Surprising Destiny Read online

  “This company has been run by the women in my family for seventy-three years. Well before it was in fashion. Well before it was even socially acceptable. My great-grandmother had to send her husband in to all the meetings and negotiations with a script she wrote out for him. It’s not a stretch to think leadership, especially of this company, is in my DNA.”

  “I know all this, Layla. You come from a very hardy stock of women. Your great-grandmother ensured your grandmother was prepared. She did the same for Gloria and now Gloria is doing the same for you.”

  “I am not going to be the one to stop that streak. My aunt is still the CEO. The board is clearly satisfied with her work. When she is ready to retire, I will be more than ready to step in. I am not distracted, and I am not less dedicated than I was a month ago.” The lie was thick in her mouth like sand.

  “Is it a lady problem?” He cocked a brow and darted his eyes away. “Something you need to go sort out?”

  “Because we’ve known each other so long and I’ve so rarely wanted to strike you in the windpipe, I’m going to let that slide.” She plastered on the fierce look she’d practiced for hours in the mirror.

  Frank nervously cleared his throat and crammed his hands into his pockets. “The meeting is in ten minutes. You need to be there. You need to stay. You will.”

  She dropped her head and sighed loudly. “Let me make a phone call. I’ll be there.” The knot in her stomach looped around itself a few more nauseating times. There had to be ulcers in there by now. She was at a crossroads. One that many women in her family had stood at before her. They always put the company first. It’s why it had survived. But she imagined it wasn’t always easy. She knew that. What she didn’t know was whether or not she was strong enough to make the right choices.

  Chapter 3

  Kenan

  * * *

  Gloria seemed to be settled back into reality now as the waitress brought them each a hot cup of coffee. She was a lovely lady, and the more time they spent together the more she reminded him of his aunt back in Ireland. But the clock was ticking, and he understood his very new job was in jeopardy. When the phone rang again, he hoped it was Layla letting him know she was around the corner.

  “Layla, are you here?”

  “I’m not going to be able to get there for a little while.” She sounded apologetic but also nervous.

  “Well I have to get to work. I’m new in the country. My job was a favor, and it’s only my third day.”

  “What do you do?” She was rushed and only half listening.

  “I’m a cook at a hotel. A nice one in the city here.” He swirled his spoon around in his coffee mindlessly. Her voice was pretty, even if it rose and fell in frustration and worry.

  “Oh. A cook? There are tons of places you can be a cook. I’ve got loads of connections at restaurants; if you lose your job I’ll get you another one.” It was as if he’d told her he’d lost an old sweatshirt. Some holey meaningless thing that could be easily replaced.

  “That’s nice of you but I don’t want to make a reputation as someone who blows off my responsibilities. Like I said, I’m new here. One of my brothers got me the job. I’ll feel like dirt if I don’t show.”

  “Then I’ll call the hotel you work at and tell them you were playing knight in shining armor this morning. I’ll lay it on thick. Like I said, I’ve got pull. You’ll come out looking better than you did when you actually did show up for work yesterday.”

  He looked over at Gloria who was fretting over how much sugar to put in her coffee. “I suppose we could have some breakfast. You hungry, Gloria?” She nodded and smiled as she decided one spoonful of sugar should do.

  “I’m starving.” She opened the menu and began making satisfied noises as she read each item off.

  Layla sniffled and then cleared her throat. “She’s hungry because she probably didn’t remember to eat today. Listen, you can have breakfast, but it’s better if you get her somewhere with fewer people. The library is actually a good idea. If you grab a cab after you eat, I’ll reimburse you and meet you there. I’ll pay you for your time too.”

  “Wouldn’t have that. Gloria is great company. Happy to have some. I know hardly anyone here. But give me a ring when you’re on your way to the library. We’ll be there reading comic books or something. I’ll text you the name of my boss and his number at the hotel if you could call and try to sort that out for me.”

  “Sure,” she said dismissively. “Will do.”

  There was silence on the line, and for a moment Kenan worried she wasn’t going to come meet them at all. What do you do with a wandering old woman who isn’t sure exactly where she’s meant to be? Is there a lost and found if no one claims her?

  Layla’s voice began again and put his worry to rest. “Kenan, she’s everything to me. It’s killing me that I can’t be there with her right now. This meeting is something I can’t get out of. Just tell me you’re a good man, and not just a guy with a nice accent and a kind voice.”

  He smiled in spite of this messy situation. “I’m a good man, Layla.” He paused then winked at Gloria. “But I am glad to hear you think my voice is sexy.”

  “I didn’t say that.” He knew nothing about her but could easily tell through the phone she was blushing, or at least red with anger.

  “Good luck at your meeting.”

  He disconnected the line and waved the waitress over. “We are going to have two of your biggest breakfast plates please.”

  “Yes!” Gloria clapped her ring-covered hands together. “Bring bacon until I tell you to stop.”

  “I like your style, Gloria. I’m glad you stopped me today and asked for directions.”

  “Are you?” She looked at him intently. “What about your job?”

  “Your niece promised to call them and sort that out for me. I hope she’s as well-connected as she was implying. What exactly does she do? She’s quite”—he hesitated as he searched for the word—“in charge.”

  “She is indeed. As was I most of my life. But now I’m not sure if I regret that or not.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “I couldn’t tell her this, but I’m not sure I want this life for Layla at all.”

  “Why’s that?”

  The lines around Gloria’s eyes sank with sadness. “I had big plans for what I’d do when I retired. I was saving up my minutes of relaxation and happiness. Squirreling away plans for another day. We always think we have more time than we do. You have to in order to be in charge. But now I don’t have all the minutes left I thought I would.”

  “Oh Gloria, you’ve got plenty of life left in you. I can see it. You are full of life.” She seemed relatively spry and, besides the gaps in memory, she didn’t seem too bad off.

  “Then you are not very keen. There’s a spider web of tumors on my brain that will eventually kill me. It’s starting to happen. Quicker than I thought it would. Not faster than the doctors told me it would, but I was foolish enough to think I could beat it. Or outsmart it. I’ve always been able to come out all right, even when times are tough.”

  “A tumor? Are you in pain?”

  “There’s pain. I’m tired. But none of it hurts more than that list of things I never got to. Don’t do that. Don’t wait around for a quiet time to live. It might not come.”

  “Isn’t there any treatment? America is the place to be if you’re sick. That’s what we’ve always heard back home.”

  Gloria smiled at his hopefulness. “I had some treatment. But it wasn’t going to help, and I didn’t want to be sick in my last months. I drink this green juice and put on these oils to make Layla happy. But really there is nothing that can be done.”

  “That must be impossible for you both.”

  “She hasn’t come to terms with it yet. She thinks some clinical trial or magician of a surgeon is going to swoop in and fix this. I let her go on with that. I don’t want her giving up hope just because I know better.”

  “Then maybe you should start doing some of the things on your list.” He shrugged his shoulders and plastered on a forced smile. “Was breakfast with a handsome Irish stranger perhaps on your list?” He tugged at the collar of his shirt in a funny arrogant way.

  “It wasn’t, but now I’m putting it on there. Something to cross off anyway.” She touched his hand gently and sighed.

  “Can I tell you something?” He bit at his lip as he considered sharing something with her.

  “I seem to have a bit of time.” She bobbed her tired shoulders up and down. “I’ve told you all my messy nonsense.”

  “I’m not sure if I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

  “Join the club. I was trying to get to the library.” She hooted a laugh, and Kenan realized this was the most relaxed he’d been since he got off the plane. She was easy to be around.

  “I’ve upended my entire life. I found out I have a bunch of siblings and the story of my parents changed everything I thought I knew. For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to live here.”

  “Southie? Haven’t heard that before.”

  “Not exactly. But in America. Now I’m here, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I thought if I’d get here I’d be led toward something. But it doesn’t seem that way. My brothers are different from me. Different from anyone I’ve ever known. They are a unit. Already formed and solid. I feel too late to be anything to them. My sister is off working this incredible job, and I don’t want to be a bother to her and her new husband. Why did I think I’d magically feel a part of something? I know better. Life doesn’t work that way. What did I think I would find here?”

  She tilted her head to the side in an exaggerated fashion. “Did you think you’d find an old dying woman to have breakfast with?”

  “Yes.” He nodded a
nd leaned back as the breakfast plates came down in front of them. “That must be it.”

  “Then let’s cross it off your list too.”

  Chapter 4

  Layla

  * * *

  “This is very impressive.” That was saying a lot considering Douglas Rutters didn’t impress easily. He was the oldest man on the board and usually the first to dismiss new ideas. He’d come to terms with working with women in leadership, but there were still hints it had come begrudgingly. Today, in his same old dull gray suit and plaid tie, he seemed as though he was actually listening as Layla continued.

  “We need to move into the future. Department stores all over the country are closing. But we have something they don’t. Our brand is strong. Clear. We’ve never deviated from what we believe our store can grow into. People don’t just come to Kinross for what they need, they come because they like the experience we give them. Now more than ever we need to have significant value-added in that area.” Layla leaned back in the oversized chair at the head of the table just as she’d watched Gloria do for years. “We’re going to become an upscale multitasking facility. I’m not talking the big box stores where you can get a sandwich and your vision checked while buying cheap stuff that breaks in a week. Convenience, sophistication, and quality at an unparalleled level.”

  Gloria had impressed upon her how important it was to not start a sentence with I think. Don’t apologize for being in a room or cutting off someone’s thought if what they were saying was unproductive. Leadership was the legacy of her family, and like the women before her, Layla was going to be at the helm. The problem was her mentor had a lot more lessons to teach but time had run out. And sooner or later someone was going to notice.

  Katerina Slovenski was the only other woman in the room, and Layla watched her lean in with intention. “I like the concept, but what could we really add to the store? This seems far-fetched. You know what I always say: if it’s such a great idea, someone would have launched it by now.”

  Layla was ready for the question. Gloria, on a lucid afternoon two weeks ago had prepped her for this moment. The idea that she had been prepared for this made her swell with pride. But she beat it back. This was far from over. The only time to celebrate was when the ink dried on the latest contract. She propped her chin up a bit and put her palm down assertively on the stack of papers in front of her. “We have one of the largest and most sought-after cosmetic departments in the states. We sell the makeup, but we don’t offer high-end classes or even makeup artists available for events like weddings or galas. A high-end salon would be an amazing addition to our stores.”

  “That’s not all that cutting edge,” Katerina shrugged, always quick to deflate and withdraw her support. Layla had already moved her chess piece on this board. She was ready.

  “Our customers won’t be able to recreate this experience anywhere else. We need VIP suites for our top clients. An elite space in our facilities for trying on and testing products. We can include a childcare option for shoppers. Not some jungle gym with squishy floors. A place people feel good about leaving their children. The suites can be constructed to accommodate meet-and-greets with designers. Guest chefs to test our kitchen products. Let’s stop only selling people products in boxes. Let them watch an expert endorse the product right before their eyes. Let the designer of the latest evening gown express what she was feeling when she drew it for the first time.”

  “What about food?” Tomlin Dover rubbed at his stomach. He’d been trying to get the stores to bring in a restaurant for two years. “All the high-end places now offer food. We’re missing the boat there. I can’t get behind a proposal of this size unless we’re going to talk food.”

  Another argument Gloria had prepped her for. If it were her choice, it would have no place in the new proposal, but to get Tomlin’s vote there would have to be a compromise. Layla could hear Gloria’s words in her ear as she channeled her and explained. “Food that does not live up to the brand will cost us a fortune in the end. Staff. Food waste. A hit to the reputation of the Kinross name. You can’t be one of the trendiest stores on the planet and then offer a soggy grilled cheese.”

  Tomlin opened his mouth to protest but Layla held up a hand. “But I agree that we need something. I’ve had our marketing team do some research. A café with limited, but well branded, food options is the strongest strategy for us.”

  “What does that mean?” Tomlin’s fuzzy white brows furrowed together as he left one hand on his oversized stomach. “Limited menu?”

  “We offer only four to five items we do better than anyone. They become associated with us. People seek out Kinross’s famous apple-pomegranate cobbler or salmon BLT sliders with chipotle mayo. It’s not just something they grab while they shop; it’s one more reason they come to us in the first place.”

  Katerina leaned forward again as Layla braced for her question. It was reminiscent of being the skinny twerp during dodgeball. You were outnumbered and never knew where the next strike might come from.

  Katerina and her plump red lips wound up and pelted Layla. “Space. Where do you propose all this innovation goes? We have twenty-five locations; it can’t be feasible for all of them.”

  This was the sticking point she and Gloria had spent ages trying to answer. “I’ve already done the leg work with our engineering and marketing teams. There is room for some version of this in every location.” That was stretching the truth, but it would have to do. “We’ll utilize former storage areas and convert some spaces to include a mezzanine or terrace style overlook. Our flagship store here in Boston will be our main focus, and the others will follow suit soon after.” Layla closed her leather-bound organizer as though the conversation was wrapped up. Gloria always said, Power means being the punctuation to an argument or debate.

  Douglas flattened his plaid tie and looked at the other seven people in the room as he cleared his throat. “Gloria supports this?”

  The question was a cannonball to Layla’s stomach. “Douglas, that question confuses me. Are you suggesting I’d be here with a sixty-three-page strategy document without every single word being not just blessed by but completely collaborated with Gloria?”

  Katerina tapped her long red nails on the table. “We do know that, but it’s been a while since she’s been at this table. There are rumors she’s been discussing her retirement. I think we need to address the elephant in the room before we take any of these enormous changes into consideration.”

  It would be irresponsible of the board not to be asking these questions, but still it rattled Layla to the core. It was time to take back control in the room. “I’ve got another pressing meeting to get to. Let’s put something on the calendar to meet with Gloria. She’s been working remotely, but we all know she’s gone through those phases historically. It’s always been according to what she has going on in her personal life. It’s no indication of her future plans. I’m here, as I have been, to support her vison.”

  Layla stood and obediently everyone else in the room did as well, all grudgingly stifling further comments. As some filed out, the willpower of those remaining evaporated.

  Douglas moved to her side and lowered his voice. “She needs to make a decision so we can make decisions. This company needs strong leadership to weather the changes in the industry. It’s not like it was a decade ago. You wouldn’t even remember those times.”

  The dig about her age was not lost on Layla. Hardly subtle. This was always where Gloria excelled. The part of the job Layla hadn’t mastered yet. Looking down the barrel of a nonbeliever and not flinching. “Douglas, I’m aware of the changes in the industry and the path this company needs to take to move forward. I may not have been working here but I can and do read data and case studies related to the market. You were in this meeting, right? You heard the proposal? We’re going to be innovative. We’re going to be bold. I hope you’ll be a part of that transition. Your vast years of experience will be valuable.”