Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy #1)(70)

I didn’t bother to hide my shock. Me? Really? kept pinging in my head.

“You’ve poured your heart and soul into PCE from the start. I’ve always believed you’re the driving force behind why it started out successful and continues to grow every year. No one is more invested in taking it to the next level. You told me tonight that you love it. That’s why you need to seriously consider taking the position.”

“Phyllis. Is this an offer?”

“Yes. I’ll have the details drawn up and send you an official offer this week.”

“I…shit. I don’t know what to say.”

“I’m hoping you’ll say yes.” She held up her hand to forestall my argument. “Please hear me out. I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. I’m proud to have played a small role in your growth as a businesswoman. I’m delighted you still come to me for career advice, though for the life of me I’ll never understand why you insisted on starting entry-level at Daniels Property Management.”

I laughed. She’d said entry-level like it was VD.

“I suspect you’re struggling more in your position than you let on. I can’t claim to be surprised. We’ve come a long way in the business world. But there are those…men, usually, who keep putting their wing-tips on our foreheads and kicking us back down the ladder because we’ve dared to climb it.”

“I’m still sporting tassel marks on my behind from one manager’s diatribe this week.” Fucking Greg.

Phyllis leaned in. “I’ve met your father. I know he is a hard-working and fair man. While I understand your reluctance to bring company issues to his attention, I have to ask…if he wasn’t your father, would you have the same reaction?”

“If my father didn’t own the company, chances are as a senior-level VP, in a subdivision of the main corporation, that I wouldn’t have the ear of the CEO. So in some ways, the accusations that I get special consideration and privileges because I’m the daughter of the CEO are true.”

“Damn tight spot you’re in.”

“What keeps me going is the belief that change comes from within. If I say screw it, this isn’t worth it…the status quo wins, and I’ve let down the women in the company who are hoping that I’m the one who can set things right.”

She blinked at me.

Crap. Had I pissed her off?

“Sierra McKay, I am so f*cking proud of you.”

The F-bomb? From Dr. M? Get the f*ck out. “Uh…why?”

“You’re actually practicing what I preach. Few students do that out in the real world. Your tenacity is admirable. And yet, I really believe you’d be happier if you spent your working hours in an environment where you’re needed and where your true passion lies. So please read over the offer for PCE this next week. Take some time to think it over. Call me if you have any questions.”

“I will. Thank you. For everything.”

“Thank you. You are my shining star student, Sierra. I want to make sure you get the chance to show the world what you can do.” She pushed back and stood.

I stood too and gave her a hug. “Drive safe.”

“Hope to hear from you soon.”

After Phyllis left, I settled in and tried to process everything that’d just happened.

But my mind was swimming with too many possibilities, too many variables, too many questions. This type of decision was out of the realm of my experience. And the people I’d normally talk to about it…well, one just offered me a job and the other owned the company I worked for.

I did have one more option.

After I got in my car, I activated the hands-free option for my cell phone and said, “Call Rory.” I didn’t worry that I was calling too late; night owl Rory would rather do anything than sleep.

She answered the call by saying, “Please tell me you’re using Bluetooth so I don’t have to worry about you wrecking your car when you’re talking to me.”

“Hands-free, all the way, baby. And I’m not that bad of a driver.”

She snorted. “It’s the big city. Everyone is in a hurry and you don’t have to be the bad driver to end up in a car crash.”

“Let’s start over. Heya, sis. How’s life in the woods with your very own flannel-and-jeans-wearing lumbersexual?”

“Fantastic. But I prefer Dalton to wear no shirt.”

“I don’t blame you. Is it creepy to say I’d ogle him without shame if I saw him demolishing big logs with just an ax and his rippling muscles?”

“Kinda creepy, but I’m sure it’d put a swagger in his step, despite the fact he’s your business partner as well as your brother-in-law.”

“Blow him a kiss for me, because I know he’s close.”

“Hang on.”

I heard background noises and then a sigh.

“I’m back. Damn distracting man. What’s up?”

“I miss you. I need to talk to you and I wish I could just drive over to your house right now.”

“Me too. I hate that we live so far apart. Why’d you have to move all the way to Arizona?”

“Why’d you have to move to the middle of nowhere, Montana?” I countered.

Rory laughed. “I ask myself that same question sometimes. But you didn’t call to talk about me.” She paused. “So your dad and my mom told me Boone West is back around, specifically in Phoenix.”