Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Helping endangered creatures.
Arranging to rescue others.
Giving marine life a fighting chance.
Following my dreams just like my parents always encouraged me to.
Like I will encourage Wy to.
“We’re actually having some marine biology students from Clover Rose visit the facility in a couple weeks,” Calen announces while waiting for me to tap the keycard I’ve got lingering in my back, white suit pants pocket against the sensor. “Any chance you might be interested in being our special guest speaker?”
Hitting him with a look of perplexity is instant. “Why me?”
“You run an entire department at one of the most prestigious aquatic institutes in the country, you are bros before hos with the one who runs mine, you raise more money for your organization in a fiscal quarter – gross phrasing by the way – than any other organization on this side of the map, and have firsthand experience on life in the field and in the office.” I grant us access to the room with a simple push of the hand. “The fact you’re a smokin’ hot minority woman is really just a bonus hang ten.”
Smiling widely precedes me kicking my chin inside to where I assume Eoghan is waiting.
“At least consider it?” Our eyes meet during his passing. “It’d be a good excuse to come visit me. My pregnant wife. Your pet shark.”
Thrill doesn’t hesitate to pierce my glare.
I do own a shark!
And if I correctly recall the agreement, I can visit him on any day, at any time, at any point.
Whatever is convenient for me.
Whenever my whims command it.
God, I love my life.
And what I love even more?
It’s finally starting to actually feel like mine again.
Chapter 13
Wes
“You’re telling me that we convinced the shareholders to expand internationally, and now, we’re not?” J.T. stops pacing and leans his midnight suit covered ass against the arm of the dark leather gray cushioned chair closest to him. “Care to explain?” His expression struggles to remain even. “Particularly in great detail?”
I lean into the corner of the couch I’m occupying across the room and extend one arm around its curved back. “I believe we’re moving too fast.”
“What?”
“I believe we are expanding our reach faster than we’re increasing our profits, much like our pacing for investing in new companies. That, too, has exceeded limits, I believe we should be abiding by. We’ve become overzealous in new endeavors when the truth is we should be more cautious.”
My righthand in the company cocks his head curiously to one side. “And what exactly – may I ask – have we been overzealous about?”
“Sully’s limited-edition flavors, for example. The ROI isn’t stellar.”
“Its job isn’t to be stellar. Its job is to pay a pallet tribute to the generations before us. The ROI has always been something you could take or leave as long as you felt you were doing the Wilcox legacy justice.”
Ignoring the truth of his statement isn’t easy.
However, it’s done.
“Our beer distribution isn’t steady in the areas we’ve already moved into, yet we continue to widen the territory we’re covering.”
“Growth – for both the Morgan Brand and Runt’s – are quite steady in profits which is why we can comfortably explore new regions in the Midwest such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.”
“Plus, we haven’t managed to secure their positions in the entertainment circuits – particularly arenas or sponsoring concert headliners – so searching for new roots to put down on foreign soil seems a bit…premature.”
“You mean like your wife going back to the office,” he heartlessly stabs.
“Excuse me?”
“That’s what this shit is really about.” His slow headshake is proceeded by an annoyed eyeroll. “You couldn’t control Bryn’s decision to go back to work, so here you are overcontrolling everything you can where you work.”
“I do not appreciate what you’re insinuating.”
“I’m not insinuating shit, Wes,” J.T. bitterly chortles. “I’m flat out fucking saying it.”
The narrowing of my eyes is instant.
“You’re pissed you can’t puppet master her which is why you’re back to overly puppet mastering me.”
“I-”
“Should trust that Catwoman will tell you when she needs help to avoid returning to her life of crime and that I – Nightwing – have done this shit long enough to be okay protecting Blüdhaven all on my own.”
An impish grin grows on my face against my own volition.
“You like that last part, huh?” Arrogant chuckles bounce his entire frame. “You’re proud that I’ve read enough comics to know where Nightwing protects shit without the Bat.”
“I’m…” there’s no stopping my head from bouncing side to side, “amused.”
“Your wife would be impressed.” A small toss of his hand in the air precedes him adding, “She’d also accuse me of Googling that shit versus having actually read it.”
One eyebrow is immediately quirked. “Did you?”
“That’s not important,” he brushes off in such a way I can’t help but lightly laugh. “What is important is that you at least do me the courtesy of reviewing all the data again before definitively deciding to stop international expansion.” His demeanor shifts to serious once more. “You cannot take your marital frustrations out on this company.”