Joanie’s face dropped white. She knew who I was and what was important to me. We both believed love and happiness was something made in fairy tales dreamt up by young girls who wanted something better than what they were born into. We just never thought we’d be living something so real in our lives.
Joanie wasn’t super rich by any means, but her family was well off. Her father was a retired pilot, and one of the perks was that she got to fly standby whenever she needed. When we were younger we’d talk about meeting really rich guys who were best friends so we’d live next door to each other and we’d use her flying privileges to travel the world together. Now she was falling for the son of a gazillionaire and I was in love with Max Goldstein, the CEO of a multimillion dollar family-owned company. Yeah, maybe fairy tales are things based on love and dreams coming true; but at whose expense?
Chapter Twenty-six
~ Max ~
The meeting was dragging on and on. Signing papers and making decisions that affected so many people and the financial standing of GP really sucked. I felt the pressure of hundreds of people’s livelihoods changing as it filled my lungs with shallow breaths of regret. My phone vibrated against my leg. God, let it be Wilson telling me she’s safe. I felt the tension in my chest loosen as I pulled my iPhone out of my pocket and saw her words light up my screen.
HeY, My LoVE. We made it 2 Cali. We R N the Car, HeaDING to Wesley. MISS U terribly. J & I talked. lots 2 tell U. Take my <3 make sure U keep it safe. <3 U.
“Gentlemen, can you give me a moment?” I requested as I pushed the bubble below Wilson’s text. I didn’t wait for their response.
“Sure, Max, no problem,” Gary answered as he adjusted his attention to the other end of the table, where Calvin and Dan were sorting through the stacks of papers we hadn’t even talked about yet.
Wilson was the reprieve I needed to get away from the pressure of decisions I had to make. Decisions my father must have procrastinated making because he knew they were going to affect so many of our customers.
I took a deep breath before I tapped my screen, answering her text.
Hey Sweets, glad you’re safe. Hope your flight was ok. I am still stuck in meeting. BTW, when I see U I am getting you an iPhone. No arguing either. Glad U & J had time 2 talk. Getting close to wrapping up my biz here. Will call U once I’m done. Got UR <3 N my pocket next 2 my <3… LUV U back.
I pushed ‘Send’. All I wanted to do was wait for her response. I wanted to read her words, hear her voice in my head, and feel my heart pound hard in my chest for reasons she created.
“Okay, Gary, how much longer do we need to thumb through these papers?” I asked, annoyed, as I pulled on the knot of my tie to loosen it from around my neck.
Dan must have noticed I was beginning to stress. The next thing I knew, he was pulling me to the side and lecturing me in a heated, elevated whisper.
“Max, look, I know you don’t want to be here. I also know your goal is to get to Wilson as fast as you can. But this is way bigger than the passing of the torch or slamming out signatures so you can wash your hands of your family’s legacy. There are real people behind these small companies; people who will be affected by the choices you make. I’m not asking you to sacrifice your life or sell off your soul. But you have an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives; in your family’s life.” Dan held my arms, his fingers digging into my biceps. “Just think about it. Think about what you’re willing to leave your family when you walk away from the company that gave you the privileged life you have.” Dan stared at me uncomfortably long. The darkened circles that cradled his eyes were laced with wrinkles as he narrowed his eyes and tightened his lips. His expression was almost begging me to crumble under his declaration.
Dan’s words weren’t lost on me as I stood there for a moment. I wasn’t heartless or uncaring. I knew my father had dealings with huge mega-companies as well as mom-and-pop–sized shops. I didn’t need Dan to tell me about it. There were plenty of evenings when I’d listen to my father tell my mother about some small business he sold to because they were being threatened by the mega-giant conglomerations that were swallowing up and absorbing the small businesses in the area.
“I appreciate your concern, Dan. I am well aware of who is affected by the decisions I have to make. Your concern has been duly noted.” I felt his fingers loosen before a loud beep broke the rumbling of voices in the room.
“Uh, Mr. Goldstein,” I heard my father’s secretary’s voice echo through the speaker.