Sweet Love - Mia Kayla Page 0,89

and walked to the whiteboard in the front of the room.

“The vision that we want to portray going forward is family, and when people think of Colby Chocolates and Candies, we want them to have our product as their go-to for every event. From first dates to weddings to kids’ parties to school parties to baby showers.” My smile widened as I went in for the killer selling point. “We want Colby’s to be at the forefront of their minds when it comes to bringing families together.”

My shoulders relaxed when there were a few enthusiastic murmurs of agreement. My father’s face was stoic, but that wasn’t a surprise because he rarely showed any enthusiasm—ever.

It was not until he knocked on the table twice and said, “I don’t think it’ll work,” did I stagger.

I held my breath for two long seconds and stared at everyone else sitting at the table, who were equally shell-shocked. He was the minority in this situation; I was sure of it.

Every muscle in my body tightened, and my hands fisted by my sides.

Keep calm, I repeated the mantra in my head, but I already knew it wouldn’t work.

“What don’t you like about the concept exactly?” My voice was steady.

Breathe, Connor. I swallowed, waiting for his response, clenching my jaw tight.

“I just don’t think that it’s the concept I want to portray for Colby’s. The branding is off. I want older people to reminisce and remember what it was like to be a kid, eating a Colby’s Chocolate Bar. There is something about the original packaging that I want to keep. Maybe if we can change up the commercials to be a kid growing up.”

“That won’t work,” I said, knowing in my gut that we had to show the series of events as they happened to evoke emotion.

“Well, I don’t like it how it is.”

Without warning, I slammed my fist against the table. “This is bullshit.”

“Connor,” my mother scolded.

But I was too far gone. There was no saving me now.

All hope of keeping my anger at bay was out the door.

We’d worked on this for months, and judging by everyone else’s reaction, I knew I was exactly right with this concept. My father was dead wrong.

“Your original branding is dated, and the fact is, your profit margins are dwindling because you are trying to cater to an audience that’s most likely dead. You’re not getting any new customers.”

“Connor!” my mother yelled above the noise, standing.

“Calm down,” my father said, his face devoid of emotion while I was raging.

“We have worked so hard on this, and I know this is a winning direction. What?” I threw up both hands. “You don’t want to take the family approach because you don’t know what family is about, is that it? Well then, we can lie, just like how we lie to pretend that we are one big, happy family when it’s all bullshit.”

“Connor, that’s not what this is,” my father said, standing. “Calm down.”

My eyes went around the room to the people that I’d seen most of my life, growing up in the factory—the boardroom members.

My face heated. They didn’t deserve my wrath. My father did.

My mother grabbed my arm to try to still me, but I shrugged her off.

“No. I’m done, Mom. I’m fucking done.” I flipped to face my father full-on. “Save your own company.”

I charged out the door and went to Charlie’s desk, but she wasn’t available, so I pulled out my phone and called her, but her phone went to voice mail. Casey would know where she was.

I walked directly to Casey’s office, and when I knocked twice, she opened the door. Both her eyebrows rose.

“What’s going on?”

“Have you seen Charlie?”

“No. Why?”

I shook my head, not giving her a chance to ask me more questions, and stormed directly to see Alyssa. Financial statements were spread across her desk. Should I tell her there was no point in trying to figure out projections for next quarter, that layoffs would be happening soon?

“Hey.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “She left. She’s taking a sick day.”

“What? She looked fine this morning,” I stated because she had been.

She had almost been giddy about the presentation, knowing that the board and my father would love it. Wait till I broke the bad news to her.

She shrugged and tore her gaze from mine, focusing back on the financials.

“Aren’t you curious about how it went?”

With nonchalance in her tone, she said, “Not really.” Then, her eyes met mine again. “I’m assuming it didn’t go well