5

 

  

T

he noise level was intense, the lights too bright, and the dinner, as usual, ho-hum. Looking at the two awards, however, sitting on the table and knowing it was my efforts that brought them to The Gavin Group was an incredible high. Graham had been lavish in his praise, accepting the awards and making sure the entire room knew who made them possible, even making me stand up and take a bow. Katy was so proud, she wept—silent drops of joy that told me how she was feeling. I kissed them away, then kissed her mouth.

“Does this cinch the lucky part at the end?” I asked against the softness of her lips. I felt her wide smile.

“Definitely.”

“Win for me.”

I waited in line at the bar, accepting congratulations. I ordered a round of drinks for the table and waited patiently for them to be ready, glad for a quiet moment to myself.

“How does it feel?”

I stiffened at the voice and turned my head slightly. David Anderson stood beside me. He looked older, the deep furrows on his forehead more pronounced. His hair was thinner and his mouth in a perpetual glower.

“Excuse me?” I replied coolly.

“That’s three years in a row you’ve won Gavin’s company awards. Three years you’ve brought acclaim to Graham. How has he rewarded you for that?”

I turned and faced him fully, keeping my voice low. “How he has rewarded me is none of your business, David. If you recall, I won you a few awards in my time with your company—which you never bothered to thank me for. Suffice it to say, his rewards are far more generous than yours ever were.”

“I can offer you a partnership. I’d even throw in VP. You’d get the title, the prestige, and the money. The whole package.”

I was dumbfounded at his brashness. Galled that he would do this here and now. Burning rage set in.

I leaned forward, ice dripping from my tone. “There is no amount of money, no title, nothing you could offer that would ever entice me to come back to work for you. You and your company are pure poison, and I want nothing to do with you.”

He regarded me with contempt, his tone filled with derision. “You used to be such a shark, Richard. Top of your game. Working for Gavin has made you soft. You need to be challenged. I can do that.”

I barked out a laugh. “Soft? Just the opposite. I know who I am now. I work in a company that thrives on positivity. They have pride in their work and the campaigns they put together. Their reputation is stellar. I’m proud to be associated with The Gavin Group. That itself is reward enough. As for being challenged, I think the awards I won tonight speak for themselves. They were won with integrity and team effort.”

I spun around, hoping like hell the drinks were ready, when David spoke again. “He’ll never make you a partner. He’ll use your talent and pat you on the back, but you’ll never really be one of them. He only promotes family.” His voice grew pitiful. “You might make him a lot of money, but you’ll never be family.”

My hands curled into fists, but I refused to respond. I accepted the tray of drinks and elbowed my way past David. If I spoke again, things would get ugly, and I refused to embarrass Graham that way.

“Get in touch with me when you change your mind,” he called after me.

I ignored him.

3

Richard

T

he next morning, a knock at my door diverted my attention from my laptop. I glanced up to see Graham leaning against the frame.

“May I come in?”

With a grin, I saved the work I was doing on my computer. I indicated the chair in front of my desk. “It’s your company, Graham. I think you can go anywhere you damn well please.”

He smiled and sat in front of me. “I didn’t want to interrupt. You looked very intense.”

“Tightening up an idea for the BAM boys. Becca had a great concept, but it needed a little tweaking. I think they’ll like it.” BAM was one of our largest clients and based in Toronto. Although Becca was their point person and brilliant at her job, Bentley, the owner of the company, liked me to stay involved. Given his status with our firm, and the relationships I had developed with the men at BAM, I was happy to do so.

“I have no doubt. You seem to thrive on their campaigns.” He shifted and ran his fingers down the perfect crease of his pant leg. It was an uncharacteristically nervous gesture for Graham.

“What’s up?” I asked, picking up my cup and taking a sip of coffee.

“I wanted to congratulate you in private. You were very successful last night.”

“We were. Becca was a huge part of my work, as was everyone else here.” I cocked my head to the side. “You taught me that, Graham. Teamwork. Because of this team, I’m doing some of the best work I have ever done.”

He steepled his fingers together and rested his chin on them as he regarded me.

“I saw David talking to you last night. You seemed, ah, perturbed when you came back to the table. I didn’t want to bring it up last night, but I’d like to ask you about it now.”

I leaned back, studying Graham. Unlike David, his appearance hadn’t changed much. He was a bit older, but then again, so was I. We both had a few more silver hairs on our heads now. Unlike David, however, Graham’s countenance was smooth and unruffled, although his eyes looked troubled.

I waved my hand. “He was being his usual arrogant self. He thinks I’ve gone soft and need a challenge.”

Graham lifted one eyebrow. “A challenge? Has he counted the awards you’ve won since coming here?”

I snorted. “This time, he offered me a partnership and VP to come back. Name my own terms. He’s upping the ante.”

It wasn’t David’s first offer, but it had certainly been his boldest to date.

Graham tapped a beat on his chin with his index finger. “Were you tempted?”

I was caught off guard by his question. “Not even remotely. I have no interest in working for him again.” I huffed out a long breath. “You know the kind of man I was before I worked here, Graham. I have no desire to fall back into old habits, no matter what carrot he’s dangling. I love my life. My family. My job.” I paused as a thought struck me. “You weren’t really worried about that, were you?”

“To be honest, I’m more worried you’ll decide to fly off to Toronto. Bentley would love to add you to his company. He has been very straightforward about that many times. All you’d have to do is say the word, and you could write your own ticket with him.”

“At what cost?” I said. “Drag my wife and children across the country—away from everything familiar and move to a city I like to visit but don’t want to live in? Leave the company that changed my life and gave me all the good things I now have?” I shook my head. “No, Graham. I’m not interested in leaving. Now or in the foreseeable future. You taught me a very valuable lesson called loyalty, and I’m sticking right here—with you.”

Our gazes locked, the air thick with tension and seriousness. I needed to break the ice.

“Unless, of course, you want to get rid of me. Then I’ll take Bentley up on the offer. David can go fuck himself. He wants the awards. Screw that—they belong here.” I winked.

Graham chuckled, my words concluding the serious moment. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You are a very important, vital part of my company, Richard.”

“Thank you.”

“You also know, aside from Terence, all the VPs in the company are family.”

Terence Gifford came onboard with Graham at the creation of The Gavin Group. He was Graham’s oldest friend and his most trusted ally outside of his family.

“I’m aware, Graham. I knew that coming in, and frankly, it would have upset the old Richard. But now, I’ve figured out there are more important things. I meant what I said to David. I’m proud of the work I do here. Proud to know that one day my kids can see a campaign I put together and be proud of me. I never had that satisfaction at Anderson Inc. It was simply a game of survival.”

He nodded in understanding and spoke again. “Terence is leaving.”

“What? Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. More than fine. His son and wife are expecting twins. They live in Edmonton, and Terence and his wife Jill have decided to move there and be close for their grandkids.”

“So, he’s retiring?”

“Yes.”