his decision to take Ahern Inc. public.
He plans on keeping 51% of the company, giving Sterling and me 25%, and hiring a board that will hold five percent. The rest will be sold to the public through the New York Stock Exchange. This is his new dream and the next step in solidifying his career as a businessman.
“I want you to be the CFO,” he says with pride.
“Dad,” I clear my throat. “Are you sure about this?”
My heart beats slowly as I continue reading the documents he handed me when I walked into his office. He said he was going to retire, that he wanted to travel around the world with Mom. This isn’t a retirement plan. I was about to suggest to sell the company. Cash out while we’re on top of the game. Sterling and I don’t need the money, we’re set.
In a few months, I’m moving to the Bay area. If the company goes public he’s going to need me. I just can’t keep going.
“Son, this is my dream.”
He said that only six months ago when we bought a small telecommunications company down in Dallas. He absorbed all the technology, offered positions to a few of the employees and a severance package to the rest. I wasn’t happy with his strategy, but he said it made sense. We’ve never done something as drastic as that. His business practices are beginning to shift to a place where I don’t want to continue. And now he wants to go public.
Does he understand what it means?
“Of course,” he states. “I’ve never been so sure about something in my entire life.”
I exhale, looking at the numbers and reading the list of potential board members. Some of them are unknown to me, and the rest are old neighbors who’ve already retired.
See Dad, this is what you should be doing, retiring.
“What does Mom think about it?”
“Well, I haven’t talked to her yet,” he says. “I need to discuss this with Sterling too. If he would stop playing with clay and start taking life seriously. This company will be yours.”
“What does that mean?”
“While he goes to college and starts to understand our world, I’ll continue as the CEO. Once he’s ready, you take over the company, and he’ll be the CFO.”
I frown as I process what he just said.
“Dad, Sterling lives in Italy,” I remind him. “His career is taking off. He isn’t coming back.”
He chuckles. “That’s nonsense.” He waves his hand, disregarding what I just said. “Next week I’m assembling the board. You can’t say anything to your mother. At least, not until I’ve spoken with Sterling.”
“What if I quit?”
“Weston.” He slams his hand on the desk. “Your life is this company. I’ve been working my entire life to leave this to you. Ahern Inc. is your legacy, and you will continue with it. Understood?”
A knot the size of an orange is stuck in my throat. The air around me is so thick, I can’t breathe. This isn’t the place where I want to be, nor the future I want for myself. But how do I tell him that? This man has given me everything from the moment I arrived at his house. There’s no way I can turn my back on him.
“Sir,” his secretary knocks a couple of times before opening. “You have a call on line three. Mr. Davalos says it’s urgent.”
“I bet it’s about that company I want to buy down in Argentina,” Dad says with satisfaction.
He’s about to close another deal. Leave a few thousand more workers without employment while he increases his net worth.
“I have a plane to catch, Dad,” I check my watch.
The jet is scheduled to leave in about an hour.
“Where are you going?”
“Away for the weekend. We’ll discuss this when I’m back.” I tap the papers but don’t take them with me.
As soon as I’m in the car, I call Sterling giving him the news.
“You have to quit,” he says.
“It’s not that easy.”
“Repeat after me: ‘Dad, I quit,’” he enunciates the last three words. “See how easy it is?”
I grasp the wheel tightly, changing gears and lanes. Sterling does whatever he wants with his life, without thinking about others. Just like our father. If I don’t take on more responsibilities, Dad’s never going to retire.
What’s going to happen with Mom?
She wants to enjoy their life, their marriage. Every night when I visit them, she’s showing him new pictures of the places she wants to travel to with him.
“Mom is coming over in a couple of