Chapter Thirty Two
JAKE
Jake,
We need you for an interview right away.
I stared at the email. For fuck's sake, it was eight o'clock in the morning. I definitely didn't want to start my day like this. I'd given Natalie enough space and time; now I wanted to see her.
I realized they'd sent me a second email.
This is the best candidate we have. We cannot let him slip away. The other one already got another job.
I put on a shirt quickly, typing my reply with one hand.
Will be online in five minutes.
I hadn’t even had breakfast or my morning coffee. I sat at the desk, positioning my chair and laptop so I had Natalie’s painting in front of me.
The sooner I got this over with, the better. Danielle wasn’t lying. The candidate was indeed a good fit; he'd led a huge competitor before, so he was more than qualified.
I didn't have time to research their recent numbers, but I had no doubt they looked good. In the market research reports I read, they were always one of the major players.
I connected to Zoom. Two minutes later, the screen split in two. One was Danielle, and the other one was Harold, the candidate.
"Jake, we are so happy you were able to connect on such short notice," Danielle said.
"Good to meet you, Jake. I heard a lot of good things about you," Harold said.
"Likewise. Your reputation precedes you," I said. "Let's cut right to the chase. Why are you looking to change jobs?"
"Danielle here accosted me on LinkedIn, asking me if I was up for a challenge. And I'd say I am, provided the money is good enough to leave my current position, of course."
I didn't like that he was leading with money, but it was a fair point. "I assure you that, should we come to an agreement, our offer will be very fair. It would be a big change for you from where you are now to Whitley Advertising."
"I've never worked in a family-owned company before. It's going to be a nice change of pace for me, and probably also for the people who work there. I know that in those environments, employees often get self-indulgent."
I didn't like that arrogant tone of voice.
"Our workers are quite talented, and they're doing their very best.”
“Then why do they need you to come from New York and save them?”
“The finance department was not top-notch, I admit."
"Then I can start by trimming the fat there."
"Look, we’re not looking for someone to come and flex their muscles and try to improve profits by firing as many people as possible," I said.
He narrowed his eyes. I knew how CEOs worked whenever they started in a new company. They wanted to prove they had balls, which usually meant cutting what they considered unnecessary costs.
“Our employees are the most valuable asset of Whitley Advertising,” I continued.
"I'll be the judge of that once I take over. I've got great plans for Whitley Advertising. For years, I thought they could do so much more if only they squeezed their resources a bit more."
"Tell us about how you plan to bring in more clients,” Danielle cut in, correctly interpreting my expression.
I was not impressed, and he was clearly the best we could do. He was a reputable CEO from the same industry.
“I'd have to be careful not to step on anyone's toes. I don't want to be sued for a noncompete clause."
"We wouldn't want you to approach any of your existing clients," I said categorically. The last thing I wanted was for Whitley Advertising to be accused of stealing someone else's clients.
He prattled on about client acquisition, but in my mind, I'd already discarded him. He hadn't mentioned the company's legacy at all. My grandfather had built it, and some of those people had worked there for a long time.
Jesus, when I first arrived, I probably sounded just like him.
I interrupted him midsentence.
"These ideas all sound great. Put them in a pitch presentation. I'm afraid I must go."
He jutted his chin forward. "If you're not interested in it, then just tell me face-to-face. I don't want to waste my time with a presentation."
"Fine. I'm not entirely convinced you're a good fit."
"Why the hell not?"
"You seem to forget it's a family company. In fact, it looks like you want to change that.”
“Isn’t that the next step?”
“No, it's not. I think this concludes the interview.”
“Have a great day," he said.
I didn't even wait to talk to Danielle after he logged out and just did the same. She would get the drift.
I closed my laptop, staring at it. I was a hypocrite. I spoke so much about family, and yesterday I'd shit all over it.
I'd been pissed, yes, but Maddox didn't deserve my wrath. He was right—he’d done what he could to protect Natalie.
I got up and paced the room.
Focus on the company.
I couldn't let a stranger be in charge of Whitley Advertising. It was impossible. No one would respect the family's legacy.
For the first time in a long time, I was willing to admit the legacy went far beyond my father. It belonged to my grandparents and to my brothers—and my half brothers as well. Damn it, I had to call Maddox. I’d been too pissed last evening to go back to his office.
I went to the desk again, grabbing my phone and calling him right away. I was surprised he answered. If the roles were reversed, I wouldn't have done so.
"Good morning, Jake." His voice was tepid.
"Morning. I won't keep you long." We both appreciated brevity. "I want to apologize about last night. I said shitty things."
"Yes, you did. I appreciate the call. I was also way out of line. Sorry about that."
"So, we’re good?"
"Yes. But if this happens again, I'll cut off ties for good. I don't have time for shit like this. You understand?"
"Yes, and back at you. You ever talk to me like that again, we’re done."
"Then we’re good. By the way, Natalie came in a couple minutes ago, and she's not looking good. What's going on?"
“About that. I’ve got an idea. It involves you too.” I couldn't believe she’d shown up at work. Then again, this was Natalie we were talking about. She wasn't about to let Maddox down.
“Before I forget, are you still at the hotel?"
"Yeah."
"I think Cade might bang down your door soon enough. Last night, he said if you didn't come up to the office, he was only going to give you the night before he came for you himself.”
“I can see him doing just that."
"So, you were saying you have an idea that involves me too?"
"Yeah. Here's the deal."
I spoke with him for about five minutes before someone knocked at the door.
"Here he is, as you predicted," I told Maddox.
"I think we’re done here anyway."
"Yes, we are."
After hanging up the phone, I went to open the door.
"I was shocked when reception said you were still here. I called before I came. Figured you might already be gone."
"I had an unexpected call with the recruiter and the potential CEO."
"And?"
"I won't hire him. I won't hire anyone. I'm going to move to Boston and run Whitley Advertising."
"Are you serious?" Cade asked.
"Hell yes."
"You already told the family?"
"No, but I will soon.”
Grandfather told me to act according to what I considered the best option.
I knew exactly what the best was: for me to stay here.
I was a Whitley, and this was part of my legacy.
I'd learned in the past couple months exactly what that meant.
I was going to promote Ben back in New York as CEO.
Most of the clients I worked with were happy with him.
And those who weren't would have to take their business elsewhere. The incoming ones would know from the start that he was handling the operation. I’d simply take an advising role.
My life was going to be here with Natalie and my family.
"What made you change your mind about staying?" Cade asked. "Was it our constant nagging?"
"No, it's called teasing, bro. "
The corners of his mouth twitched. "Ah, man. It was Natalie, wasn't it?"
"Yes, but the family was also a factor."
His eyes widened in question. "A factor? You're nothing if not direct."
"I don’t have time to give you details now. I have to go."
"Are you going to break it to the family?"
"Later. Right now, I need to go get my girl. She's got some weird ideas in her mind, and I want to convince her otherwise."
"Good for you." He looked at me expectantly. "Right, okay. I'll hear the details later from Natalie herself, or probably from Grandmother. Those two are tight."
"Yes, they are." It was one of the things I loved most about Natalie: how thoroughly she'd embraced my family, even the extended one.
"Isn't she at work now? I mean, you might have changed your work ethic, but I don't think Natalie has," Cade said, walking next to me as we left the suite and headed to the elevator.
"She was, but I asked Maddox to do me a favor."
“You apologized to him?”
I nodded.
“It's good to see you acknowledging that our half brothers are also part of the family.”
"I know it took me long enough," I said.
"All right, then. Good luck," he said as we stepped out of the elevator. I turned right in front of the building, taking out my phone and messaging Maddox.
Jake: Everything went as planned?
Maddox: Yeah. I was just about to write you. Good luck, brother.
I stared at the word, feeling completely comfortable writing back.
Jake: Thanks, brother.
He was a genius. I told him I needed Natalie at our ice cream shop, and he immediately came up with an idea. He said he'd simply ask her to get a huge box for his team. They didn't do any delivery service, so she would have to go there in person.
I was so excited on the drive there that I couldn't even hear my own thoughts thumping in my ears. This was happening. Natalie was mine. She had to know that no matter what, nothing would come between us ever again.