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I took the elevator up to the top floor where all the executives worked, grabbed the information about McAdams Enterprises, and headed to my father’s office. Sure enough, my father was at his desk. Kade was getting a drink from the bar my father had in his office. It wasn’t a surprise to see him there. Kade was all about work. Food and work.
“Ash, what are you doing here?” my father asked.
“I wanted to show you a new prospective venture.”
“Drink?” Kade asked.
Actually, a drink could settle my nerves after what had happened with Ben, and in preparing to deal with my father. “Got vodka and tonic?”
“Yep. Coming right up.”
I sat in the chair in front of my father’s desk. “Have you been following what’s happening to McAdam’s Enterprises?”
“You’re not proposing we take that on?” my father brows lifted disapprovingly.
“It’s got a history and a good foundation. It just needs a little cash and an overhaul.”
“It’s a sinking ship, Ash.” He shook his head. “I know Ben is your friend, but we can’t make business decisions based on emotion, you know that.”
Kade handed me a drink. “What are you thinking, Ash?”
At least he was willing to listen. “He’s got a ton of great real estate that we could flip for fast cash. The ones that have low occupancy rates, we could fill with a little specialized marketing.”
“You don’t think they’ve tried that?” my father asked.
I remembered Ben was barely able to stand straight. It didn’t seem like he could think straight. “I think you’re better at it,” I said going for flattery.
“Did you see there,” I pointed a property on Broadway. “Perfect place for a club or a restaurant. Look at this place in Hampton Bays.” I moved the paperwork so he could see the older home renovated into a hotel, with cottages on the water. It’s not far from your place there, Kade.”
“It’s all fine and good—”
“And a steal,” I said.
My father shook his head. “Most of McAdams is commercial property, not quite our wheelhouse.”
“So, we bring Ben and Beth in. Let them manage it.”
My father laughed. “They’re the ones letting it sink, Ash. I’d be an idiot to put them in charge.”
My gut burned, even though I knew he was right. “They’ll have Raven resources and knowledge to help.”
My father sat back and studied me, as Kade reached over to look at some of the papers I’d set on the desk.
“Beth has grown into a beautiful young woman,” my father said.
Kade’s eyes widened as he looked at me. I could see he was curious as to why my father would say that.
“She has,” I agreed. Did he know I was with her now as he had six years ago?
“Now you’re both old and wise enough—”
I held up a hand. “Don’t you dare.”
Kade’s brows rose even higher.
“You totally fucked up my life and hers,” I said, working to maintain my anger.
“So now you make it right.”
I laughed derisively. “It doesn’t work like that, dad. Maybe you should have had your epiphany about the importance of family six years ago.”
“That was Alex,” Kade said. “And are you saying you and Beth—”
“The point is, Ash, you’re both grown up. And old man McAdams isn’t in the way anymore. He was the one so adamant about you staying away with Beth. I didn’t care.”
“Bullshit.”
He shrugged. “He asked me to intervene, and I did because he made some valid points. You were young and just starting out. I might think having a family can be stabilizing, but not when you’re starting your business. You need to be one-hundred-and-ten percent focused.”
“Why would McAdam’s care about Ash and Beth?” Kade asked the question ripe in my mind.
My father shrugged. “Who knows. He was protective of her, I guess. And it’s no secret that he and I had our own issues.”
“So why go along with him?” I asked.
“Trying to make nice. We had some joint business potential at the time. I figured I owed him since I won your mother.”
“What?” Kade and I said together.
My father rose from his chair and went to pour his own drink. “He fancied your mom, but I won. He was a little bitter about that. Of course, his Kate was a lovely woman. He was a difficult man though, and I couldn’t blame her for leaving him to live in Europe.”
He stood by the window looking out over the city. “I went to see him just before he died. He actually told me he’d find your mother in heaven and win her back.” My father laughed at that. Kade and I looked at each other finding the conversation strange.
“How did you respond?” Kade asked.
My father turned to us. “I told him he was kidding himself if he thought he was going to heaven.”
It seemed like a harsh thing to say to a dying man. “Did he say anything to that?” I asked.
