A couple of hours following the meeting debacle and coming from two separate heart-to-hearts, one with his father and the other with his brother, Kane sat in his office with Brittany recanting the gory details as she shuffled through a small stack of resumes.
“I cannot believe that Dad is just giving up on the company.”
“He’s tired Brit, and I cannot say that I blame him.”
Once Kane finished up with his brother and getting him to calm down and jump on board, he went back to his father’s office where they sat and had a real conversation over Edward’s decision. Kane would never tell his sister but his father sobbed while telling him the story that after he shattered his ACL and became very depressed contemplating what he would do with the rest of his future. During his six-month hiatus, Edward was inspired by his mother Glenda who suggested Edward go back to school. Edward took his mother’s advice and received a degree in physical therapy to help athletes recover from career ending injuries.
After taking on a few former teammates as his clients, Edward was inspired by his former coach to start a PT practice. The coach put him in touch with all of the right people who helped him draft up a business plan for the newly birthed Parker Physical Therapy & Pilates. Edward’s newly assembled team helped him scout out a location and even put in contact with angel investors who he was able to pay back within three years of business. The clinic was truly Edward’s greatest accomplishment for the last twenty years until Colin’s sex tape scandal.
Sadly, he glanced at his son and said, “Kane, this place just isn’t the same anymore. I don’t have the energy to rebound from this. Enough is enough, and it’s time that I move on.” Not being able to argue with his father, Kane told him he understood and that he supported his decision and that from here on out he and Brittany would do whatever needed to be done to keep the company afloat.
“But-” his sister’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“There are no buts Brit. All we need to do is respect dad’s wishes and work together to keep the business going. What do you say?”
“I agree, I guess I just do not understand how he can just up and walk away from something he built.”
“The man is humiliated. In his eyes, the company he birthed has been tarnished and there is nothing good that can come of it, so he has decided to disassociate himself.”
“There is nothing left that we can do to make him change his mind?”
“No.”
“Wow.” Brittany shook her head. “Okay now that I have some sort of clarity on that issue. How did the talk with Colin go?”
“Better than I expected.” Kane loosened his tie. “After I finished my spiel, he sat for a minute and then he was able to apologize.”
“Good.”
“But not before admitting he felt attacked and sabotaged.”
“Attacked.” Brittany gave her brother a sideways glance. “Seriously? Our brother is unbelievable. He makes a sex tape, is unable to keep tabs on the tape, it goes viral and makes national news, but yet he feels as if he was attacked and sabotaged?”
“Hey.” Kane shrugged. “The man has a right to feel the way he does.”
“I promise I cannot take him anymore. He just about ruins our business and he feels a certain way.”
“Would you please let me finish?”
“Fine.”
“Colin apologized and it was sincere. He said he had time to think about things, his actions, and he does understand where everyone is coming from. He says he will be on his best behavior as our gofer.”
“I will believe that when I see it,” Brittany responded ruefully.
“I’m going to take his word for it. He said it, I believe it, and that settles it for me at the moment.”
“Whatever you say.” She shrugged. “But you know I’m waiting to say I told you so.”
“I know you are, but Colin has nothing but time to prove himself.”
“You’re right.”
As soon as Kane and Brittany shifted gears and began talking about replacements for Stephanie, there was a small knock at the door. A couple of seconds later, Stephanie Erickson stuck her head in the door. “Hey guys.”
“Your ears must have been itching. We were just talking about you.”
“All good things I hope.” Stephanie chuckled as she slid into the room and shut the door behind herself.
“How is the search going?” She found a spot next to her best friend.
“It’s going well. I believe I have narrowed it down to about six candidates.”
Stephanie looked at both Brittany and Kane. “I just wanted to say thank you both for understanding.” Her eyes watered as she wrung her hands together.
“Steph, no problem, we understand completely.”
“Yes, please do not cry.” Kane grabbed the box of Kleenex on the edge of his desk and handed it to her. “We just want you to be okay.”
“I will be, once I leave.” Stephanie nodded. Two weeks ago Stephanie had come home from an evening of shopping and dinner with Brittany when she discovered her husband Jake in the bed with her youngest sister Darcy. Stephanie learned that the affair had been going on for months and that Darcy was three months pregnant with Jake’s baby and planned on keeping it. Distraught, Stephanie decided that she needed to take a sabbatical to get away from everything and everyone. She was taking a trip to visit family in California to get herself together.
“Does Bryce know you’re leaving?”
Stephanie shook her head. “No. He does not suspect a thing. We talked after I confronted him and my sister. Of course he made excuses, said he was sorry, and that what he and Darcy had was a fling. Hearing his truth hurt Darcy’s feelings so she left the house. Girl, it was a mess and at times I felt like I was playing mediator between them. I actually felt like I was their counselor.”
“Has Darcy tried reaching out to you?”
Stephanie rolled her eyes. “She texts me everyday asking if we can talk.”
“What did you say?”
“I have yet to respond. My mother even called me and told me I need to reach out since she extended the olive branch.”
“Are you serious?”
Stephanie nodded. “Yes. In my mother’s eyes, her baby girl can do no wrong. I will talk with my sister one day, but right now. I just need to get away from everyone. I need a fresh start.”
“I understand.”
“Your job will be waiting for you when you come back,” Kane responded, sincerity in his voice. It was true. He would save her job. Stephanie had been his assistant for five years and there was no one else he trusted to keep his schedule and his life together except her.
“Thank you.”
Following the pow wow, the trio buckled down and began brainstorming ideas on what needed to be done to get Parker Physical Therapy & Pilates back in good standing where it used to be.