“So tell me, Mr. Self-Made Billionaire, how did it all come to be?” I smile.
He grabs his glass. “Not much to say. I had a scholarship for a private high school?—”
“Superstar swimmer. I remember.”
“Yeah. With my grades, I got into one of the best universities on the east coast, and after that, I just found luck with the right companies to take a chance on. I’m used to tech, but Julian managed to persuade me. Operations can be applied to any company. Here I am. A change.”
“A challenge, maybe, too. Shipments are not algorithms.”
“But running departments can be the same. Improving internal day-to-day running is essential for any company.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Fair enough.”
“You? How did you end up at Haven Crossroads?”
“Typical story. Graduated from college here in the state. By chance, Olivia in HR is also from Everhope, although she was a few years ahead of me in school. Anyhow, she helped me join the graduate program, and I worked my way up. I would like to think I’m doing alright. Even when I accidentally got pregnant, I kept going—proving I’m capable, even if it sometimes feels like I need to defend my success. But I digress.”
Something in his mind is stewing, but he isn’t sharing his thoughts.“What do you want to do now?” he comments more than asks.
“Attack the salad first.” He squints at me, and I grin. “Not like there is a bigger issue at hand,” I joke.
He chuckles under his breath at my ability to add humor to this situation.
“Only meeting my daughter for the first time,” he responds lightheartedly.
I let our touch go and quirk my lips out, considering the approach. “This weekend?”
“Sooner.” He’s obstinate, but his voice is calm.
“After work, I pick her up from daycare, but she can be crabby. We get home, have dinner, bathtime, then bed by seven… for her, not me.” His eyes turn bold, and he must be thinking something else because he has a droll smile. “Not that my bedtime matters or anything.”
“No. Not at all.” He sounds unconvinced. “But leave work early.”
“I’d need to talk to Foster.” Hayes glances away awkwardly, and my internal radar flashes. “What did you do?” I nearly grit my teeth.
“You can leave early. I might have already…”
I grumble to myself, then remember to stay calm. “You've got to be kidding me.”
“I was with Julian, who already knows, obviously. It made sense. We have a few optics in the office to figure out, you and me.”
Giving him a stern look with my finger pointed at him, I issue my warning. “Do not mess with my job. I can only imagine what people in the office will think. I’m not the woman who sleeps around to do well in her career.” I huff a breath of exhaustion.
“I won’t. And who cares?You were working at Haven before I even joined. People will find out, though. You're going to have to find a way to wrap your head around it.”
“Lola won't be a secret, I know. Plus, her daycare probably already has theories, so thanks for that,” I say sarcastically, and it makes him have a boyish, cocky look that is appealing, to be honest.
I really do see that he isn’t trying to be vicious… today, at least. Last weekend was rough.
He lightly touches my shoulder. “Please…” he begs delicately. “Can I see her this afternoon?”
Work has already gone out the door, and logic dictates that Lola will be in better spirits in the afternoon.
“I really want this before the announcement. I’ll be able to think more clearly,” he implores.
“It’s not about you,” I point out, but then my face tightens because he has already lost enough time with her. A little more than two years, and more if we’re counting the pregnancy. He's persistent, and at some point I need to test the waters to see him interact with Lola. Maybe he’ll change his mind about his role as a dad. I doubt it, and that's probably what weighs me down. This is all real, he's here in my life now and with full intention to stay. I need to take steps to help me figure out how to handle my new reality.
“Okay. How about 4pm?”
