With a lighthearted chuckle, I ran my fingers through my hair, taking another step back. “Good night, Kaelynn. I’ll call you tomorrow?”
She seemed a bit confused for a moment, then smiled. “Night, Nash. Thank you again for a wonderful evening.”
I waited for her to get into her place before I turned and headed to the elevator. Hitting the button, I cursed.
“Damn it. What is she hiding, and why is she hiding it?”
The crane made a beeping sound as I watched it back up, holding the roofing material in place as it moved slowly.
“That’s good, now you’ve got clearance,” I shouted.
The roofers were in place and ready to start hauling the shingles off the lift and onto the roof. I felt my father come and stand next to me, his gaze lifted to where I was looking.
“Moving along pretty damn fast.”
“It’s all about staying on schedule.”
“I taught you well.”
Turning to face my father, I said, “If that’s what you want to call it.”
He didn’t respond and moved on. “How are things going on the Hill Country Gym project?”
Just like my father, keeping it business all the way. “On schedule. As a matter of fact, I was able to get the electrician out early, so the drywall guys can get in there whenever they’re free. Rich told me he thought his guys would be finished up today on a project and would be able to head on out there tomorrow.”
He faced me, his brows raised in question. “How did you manage to get the electrician out there early?”
“He owed me,” I replied, not giving him more. I had referred Bobby to a job over at the Austonian, and it turned out that it got his company three more referrals. When I called in a favor to do this house because the other electrician backed out, he jumped on it. Calling in favors was not something my father did. Ever.
“You called in a favor?” his tone was disappointed.
“It doesn’t matter how I got him there early, I did. We’re ahead of schedule, Dad. Can you just not be happy about that?”
“Happy? Now what type of favor am I going to owe this guy?”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “None, Dad. I got the guy three job referrals. He told me he wanted to make it up to me, and I told him I needed an electrician ASAP. He was available and the job got done. You don’t owe him a damn thing.”
Turning, I walked over to the job trailer, my fists clenched.
“Nash. Nash!” my father called out. I didn’t stop and kept walking. When was my father going to cut the fucking strings and let me run this business the way I wanted? He was supposed to be retiring, taking a step back, and all he did was get up in my damn face every chance he got.
I jerked the door to the trailer open and walked in, my father on my heels.
“What in the hell has gotten into you?”
“You!” I shouted. “You have gotten into me, Dad. I’ve been working for this company since I was fourteen years old. I know how things work. I’ve increased our profits by forty percent this last year, but that isn’t good enough for you. No matter what I do, it’s not good enough. I gave up my life for this job.”
My father looked like he had been slapped in the face. I wanted to take it back, but the words were already out there.
“You gave up your life? What does that mean?”
It was too late. I’d spoken it, the words were hanging there, so I had to get it out.
“It means I wanted something different, Dad. I wanted a different path, but I could never tell you because you would never listen.”
He laughed. “Do you mean the Marines? Or what about architecture? Son, that was a phase you went through. Your friend in college was doing it, and you wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
His words nearly knocked me to the ground. “No. You wanted me to follow in your footsteps. How in the hell did you think I met Blake, Dad? In an architecture class. That’s what I wanted to do. That was my dream, but you wouldn’t allow that. You decided my career was working for your company. Maybe you don’t remember it that way, but I sure as hell do.”