“I’m naming you CEO.” He made the announcement without fanfare, after forking a bite of trout and chewing thoughtfully.
Royce, napkin in hand, slowly lowered it to his lap and exchanged glances with his mother. Her genial smile suggested she knew what was coming and approved of the decision.
“An announcement will be at the office. I’ll hold a meeting and we’ll make it official. I wanted you to be prepared. Give you some time to digest the news. I know you’re slower to accept change than Bran or Gia.”
“Do they know?”
“They will soon,” answered his dad.
“Gia doesn’t want CEO,” his mother chimed in. “She never has. She has aspirations. If you ask me, they’re not in marketing. She had to move somewhere after hers and Jayson’s divorce.”
“Mark my words,” Jack said, “she wants to take over the technology department.”
“Coop will love that,” Royce muttered under his breath. Jayson Cooper wasn’t above being ruled by a female, but his ex-wife was next level.
“Brannon wants CEO. And we know that,” his mother said.
“But you want it more,” his father said.
Royce shook his head, but it was for show. Everything in him leaned forward as if shouting YES. Jack raised a hand to stay anything to the contrary Royce might’ve said.
“You deny yourself what you truly want. You always have. You’re our ambitious firstborn and yet so ready to sacrifice for your siblings,” Jack said with a proud smile. “But you can’t deny you want this. You’re ready.”
“It’s our way of saying that it’s past time to say yes to yourself,” Macy added.
“It’s also completely selfish.” Jack placed his fork and knife on his plate. “You’re the one who should be running ThomKnox, no one else. You’re the one who can level up with the company. I’m going to be busy building a private resort on an island for your mother and myself to vacation. No time or desire to care about the future of ThomKnox.” His father winked to show he was exaggerating.
Hearing the words “no time or desire to care” made Royce’s shoulders draw back in pride. He did care. He had the time. Since graduating high school and doggedly pursuing a college degree he’d been invested in ThomKnox. Not to say that Bran didn’t love his family or the business—he did, and so did Gia. But this was about what was right for the company. Who would be more dedicated, more available. That person was obviously Royce.
He wasn’t encumbered with a wife or a girlfriend. And now that this was almost settled, there would be no limbo. He could move forward and put the snafu between him and Taylor behind him.
He wanted CEO. Down to his very marrow.
Jack let out a soft chuckle and patted his son’s cheek like he had when Royce was a kid.
“There he is,” Jack said to his wife. “Told you he’d love it.”
Macy nodded. “Yes. You did.”
Only then did Royce allow himself to grin. To feel the buzz of satisfaction throughout his entire body.
CEO was his.
He would make his parents proud.