“I don’t really give a damn, Wyatt.” He growled at me as he turned and walked towards my desk. Sinking into the seat behind it I stared at him. It was going to be one of those days.
I didn’t give a shit. I had Rose, and she was mine. What else could I do?
“I’ll be frank with you son. I’m tired. And I’m old. I don’t want to keep running this business forever, and I thought I would be able to depend on you to take it over.”
“I told you what I’m willing to take over, dad. But your entire enterprise isn’t my style.” This was a multi-million dollar job. I didn’t need more than that.
Hell, I didn’t think I could handle it.
“ I don't know what you want from me,” I said as I stared at my father. I was so sick and tired of having this argument. It was like we were going round and round in circles.
“I didn't want this for you. I wanted so much more for you. Can't you see that I built everything that I've ever built for you.” I could see the pain in my father’s eyes, and I knew deep down in his heart he wanted what was best for me. He always did.
“You mean well, I get that. But how could it be good for me to go around the country working on multiple projects when my heart is here in Montana.” Not just my heart, but Rose too. She was pregnant with our baby. I wasn't going to leave her, not for anything. Certainly not for money.
I had a family to build, and a life to lead and none of that involved running a multinational corporate conglomerate. No, I wouldn't be his heir to that. Not now. Not ever.
“You mean her. That girl. You've been different ever since you came back. Not that I blame you, I know what it's like to fall in love. If I had just come a few weeks earlier, everything would’ve been different.”
“But you didn't. She's a part of my life now, and she's always going to be. This isn’t just one of those things, and I think you know that. I believe you’ve been there before.” I was talking about Miranda, and he knew it. I thought he'd have gone and spoken to her by now. I thought he gave a shit. At least, when it came to her.
“It's not that easy. You can't just expect me to walk back into her life, after everything she's dealt with. It's just not that easy.” But it was that easy if he would just speak to her if he would just talk to her, but it wasn't my problem. Rose. Rose was my concern. And our baby.
“I’m not asking you to understand, Dad. I just want you to accept this. Have anyone else take my place. There are so many men working for you that are more qualified. That know the business better than I do." It was the truth. I knew agriculture. I knew this business, but I hadn't ever taken the time to learn about running his company. I didn't want to. There was enough money and opportunity for me here.
"I'd always planned for you, Wyatt. I always wanted you to take this over." He was wavering, and we both knew it. It wouldn’t be long until he finally gave in. I’d never won an argument with my father before. I could almost taste the victory.
"I'm good at what I do here. I love what I do here.” I love Rose. Nothing was going to change that at, not even a big job and all the money in the world. I wanted to make my life here with her.
Montana sky with her by my side was what I wanted.
“What do you expect me to do? Just sell the business? Find a replacement? Like it's that easy.” He was fighting a losing battle, and we both knew it.
“It is that easy. You have men who've been working for you for years, and they all thought they could never rise further than their current position. All because of me. Some idiot son who was going to get everything handed to him. " I had a point, and we both knew it. "That's not fair. That's the worst kind of nepotism. I didn't earn it. I didn't earn my position as the CEO of this business either, but I've shown that I'm worth it.” I wasn’t going to go through life getting everything handed to me. I’d done that for so long, but not anymore. I wanted to show Rose, show everyone that I was capable of what I had. That I was a hard worker.
That wasn’t too much to ask.
“You have. And you can do it again. I know that if you just took this position, you would excel at it. But I also know that you have to want it. Desire is what drives companies further, and apathy kills them." He swallowed. "And you don't want it. Nothing I can say is going to change that. I'll find a suitable replacement, but this business, this business in Montana is yours. I won't interfere anymore. But you have to promise me one thing,” he said.
“What is that?” I asked as I looked up at him. I’d won the battle, but why did I feel so bad?