Page 84 of Choosing Us

After saving the reports that I will get to defend in tomorrow’s meeting, I close my computer and head out of my office to my car in the hospital’s ramp. The administration wing is quiet at this time of night, which is probably in my favor because all anyone would hear from me right now is how I think Calvin Rutledge is driving this hospital into the ground.

But what do I know? I’m just “the finance guy,” as he calls me in the meetings.

The executive level of the parking ramp is as deserted as the administration wing, but something has me checking over my shoulder as I walk down the empty row of parking spots to my SUV. I am used to being the last one here, especially with Calvin’s bullshit lately, but something has my nervous system on alert. I don’t hear or see anything out of the ordinary. There isn’t anything up here beyond a few standard security cameras, a couple flickering lights, and my car parked at the end of the row. But my martial arts training taught me the importance of listening to my instincts, and right now, something is off.

When the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, I pause my steps and survey my surroundings. No one else is around, but then a security vehicle turns the corner, and with a wave to the guard behind the driver’s wheel, I shake my head and continue walking.

The stress of this job is making me paranoid.

Once I’m in my SUV, I check my phone and it finally restarted, but this isn’t a texting conversation. I know he’s in town at Savannah’s guest house with Tinsley while she recovers from last month’s attack, but I don’t need to interrupt their entire evening. I pull up his contact as I shift into drive and turn out of my parking spot.

“Hey, Ryan, what’s going on?” Jack answers on the third ring.

“Hey, do you have a minute?” I hear him murmur something to Tinsley before a door opens and shuts.

“Yeah, I’m on the porch now alone. What’s up? Is everything okay?”

“The answer to that is relative, but in the grand scheme of things, yes, everything is fine. I just … I’m, uh, ready to have that conversation of what it would take.”

“Really?” Jack perks up, and it’s like I just told the man Christmas is coming early.

“There are a few things that would help me seriously consider taking the job,” I admit, both equally shocked that we are finally having this conversation, and that it took this many years to get here.

“Name your demands.”

“I want to be able to work from home part-time, especially if Harlow is in town with her schedule. When she’s gone for a week at a time, it feels like we are just ships in the night.”

“Done. I don’t care where you work from, Ryan. You can travel the world and set up wherever you land, just as long as you do your job and we can reach you; location is irrelevant. What else?”

“The biggest hurdle I think will be the undeniable fact that you are my older brother,” I admit, and I know he isn’t going to want to hear that.

“What do you mean?”

“I think getting people to respect my position because of who I am, not because of who my brother is could potentially be challenging. And I also don’t know what it would be like or how it would impact our relationship if you were my boss.”

He hums and pauses for a moment before saying anything. “I see this from a different perspective, man.”

“What do you mean?”

“I see the fact that you are one of my brothers as a priceless perk for me. I know I can trust you without any hesitation, and I know the kind of boss you are to your employees. You go to bat for them, you have their backs, and while you expect great work, you recognize it freely.”

“Priceless is a big word for a billionaire.”

“I know. But honestly, I think your work and character will speak to itself. And anyone that has a problem with you being my brother, quite honestly, can get fucked. I don’t care what they think. Wells and I trust you—and that’s not something that comes easily for either of us, even before everything happened last month.”

My brother has a nickname of being the Ice Man, but I can hear the emotion in his voice right now. After what happened to Tinsley last month, something shifted in Jack. He would let his guard down with us before that, but it feels like he is holding even less back these days.

He clears his throat before continuing, “You can talk to Max, but it’s never been an issue in our friendship, and he’s worked with us from the beginning.” Max Riley was their first official employee at Lux and has been one of Jack's best friends since preschool. He's managed the music division for the last decade, and working for Jack doesn't seem to have had a negative impact on their friendship.

“And as far as me being your boss, I can’t change the fact that it’s my company, but we can set it up to where Wells is the deciding vote on anything you and I disagree on. How’s that sound?”

I hum. “So, I would report to your business partner and not you?”

“Well, no, you would report to both of us. Maybe something like a fifty-five to forty-five percent instead of a fifty-fifty split.”

“Sixty-forty,” I counter as he grumbles at that.

“Fifty-eight to forty-two.”