Page 81 of Something’s Brewing

Madison ignored her. “Dad, what are you doing here?”

“Can’t a father come visit his daughter?”

“Not necessarily,” Madison said before she could stop herself.

A flicker crossed his face—gone just as quickly. “Well,” he said, smoothing his cuff. “Straight to the point. I see the Navy didn’t beat that out of you.”

“You didn’t answer the question.”

He studied her now, taking her in as if making a calculation. “You look . . . different.”

“Good different or disappointingly different?”

“Unexpected.”

Same game. Same rules.

“Madison,” he said, lowering his voice slightly, “we should talk.”

“We’re talking.”

“Not here.” His gaze flicked around again. “Somewhere more appropriate.”

“No,” she said. “If you have something to say, you can say it here.” He didn’t get to arrive unannounced and demand she drop everything to accommodate him.

“You always did have a tendency to make things harder than they need to be.”

“And you always did show up when it suited you.”

His smile thinned.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“I’m offering you an opportunity.”

There it was.

“I’m stepping back,” he continued. “The company needs leadership. Strong leadership.” His eyes locked on hers. “I want you to come back as the CEO. Take your place where you belong.”

The words hit like a punch.

Where you belong.

“You mean the place you told me I didn’t deserve?” she asked quietly.

“Circumstances change.”

“No. People just pretend they do.”

“I didn’t come here to debate the past,” he said. “I’m offering you a second chance. Something real. Something that actually matters.”

“Everything I’ve done matters.”

“It’s a distraction. A phase. And I’m willing to overlook it.”

“And if I say no?”

“Then you’re making a very shortsighted decision. I won’t keep extending opportunities indefinitely. I came here in person out of respect, Madison. Don’t make me regret that.”