Chapter 23 - Roderick’s Choice
Roderick was offered CEO role.
Three and a half years after birthday.
Board wanted internal continuity.
He hesitated.
Why?
He feared becoming his mother.
Not rational.
Understandable.
He told me:
“If I take it, she’ll say I used Niles’s shares to take Dad’s company.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Did trust committee pick you?”
“The board would.”
“Then?”
He looked toward backyard where Niles was drawing chalk dinosaurs.
“I don’t want him carrying the story that his birthday made me CEO.”
Good instinct.
So company handled communication carefully.
No family myth.
Roderick accepted after independent selection process.
Eugenia voted against.
Her right.
Trust committee voted for.
Niles had no idea until later.
He asked:
“Daddy boss?”
“Kind of.”
“Can fire Alden?”
Alden did not work there.
“No.”
May you like
“Then not boss.”
Again, child logic protected us from grandeur.
