother and hug him back. Jesus Christ, it feels like I can breathe for the first time since I started putting this into motion.
It’s happening. It’s really happening. Everyone has signed off. All that’s left is to tell everyone and to put it into motion.
But first, there’s a woman I need to tell before word gets out.
I just hope she’s as happy about this move as I am.