Free The Chosen Heir (The Bolles Dynasty Book 3) by Susie Warren

had ideas, a plan. I’d like to speak with him about it.”
    “No. It would only encourage his fantasies.”
    “Bridget, I need local expertise. There is so much resentment about the course in the area that I’m not able to move forward. I think your father would have a few ideas.”
    “You requested my involvement in Breen not the golf course.”
    “In trade for my purchase of Breen, Olivia signed over your employment contract for a year. The new contract doesn’t specify Breen. It’s understood that my employees will work on any of the companies that I acquire.”
    ***
    Her heart raced. There was no way that she would work on the golf course. She would have to find a way out. It had destroyed her family and nearly cost her father his life. The depression that had plagued him since the bankruptcy worried her each day. With her mother gone, he no longer had a reason to get up each morning.
    “I’m not going near the golf course. I’m not helping with marketing for it and I’m certainly not going to set up a meeting with my father.”
    Mrs. Blake popped her head out of the door. “Would you like dinner on the terrace or in the dining room?”
    “I’m not staying after all, Mrs. Blake.”
    William stood up. “Mrs. Blake, I think the dining room, and Ms. North will be staying. We just need a few minutes to sort out a disagreement.”
    She watched the housekeeper disappear. The entire situation was awkward. She hated to inconvenience Mrs. Blake, but there was no way she would be able to stomach any meal.
    William faced her and lifted his hands palms up. “Why are you so upset?”
    Bridget took in a calming breath. She needed to regain control. It would not be wise to show William how much this bothered her. “I’ve been gearing up for working at the hat company. I know nothing about running or renovating a golf course. You must suspect that my father was devastated by the bankruptcy. To bring all of that up again won’t do anyone any good.”
    “I disagree. It might help him put it in perspective. He didn’t have the resources to properly make a go of it. Now if there is a way to bring him in, it would be healing, I imagine.”
    “I don’t know why you are pursuing this. He doesn’t hold any secrets about the place. He won’t be able to help you.”  
    “You need to let me decide that.”
    “No. I won’t put my father in harm’s way.”
    “You have very little choice, Bridget. If you default on your contract, then you will be required to repay the advance. An advance that you have already spent on a cottage for your father.”
    “How could you possibly know that?”
    “I make it my business to understand my employees’ financial circumstances. I need to know what your motivations are and why you may advocate for a particular decision or investment.”
    Her mind went blank. “That has to be an invasion of privacy. I have a right to conduct my life as I see fit and not have every detail told to you.”
    “You signed the contract and agreed to divulge any expenditure over 5,000 euros.”
    How could she have signed the paperwork without asking more questions? “Not on a personal basis. I agreed on disclosing business expenses.”
    “The contract specified personal financial transactions. My executive team has skin in the game. Each member owns a percentage of each deal, but for purposes of conflict of interest, I have to know about the financial circumstances of each of my executives. I rely heavily on their wisdom and advice. I need to know where their interests lie.”
    “I can’t imagine knowing that I purchased a cottage for my father would help further your business interests.”
    “It tells me that you are all in. You are not holding back waiting to see if this experiment will work. Like it or not, you are committed for the next year. You need to re-read the contract.”
    “I fully intend to work at Breen and do everything within my power to make the company profitable. But I can’t