Falling for the Billionaire's Daughter - Lori Ryan Page 0,1
so far that you’re smart enough to do it, but I have to see you working as a team and delegating. You like to keep control over everything that comes your way.”
Kaeden frowned. “That’s a bad thing?”
Jack shot him a look. “It can be when it’s taken to the extreme. This would be a management position and managers have to be willing to let their teams do the work. They have to lead the way and guide but turn over what can be done by others. I haven’t seen enough of that from you.”
Annoyance flushed through Kaeden. He’d heard that before in his reviews and it was the same bullshit now that it was then. Who didn’t want someone working for them who could handle the work load? He handled it and then some and he always, always, got the job done.
“I get my work done, Jack. You know that. I’m the first person here in the morning most days and often the last person to leave. If you need someone to do something, I’m there, getting it done.”
Jack nodded but his expression said he didn’t think Kaeden was getting the point. He was right. Kaeden wasn’t. He worked with the team every damned day.
“You’re right. You’re a crucial part of what we do here. But working next to people isn’t the same thing as working with them. I need to know you can trust the people under you to do the job right. I need to see you making decisions about who can take on what work and then trusting in them to do that work without you micromanaging them every step of the way.”
Kaeden crossed his arms and nodded. “Alright. I can do that.” He had no idea how he was supposed to show Jack he could do that, but he’d figure something out.
“Good,” Jack said, a grin crossing his face. “I’m going to give you a shot at proving that to me during the retreat.”
“Come again?”
“I’ve only got a dinner planned for the night we arrive at the lodge. After that, the whole event is up to you to plan.” Jack pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Kaeden. “There’s a hospitality program at a nearby university. I’ve asked them for two interns to work with you during the retreat. The lodge we’re staying at is kind of low key. They don’t have an event coordinator or anything like some of the bigger places, but they told me they’ll assign one of their employees to work with you. That’s your team. You need to lead them but make sure the interns get plenty of hands-on experience. You guys will be coordinating events and activities for the weeks we’re there. If it goes well, we’ll talk about you heading this new AI team.”
Kaeden looked down at the paper in Jack’s hand but didn’t move to take it. It was ridiculous. What did he know about planning events for a big group like this? Not to mention the fact that this blew his plans of skipping out on the retreat out of the water.
Jack moved the paper closer to Kaeden.
Kaeden stepped back. “I don’t know anything about planning activities like this, Jack.”
“All the more reason for you to rely on your team. The interns are nearing the end of their program so they should have a good idea of what to do and how to make things run smoothly, and the employee from the lodge will know the area and what’s available. All you need to do is oversee them and trust they can get the job done.”
He shoved the paper at Kaeden one more time.
Well, fuck.
Kaeden took the paper.
He looked down at the names and contact info for the interns. Below it was a budget for the activities that made him wonder again why Jack Sutton thought it was a good idea to treat them all to this trip. The man had to be off his rocker to spend this much on his employees. And frankly, that made Kaeden more than wonder why the man seemed to feel the need to pay the people who worked for him to like him.
In Kaeden’s experience, when your boss tried to be your best friend, it meant they were hiding who they truly were, and usually for good reason. He wondered what Jack was trying to compensate for.
Whatever it was, he didn’t want to know. He was a keep-your-head-down and do-your-own-work kind of guy.
Kaeden had