Julia
Van gave my hand a squeeze before I stepped into my father’s office, leaving Van in the front with Janie, my father’s secretary. She’d been with him as long as I could remember. Long ago, before my mother also had an office in this suite of offices and my grandfather was still alive, I’d come into Dad’s office and Janie would let me help her with filing and even typing.
Those memories and more came back as we greeted one another, and I introduced her to Donovan. It was Van’s encouragement that helped me to no longer see myself as the little girl playing office but as an adult ready to take on the responsibilities that would help Wade succeed.
Dad smiled as he came around his desk, and I closed the door behind me.
He didn’t say a word as he wrapped his arms around me.
In the short time it took him to reach me, I couldn’t help but notice the way this recent ordeal had affected him, or maybe it was accumulative. There were more wrinkles and dark circles under his eyes. I took a step back and looked up at him. “Dad, are you okay?”
His appearance told me he wasn’t.
Why hadn’t I noticed the toll the stress had taken when I saw him a few days ago?
“I’m good, little girl.”
He was holding my hands. “I’m here, Dad, because I’m done being the little girl. I care about the future of Wade, and I’m ready to be more involved. I don’t plan on letting anyone else run my future.”
Exhaling, Dad took a step back. “Is this you talking or is it Mr. Sherman?”
“It’s me. The recent troubles made me realize how important this company is to me. And I was thinking about Mrs. Rose. Does she know about the research that’s happening?”
Dad’s smile faded as he nodded. “Technically, she’s no longer a shareholder and has given notice of her resignation. She’s ready to spend her last years enjoying life, not worrying about balloon payments and perceived value or possible litigation.”
“Not a shareholder?”
“She sold to Mr. Sherman.” He shrugged. “She didn’t know that. He didn’t reveal his identity, but we now know.”
“Why wouldn’t she come to you to sell?”
His eyes dimmed. “The important thing is that we now know the identity of most of the shareholders.”
Most?
I took the seat in front of his desk. Instead of walking back to his chair, Dad sat at the seat beside me. I spoke first. “Van told me about the petition regarding Grandfather’s will.”
“He told me too.” Dad let out a sigh. “We wouldn’t have known were it not for his people.”
“Who do you think it is?”
“Marlin believes it’s him.”
“He’s confessing?” I asked.
“No, Julia. Marlin thinks Sherman filed the petition.”
I sat straighter. “What? That doesn’t make sense. He just paid the balloon payment.” My volume rose. “Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Why would he file a petition to challenge Grandfather’s will? What would he stand to benefit?”
Dad looked at his watch. “The meeting of the executive board will begin in seven minutes. After the reading of the minutes, I’ll introduce you and your…Mr. Sherman. You have as much time as you’d like to address the board.”
“Pretty soon, I’ll be part of that board.”
“It’s an elected position, but I don’t see why you wouldn’t. There are some new shareholders.” He shook his head. “Everything is changing.”
I reached out and laid my hand on his. “Change isn’t necessarily bad. This change means that I’ll take my rightful place.”
“Not to push what I don’t want pushed,” he said, “but you can’t take that place without a marriage license.”