After the meeting, I pulled Gary to the side.
“Mason was right,” he said before I could say a word. “Your idea wasn’t bad, but it’s also not worth the risk. We have a proven method that works for companies that are in trouble, like Mathors Aerospace. Anyway, make it happen, and you can come up with another revenue stream idea this week. There’s still time.”
I stared at Gary, confused. “What do you mean make it happen?”
“I mean, talk with the CEO of Mathors Aerospace and look into us acquiring them.”
“I’m not going to do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s not what my idea was about.”
Gary walked over to the door and closed it, the two of us the only ones left in the conference room. “I don’t understand what the problem is.”
I decided to tell him the truth. Surely, Gary would understand.
“I know someone who works at Mathors Aerospace.”
He nodded. “Your boyfriend?”
Gary kept calling him my boyfriend, but I wasn’t going to correct him. “No. His cousin.”
“And?”
“And if we acquire Mathors Aerospace he’s going to probably lose his job. His department would most likely be the first to go.”
Gary crossed his arms. “And?”
I sighed. “Gary. I know him. I can’t do that to him.”
“Your first mistake was making this personal, because it’s not. It’s business. If he’s talented he’ll bounce back, no problem. He’ll find another job and thank you in the end.”
I had to put my foot down. “No.”
Gary blew out a breath. “I don’t like where this is going. This is not like you.”
Just because I was showing compassion and didn’t want someone to be fired? Just because I was finally starting to have a life?
I had something I was sure would make Gary change his mind. “There are two other potential companies we can acquire instead of Mathors Aerospace.”
Gary leaned against his desk. “You said we could make a ten-million-dollar profit off Mathors Aerospace without batting an eye. Now you’re telling me we should just flush that money down the toilet?”
“I’m telling you we’ll get that money from a different source. Why does it matter where it comes from? And that wasn’t even the purpose of this meeting. You wanted new revenue streams.”
“But that doesn’t mean we give up on the old.” Gary shook his head, the first time I had ever seen him so disappointed in me in ten years. “Ruth, there’s a lot of pressure on me from the board to bring in more income.”
I couldn’t believe I was hearing this from him.
I sighed. “I can’t, Gary.”
He nodded, deep in thought. “Sounds like you need time off to think about things.”
Unbelievable.
Another man who wanted me to take time to do some thinking.
“This will give you time to clear your head and think about your role at Stansfeld,” Gary added. “You need to figure out what’s most important to you and reevaluate your priorities. Take a couple of days off and let me know what you come up with.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am.” Gary sighed. “Maybe your priorities have changed, and if that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do about it. But I need to know ASAP where your head is. I need to make an informed decision about the future of this company. The ball’s in your court. Let me know what you decide.”
Gary turned and walked out of the conference room.
Staring at the back of the door, I stood there deep in thought.
What just happened?
I had come into this meeting with high hopes of showing everyone an amazing new revenue opportunity, something that should have made the company happy, and Nick as well.
It was supposed to be a slam-dunk.
In the end, my idea got bounced to the curb like a basketball.
Maybe I did need time to think about why this was all happening to me.
I needed to tread carefully with Stansfeld and with Nick.
One wrong move and I could lose everything I had worked so hard for.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Two Days Later . . .
RUTH
I flipped over the pancakes on the grill, smiling as my mom cooked bacon, and my dad prepared the coffee. I hadn’t done this in years and had forgotten how much I enjoyed it.
It was my second day off, and I still hadn’t been able to process my thoughts and figure out what my next step was. The pancakes would make up for it, or at least they would give me temporary pleasure until I had to start thinking about work again.
Yesterday, Nick called to chat briefly. He said he wanted to hear my voice, which was a good sign after what had happened at the party. He was busy helping his parents with some home project for most of the day, but then his mom got on the phone and invited me to have dinner with them this evening. It was a little awkward, but there was no way I was going to say no.
Other than the brief phone call with Nick and two other chats with Dee, I did absolutely nothing except read all day, with a break in the middle to take a nap in my new gazebo.
It was blissful.
I have to do it again soon.
How I was able to keep my mind off work was a wonder to me. It helped that I had started the day by doing Nick’s water-listening exercise by the fountain in the morning.
I had even told Dee to take two paid days off, since I didn’t think it was fair that I had the time off, but she didn’t.
Funny how she didn’t argue with me at all.
In fact, at this very moment she was headed to Dana Point to catch the ferry to Catalina Island to spend the day there with Brandon.
Today was just the opposite of yesterday for me because I had breakfast with my parents, and then dinner with Nick, his parents, and Lindsey.
“The bacon is done.” My mom used the tongs to pull the last few strips from the pan, placing them on the serving plate. “Ready with the coffee, honey?”
“All ready.” My dad poured the last of the three cups of coffee and placed them on the table with cream and sugar. “And I’m ready for some pancakes.”
“You’re in luck because they are ready to be eaten!” I scooped the last of the pancakes with the spatula onto the platter and placed it in the center of the kitchen table next to the butter and syrup. “Okay, let’s eat.” I rubbed my hands together, excited, and then took a piece of bacon from the plate and ate it with my fingers.
“This is all so wonderful.” My mom helped herself to pancakes and added the butter and syrup on top. “Just like old times.”
I nodded, finishing off my first piece of bacon and diving into the pancakes. “I agree. This feels good. I think we should make it a regular thing. Maybe once a month? What do you say?”
“Twice a month is fine with me.” My dad took a sip of his coffee. “Or once a week.”
My mom shook her head. “Honey, let’s not scare her away after we’ve gotten her back.”
I wagged my finger at them. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m back for good. I let Gary’s mentality take over my life and it won’t happen again. No matter what happens going forward, I’m going to make time for you on a regular basis.” I felt my eyes burn. “And I’m sorry.”