“I work here now.” His smile flashes againand it occurs to me that he’s smiling a lot, maybe too much. Maybe he’s not quite as sure of his reception as he appears.
“First I’ve heard of it,” I say and walk past him to the office.
“Dad was going to tell you.”
“Ooops.” I shrug and carry on, Ethan trailing behind me like a lost puppy.
Dierdre glances up from her desk and I take warning that she’s already arrived. She knew about Ethan. I can tell by the way her gaze flicks to him and back to me. I guess something happened when I was out Friday.
I pretend everything is routine, check in with her, then go to my desk. I ignore Ethan, but he follows me, talking all the time.
“It was Dad’s request,” he says, then laughs again. “Maybe his command. The royal edict.”
I make a non-committal noise and check the production totals from the weekend. We’re maybe a little ahead of estimates. All good.
“You’re not paying attention, Mike.”
“I don’t have time to entertain you, Ethan.”
“You should.”
I look up at his conviction. He’s lounging in my doorway, hands in the pockets of his trousers. Again with the smile and it’s definitely more wary.
He doesn’t know what I’m going to do, which means he’s going to say something I won’t like.
“I’m the new operations manager of Cavendish Enterprises,” he informs me.
Bingo.
I hide my reaction just because he’s waiting for it. “I thought you were CEO of Cavendish Fruit Wines.”
“Oh, yeah, that, too, but it takes time to build success. Meanwhile, I’ll be here.”
I don’t return his bright smile. “I didn’t realize you knew anything about operations at Cavendish Enterprises.”
“Life is full of learning opportunities.”
I point to Dad’s old office, with the piles of folders still on the desk. “Well, feel free to dig in.”
He looks between the two offices. “I like your office better.”
“Oh well.”
“Yours has a bigger window.”
I look between the two and nod agreement. “That it does.”
“And since I’m your boss, I should have the bigger window.”
Once again, he has my undivided attention. “I beg your pardon?”
He shrugs but he does retreat a step. “I’m your boss, Mike. Dad said.” He raises a hand to indicate a level high above his head. “Dad.” He drops it to his shoulder. “Me.” Then lowers it to his hip. “You.” He makes a sad face, as if it’s a joke.
But it’s not.
I glance toward Dierdre. She gives the tiniest nod of agreement and I see red.
Of course, they don’t need to know it.
