Chapter 8

My grandmother sweptinto my office at Fox Entertainment Zone like an elegant but deadly storm the next morning.

I didn’t hear her coming, not now that she’d given up wearing the heels I’d heard click-clack across floors for all of my childhood. At seventy-six, Georgina Fox had put comfort over fashion, but she still looked immaculate in her black slacks, lavender blouse, and white cardigan. She wore a chunky silver-and-turquoise necklace and carried a handbag the size of Nebraska.

“You’ve really stepped in it this time, Chase.” She followed the statement with a swift kiss to my cheek. “Let’s fix this mess, hm?”

“You didn’t need to come all the way here. I have it under control.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Do you? Because the Associated Press picked up the story. This could do some real damage to our brand.”

After years of studying my grandmother’s every move, I knew how her mind worked.

“That must make our competitors nervous. Knowing we’re such a powerhouse…”

She chuckled and shook a finger at me. “Oh, you’re good.”

I shrugged. “I learned from the best. Want a tour while you’re here?”

She nodded. “Just a quick one. Then we need to sit down and get this situation in hand.”

“I’ve got a plan for that.”

I had a half-baked idea at best, but I intended to bluff my ass off in the hopes Gigi would let me handle it. If she pulled the plug on this store, we’d be done. She’d sell our chain of stores as planned, and our family legacy would retire with her.

She didn’t really want to go out that way, though. She was a young seventy-six, and a two-week vacation bored her, much less retiring for good. She needed to see we could adapt and survive in a modern market, and that she didn’t have to manage it all on her own.

Easier said than done with a woman who was certain she always knew best.

To be fair, she very often knew best.

We stepped out of my office, and I guided her down the aisles, pointing out where we’d stocked games, movies, music, and collectibles.

“Wait, why are you putting these small collectibles here?”

“Well, because—”

She waved a hand, cutting me off. “No, no. You need to put these by the checkouts. What have I told you before about upselling? Call over your store manager.”

“We’ve already got plans for the checkouts. We have a variety of movie night snack packs…”

Gigi moved away, waving toward my store manager, Don. “Hello? Could you come here, please? Yes, you!”

“His name is Don,” I muttered.

“Don! Yes. Over here.”

I inwardly groaned as my grandmother called Don over and dismissed our carefully strategized plans in favor of her whims. It was even more annoying that she was right. Smaller collectibles were more likely to be passed over in an aisle full of merchandise. But next to the registers, a small impulse purchase made on the way out? That would move more product.

Damn it.

I watched the master at work, and mentally rehearsed how I was going to convince her I wasn’t in over my head.

One small change to our store layout turned into three more. By the time that was done, it was nearly lunchtime, so we walked a couple of blocks to a small bistro-style cafe.

“You’ve done good work on the store.”

That was high praise from my grandmother. I chuckled. “Really? Is that why you played rearrange the store all morning?”

She took a sip of water and rolled her eyes. “Always so dramatic, Chase. It was just a few tweaks.”

“Well, thank you.”

“But this narrative that you’ll put the little guys out of business…”

“It won’t happen,” I said.

“It could happen,” she corrected gently. “This neighborhood is an odd mix of mom-and-pops and high-end boutique businesses. I don’t envy those indies. They have their work cut out for them.”

I nodded, inevitably thinking of Austin. His actions had hurt me, but my very presence threatened his livelihood, so I couldn’t really blame him for fighting to survive.

I just hoped when I offered a carrot instead of a stick, he’d accept.

“I don’t want to run anyone out of business. In fact, I think Fox could help them. I’ve got some ideas that I think could benefit us all.”

And especially Black Hole Records.

“All right.” She took a bite of her salad and waved her fork at me. “I’m listening.”

“So, here’s what I’m thinking…”

While we ate, I outlined a plan that would transform Fox Entertainment from a predator to a friend. My grandmother wasn’t one to accept half-baked ideas, so I embellished a little.

Or a lot.

“Hmm.” She pushed her mostly empty plate to the side. “You’re sure you can get the business owners on board? Even the one quoted in the article…Andrew or Anthony or—”

“Austin. Yes, even him.”

She tilted her head, a calculating look in her eyes. “All right. You wanted to run this project, so it’s yours. Just don’t ram it into any icebergs. We’re already trying not to drown.”

“I’ll make this work, Gigi. I promise.”

“I don’t need promises. Just results. I let you go out on a limb with this one because you’re smart and driven, Chase. I just worry you have a little too much heart.”

“Is having a heart such a bad thing?”

My grandmother smiled and reached across the table to pat my cheek the way she’d done when I was much younger. “Ah, honey. No, it’s not. A compassionate leader can still be a good leader. As long as he knows when to cut his losses.”

Her message came through. She’d give me enough rope to tie up loose ends, but if I inadvertently hung myself, she’d cut me and Fox Entertainment loose.

I wouldn’t expect anything else.

My grandmother wasn’t a heartless businesswoman, but she would always lead with her head.

I had to convince Austin that wasn’t me. That I could lead with my heart. That this Fox was going to guard the henhouse, rather than raid it.

As my grandmother had pointed out, it would be easier said than done.