chapter91

Parker leaned in, thinking it over. "Why don't you just call Kylie? Ask her who this Lydia really is. Maybe there's a way to get her out of the picture."

Lydia was honestly getting in the way.

Rose pressed her lips together, trying to keep her frustration in check. Alright, I'll give her a call."

Kylie was stretched out in the hospital lounge, trying to rest. Lydia had told them that Grandpa wouldn't wake up for another four hours and suggested they go home, but Kylie and Cameron were too uneasy to leave. They decided to wait at the hospital just in case.

Lucinda was nearby, peeling an apple for Kylie, when the phone on the table rang.

"Mom, it's Rose, Lucinda said, picking up the phone and handing it over.

Lucinda couldn't help but think that Lydia must have made some huge mistake at work. Now Rose was calling to complain.

Kylie wasn't surprised at all. Lydia had told her Rose would reach out this afternoon. Sure enough, here was the call. Kylie put on her most neutral voice, acting clueless as she answered. "Hey, Rose. What's up?"

Rose's voice was warm and familiar, full of forced cheer. "Kylie, you make it sound like I only call when I need something."

Kylie laughed softly. "Of course I don't think that."

Rose hesitated for a second, then admitted, "Well, actually, there is something I wanted to ask you about."

"Oh? What's going on?"

Normally, Kylie would have jumped in with reassurance, telling Rose not to be so formal, that they were basically family. But today, her tone stayed cool and businesslike. Rose could feel the distance and found herself struggling to get the words out.

"Kylie, it's about the new president. Lydia. You know about her, right?"

Kylie nodded, even though Rose couldn't see her. "Yeah, Cameron told me. He's the one who arranged it. He said she's really talented and could get the company back on track."

Rose almost rolled her eyes. Get the company back on track? It was like they thought she and Parker had already run it into the ground.

"Oh, really? Cameron thinks she's that good?"

"I trust Cameron's judgment. He's never wrong about people," Kylie replied, her voice holding a hint of meaning.

She remembered how, back when she first wanted to have Rose's husband run the company, Cameron had warned her Parker wasn't up to it. And, sure enough, the company lost money year after year. If not for their long friendship, Kylie would have listened to Cameron and pulled the plug a long time ago. Now, she and Cameron wanted to give their daughter a shot, and Rose was upset about it? The whole thing left Kylie feeling annoyed.

"But Kylie, she's so young. What does she know about running a company? On her first day, she tried to fire two of our most experienced receptionists. And Parker said the company is definitely going to turn a profit in the second half of the year. You don't trust him at all?"

Kylie hadn't expected Rose to start complaining, and her voice grew noticeably colder. Rose, moving Lydia to the company was Cameron's call, along with headquarters. I don't have a say in it. As for firing two receptionists, that's really not something I need to hear about. I doubt she'd let anyone go without a reason. As CEO, it's her decision who stays or goes, whether it's a receptionist or a department head. You just need to work with her and do your job. We believe she can make this work."

Kylie wasn't just saying that to be polite. She really did believe her daughter could turn things around.

Rose could hear the edge in Kylie's voice. She quickly tried to smooth things over. "I'm sorry, Kylie. I only called because I'm worried about the company's future. But since it's Cameron's decision, of course we'll cooperate and help Lydia make the company better. Please don't be upset."