Viven made her calls, did her damage control prepared for the board meeting. But she also made time for dinners with Ethan and Sophie, for walks around the neighborhood, for movie nights where they argued about whether penguins or dolphins were superior animals. Monday arrived too fast. Ethan dropped Sophie at school and headed to the shop, where Marcus was already working on the morning's scheduled vehicles. The day passed in the familiar rhythm of diagnostics and repairs, but Ethan found himself checking his phone more than usual.
Vivien's board meeting was at 2. She texted that morning. Wish me luck or don't. I'm not sure which I want. He'd sent back.
You don't need luck. You're Vivian heart. You've got this. At 3:30, his phone rang. How'd it go?
He answered. Viven's laugh was slightly hysterical. I quit. You what? I told the board I'm stepping down as CEO effective in 6 months once we find a replacement.
Ethan's brain stuttered. "You Wait, what? I quit? " "Well, I'm quitting in six months after we complete the transition. " She sounded breathless, like she'd just run a marathon. "I can't keep doing this, Ethan. I can't spend my entire life in meetings about things I don't care about anymore.
I'm 30 years old and I've never done anything just because I wanted to. It's always been about the company, about my father's legacy, about proving I belong. And I'm done. " Vivien, I know it's crazy. I know everyone's going to think I've lost my mind, but sitting in that boardroom listening to them argue about market projections, all I could think about was Saturday morning, making pancakes with Sophie, playing that ridiculous card game, being with you. Her voice cracked slightly.
That's what I want, not this. Ethan looked around the shop at Marcus working under a hard industries van, at the schedule board filled with appointments, at the business he'd nearly lost and was now building back piece by piece. "What are you going to do? " he asked. "I have no idea. Isn't that terrifying and amazing at the same time? " "It's definitely something. " "Are you mad? " "Why would I be mad? " "Because I'm potentially throwing away everything my father built.
Because I'm making a crazy decision without thinking it through because I'm probably going to regret this tomorrow. Are you going to regret it tomorrow? She was quiet for a moment. No, I don't think so. Then I'm not mad.
I'm proud of you. Really? Really? It takes guts to walk away from something that's not working, even when everyone expects you to stay. I learned that from you.
I never quit anything. No, but you keep fighting for what matters. The shop, Sophie, us. You don't waste time on things that don't bring value. I want to do that.
I want to figure out what actually matters and invest in that. Ethan smiled, feeling something warm spread through his chest. So, what happens now? Now I have 6 months to find my replacement and figure out what comes next. The board wasn't thrilled, but they accepted it.
And Ethan. Yeah. Okay. Can I come see you? I need to be around someone who won't tell me I'm making a mistake.