Single Dad’s Second Chance (Executive Arrangements)

1. Henry

1

HENRY

I finished my workout ten minutes early, hoping I’d be able to surprise my secretary at her desk. Hurrying through my post-run stretches didn’t do me any good, though.

The one and only Mia Ferris wasn’t at her desk.

And I pulled the top of my quads, being careless in my rush.

Dammit.

I limped my way down the corridor at the Dunn Enterprises building, leaving the empty area where Mia would normally be, typing away.

It was Wednesday, after all, and she tended to not come in until mid-morning. While it wasn’t out of the norm for me—the CEO—to be aware of when she was in and at her desk, it probably veered to weird territory for me to memorize everything that brunette did. It couldn’t be normal to plan my workouts for when she wasn’t in the building, either.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the company of a solidly dependable woman.

Employee. A solidly dependable employee .

As luck would have it, though, I wouldn’t be so fortunate to bask in the warmth of her presence now, anyway. She wasn’t at her desk. And my father was seated in front of mine.

Holding back a deep sigh at seeing my father, Eddie Dunn, in my executive suite, I strode all the way into the room and let the glass door close behind me with a gentle click.

I loved my father. I truly did. He was the one role model I always tried to follow. He was the man I attempted to impress.

Before, when he was the CEO and I was only an executive, some might have teased and predicted that I was an ass-kisser, sucking up to the big boss at the top with the goal of taking over one day. Dad had made it abundantly clear since I began college that I’d be the next CEO of the business he started. It was a given. I’d never seen any need to stand out for the promotion I already knew I’d be getting when he retired.

Still, his opinions mattered. I wanted him to be proud of me. I took pride in knowing he saw me handling the reins of his company with care and intelligence. Every child wants their parents’ approval. That held true to this moment as I lowered myself into the leather chair behind the huge desk I’d ordered to replace his. I planned to always work toward the reward of his approval and happiness.

Just so long as he kept his opinions relevant to work. To the business. Not me or how I lived my life. Lately, that was all he wanted to harp about, and I simply wasn’t in the mood for another one of his favorite how-can-I-nag-you-about-your-life talks.

“Morning, Dad.” I shifted in my seat, wincing with the stretch of my leg.

“Morning.” He lowered his coffee cup. Even though he was retired, he was familiar with this place and made himself at home whenever he pleased. His official role was over, but he liked to stay involved. “Hurt yourself?”

“I just worked out too quickly and rushed through the cool down.”

He chuckled, well aware of how impatient I could be. “You’re always rushing around.”

“You say that like punctuality is a flaw.”

“Punctuality is a strength—for normal people.”

I pointed at myself as I rubbed my thigh. “I’m not normal?”

“You’re not when you try to cram too many things to do in a day.”

I shrugged. “What can I say? Work hard, play hard.”

“You call running five miles on the treadmill every morning a form of play ?” He arched one thick dark brow. Grays and silvers showed through his brown hair, but his face was only moderately lined with wrinkles, making him appear distinguished without looking old .

“Sure.” You forgot about the strength training before the run.

He rolled his eyes. “I don’t think you know how to have fun.”

That was a low blow. Of course, I was aware of the dynamics of “fun”. That was why I planned to stop by Mia’s desk. Debating the most ridiculous and asinine words to suggest for that daily word puzzle she loved was always fun. She was fun, regardless of the task or assignment at hand.

I sighed, tamping back the disappointment that I’d need to wait longer to see her. My father wouldn’t keep me for long. He understood that I had meetings and calls to handle. My job had once been his, and he was clued in to the demands of the CEO’s schedule. But chatting with him would cut into my time for planning other things, and I’d be behind for the rest of the day. If I was lagging with what I needed to accomplish, I’d miss out on those downtime moments with her.

“Anyway,” I said diplomatically as I ceased rubbing my thigh and sat up more. I’d plow right past his critique of how “fun” or “unfun” my life was. Working hard had always been my priority, and I refused to think that was a weakness. “The new nightclub’s construction is almost complete.”

He sighed, setting his coffee down. That long exhale was a breath of defeat. If he hoped to have a heart-to-heart talk about my work-and-personal life balance, he’d have to wait for another time. Besides, I’d hooked him with that line. He wasn’t in charge here, but he was excited to see the company grow. “It seems like they only broke ground months ago.”

It’d been almost a year now, but I understood what he meant. Dunn Enterprises began with importing and exporting. Then it shifted into consultation services. And now, since the last couple of years, we’d made headway into the hospitality and entertainment sector of the economy, owning a growing chain of nightclubs.

“It’s amazing how quickly the brand can spread.” Dad smiled, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows behind me that offered a view of the cityscape. “Just three years ago, these nightclubs were a whimsical what-if.”

“Now, we’re opening our third club. And it’ll be even bigger and better than the first two.” A wide grin spread across my face. It was impossible to hide my glee, and I didn’t try to mask it. We deserved this success. I was due this win. I’d worked long and hard to get everything in line for the new Dunn-owned nightclub to open in Miami. Striking out in a touristy area like that would be a goldmine.

“Sure, it will.” Dad nodded as he rubbed his chin. “The location alone will ensure its popularity.”

“We can’t only rely on beaches and sunshine to draw tourists there. This club will stand out among the other establishments of nightlife. We’ll make it unique.”

“What’s the tentative name, again?”

“Fifty.”

He scrunched his face. “I’m still not sure… That’s just a number! Not a name.”

I shrugged. “I’ll always consider your opinion, Dad, but I’m sure. We hired extensive research and market analysis. I’m counting on the best of the best.” I always did. Dad started this company from nothing. He was just a regular, ordinary man who became a bona fide businessman, pulling in billions. I’d never dishonor his life’s work and throw it away or set any endeavor up for failure. However, I realized and accepted that some business deals required more risks than others. With every risk I took, I debated the pros and cons. Statistics and stone-cold numbers played a big part in backing up the should I and shouldn’t I sides of choices.

“The name is trendy. It fits. It makes sense for the specific geographical location of the club.”

He nodded, cringing. His reluctance would fade once Fifty opened.

“The branding is already taking off. And the PR department has been using that name for months already, generating interest before the club opens.”

“Good. Good.” He chuckled. “If the marketing experts claim that a number is a good name, then who am I to argue with them?”

Exactly.

“What else remains to be done?” he asked.

I hired out and delegated most of the work, but he knew I preferred to handle some decisions personally. “Finer detail things, including staffing.” Reclining in my chair, I settled in as comfortably as I could with this slight muscle strain. “I want different talent to star there.” Fifty wouldn’t be a strip club, but dancers would be a highlight. “New and unique dancers.”

“I’m sure the scouts you’ve got looking will find someone.”

I shrugged. “But I worry it’d be more of the same old.” I wanted something that would stand out. Every club and every dancer offered the same old. It couldn’t be impossible to want to use the same old but with a different twist.

“You’re a fine one to talk about the same old, Henry.” He pursed his lips again.

Here we go. I should’ve known he’d circle back to nagging me.

“All you do is work.” He held up a hand to stop me from replying. “I am glad you keep yourself busy working. You have always been a go-getter. Like me. But you can’t work all the time. You need to take a break.”

“I take breaks.”

“Breaks that don’t include going to the gym.”

“I take Jason to the arcade every week.” My weekly arcade night with my son would always be a staple in my routine.

He nodded, ceding me there. “Yes. And I give you credit for being there for him. Despite your hours in the office, you have been an active, present parent for him.”

I had to be, because I was Jason’s only parent. I’d learned how to be a working single father from him. Dad raised me on his own, and I turned out fine, hadn’t I?

“But I want more grandkids,” Dad said simply. He tacked on a sheepish smile with the sentiment. “When I was younger, I always wished I had a sibling. Jason’s already seven. He needs a brother or sister.”

On one hand, I should’ve felt annoyed that Dad was projecting his past desires onto Jason. But on the other hand, I knew what he meant. When I was a boy, I wished I could have a brother or sister. It’d always been me and Dad since my mom passed away when I was so young. Now it was the same cycle over again, me and Jason. Another father-and-son duo. Or I supposed it was the three of us—Jason, my dad, and me.

“You need to make time to live a little, Henry. I know you’ve been busier than usual with ‘Fifty’ opening soon.”

I smirked at his air-quotes with the new club’s name.

“But you’ve got to make sure you live a little more. Get out there. At least try to meet someone, because I know you would rather have a bigger family to come home to.”

He was accurate with his assumption that I wanted it all, that I missed having a partner and the chance to have another kid. A big family had always been an out-of-reach pipe dream. But it didn’t change my views on putting myself out there. The thought of dating irked me. When Jason’s mother dumped me—and him—and ran, it hurt.

Dating sounded messy and time-consuming.

Focusing on work, on the other hand, was safe. It was uncomplicated.

A click of the door distracted me.

There you are.

The door opened and she walked in. I wouldn’t need to go out of my way to stop by her desk. Mia was here.

And just like that, her presence suggested that focusing on work could get very complicated.

I held my breath, suffering through the gut punch of raw desire that hit me at the sight of her. This slender, curvy woman put up with my secretarial needs, but she inspired… something more. I took in the full look of her, curious how no two days ever seemed the same. Her short brown denim skirt wasn’t office appropriate, but the bright fuchsia blouse evened it out. She always pulled off a put-together appearance but with a dash of bold eccentricity, too.

“What do you think, Mia?” I asked, feeling like a god among men when she lifted her green gaze to meet mine. The tingle of awareness that rushed through me with her direct eye contact never failed to stun me.

“What do I think about what?” she asked. Even though she was merely replying to my question, it felt like something so much more. I wasn’t sure when I started to hang on her every word, but I had.

“Hi, Eddie,” she said as she approached, papers in hand.

“Morning, Mia.” He smiled at her, familiar with her for longer than I was. He’d hired her before I became CEO.

“Do you think that I need to live a little?” I asked.

She set the forms on my desk and propped her hip against the edge. As she crossed her arms, her long brown waves tumbled over one shoulder. She stacked her elbow over her hand, then brought her free one up to rub her chin and look overly pensive. “Live a little?” She looked me over with the hint of a mischievous smile on her lips. “Yeah, you are getting old. Stale and halfway fusty already.”

Dad laughed.

“I just turned thirty-three last week,” I protested, knowing full well that she was teasing.

“And how long did it take you to get past that hangover from one glass of wine at your birthday dinner?”

I rolled my eyes and lost the fight to smile. She could poke fun at me all she wanted. Because it was mutual. I wouldn’t spare her. “Like you’re one to talk. Always saying you need more sleep to feel human. You’re practically a spinster cat-lady now with how much you ‘live it up’.”

“Hey, cats are cool.”

“Dogs are better.” I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be able to hold off from Jason’s requests for one.

She rolled her eyes, used to one of our many silly sources of random bickering, like dogs versus cats or acceptable pizza toppings. “If all you do is work, you’ll be old and lonely before you know it,” she sing-songed as she pushed off the desk and walked toward the door.

“That’s what I’m telling him,” my dad said.

“You’re calling me old, too?” I retorted.

“No, but you will be lonely,” he argued.

“Nonsense.” I watched Mia at the door, smiling at my dad and me arguing before she slipped out. I never felt lonely when she was near.

She paused, turning to wave before heading back to her desk. It was too short of an interaction, but that was fine. She’d be right outside my door, like always. I’d find another reason to talk to her.

I lowered my gaze, both amused and annoyed that if I ever had any time to “live a little”, I wouldn’t mind doing so with her.