Of Course, It's You

Chapter 7

CARMEN

It was finally time. The moment where she took the first steps, the first public steps, in taking control. To prove to not only everybody – not just her father – but herself, that she could run the business. She was more than prepared for this; she was eager for it.

This consolidation, the creation of an entirely new branch of their record label, was a huge step. A step forward that would improve business tenfold. And she knew that because she had done the math herself. Had written up the entire business plan from start to finish. She even had spreadsheets to prove it. But who didn't love a good spreadsheet? Especially one where the numbers showed her such a positive outcome.

She had found this location herself. Saw the potential that had been hidden here in a business that had, over time, become confined to a niche genre of music but had the endless possibilities to grow.

A handful of new artists had signed with this location, leading to a minor foundation of expansion. Whoever the scout was that garnered this new talent, broadening their scope, she wanted to thank them personally. If it hadn't been for this talent scout, she wasn't sure she would have taken much notice of the label at all.

If she could take a hold of this location, give them a gentle push to guide them in this new generation of music, with all of this hidden potential, it made her giddy to think of the end result.

Of course, her father had been hesitant and closed-minded about it all. At least, in the beginning. All thanks to these handy-dandy spreadsheets, she thought.

*****

"Nashville, Carmen? You're kidding, right?" Robert Mills asked without even looking up from the documents in his hands. "You want to add a bunch of hillbilly bullshit to this label?"

They were in his office in New York. Carmen figured, if he couldn't even take the time to look at her and see how serious she was, well, then looking out above the New York skyline was a far better view for herself.

She crossed her arms as she took in the city she grew up in. Hell, she practically grew up in this building, on this floor alone. She thought of the many nights her, and her brother had camped in an empty office while their father continued to work far into the night, instead of acknowledging the fact that he was a father, and his children were running amok in the company he cared more about.

"I'm serious. I ran the numbers. The location is a gold mine... or well, it could be, rather. Especially once we get our hands on it."

"You ran the numbers?" He asked her.

She didn't have to turn to him to see the incredulous face he screwed up at her. She never could understand how he never expected her to amount to anything. At least, not within the company. It had always been a given fact that her brother would take his seat – more like a throne – once Robert Mills decided to retire. But, ever since Viktor's death, she doubted that retirement was anywhere on his mind.

He might have sent her away to business school and saw the outstanding grades she received but having her take over and run his company was never in the cards. It was saved for Viktor, and Viktor alone.

And the amusing part of all of this was that one night, while Viktor and Carmen had gotten blasted drunk at a company holiday party, he had pulled her down a hallway to confess his longest and best kept secret.

****

"Viktor, what the hell are you doing?" Carmen asked through bubbling laughter.

He smiled at her when she stumbled at the abrupt stop. He cleared his throat and stood taller. Before continuing, he looked up and down the hallway. "There's something we need to talk about."