Page 16 of The Billionaire Who Hated Me (Until He Loved Me)

Sometimes I think she knows all of us MacLaine men better than we know ourselves.I’m who I am today because of Phyllis.

She smiles at me and takes Victoria out back.I watch them leave and wait to hear their voices fade into the outdoors.Then I turn to Dad.“Mind telling me what’s going on?”

“I’m just exploring options, son.”

Dad glances at Arlo, and something passes between them.Even though I can't quite put my finger on what that something is, I know that I’d prefer to have this conversation in private.

“Hey, Arlo, do you mind if I talk with Dad for a few minutes?”

“Of course!”Arlo grabs his briefcase.“I'll be down at the office if you need me for anything.”

I watch him walk through the foyer and out the front door.I keep my eye on him as he crosses the front drive and makes his way down to the new horse barn, where the ranch business offices are located.

It strikes me that Arlo’s walking slower than usual today.He appears slightly stooped too.It’s the first time I’ve noticed this, but it’s not exactly a shock.He's got to be well into his seventies by now, at least a decade older than Dad.Arlo’s worked for the MacLaines since Grandfather was around, and stayed on when Dad inherited the ranch operations.That means Arlo’s been here far longer than I’ve been alive.

“Would you like a cup of coffee, son?I’m not sure Phyllis’s iced tea is gonna cut it.”

I don’t want coffee and I don’t want tea.But maybe a friendly sit-down will make the conversation easier.“Sure, Dad.”

We walk into the kitchen.I watch him prepare the coffee.As he gets out two mugs, I tell myself that this won’t be an argument.I don’t argue with my dad.Sometimes I'd like to, but I never do, because he raised me better than that.

I have unlimited respect for Jamie MacLaine, his work ethic, and the dedication he has always shown his family.He’s a man of integrity who lives by the golden rule.What I don’t respect is his business acumen, which is why I need to get to the bottom of what Victoria Backlund and her company want with any part of the ranch.

I peek out the kitchen window to be sure Phyllis and Victoria aren’t on their way back.

Dad slides a mug of steaming coffee across the island’s granite countertop, then perches on a stool opposite me.I take a sip and dive right into the matter at hand.

“This can’t be about money, right?”I ask.

He stares into his mug.“It’s about planning for the future.”

“The future is taking care of itself, Dad.StellaR Tech is going gangbusters.Evander is revising the final proposal on a three-year, seven-hundred-million-dollar contract.But you know all that.You know that whatever you or the ranch need, we’ve got you covered.”

He nods, then looks up at me.His eyes are puffy and tired.

A shot of fear goes through me.Did he forget about the business and the contract details?Is he starting to lose his grip on day-to-day stuff?I watch him carefully.“Are you all right, Dad?”

He laughs, then takes a giant slurp of coffee.“I’m fine.My cheese remains firmly in the center of my damn cracker, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’m not worried, I’m just—”

“I’m not going to live forever, you know.”

I straighten.“What do you mean?”

“I’m perfectly healthy.It’s just that I’m getting older.I thought if I looked into selling part of the land, the proceeds would give you a bit of a cushion after I’m gone, so that ranching won’t be such a struggle for you.”

“Dad—”

“Hear me out, Callum.”He holds up a hand, palm facing me.“I love you boys.And when this Empowered company called me, I figured it might be good for you to have options in the future, options I never had.Money to do whatever you want.”

“We already have that.”

“But it’s my job, as your father, to leave you something.Arlo and I have been talking lately about how the ranch business has been unpredictable year-to-year, decade-to-decade.Land values are more volatile than ever.But if we make a bunch of money selling Sulfur Springs when the market is hot, you’ll have the cash socked away for a rainy day.Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that there will always be a rainy day.”

I blink.This is about his pride, then, not his health.And not some business misstep he’s made without telling me.All that’s a relief.But still, it’s crazy talk.“You’re not going anywhere for a long time, Dad.”

“You don’t know that, Cal.Nobody ever knows.Not for them and not for those they love.”