Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Keep explaining,” Chad encouraged.
“I don’t know what I mean. It’s like I’ve got all this money, but I have no idea who I am anymore.” Chad held the full weight of Ducky’s stare. “Do you get what I mean?”
“Maybe,” Chad said, sensing they were both in this weird self-discovery stage. “I’ve been going through something too. The thing I wanted isn’t the thing I wanted after all. Everything’s changed.”
“Yeah, that’s it,” Ducky said, his eyes growing wide in some sort of shared understanding. “When StreamTrainer was barely making it, I worked all the time, but life was normal. I never had much so it didn’t matter that I didn’t have much. When we started making money, I kept socking it away, trying to ignore it because the business was growing so quickly. Now we have a large staff, and everyone seems to know their place, except me.”
Chad nodded, hoping to follow along. “As if the money was supposed to make you happy and complete, but it didn’t.”
“Right.” Ducky nodded, putting the plate aside. He leaned forward, grabbing his knees with his arms in that protective way he had when crossing his arms over his chest. “I realized that I was the one who changed. I’m different.”
“Me too. I’m changed.”
They stared at one another, sharing an understanding in their silent exchange.
“What’re you moving away from?” Ducky asked.
“Golf.” Chad didn’t hesitate in telling his truth. “I feel like the decision’s made. I haven’t picked up a club in weeks. No desire to. Did I tell you about the offer Tristan made me?”
“No,” Ducky said, giving his full attention to Chad as if nothing else in the world mattered.
“He made me an offer to head up Wilder Sports. It’s a significant position under Wilder, Inc.”
Ducky’s brows lifted in surprise. “What would you have to do?”
“I’d be the lead over the whole program. Do it all. I’d have a senior vice president title in Wilder. I’d have staff to find talent, approve negotiations, control budgets… The salary is big. The whole thing. Tristan shocked me when he made the offer. I figured he’d ask me to work for him to find athletes, but I never expected a senior role. I was just shown the contract seconds before you came on the screen. I was already stunned when I looked up and saw you. I didn’t mean…” Chad found himself apologizing to Ducky again.
“How does it feel to get such an offer?” Ducky asked, stopping Chad before he started tripping over himself in another drawn out explanation of his inadvertently tactless remark. A good call on Ducky’s part.
Chad hadn’t let himself consider the offer in that way. When he let his thoughts shift that direction, the anxiety building at having to make such a decision eased off. “Honestly, I worry it’ll be seen as a nepotism issue and not based on my value to the company. But then I also see where I’d be a really good fit. I’ll work hard and earn my position. Part of my struggle with golf is that I’m finding I want to use my education. I have a strong business sense. I want to pair that with sports.”
The frown between Ducky’s brows faded. “You’d come in clutch in that position, no lie. You always make things happen. I’ve never known anyone as motivated as you are, but you also get bored easily when you’re stuck in one place. I think if you had a job where you got to move around, travel, be on the road, you’d be into that.”
Chad nodded, agreeing. He appreciated the depth in which Ducky truly understood him. “Yeah, I get antsy pretty easily.”
“I never said anything, but I never saw golf as your thing. You’re an extrovert with control issues.” Ducky’s grin spread wide as he lifted the box of cookies and dug in.
“Hey now.” Chad scoffed as if offended but didn’t disagree. He couldn’t. He knew he liked to manage his world. “So let me ask you what you asked me. How does it feel to hit the big time?”
Ducky’s shoulder slumped ever so subtly as if something inside Ducky wilted. He finished chewing his bite. The box was discarded by the plate.
“I don’t know how it feels. I can’t figure it out. Having all this success isn’t anything I’ve ever wanted, you know? Like…” Ducky blew out a breath. “I don’t know. I think I should buy a house. I don’t know where though. Maybe in Greer’s development in Washington State,” Ducky said, then stopped speaking. The line between his brows deepened, showing exactly how bothered Ducky was by everything changing around him. “Full confession?”
“Sure. I’ve got you, you know that,” Chad promised, sitting up a little straighter, taking Ducky’s words as seriously as he’d ever taken anything.
“I don’t like having all this money. I think that’s my problem,” Ducky answered. It was Chad’s turn to give Ducky a confused, concerned look. He never heard anyone say something like that before. “It’s changed everything. My friends treat me differently. There’s a huge divide in my family. I haven’t talked to my brother Donny or my father for years now. And on top of all that, you know I fundamentally believe ‘the man’ is a greedy bastard, and I’m afraid I’ve become no better or I’m headed that direction.”