“You fucking blindsided me in front of everyone,” I say.
“You’re being dramatic. This is business and you’re making it personal.”
“I’m your fucking son! How can you say it’s not personal?”
Thomas steps into my office. “I suppose I could’ve told you first but what’s the difference? Why should I coddle you? Because we’re related? That’s hardly fair and I don’t treat you any differently because you’re my son.”
“You don’t have to tell me that,” I say, voice bitter. If anything, I think he makes everything harder on me because I’m his son. I work ten times harder than the other assholes sitting back in that conference room. Except for Charlie. I can admit that she works her ass off just as much as I do.
“So, you expect a free pass? A handout because you happened to be born a Beckett?”
Kind of,I think. “No, of course not. But I do expect you to acknowledge all of the hard work I do and reward me with VP. I deserve it.”
“Do you believe you’ve worked more than Charlie?”
I clench my jaw and my nostrils flare. “This isn’t abouther.”
“Of course, it is. You’re jealous.”
“Jealous?” I scoff. “Of what?”
“Do you really want me to tell you?”
“Charlie Langley is a cunt who has you wrapped around her little finger,” I hiss. The moment the words leave my mouth, I realize how hateful and full of resentment they sound. I also see Charlie moving up behind my father.
Oh, for fuck’s sake.Of course, her timing is impeccable and there’s no doubt in my mind that she just heard me call her the C-word.
“You apologize and congratulate Ms. Langley right now, son,” Thomas says, voice steely.
But I’ve gone too far and there’s no stopping me now. Grabbing my briefcase, I figure I may as well go for broke. “Congratulations, Ms. Langley,” I say, voice dripping with sarcasm. “I hope you have fun dealing with this cantankerous old bastard. As for me, I’m going to leave this backwards shithole and start my own company. And I plan to bury you, Dad.”
I push past them and hear Charlie mumble what sounds like “I’m sorry,” but I can’t be sure.
At least not until I hear my father say, “Never apologize for beating your competition.”
Blood boiling, I storm out of TB Tech and vow never to look back.
2
CHARLIE
Present Day
Even though it’s after 6:00 p.m. and I’ve been at the office working since 7:00 a.m. this morning, I just finished another can of Diet Coke, and it refreshes me. I’m ready to keep going and don’t plan to leave a minute before 8:00 p.m. Chances are, I’ll be here until 9:00 p.m. and it doesn’t bother me in the least.
As Vice-President of Thomas Beckett Technology, better known as TB Tech, I have my work cut out for me. I’m a woman living in a man’s world, and I have to work twice as hard to prove myself. Luckily, I love my job and it keeps me sane.
Over the last few years, I’ve poured my heart and soul into this company, and it shows. Normally, I’m the first one to arrive in the morning and the last one to leave at night. I’m on a friendly, first-name basis with everyone who works here, including the cleaning crew, and can tell you anything about any of their lives.
The CEO and President, Thomas Beckett, lured me over here to work for him a little over three years ago, snatching me up from a rival company. He said he liked the way I blended my forward-thinking ideas while still respecting and maintaining tradition. And then he offered me a ridiculous sum of money to seal the deal. It was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse.
Thomas, now 60 years old, has taught me more in the last three years than I think I learned during all of my years in school. I consider him my mentor and, even though he hasn’t said it yet, I’d like to think that he’s grooming me to take over his company one day. Knowing Thomas, he has no plans to retire any time soon since he’s a workaholic, so I expect to learn and work with him for many years to come.
The only problem is when you put so much into a company and your work, it’s hard to have anything else in your life. I spin my chair around to face the large window and gaze out over the New York City skyline. I love this city and the power and potential it holds.
I’ve always been a fast-paced, goal-oriented person so working at a Fortune 500 tech company is the perfect place for me. Yet every time I start to wonder what it would be like to run TB Tech myself, after Thomas decides to spend his time golfing and traveling, a wave of anxiety takes hold.
Because here’s the thing: Thomas has five children who could step in and take things over. And even though he has repeatedly told me that none of them have any interest in TB Tech, I can’t help but worry.