"Your mother and I’ll be on the first flight out," he says.
"No, Dad, listen. I'm okay. Your meeting tomorrow is important and I'm not alone." I look at Brice who has just a hint of a smirk on his face. "But I wanted you to know. Now into business mode. I won't make it back to the office for a few days and I really don't want everyone there to go easy on me because I'm hurt. How do I handle it?”
Dad pauses for a moment and thinks it over. He's always one to think things through before acting. It's what made him a great CEO and why I’ll always take his advice.
"Call into the office and tell them you will be gone for a few days and are in talks with the company. I don't like lying, but I think in this case it's warranted. Call Gary and let him know. He’ll step up in your place until you get back, and I trust him."
Gary is our CFO and a good friend of the family. He's also been my biggest supporter since taking over as CEO from my dad.
"Soon as we’re done with this meeting, we’ll fly home and head to the office. If we need to come get you, we can, or you can still try to work your pitch. But we’ll touch base in a few days," Dad says.
"Okay, thank you. Kiss Mom for me. Call me when you have news."
My next call is to Gary. I take a moment to plan what I'm going to say, but what Brice thinks is written all over his face.
"You’re judging me, aren't you?"
"Not a fan of lying."
"Neither am I, but if I tell them I won't be in because I'm hurt, they’ll use it against me, saying I'm not fit to be CEO. My dad never got hurt. I'm fighting tooth and nail for my job in a male-dominated world, something you wouldn't understand."
When I pick up my phone, he puts his hand on mine. "I took over the practice from my dad. It didn't matter that I had an Associate’s Degree a few months after I graduated high school. Or that I was accepted into one of the top medical schools. Didn't matter that I worked my ass off to earn my degree. This town still saw me as a boy. Some here still do. They don't think my father should have handed the practice over to me. There are a few families that drive half an hour away to see a doctor because they don't trust me."
"It’s not the same."
"Not quite, but I know what it's like living in your dad's shadow and having to prove yourself. I learned you can't make everyone happy. In the end, I do the best I can, and I've slowly won over most of the town. I have to be okay with that."
I nod, making this one last call to Gary.
"Hey Kayla, how was your meeting?"
"Well, I'm not quite done here. I'm in some talks so I’m going to stay a few days. Would you mind stepping in for me? There is only one meeting on the books this week."
"Absolutely. I'm so glad it's going well down there. Is the town really as small as we thought?"
"Oh, yeah, but WJ’s is perfect. Send some positive vibes my way and shoot me an email if you can't reach me. Reception is a bit spotty."
"Will do. Don't worry about things here."
"With you in charge, I know I won't."
I hang up and rest my head against the headrest for a moment before opening my emails.
"What are you doing?" he asks.
"Going through my emails," I tell him as I start opening a few that look important.
He reaches over and takes my phone from me before turning onto a dirt road.
"Hey! Give it back."
"Kayla, you have a concussion. You need to relax and not overstimulate your brain. No TV, phone, or computer screens. Working is also a no. Your job is to rest and let your head heal."
I don't tell him that I can’t remember the last time I had downtime since I entered school. Maybe when I was a newborn.
"Great, so like house arrest?" I joke.
"Well, I don't have plans to tie you up, but if you don't do as you’re told, I just might."
His heated gaze meets mine for just a moment.
Dammit, why is the thought of him tying me up such a turn on?