With values other than making money.
“Let’s just say I had no idea this deal with Stealth would turn out this way,” Kane finally said, picking his way through his thoughts. “And yes, I’ve been looking for another option for Flirt, but there’s not much out there that will work.”
“The beach towns are difficult to find affordable rent. Deals like this make it harder.”
“Is that why you didn’t want to take it on?”
Duncan gave him a shrewd look. “Exactly. Once, I was in your position. I ended up closing down a good friend’s restaurant. Things got messy.”
“Were you both able to work it out?”
“No.” The answer was simple in its brutality. “She never forgave me.”
“Even though it would’ve happened anyway?”
“Yes, it didn’t matter to her. Would I have made a different choice?” Duncan cocked his head, considering. “Probably not. I was young and hungry to grow the company. It was only later on I began losing my taste for doing whatever was needed. I downsized and stepped back from some of the bigger sharks, like Stealth. But they respect me and try to throw other business my way. It’s another reason they have their eye on you.”
“Because you hired me and they trust you.”
Duncan’s nod gave him a whole new perspective. All this time, Kane figured his reputation had stirred their interest but it was really Duncan. His respect for the man bumped up several notches.
Duncan was telling him something no one had ever offered before.
He had a choice.
Oh, sure, Kane knew he always had a choice to walk away, but his entire life had been about closing deals and moving forward. The faster the better, because it meant more money and less time to fail. It was also another reason his brother fell apart. Emotion needed to be tucked away. Derek had always been soft-hearted but Kane had been able to do all the hard things to keep them both afloat.
Except…
The thought trickled through his brain like slow-moving sludge. Except, what if there was no more reason to race to the top?
What if he was happy without Stealth and a shiny new job that may take him from the life he was carving out here?
What if he could just say…no?
“It’s too late,” Kane muttered, more to himself than his boss. “The deal’s done. I can’t stop it.”
“No, you can’t. But if you decide to walk away, I’ll back you up.”
Shock barreled through him. “What? You’d have to fire me. Stealth would need a sacrifice or they’d stop playing nice with you.”
Duncan shrugged one tweed covered shoulder. “Who cares? I don’t need their support. I’ve made plenty of money, my company is secure, and I never take orders from others. Not anymore. That’s exactly why I built this place.”
“You’d let me stay?”
His boss laughed. “Kane, are you kidding? You can stay here as long as you want. You’re one of the best employees I have. You closed more medical offices these past six months than I have in two years. I know we’re pretty boring here, so I figured it was only a matter of time before you needed more. But if you honestly don’t want to go with Stealth and walk away from this deal, nothing will happen to you.”
Kane realized he didn’t even have to make the hard choice.
Yeah, he’d walk away from the shiny trappings of a big-time deal. But he’d never have to see the betrayal on Sierra’s face when he inked the final contract. He could stay working for Duncan, or find something else that interested him.
Had he ever even tried to envision new possibilities?
Kane thought of John and his betrayal. He thought of the years building armor to keep pushing for more, hungry for opportunity and safety. He thought of Brick telling him about happiness on the other side of this career they’d once both believed in. He thought of how he’d changed since coming to the Outer Banks, and how he liked the man he was finally becoming.
And knew right then he was going to walk away from all of it.
Duncan grinned. “I can tell you made your decision.”
