The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1)(106)
More tears run down my face. I’m a complete mess, staring at the photo of my sister with JP. I never thought my pilot program would lead to a change like this. Never in a million years.
“This project will be addressed in three major phases, starting with the new mentorship program. Once that is complete, I will move forward with a Creator project that will emphasize Dreamland’s promise for inclusivity. We will be expanding our costumes and souvenirs to include wheelchair, crutch, and prosthetics accessories to account for the population of children at Dreamland who are often ignored. Additionally, we will emphasize a new promise to families by creating the first-ever sensory celebration. This opportunity will give children on the spectrum the ability to enjoy Dreamland.”
I swipe at my face, trying to erase the tears. I’m shocked Rowan took my last creation and applied it in his presentation. With so much on the line, it means the world to me that he is willing to risk his twenty-five billion dollars.
If that’s not him showing how he cares, I don’t know what is.
“Any other questions?” Rowan looks over at me.
I shake my head, hoping my eyes scream how happy and proud I am.
“Thank you for your time today.” He shuts off the projector and exits the room.
Wait, that’s it? He doesn’t stay for the deliberation or something?
A random man walks in with a briefcase. He passes us each a sheet of paper with our names on it and a pen.
There’s a lot of legal jargon I have to read three times before understanding and a simple checkbox asking if I approve of the revisions for Dreamland.
No matter how much Rowan has personally hurt me, there’s no question in my mind anymore that he’s the right man for the job. I would be stupid and petty to vote against him.
And because you love him.
No. That has nothing to do with this. He proved he deserves the chance to change Dreamland for the better, and I’m not going to be the one to get in his way.
I wait outside the main conference door. Everyone exits one by one except for the person I’ve spent ten minutes waiting for.
What on Earth could he be waiting for?
The door opens and Seth Kane strolls out of the place like he owns a personal catwalk at home. For a second, I consider if I should really go through with my plan.
Yeah, fuck it.
“Mr. Kane?” I tap on his shoulder.
“Yes?” He looks down at me with a raised brow. Ugh. The way he stares at me has this strange ability to make me feel two inches tall.
“I wanted to say that although you might be considered a good businessman, you’ve done it at the expense of being a terrible, verbally abusive father. And one day you’re going to look back on your life and regret the way you treated your children, and I hope it hurts you as much as you hurt them. So fuck you and fuck off.”
I swivel on my heel and catch Martha staring at me with a big grin and a thumbs-up. I’m sure to blow her a kiss on my way out the door while using my other hand to give Seth Kane the middle finger.
There’s no other way I would want to spend my last official workday at Dreamland.
50
Rowan
I thought once I left the board room, the panic would hit me. But as I sit in my office, waiting for Grandpa’s lawyer to finish with the vote, I feel a strange sense of calm wash over me.
I’ve accepted my fate, regardless of what the board decides. If I don’t receive my company’s shares, I can still stay on as the Director. My brothers will be pissed, especially Declan, because of the fallout with my father. I get that, but I did everything possible on my end to gain the upper hand.
Instead of going with my original presentation with the best of the Alpha and Beta team ideas, I went with my gut intuition. It was a stressful change, but Martha helped me power through. And damn, I did not expect my secretary to be one of the votes. I can’t believe she hid that from me while helping me with the presentation.
At least I can guarantee myself one vote.
And maybe two.
Zahra seemed moved by the entire thing, but I wouldn’t hold it against her if she decided I wasn’t worthy of the position or the power associated with the shares. While I’m annoyed my father let out that secret, I think it was his way of letting me know that he is aware of our stakes. Somehow his letter from Grandpa must have said more than I bargained for.
There’s a knock on my door. Martha opens it and pops her head in. “Your father would like a word with you.”
“Let him in.” Might as well get this over with.
My father strolls into my office.
“Have a seat.”
He remains standing. “I don’t plan on staying long.”
I raise a brow. “Here to gloat?”
He shakes his head. “No. I want to tell you that I’m proud of you.”
I wait for the other half of the statement picking apart where I went wrong. The silence grows as I come to the realization that he really only wanted to say that.
“Why?”
He ignores me. “I wish you the best of luck running this place. I’ll expect you at the next board meeting, ready to deliver a more concise presentation regarding your budget plan for all of this.”
Did I really win the approval of the voters or is this some joke to string me along?