Page 102 of Sweet Redemption

“Not at all.”

She turns to me, pride shining confusingly in her eyes. “Serena, being a woman in the world of professional sports is not for the weakhearted. You have to be strong and confident and direct. You cannot allow yourself to be pushed around. It’s not easy, and it’s not for everyone.”

I lean forward, half expecting her to tell me I failed a test I didn’t know I was taking.

“You’re the first of our children to be interested in King Corp., and we needed to make sure you had what it takes,” Ryker’s mom adds, beaming. “Not that we doubted it, we just needed to know for sure.”

I blow out a breath, more than a little frustrated. “I’m sorry, but I’m confused. Is this a King Corp. thing or an Emerald City thing?”

“Both,” Dad answers.

“You came to us with an offer,” Aurora’s dad jumps in. “But we have a counteroffer.”

“Why are you here, Hudson? When was the last time you were involved in King Corp.?” Lenny asks. “You only come around for the free food and booze at the functions.”

Jace snickers, and Dad and Scarlet look at the three of them like they’re little kids instead of grown adults.

At least I know my cousins and I come by it honestly.

“Here’s our counteroffer, Serena, and hear me out.” Dad leans forward, an excitement in his eyes I haven’t seen in months. “When I bought the Revolution, I was going to purchase it myself. But after speaking with Scarlet and the board, I decided to purchase it through the company. It worked for me because I already owned my shares of the company, something neither you nor your cousins have because no one has shown interest until now. We’d like to change that.”

I stare at him, still confused.

“We’d like to offer you shares of King Corp., honey. Not my shares. Although you’ll obviously get them when I die.”

“Dad,” I gasp, hating when he talks this way.

“Listen, kid, we’re all leaving our kids our shares when we die. But you need to hear what your father is telling you,” Hudson warns from next to me and takes my hand in his.

“I have the controlling shares of the company, Serena. I always have. My own father made it that way. You were always going to get them. But what the board and I would like to do is give you your own shares by each of us giving you a percentage of our individual shares.” Dad holds my gaze, willing me to understand what he’s saying, and I think I do, but my head is swimming as it all plays out.

“You’ll be the only grandchild to hold their own shares,” Lenny says.

“And one day,” Scarlet adds, resting her hand over Dad’s. “When you have your father’s shares, you’ll control the company, not just the team.”

My father nods. “You’ll be Chairman of the Board.”

Holy. Shit.

“And what did you say?” Livvy asks me via FaceTime, and I curse her for marrying a man who lives in New Jersey for the millionth time.

“Thank you,” I squeak and run my fingers through my hair, tugging. “I mean what am I supposed to say when they basically told me I was going to run the company when my dad dies, like they were talking about what was for lunch? Which, by the way, they had catered by Bagliani’s. And seriously, Liv, their sandwiches are still the absolute best.”

“Breathe, Barbie. I mean, shit. I’m going to have to start calling you Bad Ass Barbie.” She purses her lips and arches a brow. “Ooh. Ooh. Or Boss Babe Barbie.” She smacks the table. “Chairman of the Board Barbie. Oh my God. The options are endless.”

“Be serious, Olivia. I can’t really do this . . . can I?” I ask quietly, petrified of her answer. Because I know what I want her to say and what I want to do, and I don’t think they’re at all aligned.

“Why the fuck not? You graduated from college at the top of your class with a dual degree. You have the brains. You have the balls, given you’re already prepared to run a professional sports team in Philadelphia, one of the best professional sports cities in the world. And you have the bloodline. Every single member of our family will make sure you’re ready when the time comes. You’ll have the kind of hands-on training people have wet dreams about. And you’ll get to do it all while you build a women’s soccer dynasty in your hometown because you’re already Bad Ass Barbie. You have to do this. Have. To.”

“Olivia . . .” I stutter.

“Stop and answer me this one thing. Do you want to do it?”

“Yes,” I answer without hesitation. “I do.”

“Then you have your answer.”

My racing heart settles as I stare at my screen. “I guess I do . . .”