“Hey, girl.”
“Hey, Faith. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to call you back yesterday. It’s been a little crazy around here.”
“No problem. Are you on your lunch break?”
“Yep. And I want to know what your father said.”
Faith relayed the details of her and Thad’s conversation, including him giving her the check and his job offer. “I was so stunned I could barely think. I’m still trying to process it all.”
“Wow, vice president. That’s unbelievable.”
“Tell me about it. And a seat on the board.” She still couldn’t believe it herself.
“You know that would mean you’d have to move to LA,” Kathi said. “Are you going to do it?”
Faith blew out a long breath. “I have no idea. It would mean turning my whole life upside down. I told him I’d think about it, but I don’t know anything about home safety.”
She chuckled. “Maybe not, but for a VP salary, I’d learn real quick.”
“I bet you would,” she said with a little laugh. “Seriously though, my head is all over the place right now and I’m confused. If I do this, I’m worried about how my parents are going to feel, especially my mom. She’s just beginning to accept me having a relationship with Thad. She’ll probably freak out if I say I’m moving and succeeding him at his company.”
“There is that, but it’s your life and it’s not like they can’t visit.”
“True.” Faith could just imagine the blowup. She and her mother had come to a truce of sorts, but this could potentially start another feud, one Faith wasn’t sure she wanted to initiate.
“Do you know what kind of stuff the company manufactures? And what’s the name of it?”
“No to both questions. Thad gave me his business card and asked me to check it out, but I was so overwhelmed that I just stuck it in my purse without looking at it. And I got a little sidetracked last night. I do plan to check it out later today.”
Kathi sighed dreamily. “I so wish stuff like this would happen to me. Anyway, I need to finish lunch and get back to work. Keep me posted.”
“I will.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you should go for it. I’m sure you’d be able to continue your business on the side, just like you were doing before. Not to mention, I’d have a permanent vacation spot. Just saying.”
Faith smiled. “Only you, Kathi. Bye, girl.” Before she could set the phone down, it rang again. Her smile faded. Brandon. She debated whether to answer or let it go to voice mail like she had done last night. It rang twice more. She heaved a deep sigh and answered.
“I know I’m the last person you want to talk to right now,” Brandon said before she could utter a greeting. “But please don’t hang up, Faith.”
“What can I do for you Brandon?” She tried to remain unmoved by his sincere plea.
“I want to apologize for all the things I said last night. I had no right to take my frustrations out on you. I—”
“No, you did not,” she said bluntly, cutting him off. She had done nothing to deserve his tirade and she wasn’t giving him a pass.
He sighed heavily. “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
“Why should I?”
“Faith,” he started again.
“Look, Brandon. I know you’re used to women falling all over you, letting you get away with saying whatever you please, then accepting a half-assed apology. Well, I’m not one of them.”
“No, you’re not,” Brandon said quietly. “And if you’d let me get a word in, I’d like to try to make things right.”
“Go ahead,” she mumbled, slouching down in the chair and folding her arms.
“Thank you. I am truly sorry for my harsh words. Believe me, baby, they were never meant for you. Sometimes—well, all the time if you ask my family,” he added with a wry chuckle, “I tend to speak without thinking. I’m really trying to work on it. Faith, you are unlike any woman I have ever met and I don’t want to mess up what’s happening between us.”