but even still, land prices soared and the last 2,000 acres ultimately cost him the same amount as the first 18,000.
You could say Cal got the last laugh.
With an annual attendance of 60 million people, Fairytale Kingdom is not only the world’s most visited theme park, it’s also the most profitable.
We offer every amenity a guest could hope to find outside of the park itself: themed resorts, shopping centers, golf courses, private communities, and restaurants, all done through a careful balance of preservation and innovation. In 50 years, Cal has only developed a fourth of the land he originally purchased. The grasslands and forests still surround Fairytale Kingdom as a means of preserving the local ecology.
We’ve mimicked this practice in London as well, though on a smaller scale.
“I’ve enjoyed my time there, but I’m glad to be home. I’d like to take over as the Director of Operations for the U.S. park. I think it’s well past time.”
It’s been the plan since day one, me working directly under Cal. He won’t retire officially, but I could help take most of the load off him.
“I’ve been thinking about that…”
He takes another sip of wine and my fork stalls midway to my mouth.
“I’ve had a little pushback from the board.”
I find that a little hard to believe.
“Some of them are whispering concerns about nepotism,” he finishes.
I rear back in my seat. My fork clinks against my dinner plate. “That’s absurd. It’s a family-run business. You’ve been grooming me for this job my entire life. There’s a statue of you and me down there in the middle of the park for God’s sake. What do they expect? That I’d happily step aside and make room for an outside hire? I won’t.”
“And I don’t expect you to. But, Derek, I think there’s a way to make everyone happy. I’ve been thinking on it, and this fall, we ought to have you prove your dedication to the company in a way no one can refute.”
“I think I’ve more than proven my dedication to this company.”
I spent my early teen years working in Non-Character roles in the park, only leaving to pursue an undergrad degree at Princeton with a focus on economics and management and then a graduate degree in global hospitality at Yale. When I graduated, I moved home and worked as Director of Entertainment for the Knightley Company. Four years later, when Cal’s vision for a sister theme park in London finally got the green light, I moved there and oversaw the project. No questions asked. Move here. Work there. Build this. Every facet of my life has revolved around this company and its needs.
The board can go fuck themselves.
We sit in silence for a long stretch, and I know he’s giving me time to cool down. I finish my wine off in one gulp and push my glass away.
“I want you to take over this company more than anyone,” he clarifies.
I clear my throat.
“That being said, I think a little shakeup would be good for you.”
I interlock my fingers on the table and stare at where my hands meet. “Just tell me what you have in mind. It’s been a long day.”
“A few months working In Character down in the park.” His words have the same effect as a winning poker hand, flipped over and fanned across the table. It’s like he knows he’s already won this battle.
“Absolutely not.”
He’s out of his mind.
I stand to leave. “Give Ava my thanks for dinner.”
He calls after me as I walk away. “What is our base-level employees’ number one concern right now?”
The question is out of left field, and yet, without hesitating, I rattle off the answer I know to be correct. “Hourly wage, followed closely by job security.”
“Wrong.”
I jerk to a stop.
“We’re just coming off of a scorching summer,” he continues. “Their main concern is the heat. When they’re in costume with the sun beating down overhead, they don’t give a damn about job security. They want shorter shift times, more frequent breaks, and effective cooling systems built into wardrobe.”
Though I want to argue, I stay completely silent.
“You know the broad scope of managing the company better than anyone, but I’m afraid you’ve forgotten about the minutia. Working In Character for a few months will bring you out of the clouds and give the board a shining example of the lengths you’re willing to go to for this company. No one will be able to argue when I name you as my successor once and