The Crossing Trilogy

Chapter 4

4

Jax stretched out in the chair in front of his father's desk. “So when did you get back?”

“Yesterday afternoon about fourish. I was up early and came in a couple of hours ago. You've done a great job looking after things while I was away. Good job, son.”

“Thanks. How did the trip go? Did you make a deal?”

Wes Rhyder reached for some papers on his desk and smiled. “You bet I did.” He waved the sheets up and down. He'd been travelling through the Okanagan Valley looking at land development in the bigger cities. “Not only will we be taking on a new bank building, we have an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new hospital. A state of the art project that will keep us pretty busy.”

Jax grinned back at his father. He recognized that sparkle that lit up his father's face whenever a new development project arose. His father was an architect first and flourished in the design process long before construction starts.

“We'll have to open a new office in Kelowna. Hire more staff. This means a big expansion for Rhyder Construction. This will bring us closer to my goal of turning us into a major land development company and moving solely into commercial projects.”

“I'm happy for you, Dad. You've worked hard to get this far. I have no doubt you'll get the company where you want it to be.”

His father stretched his hands apart above his head. “This requires a name change from Rhyder Construction to Rhyder & Son Developments. But for now, let's take a look at our current projects.”

The two men spent the next hour going over their work load and projected finish dates. Wes picked up the last file. “I see you've been working on a farmhouse renos. What's that about?”

“It's the old Grey farm on the edge of town.”

His father's head shot up. “The old widow finally sold the place then. Who are the new owners?”

“No new owners. A relative has moved back to the property from Kelowna. Her names Sydney Grey.”

Wes leaned forward. “The granddaughter?”

“That's right. Have you ever met her?”

“No. She and her grandmother left Stoney Creek a couple of years before we moved here.” Wes sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin in thought.

“Dad? I've lost you. What are you thinking?”

“ Umm…we have a rather full plate at the moment. Perhaps we should pass on this one.”

Jax shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “You know these kinds of renos are right up my alley. I really want this job.”

His father stared at him. “I know they're your passion but we have to think about what's right for the business.”

It wasn't the first time they'd had this discussion over projects that his Dad thought they shouldn't do. Jax always listened to his father and gave his words merit. In the end, he'd do what Wes Rhyder thought was best. But this time, he intended on fighting for it and wouldn't compromise.

“Look, I'm pretty much finished with my project in OK Falls. The foreman is more than capable of bringing it to closure. The other projects are covered as well. I've got the time to work on this one.”

Wes stared at the file in silence. Jax waited for him to speak first, determined not to give in. “You know the growth of this company is taking us through a transition. We're moving away from residential work to commercial. That's the new vision that I see for the company. Perhaps it's time we discuss the role I'd like to see you play in this new direction.”

Jax shifted uncomfortably. He knew this day was coming. He'd always avoided conflict but the moment had arrived to let his father know his true feelings about their work together. “All right. Tell me about your vision.”

His father leaned forward. “We've built quite a reputation in the valley over the years. Since you joined me two years ago, I've left you to deal with the residential projects and I've moved into the commercial side. What I see is you taking over this office and moving strictly into commercial construction. For myself, I think it's time I moved to Kelowna and work with the land development and commercial endeavours there and eventually, within other major cities in the Okanagan.”

“Wow.” Jax felt overwhelmed. “That's quite a vote of confidence in a twenty-two year old.”

“You've proven yourself. You have a good work ethic and the ability to tackle problems with quick logic. I'm proud of you, son.”

Jax felt torn. He didn't want to disappoint his father but his 'logic' told him he had to follow his own path, not the one his dad wanted for him. “Dad, I'm really excited for you on this and I'm pleased you've been happy with my work. But the truth is your dream isn't my dream.”

Wes Rhyder's face clouded over. “I don't understand. I thought we had a plan for you to work with me and run the company together.”

“We did. But that was back a few years before you decided to expand and become a big developer. My passion lies in residential housing projects. Preferably renovations. I'm not really interested in commercial ventures. You know that.”

“There's no money in house renovations. At least not the kind we can make going commercial. I'm doing this for you, son. One day it will all be yours.”

“On no, don't lie that on me.” Jax rose and paced in front of the desk. “You did this for you and only you. And that's okay. But if it was for me, you would have asked for my input and what my dreams were.”

His father stood and leaned on his desk; his face contorted in rage. “I don't believe this. I thought you trusted my judgement and what's best for the company. This in turn, is what's best for you.”

Jax sat back down in the chair. He knew this confrontation wouldn't be easy which is why he'd avoided it for months. Stay strong. “If you believe it's best for the company, then it is. And that makes it best for you, Dad. But not necessarily for me. I have my own dreams.”

Wes sat, leaned back in his chair and the two stared at each other, once again silent. “Okay. Tell me what you see for you?”

“I'd hoped you would keep the residential division and let me run that. That's where my expertise and my interest lie. I'm not a building architect like you are. That's your skill and your passion.”

“I know that. I don't expect you to be an architect, just run the development projects. I trust your instincts and you've proven yourself as a 'boss'.”

Jax rubbed his fingers against his forehead. “When I was a kid, you always told me to be true to myself. You and granddad didn't see eye to eye when you told him your aspirations. Do you remember what it was like to stand up to his expectations and say no?”

“Hang on.” Wes Rhyder stood and left the office. He returned with two cups of coffee. He placed one in front of Jax and returned to the chair behind his desk. After a few sips of the black liquid, he put it down.

“I can't argue with anything you've said. My argument is that the company can't grow into commercial projects and stay diversified with residential projects. Running two offices and potentially more in the future can no longer support the residential aspect. So from purely a business perspective, we either stay where we are and forget the expansion, or move forward and leave the other behind.”

“And I get that. It's the right thing to do for the sake of the business and the direction you want to take it in. You have to do what is best for the business. Dad, you have a fire in your belly and you should go with it. What's left is to decide how I fit into it all. What you're offering me is enormous and believe me, I am appreciative. But housing is what lights the fire inside me.”

Wes sighed. “Don't get me wrong. You can make a living in residential. But you'll have some good years and bad years where you'll struggle. I've already done that, son. I wanted to spare you that and build on our existing business side-by-side.”

Jax stared into his coffee cup, weighing his next words. “I know you're disappointed. The answer for you is to follow your vision…without me if necessary. And I don't know where that leaves me but I'll figure it out. You say I have good instincts so let me trust in myself and follow my own path. And there's something else for you to consider. You have qualified people here in the office that have been with you for years. Don't you think they might resent me suddenly becoming their boss? They deserve what you're offering me a lot more than I do.”

His father picked up the renos project file. “Tell me about this project. What time schedule do you see on this?”

“Well, there's more than the farmhouse here. There's a conversion of the equipment building into a dorm for weekend retreats and a barn upgrade. I'd say two months tops.”

Wes opened the file and glanced through. He smiled. “You haven't done the quote yet but I can see this will be a lucrative project, regardless that it's renos. Here's what we'll do. You take this project on if the client agrees to your terms. Two months gives me time to get preliminary things worked out in Kelowna. Meanwhile, there's no reason to decide on anything right now. Let's both think on our conversation here today and we'll talk about this again down the road. Okay?”

Jax let out a big sigh and beamed. “Okay. And thank you.”

“Damn. Look at that excited expression on your face. You're too much like your old man, you know that.”

“A chip off the old block. You raised me.” They both laughed.

“Now get out of here, I've got a hundred calls to make.”

Jax went to his own office and sat down at his drafting table. He hadn't been this excited about a renos project before. He set to work building a quote based on the blueprints he'd adapted the day before with his suggested changes. The thought of his future with his father's company was troublesome, but at least his Dad was listening to him. He pushed away negative thoughts and lost himself to his work.