Page 11 of The CEO Enemy
One of the first things I did when I stepped into his shoes as CEO was go paperless. It felt like waving goodbye to the dark ages. Despite the millions we’ve saved and the streamlined work processes, my dad, Douglas “Boomer” Blackwood, seems to be oblivious to the benefits.
“Did you get the signature?” my father asks, not bothering to look up.
“He signed the contract this morning.”
“And the co-owner?”
“Not going to be a problem,” I say. “When we meet tomorrow, I’ll be able to convince her to sell. She doesn’t have much experience and will no doubt be drowning very soon.”
Dad finally tears his gaze away from his forest of paperwork only to fix me with a hard stare. “So, you’re telling me that you haven’t closed the deal then?”
“That’s not what I said. I just told you the deal is done. Weren’t you listening?”
“Oh, I was listening. And what I heard was that you’re only half-done. Buying out one of the partners doesn’t mean the deal is done.”
I pin him with a glare. “It’s only a question of when, not if. We’ve done takeovers like this many times before. Some partners sell right away, others hold out, hoping for a better deal. But in the end, they always come around.” The moment she catches sight of the figure we’ve handed Norman, she’ll be keen to negotiate until we find common ground, and from there, it’ll all be smooth sailing. “I’m not worried.”
“You should be.” Dad gets to his feet and starts to pace. “Do you know how I became as successful as I am today?”
“Well, you’ve certainly kept that story under wraps,” I quip, hinting at the countless times he’s shared it before.
Dad pauses, facing the expansive windows that only the upscale rooms in the building have. He glares at me over his shoulder. “Save your witty comments for your clients, Sean. They didn’t amuse me when you were a teenager, and they don’t amuse me now.” He gazes out the window once more. “I started this company from nothing. Poured my heart and soul into it…”
I tune him out after that.
True, my father founded and ran a good company. However, it came with a cost: the cost of any kind of relationship with his only child.
“…and I made it what it is today,” he finishes his speech.
I bark out a laugh. “That was ten years ago. We’ve acquired well over a dozen new properties in the last two years alone, and we’re on track for our most profitable year in this company’s history,” I bite out. “Brush me and my accomplishments off all you want. The numbers speak for themselves.”
My father waves his hand dismissively. “Well, son, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be where you are today without my guidance,” he says, taking his seat again. “Your track record aside, this deal of yours won’t officially be considered done until you’ve bought out both partners.”
Silence and tension settle between us. We’ve been this way ever since my mother passed away when I was thirteen. It’s like we’re stuck in this perpetual standoff, unable to bridge the gap that her absence left behind.
A few minutes later, the conference room door opens, and the board members start to trickle in. After giving the update on my deal, the other board members parrot my father’s sentiments. Predictable as ever. They’re waiting for the complete buyout before breaking out the champagne. As always, I’m all geared up to silence the skeptics.
5
SEAN
“Ow, what the fuck?” I ask, glaring at my soon-to-be ex-friend. “That fucking hurt, dick-bag.”
“Don’t make it obvious,” Connor says, staring straight ahead as if he didn’t just kick me under the table. “But look at your wan with the brown hair at the bar… she keeps lookin’ over at ya.”
Intrigued, I casually glance over my shoulder to find a pair of big eyes staring right at me. They belong to a brunette in her thirties, who’s sitting alone, wearing a long black dress that hugs her curves and reveals a sliver of a silky-smooth leg through the high slit. Her hair is tied up in a twist, leaving her neck bare except for a delicate gold chain. I have a faint sense of recognition, but in the dim light of the room, it’s hard to make out the finer details.
Still, I can see enough to know, that yeah, she’s gorgeous.
“Are you goin’ over there, or what?” Connor asks, swirling the contents of his glass as we sit in our favorite booth at Swayze’s, toward the back. “Because if you don’t, I will.”
There’s definitely something familiar about her, yet I can’t quite put my finger on it. She reminds me of someone.
I consider it and almost decline. After all, the day hasn’t been that great, and my mood hasn’t exactly improved yet. Throughout the rest of the afternoon, I had to deal with my father’s phone calls and voicemails as he attempted to dish “advice” on how to proceed. As if I haven’t overseen hundreds of takeovers in the past. I did my best to ignore him, and when five o’clock rolled around, I was out the door quicker than normal.
That being said, I’m not in the habit of making foolish decisions, and disregarding the attention of a beautiful woman who’s showing interest would clearly be unwise. I need to blow off steam, and what better way to do that than with her?
I pick up my steaming coffee cup and throw Connor a look. “Don’t wait up,” I say, getting to my feet.