important, to my family. So I supposed I should’ve been grateful for the assistance. Besides, contrary to what Cassidy had always believed about me—and had no doubt relayed to her mentor, Wade—I
could
play well with others. I’d adjust. Period.
“One more thing,” I said. “Will this person you find also be a partner? If so, how will the share split go then?”
When I had become a partner, I wasn’t an equal partner. Wade held controlling interest with 51 percent, Monty (a silent partner) still held 24 percent, and I had the remaining 25 percent. If Wade and Monty planned to sell off their shares, I could be in a whole lot of trouble. So could SSE, its employees, and its clients.
He chuckled. “That’s my boy. I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t asked.” He re-crossed his legs. “The replacement will be auditioning, so to speak, for a role as partner. We want to make sure the person we find will be a viable contribution to the future of SSE. Once you, Monty, and I are convinced the new person has proven himself, we’ll make it official. The share split will be Monty and me at ten percent each, the new partner at thirty, and you with fifty. As Monty and I, inevitably, die off, our shares will go to the new partner to balance things out. Until then, you’ll be making more than the rest of us.” He laughed. “You’ve more than earned it, and Monty and I will feel safe knowing SSE is in your hands.”
“Wow. That’s quite an honor. I don’t know what to say,” I admitted.
“Just say yes, my boy.”
It was a lot to take in, an even bigger responsibility. Though wasn’t this exactly what I’d worked so hard for? Wasn’t this the dream I’d had as a practically orphaned child with no prospect of a promising future? I’d have a real legacy, half of a more than prosperous company. Abe could follow in his father’s footsteps and be proud to stand where I once stood. Generations after him could do the same. I could start a
true
legacy. Right here. Right now. I could really be worthy of a woman like Cassidy.
Smacking my hand on the desk, much like a judge’s gavel at a final verdict, I answered, “Yes!” and then I sat back with a sigh of relief. A very major decision had just been made, but it was one that I felt good about.
“Excellent!” Wade said. “Monty will be so proud of his protégé’s enthusiasm. You’ve never disappointed, Matthews. I wouldn’t be able to make this leap if I didn’t have the utmost confidence in you.”
“Thank you for saying so, Wade. I sure am sorry to see you go, and admittedly, maybe even a little jealous of all the free time you’re about to get, but I can’t think of many other people who deserve it more.” It was true. Wade had built SSE from the ground up, now boasting a clientele roster of the most well-known athletes in every sport imaginable. “Thank you for taking care of finding our next partner. Though I know he’ll never be a match to you, I’ll try not to hold it against him.”
“Good man,” he said, standing. “I’m sure I never did the same with you.” He winked playfully before coming over to shake my hand. As he made his exit to get on with his day and leave me to mine, he stopped and looked back over his shoulder. “Oh, and
he
could very well turn out to be a
she
. You might want to be prepared for that, just in case.”
I had absolutely no problem with that. I was just glad I didn’t have to make the decision one way or the other.
—
The rest of my day had been hectic, as usual. Though I was still bothered by the exchange I’d had with Cassidy that morning, I hadn’t had the time to dwell on it. Between going over my strategy concerning Marcel, handling a contract crisis for one of my top clients, reviewing contracts Ben had drawn up for a couple others, I’d had enough to stay distracted—to say the very least.
And then came the staff meeting.
Wade had made the announcement about his retirement,
could
play well with others. I’d adjust. Period.
“One more thing,” I said. “Will this person you find also be a partner? If so, how will the share split go then?”
When I had become a partner, I wasn’t an equal partner. Wade held controlling interest with 51 percent, Monty (a silent partner) still held 24 percent, and I had the remaining 25 percent. If Wade and Monty planned to sell off their shares, I could be in a whole lot of trouble. So could SSE, its employees, and its clients.
He chuckled. “That’s my boy. I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t asked.” He re-crossed his legs. “The replacement will be auditioning, so to speak, for a role as partner. We want to make sure the person we find will be a viable contribution to the future of SSE. Once you, Monty, and I are convinced the new person has proven himself, we’ll make it official. The share split will be Monty and me at ten percent each, the new partner at thirty, and you with fifty. As Monty and I, inevitably, die off, our shares will go to the new partner to balance things out. Until then, you’ll be making more than the rest of us.” He laughed. “You’ve more than earned it, and Monty and I will feel safe knowing SSE is in your hands.”
“Wow. That’s quite an honor. I don’t know what to say,” I admitted.
“Just say yes, my boy.”
It was a lot to take in, an even bigger responsibility. Though wasn’t this exactly what I’d worked so hard for? Wasn’t this the dream I’d had as a practically orphaned child with no prospect of a promising future? I’d have a real legacy, half of a more than prosperous company. Abe could follow in his father’s footsteps and be proud to stand where I once stood. Generations after him could do the same. I could start a
true
legacy. Right here. Right now. I could really be worthy of a woman like Cassidy.
Smacking my hand on the desk, much like a judge’s gavel at a final verdict, I answered, “Yes!” and then I sat back with a sigh of relief. A very major decision had just been made, but it was one that I felt good about.
“Excellent!” Wade said. “Monty will be so proud of his protégé’s enthusiasm. You’ve never disappointed, Matthews. I wouldn’t be able to make this leap if I didn’t have the utmost confidence in you.”
“Thank you for saying so, Wade. I sure am sorry to see you go, and admittedly, maybe even a little jealous of all the free time you’re about to get, but I can’t think of many other people who deserve it more.” It was true. Wade had built SSE from the ground up, now boasting a clientele roster of the most well-known athletes in every sport imaginable. “Thank you for taking care of finding our next partner. Though I know he’ll never be a match to you, I’ll try not to hold it against him.”
“Good man,” he said, standing. “I’m sure I never did the same with you.” He winked playfully before coming over to shake my hand. As he made his exit to get on with his day and leave me to mine, he stopped and looked back over his shoulder. “Oh, and
he
could very well turn out to be a
she
. You might want to be prepared for that, just in case.”
I had absolutely no problem with that. I was just glad I didn’t have to make the decision one way or the other.
—
The rest of my day had been hectic, as usual. Though I was still bothered by the exchange I’d had with Cassidy that morning, I hadn’t had the time to dwell on it. Between going over my strategy concerning Marcel, handling a contract crisis for one of my top clients, reviewing contracts Ben had drawn up for a couple others, I’d had enough to stay distracted—to say the very least.
And then came the staff meeting.
Wade had made the announcement about his retirement,
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