Page 33
Story: Grumpy CEO
Rhys
O n Friday morning, I stride across the tarmac to the waiting DC 737. A foggy San Francisco breeze tugs at my jacket. A group has already gathered, their banter lost beneath the roar of the aircraft.
Danica, ever the picture of poise, stands beside Austin. They drove in this morning from Napa. Savannah Carter, a model who was on the cover of Vogue recently, clings to Theo’s arm, her laughter too bright, too forced. Mason is with his wife, Caroline, and he offers a curt nod as I approach, his mind likely on the business awaiting us in Montana. And then there’s Jim, scanning the horizon, always alert.
I wave at Theo. “Hey, when did you get in?”
“This morning. Jim thought we should all go together.”
I pat him on the back. “Great to see you in person.”
I exchange greetings with Austin and Danica as we ascend to the plane’s cabin, a bubble of luxury. We settle into leather seats as the pilot announces our imminent departure. My heart feels like lead, but I force a smile for the team’s sake.
“Hey,” Theo calls. “I thought you were bringing Jade. I was ready to finally spend some time with her.”
His comment lands like a punch to the gut, one I’ve braced myself for but still can’t deflect. “No,” I murmur. “We’re not seeing each other anymore.”
“Really?” Danica asks. “She seemed great for you. What happened?”
I can feel their eyes on me, heavy with curiosity and unspoken questions. “It’s complicated,” I begin, but that’s not enough for them. It never is. “The threat against me, and…” I hesitate, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. “It was too much pressure for her. Too much risk. So I ended things.”
“Was she scared for herself?” Danica presses gently, her empathy a reminder of what I’ve given up.
“No,” I reply. “I was worried for her.”
I can see them trying to read between the lines. I’ve never been a guy who likes commitment, and I’m sure at least some of them think I just got bored or gave up. But it’s neither of those things. I can’t risk showing the wrong people she’s important to me. So I had to pretend she’s not. I can’t put her in harm’s way. Worry for myself is bad enough. But no one needs to know all of that right now.
The pilot’s voice crackles through the cabin, announcing our clearance for departure. A whole brace of security agents has taken seats in the back, murmuring to each other, eyes ever watchful. I fasten my seatbelt, my gaze fixed on the tarmac outside. The engines rev up, a low thrum that matches the restless drumming of my fingers against the armrest, a rhythm set to the cadence of my regrets.
We rise into the air, San Francisco falling away beneath us as we slice through the clouds on our way to Montana. I turn to find Austin studying me with sharp eyes, ones that miss nothing, and I can tell he’s sizing me up.
“You’re crazy,” he finally says, shaking his head. “Making a decision like that for her.” There’s a pause, a challenge in the air between us. He’s likely thinking about Danica, their history reflecting back at us like a mirror. “I would never have done that.”
Danica chimes in with her characteristic fire. “Absolutely not,” she agrees. “I would never let him break up with me over a threat. That’s why you have security.”
Their united front jolts me. I bite back the sharp retort on the tip of my tongue, swallowing the truth with it. They’re right. She didn’t want to break up. She made that clear. But admitting this now would show the raw edges of my broken resolve. It would reveal how unraveled the threat against me has left my thinking. I wasn’t processing clearly when I made that choice. But I remember the raw panic, the urgency as everything happened so fast. I will not apologize for keeping Jade safe, for leaving her out of a situation she would never choose. I can’t take it back now anyway.
So, I say nothing. I let the silence fill the space, let it speak the words I cannot utter.
“Face it, Rhys,” Austin says after a moment. “If you really cared about her, you wouldn’t have left her. I’d never leave Danica behind, no matter the threat. It’s my job to protect her.”
The accusation lands like a physical blow, and I feel the sting as if he has slapped me across the face. My jaw clenches tight. They don’t understand. They can’t possibly grasp the depth of what I’m wrestling with.
“Leaving her was the only way to protect her,” I counter, a storm raging inside. “Bringing Jade into this mess would put her right in the crosshairs. Our security team is not infallible. I’d rather suffer the torment of being apart than have her in danger because of me.”
“We’ve never lost a protectee,” Jim pipes in from across the aisle. “Not in almost twenty-five years of business. You can let me know anytime you’d like your setup to be different.”
I grit my teeth to keep the emotions at bay. I can’t let them see the cracks in my armor, can’t let them know how much it cost me to walk away. They may be my closest friends, but they’ve never had a death threat against them. They’ve never had to ask themselves what they’d do if the person they cared for was hurt or killed.
“Rhys,” Austin starts again, but I raise a hand, stopping him.
“Drop it, Austin. It’s done. I don’t want to talk about it.”
He looks at me a long moment and then nods. For a moment, at least, there’s an uneasy peace between us.
I turn back to the window, watching the patchwork of farmland below. In the reflection, I catch a glimpse of my own eyes—haunted, hollow. A man who made a choice not out of indifference, but out of a love so fierce it terrifies him.
Once we level off, the guys and I gather around a polished wooden table. Might as well get down to business. They turn to me.
“So did you hear anything further from Maloney?” Austin asks. “And are we confident Pure Earth can do this?”
“After they sent the money, that was it. Stan’s reaction was really strange,” I muse, shaking my head. “He never seemed interested in trying to investigate or fix the problem. He immediately went on defense. I think he already knew there was something wrong.” I shake my head. “But it’s all going to work out fine. Pure Earth has definitely got this. They’ve increased their capacity significantly since our early days, and they’ve become a lot more efficient in the process. We’ve got the new contract nailed down—pay on delivery, credits for any duds. It’s tight.”
Austin whistles, impressed. “That’s a big move, Rhys. Dynamic.”
I nod, though the praise feels hollow. “You managed the counterfeit batteries—that almost shut us down. That was no small feat. All I’m doing is moving to a new vendor.”
“Thanks,” Austin replies. “But I’m glad to pass the baton back.”
“If Stan was acting strangely, that’s worth following up on,” Theo muses. “Even if we’re not in business with them anymore.”
I nod. It’s like he read my mind. But Mason frowns. “What are you saying?”
“I’m not sure,” Theo replies. “But if he’s hiding something, we should dig deeper, make sure it doesn’t have more to do with EnergiFusion than we realize. Those missing deliveries started even before Justin left. We can’t afford to overlook anything right now.”
“I agree,” I tell him.
“You’re cleaning up my mess,” Austin says. “I’m sorry you had to do this.”
I shake my head. “Don’t sell yourself short. You did a phenomenal job as CEO. We only found this because of Jeannie, and she was also instrumental in finding a solution.”
Austin smiles faintly. “Thank you for saying that. But getting back money that was erroneously billed—”
“Stolen,” Theo inserts.
“Okay, stolen,” Austin concedes. “And moving seamlessly to a new vendor is great news for the first few months of your tenure. That’s an excellent job.”
I know what he’s doing. “You just don’t want the job back.”
Austin smirks. “I hate being so transparent.”
We all laugh.
I look over at Theo, who is avoiding eye contact. “Your turn is next.”
“I’m hoping Justin returns and I never carry that title.”
“That’s not looking likely,” I warn. “Even when he does come back, I’m not sure he’s going to be our choice for leadership anymore.”
Mason redirects the conversation. “Listen, let’s focus on this upcoming week,” he suggests. “Deborah and the SHN HR team have been coordinating. We’ve put together a comprehensive schedule of activities.”
“Board members are flying in later today, right?” I ask.
“Correct,” Mason confirms, checking something on his phone. “They should all be here by evening. Gives us enough time to settle in and prep for tomorrow.” He smiles at me, offering a silent message of support. It’s appreciated. “And dinner tonight is barbecue that I promise is the best you’ll ever taste. Frank has been smoking meat all week, and Molly makes her own sauce—both mild and spicy.”
I groan. “I miss Kansas City barbecue so much. I’m going to bring in some Jack Stacks one of these days and show you all what good barbecue is.”
“I’ll be there,” Theo says.
“Count on it,” Austin agrees.
“Good,” I say, more to myself than anyone else. This talk of barbecue reminds me of the dinner Jade and I had with Justin’s parents. I wonder how she’s coping without me… But I push those worries aside. Clear Security is keeping her safe, and I can’t afford to be distracted—not when so much is at stake.
The jagged peaks outside the window seem endless, but finally, the wheels of the DC 737 kiss the tarmac with a gentle grace. The ranch stretches out around us, a patchwork of green and gold framed by mountains standing guard beneath the vast Montana sky. It’s breathtaking, wild, and for a moment, it steals the weight of my troubles.
In a pasture next to the landing strip, a herd of buffalo graze, their dark forms dotting the landscape like scattered shadows. They seem unfazed by our roaring descent, a testament to how often they have people here. I watch, fascinated, as not one head raises in alarm, not one tail flicks in irritation.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Danica murmurs from beside me.
“Sure is,” I reply, forcing an enthusiasm I don’t fully feel.
As the plane taxis to a stop and the engines wind down, we unbuckle and gather our things. I’m one of the first to stand, my legs stiff from sitting, mind still racing.
Stepping out onto the airstrip, the mountain breeze greets me, fresh and crisp against my skin. I glance over my shoulder at the others disembarking, each paired off—Austin with his arm protectively around Danica, Theo laughing at something Savannah whispers in his ear, and Mason, Caroline, and Jim exchanging easy banter. A swirl of security guards rushes around, doing whatever it is they need to do, as a pang of loneliness hits me square in the chest.
“Rhys, are you coming?” Austin calls, waving me over to join the group heading to the main house.
“Yeah, on my way.” I force a smile and follow, but my gaze lingers on the horizon, where the jagged peaks meet the sky.
Table of Contents
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