“This is Ani. She’s one of our youngest employees who happens to come from a family of Dreamland workers. I happened to be partnered with her for a pilot mentorship program. She quickly schooled me in all things Dreamland, including our lack of diversity in the hiring process.”
I don’t know why my eyes fill with tears, but they do. A single tear slips out, and Martha like the cunning mastermind she is, slips me a tissue. I’m pretty sure she asked this question on purpose if only to see me cry.
“I was confused because I know our procedures and how we strive for an ethnically diverse cast. But then Ani told me how there aren’t people like her—people with disabilities, both visible and invisible. So, during my time I was supposed to be mentoring Ani, it turns out she mentored me. She taught me what it meant to live a life like hers, and I started doing my own research. So, to answer your question, Martha, I plan on expanding our hiring process to include more people with disabilities. I would also like to move forward with a full mentorship program to meet their demands. I want Dreamland to be the first of its kind.”
More tears run down my face. I’m a complete mess, staring at the photo of my sister with JP. I never thought my pilot program would lead to a change likethis. Never in a million years.
“This project will be addressed in three major phases, starting with the new mentorship program. Once that is complete, I will move forward with a Creator project that will emphasize Dreamland’s promise for inclusivity. We will be expanding our costumes and souvenirs to include wheelchair, crutch, and prosthetics accessories to account for the population of children at Dreamland who are often ignored. Additionally, we will emphasize a new promise to families by creating the first-ever sensory celebration. This opportunity will give children on the spectrum the ability to enjoy Dreamland.”
I swipe at my face, trying to erase the tears. I’m shocked Rowan took my last creation and applied it in his presentation. With so much on the line, it means the world to me that he is willing to risk histwenty-five billion dollars.
If that’s not him showing how he cares, I don’t know what is.
“Any other questions?” Rowan looks over at me.
I shake my head, hoping my eyes scream how happy and proud I am.
“Thank you for your time today.” He shuts off the projector and exits the room.
Wait, that’s it? He doesn’t stay for the deliberation or something?
A random man walks in with a briefcase. He passes us each a sheet of paper with our names on it and a pen.
There’s a lot of legal jargon I have to read three times before understanding and a simple checkbox asking if I approve of the revisions for Dreamland.
No matter how much Rowan has personally hurt me, there’s no question in my mind anymore that he’s the right man for the job. I would be stupid and petty to vote against him.
And because you love him.
No. That has nothing to do with this. He proved he deserves the chance to change Dreamland for the better, and I’m not going to be the one to get in his way.
* * *
I wait outside the main conference door. Everyone exits one by one except for the person I’ve spent ten minutes waiting for.
What on Earth could he be waiting for?
The door opens and Seth Kane strolls out of the place like he owns a personal catwalk at home. For a second, I consider if I should really go through with my plan.
Yeah, fuck it.
“Mr. Kane?” I tap on his shoulder.
“Yes?” He looks down at me with a raised brow. Ugh. The way he stares at me has this strange ability to make me feel two inches tall.
“I wanted to say that although you might beconsidereda good businessman, you’ve done it at the expense of being a terrible, verbally abusive father. And one day you’re going to look back on your life and regret the way you treated your children, and I hope it hurts you as much as you hurt them. So fuck you and fuck off.”
I swivel on my heel and catch Martha staring at me with a big grin and a thumbs-up. I’m sure to blow her a kiss on my way out the door while using my other hand to give Seth Kane the middle finger.
There’s no other way I would want to spend my last official workday at Dreamland.
50
Rowan
Ithought once I left the board room, the panic would hit me. But as I sit in my office, waiting for Grandpa’s lawyer to finish with the vote, I feel a strange sense of calm wash over me.
I’ve accepted my fate, regardless of what the board decides. If I don’t receive my company’s shares, I can still stay on as the Director. My brothers will be pissed, especially Declan, because of the fallout with my father. I get that, but I did everything possible on my end to gain the upper hand.