Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Shawn seemed to share his thoughts. His handsome face looked vaguely uncomfortable, as if he wasn’t sure what to say without offending him.
His husband cleared his throat. “Actually,” he said. “There might be something you can help us with.”
Relieved, Miles looked at Derek.
Those black eyes seemed to be evaluating him before Derek spoke again. “You probably heard last night that our company recently entered into a partnership deal with the Caldwell Group.”
Miles nodded, his brows furrowing in confusion. But he didn’t ask any questions, waiting for Derek to elaborate.
Derek took a sip of his coffee. “While the deal is mutually beneficial, I’m concerned that Ian Caldwell, the owner of the Caldwell Group, might have ulterior motives. We aren’t exactly friends.”
Miles cocked his head to the side slightly, his confusion growing.
“You might be wondering why I agreed to this deal if I have concerns,” Derek said. “I’m not a businessman, Miles. I have neither the patience, nor love for business. Nor do I have the time. I’m a tenured professor at Harvard. Rutledge Enterprises was my father’s pride and joy, and until his death, I had nothing to do with it.” Derek grimaced slightly. “Since my father’s death, my brother-in-law was doing all the managing work, but he and my sister died in a plane crash half a year ago.”
Oh.
Before Miles could express his condolences, Derek continued, “So since neither Shawn nor I are interested in—or capable of—managing such a large company, we had no choice but to involve outsiders.” Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. “At first we tried to promote a few senior managers to the position of the CEO, but it wasn’t a good solution.” His lips twisted into a sardonic smile. “My father was a controlling son-of-a-bitch who didn’t understand what the word ‘delegation’ meant. My brother-in-law was the only other person in the company who understood how to efficiently run it.”
Derek shook his head. “After his death, the company started suffering heavy losses from incompetent management. So when the Caldwell Group approached us, offering a mutually beneficial partnership, with their CEO agreeing to manage both companies and us just reaping the benefits, it seemed like a good solution.”
“But now you don’t think that anymore?” Miles said, still unsure what all of this had to do with him. It wasn’t like he had any clue about how to run a corporation, either. He might be a business major, but this situation was way beyond his experience.
“I have… doubts,” Derek said, his lips thinning. “The deal is almost too good for us, considering how much a manager of Ian Caldwell’s caliber is worth and the fact that our companies have been rivals for decades.”
Miles looked at him curiously. There was something Derek wasn’t telling him. Had he known Derek better, he would have pushed, but since he didn’t, he settled on asking the other question on his mind, “How can I help?”
Derek looked at him steadily. “I need someone I can trust to report to me if Caldwell is up to something.”
Miles blinked. Derek wanted him to spy on the guy?
“Why me?” he said, beyond confused. “Wouldn’t it be better and more convenient if you asked one of your company’s employees?”
Derek shook his head. “I already tried that, but either there’s nothing or Caldwell is too careful around my employees. Not to mention that now that he’s their boss officially, it will put them into a very awkward position, torn between the loyalty to the owner and the CEO.”
Miles nodded, frowning. “But how am I even supposed to get close to him to be able to tell if anything is off?”
“Aren’t you a business major?” Derek said before sipping his coffee.
Miles nodded again, a little unsettled that Derek knew this about him.
“You will be a British student on a summer internship program. It will be believable, because Rutledge Enterprises really has an international internship program. I’ll sort out your documents and arrange for you to be put in the CEO’s offices. You can start tomorrow.”
Miles could only stare at the man, feeling a little dazed.
“Derek,” Shawn said with a look of fond exasperation. “Tone it down. You’re overwhelming the poor guy.” Turning to Miles, he smiled apologetically. “Sorry, he doesn’t even notice how intense he can be.” He looked back at his husband. “Don’t pressure him. Miles is here on vacation, not work.”
“He can always say no, Shawn,” Derek said, not looking contrite at all.
Miles thought, not without humor, that he wasn’t exactly in a position to refuse, no matter what Derek said. If he refused to help them, staying at their house and enjoying their hospitality would be beyond awkward.
“Obviously it will be a paid internship,” Derek said as an afterthought.
Shawn gave his husband a sharp look. “Don’t even start,” he said with something that sounded like reproach and amusement at the same time. “Money isn’t the solution to everything.”