“I have to head to the office for some meetings. I’ve been letting a lot of things slide.”
“Uh, yeah, ’cause you have ababy. Things are supposed to slide.”
“I have responsibilities, Maggie.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, you have fun with that. I’m going to go cuddle the squishy.”
I felt unsettled the whole drive to the office, and my brain was a bowl of soup during my first meeting. I couldn’t focus on anything they had to say. All I wanted was to go back home to Blossom and Clover. I glowered at the display screen while one of the company lawyers discussed the fine details of the next acquisition. I couldn’t have cared less. Why did so many people want my attention today?
Glancing at my watch, I groaned quietly. I’d only been here for an hour, but being away from my family made it feel like days. At one time, I’d been at peace at my office, but not anymore. Even surrounded by people—some I’d known since I’d started my own business outside of my family’s empire—I felt isolated.
Then it dawned on me.
I wasn’t where I was supposed to be.
My mind churned as I looked at the screen, ignoring the numbers displayed there. What the fuck was I doing? I had spent my life making and maintaining my fortune so I could live the life I wanted.
Was this that life?
How much of Blossom’s life would I miss?
I stood abruptly.
“Sir?” The lawyer paused, looking at me curiously.
“I’m stepping back, effective immediately.” Had I actually said those words out loud? “I’ll assist with any transition, but my family needs me more than you do. It’s truly been a pleasure working with all of you over the years, and I wish you the best.”
Holy shit.
I moved in a cloud of surreality as I left the meeting. I’d never walked out of one like that before. Someone could pack up my office later and send my belongings to the house; none of that mattered now.
When I arrived home, Clover was curled up on the couch in a pile of blankets, Blossom cuddled into her chest and Logan next to her. Her feet sat in his lap as he rubbed them while they watched the cooking channel together.
“Parker!” Clover beamed as I entered the room. “You’re home early. Maggie is upstairs,fixingmy wardrobe. I think she went on a shopping spree and bought Blossom an entire baby store. Apparently, you Ashcrofts think alike when it comes to babies. Is everything okay?”
“Yep.” I strode over to my girls and got on my knees so I could give my omega a proper kiss.
Clover melted into it with a quiet moan, her purr immediately following. She blinked rapidly when I pulled away to plant a kiss on the top of Blossom’s head. “Hello, there. Did you miss me or something?”
“Of course I did.” I threaded my fingers through her hair, gently stroking her cheek with my thumb. “You’ll be seeing a lot more of me going forward.”
“What do you mean?” Clover asked, accepting my help to sit up.
I held out my arms in a silent request to hold our daughter. Despite Clover’s confused look, she didn’t hesitate in letting me gather up Blossom.
“I quit my job,” I said simply, gently running one hand over Blossom’s soft tufts of hair.
“You didwhat?” Logan choked, the TV show forgotten.
Clover looked at me like I had grown a second head. “Do you need a doctor?”
“As touched as I am by your worry, I think this is the best decision.” I breathed in Blossom’s sweet, milky scent mixed with Clover’s peony.
“So you just…quit, like that?” Logan stuttered out. “Dude…did you talk to anyone? What’s happening to your company?”
I shrugged. “I informed a few people at my morning meeting. The company will survive without me, and we have more money set aside than we’ll ever need.”
“What are you going to do now?” Logan asked, obviously as confused as Clover.
