Chandra found a spot in the parking garage of the building that housed Phillips Athletic Wear. While she waited in the lobby for the elevator, she fired off a group text message to her sister, Naya, and her brother Alonzo. They’d spent the past few days brainstorming event ideas for the winery in a text message chain.
Only Naya and Nolan had accepted their father’s invitation to join the winery. Naya was Valentine Vineyards’ PR & events coordinator. Nolan would formally assume the role of CFO of Valentine Vineyards once he was done facilitating the sale of the textile firm.
But while Chandra, Sebastian, Alonzo and Nyles had declined to join the newly acquired family firm, they’d all been regularly consulted by their father, Nolan and Naya as they made plans for the official launch of the newly rebranded winery. During their time in Magnolia Lake, she, her dad and her siblings had worked with a graphic designer Max’s wife, Quinn, had recommended. The woman created dynamic new branding for Valentine Vineyards, based on all of their input, including a logo, wine labels and signage.
It was exciting to be a part of shaping the new company from the start. In some ways, she envied Naya and Nolan being at the center of this exciting new family venture. But she’d been on a five-year-long mission, and she wouldn’t let herself get derailed now. Not by her father’s identity crisis, the discovery of mystery relatives or a sweet, handsome and far-too-young doctor who’d swept her off her feet.
Chandra stepped onto the elevator and punched the button for her floor. She scrolled through her phone, searching for Julian’s latest text message.
Hey, beautiful. Hope you’re doing well. Life around here just isn’t the same without you. Miss you like crazy.
Chandra’s heart fluttered. She could practically hear the words being uttered in Julian’s deep, gravelly voice. His mouth pulled into a sexy grin that sent electricity down her spine.
She missed him, too. More than she could’ve imagined.
So much had changed since she’d boarded that plane to Magnolia Lake several weeks ago. She’d reconnected with her father and siblings, gotten to know her unknown relatives whom she really liked, discovered the beauty of the Smoky Mountains and the appeal of small-town living.
And she’d met, been rescued by, fake dated and screwed the brains out of the handsome young doctor.
Chandra couldn’t stop thinking about Julian. They’d only met a couple of months ago. Yet the man had managed to turn her world upside down.
She’d finally met a man who seemed perfect. But in the cosmic joke that was her life, he was nearly a decade younger and lived two thousand miles away.
Julian was unbothered by their age difference. But Chandra couldn’t help worrying what other people would think. Besides, did she honestly want to spend the next four years dating someone she’d get to see maybe one weekend a month?
“Good morning, Ms. Valentine.” The distressed look on the face of Evelyn Santos, assistant to Chandra’s boss Ethan, caused uneasiness to creep up her spine.
Ethan and Evelyn were based in Nashville. What were they doing in San Diego unannounced?
“Good morning, Evelyn. I didn’t realize Ethan was in town.”
“Something came up. Ethan and Elliot are in the conference room waiting for you.” Evelyn’s eyes didn’t meet Chandra’s.
The uneasiness in her gut ratcheted up a notch. She was hit by a wave of nausea.
The Phillips brothers co-owned the firm. Ethan, the CEO based in Nashville, had hired her five years ago. She’d been sent to San Diego to turn things around and essentially babysit Elliot Phillips, whose title as COO was more of a wish than a job description.
For the past five years, she’d effectively been running the firm’s San Diego operations. And while Elliot resented that his brother had sent her there, he seemed content to allow her to do the actual work while he took credit for it with board members and the media. Chandra had endured it because Elliot intended to retire next year, and she’d be the logical choice for his replacement.
The apprehension she felt was a heightened version of the unsettling feeling she’d had since her return one month ago.
Elliot Phillips’s resentment was evident in the dead-eyed smile he gave her each day. But since her return, his grin was different. Like he knew something she didn’t.
“Let me stop at my office and—”
“Actually, Ethan asked that I bring you straight to the conference room.” Evelyn’s voice dripped with apology and her gaze landed somewhere over Chandra’s left shoulder.
Chandra opened her mouth to demand to know what was going on, but Evelyn, whom she’d always liked, was simply doing her job. Chandra would take this up with Elliot and Ethan instead.
She stalked toward the glass conference room where the brothers were engaged in an argument, both of their faces red. She was undoubtedly the subject of their heated discussion.
Chandra shoved the glass door open. Both men stopped speaking and gave each other one last defiant look before turning to her.
“Good morning, Chandra. How was your trip to Seattle?” Ethan sounded exhausted. His usually bright blue eyes were dim.
“Productive, as always.” Chandra set her bags on the table. “In fact, I was hoping to talk to you today about possible tech updates. But that clearly isn’t what you’re here to discuss.”
She glared at Elliot, who had yet to speak and who looked like a cat who’d just had a bowl of cream with a hit of vodka and coffee liqueur. The man grinned, his dark eyes sparkling with malice.
“No, I’m afraid it isn’t—” Ethan was saying.
“Come now, you act like this is a funeral or something.” Elliot cut his brother off. “It isn’t. This is good news, and a reason to celebrate.”
“And why is that, Elliot?” The wave of nausea returned as Chandra anticipated his next words.
“My son has finally decided to join the firm.” Elliot beamed like a proud father whose little boy had just nailed his piano recital.
“That’s wonderful,” Chandra said, not meaning it.
Nothing she knew about Elliot Phillips Jr. made her think he’d be an asset to the firm. But that hadn’t impacted Elliot Sr.’s tenure, had it? Having the surname on the letterhead had been his only necessary qualification.
A knot tightened in Chandra’s gut. “What role will he be taking on at the company?”
Elliot’s grin deepened and his dark eyes narrowed. “He’ll take on my role—once I retire, of course. But for now, he’ll take on a newly minted role—executive vice president of supply chain, logistics and workplace.”
Chandra’s throat went dry and she swallowed hard against the bile churning in her gut. Her fingernails dug into the palms of her hands, balled into trembling fists.
“You’re firing me?”
“Of course not.” Ethan’s earnest tone was a deep contrast to his brother’s amused grin. “Your work here has been stellar. Only a fool would let go of someone as brilliant as you.”
“Then I’m being demoted?” She focused on Ethan but couldn’t miss his brother’s self-satisfied expression.
“Chandra, you’re being a tad dramatic.” Elliot sounded bored with the entire discussion. “You’re the director of supply chain, logistics and workplace. Your role is unchanged. You’ll simply report to EJ now instead of me.” He shrugged. “It’s all really quite simple.” Elliot climbed to his feet and buttoned his tailored navy blue suit jacket. “Now, if you’ll both excuse me, I have a meeting to attend.”
Elliot strolled toward the door, then turned toward her with a sly grin. “Oh, by the way. There is one other change. Elliot Junior will be second in command now. His office space should reflect as much.”
“You’re giving your...him...my office?” Chandra tried her best not to let Elliot see just how infuriated she was.
“I had the movers make the switch over the weekend.” Elliot’s grin deepened. “Don’t worry. Your things are all there and accounted for. Ms. Santos will show you to your new office. Welcome back, Ms. Valentine.”
Chandra’s cheeks and forehead were hot, her heart pounded in her chest and the sound of rushing blood filled her ears.
She could barely make out what Ethan was saying as he rushed to speak. “I can only imagine how disappointed you must be right now, Chandra. Please know I did everything in my power to block this move.”
“Then why is Junior sitting in my office, the heir apparent to a title you’d all but promised me?”
Ethan flinched but didn’t back down. “Because in the end, this is a family-run firm. My family voted to keep it that way. Even if it isn’t in the best interest of the company.” Ethan pressed a hand to his forehead. Chandra knew enough about the man to realize he was genuinely perturbed. “I’m sorry, Chandra. I honestly didn’t see this coming. I would never have led you to believe you’d be appointed as our next COO if I hadn’t believed it possible.”
“So now what, Ethan?” Chandra studied him. “Am I supposed to babysit Elliot Senior and Junior for the rest of my career?”
“You are the backbone of this place. The increased profitability we’ve experienced these past few years...you deserve all of the credit for it,” Ethan conceded. “So I’m asking you to keep making this company better and more profitable. Like Elliot said, your position here is unchanged.”
“I didn’t come here for this, Ethan,” Chandra said calmly. “I came here because you said that if I proved myself, you’d recommend me for the COO position within five years. That’s always been the brass ring for me. The reason I’ve put up with your brother’s—”
“I know.” Ethan held up a hand and sighed. “And I’m sorry I can’t make that happen. But I can offer you a sizable salary increase to ease the blow.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Chandra said coolly, enjoying the shock in Ethan’s eyes.
“Are you saying you don’t want the increase?” he said. “Or are you saying—”
“I resign, effective immediately.” Chandra stood tall and tipped her chin, meeting Ethan’s gaze.
Ethan’s shoulders sank. He dragged a hand down his face, which suddenly looked more haggard. “You don’t need to do this, Chandra. My nephew probably won’t last in this job for an entire year. That’ll buy me some time to show my family how valuable you are to this organization and why you’re so deserving of the COO position.”
“It won’t change the fact that I’m not a Phillips. And if your family hasn’t realized my value by now, Ethan, I doubt they ever will.” Chandra lifted her purse and laptop bag onto her shoulder. “Now, should I call security to meet me at my desk? I just need to grab my family photos and a few plants.”
“No, I trust you, Chandra,” Ethan said wearily, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Go. Do whatever you need to do.”
Chandra took a few steps toward the door, then turned back to the man who was now her former boss. “Thank you for all you’ve done, Ethan. Have a safe return to Nashville.”
“I’ll show you where your things were moved.” Evelyn gave Chandra a subtle nod and smile, as if cheering on her decision.
Evelyn accompanied Chandra to the smaller, dimmer office where her things had been set up. Then the other woman wished her the best of luck and took her leave.
Chandra used one of the moving boxes left behind to box up her family photos, a few plants and the small personal items stored in her desk. She reset her phone to factory and left it and her work-issued laptop on the desk.
She held her head high as she strolled to the elevator and got on, watching the doors close on Phillips Athletic Wear for the last time.
On the lobby level, she barely made it into a bathroom stall before she threw up everything she’d eaten that morning. She washed her hands and popped a piece of gum in her mouth, hoping it would ease her nervous stomach. Then she made her way to the parking garage.
The words I resign had escaped her mouth before she had time to reconsider them. But Chandra knew she’d made the right decision.
If she was going to devote all her time and energy to minding the interests of someone’s family, it would be her own. So if her father was willing to agree to her terms, she’d be back in Magnolia Lake with her dad and brother and sister and the good doctor whom she couldn’t seem to get out of her head.
When Julian had asked her to stay, she’d desperately wanted to say yes. But she’d permitted her relationship fears, her hang-ups about the difference in their ages and her misguided need to prove her worth outside of her family to hold her back. It was a mistake she wouldn’t make again.