Free Without Limits: Austin (Rugged Riders Book 4) by Ambrielle Kirk Page A

company to the next level.”
    “You do?” Zaira asked.
    She’d known that her father was looking to hand the reins to someone else. It was all he ever talked about these days. He’d recently invested in a newer start up, and thus couldn’t devote as much time to Svelte as he wanted to. She’d told her father long ago that she felt she needed more training and seasoning at her current firm before agreeing to work with him at Svelte on a full time basis. Plus her father had always known that working for one company had never been her priority. She much rather preferred to outsource her work at many different companies.
    “That’s why you’re here. You’ve done a great job with stepping into the temporary CFO role when it became vacant. You worked many overtime hours and know this company from the inside out. In fact, you are the only person that knows me and this company from the inside out. Zaira, I wanted you to take the role, but you’ve already made it clear that you won’t have it.”
    She sighed. “Dad, we talked about this. I will do whatever it takes to keep this company alive and striving, but a CFO position is not my calling. Not right now. Taking the role here would restrict me from gaining the experience I need in other industries. Virtually everyone in this city who’s anyone knows that you’re my Dad. I don’t want a handout and I don’t want it to appear that way either.”
    “She’s most definitely your daughter. A Wright, no doubt.” This came from Marcus who sat in the last chair on the right.
    Her dad chuckled. “Yes, she is.”
    Zaira smiled, but definitely wanted to get to the reason for her presence. And Trent’s, for that matter. “And about this new team…?”
    “Yes. A new team and a younger generation to steer the company. I’ll still serve on the board for the immediate future, but like any growing company we need a firm organizational structure. Our last CFO didn’t work out. It took several months of recruiting and interviewing, but we do have a new CFO…Mr. Trent Stone.”
    “What?” Zaira uncrossed her legs and scooted to the edge of her chair.
    Everyone in the room looked back at her with a puzzled look their face.
    “You chose him?” Zaira’s mouth hung open in shock. Had her father completely lost his mind? As far as she was concerned, the only thing Trent was interested in doing was betting and gambling for a living.
    Trent cleared his throat and she could see him shifting in his seat as her ass grew hot with indifference in her own chair.
    “Zaira, what’s the matter with you?” her father asked, his expression growing stern. “Do you have a problem?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t have a problem myself—”
    “—Well then, if you don’t have a problem—”
    “—he has the problem.”
    Loyd Wright sat up straight in his chair. “Would you like the position then?”
    “No.”
    “I don’t have time for games, Zaira. This isn’t personal. This is about business, time, and money.” Her dad’s deep voice echoed in the office. “We can have any personal discussion you want over dinner at my house, but we will not have it here. Don’t bring any personal shit up in this office.”
    “Dad!”
    “This better be about business,” her dad stated.
    “Past CFOs have had degrees, certifications,” she blurted without thinking.
    Dad pounded his fist on the desk. “I don’t give a fuck what past CFOs have had. They’re not here today.”
    “You said—”
    “—My list of…”
    Zaira and Trent spoke at the same time.
    “Go ahead, Trent,” her father said.
    “It seems I have to prove myself all over again to your daughter, Loyd. It would take a few more hours to go over every top level position I’ve had without a degree under my belt.”
    Zaira bit into her bottom lip unable to counter him back. She knew it was true. A man that once had a gambling addiction had risen from the bottom to the top more than once. He was a self-made