She thought.
“My father built Carter Precision in a rented warehouse.”
Luke knew some of the story.
“He died when I was twenty-seven.”
“Heart attack?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“He left me a company everyone expected me to sell.”
Her expression hardened slightly.
“The board gave me six months.”
“To do what?”
“Fail.”
Luke watched her.
“So you didn’t.”
“No.”
“You’ve been proving them wrong ever since.”
“Yes.”
“Maybe they already noticed.”
Evelyn looked at him.
The comment landed.
She looked away.
“You’re irritating.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Their friendship developed quietly.
Professionally first.
Then less professionally.
Evelyn occasionally stopped by Luke’s department without needing anything.
Luke noticed.
Pretended not to.
Noah met her at the company family picnic.
He stared at her for ten seconds.
Then said, “You’re prettier than Dad said.”
Luke nearly dropped his drink.
Evelyn looked delighted.
“What exactly did your father say?”
“Nothing.”
“Noah.”
“He said you were smart.”
Evelyn looked at Luke.
“That’s all?”
Luke glared at his son.
Noah smiled innocently.
Evelyn crouched slightly.
“What did he say when you asked if I was pretty?”
Luke froze.
Noah betrayed him instantly.
“He told me to eat spaghetti.”
Evelyn burst out laughing.
Luke considered abandoning his child at the picnic.
Instead, he pointed toward the baseball field.
“Go play.”
Noah ran.
Evelyn looked at Luke.
“Spaghetti.”
“Important nutritional issue.”
“Coward.”
Luke smiled.
Six months later, Carter Aerospace announced plans for a second facility.
Luke became part of the launch team.
More responsibility.
More money.
More travel.
He initially declined.
Evelyn called him into her office.
“You don’t want the promotion?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You turned it down.”
“Travel’s too much.”
“Two nights a month.”
“Maybe.”
“You’re capable.”
“This isn’t about capable.”
Evelyn understood.
“Noah.”
“Yes.”
She leaned back.
“He could come sometimes.”
Luke laughed.
“To industrial planning meetings?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I meant travel weekends.”
“He has school.”
Evelyn considered.
“We can reduce travel.”
Luke frowned.
“You’d change the role?”
“If it keeps the best person in it.”
“That sounds like favoritism.”
“It’s management.”
“Convenient.”
She smiled.