Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Walker
It’s bright and early on Monday morning, and I’m waiting for Stewart and Henry to show up in the conference room for our meeting. I’m not sure what exactly is in store for me, but my legs are bouncing up and down with restless energy.
I just handed Eli over to a complete stranger, and now I’m expected to be able to focus on work like nothing happened. Marietta Monticelli—Mrs. M for short—seems like a great nanny, but that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t know anything about her.
It’s amazing how quickly you can become protective and attached to a child. I already know I’d do anything for Eli.
That scares the hell out of me.
Henry and Stewart walk into the room, closing the door behind them. I wait in silence as they both take a seat across from me.
Henry nods at me first. “Walker. Thank you for meeting with us.”
“No problem,” I reply, keeping it short.
“Well, we’re not going to beat around the bush here,” Stewart says casually, as if having these conversations is nothing to him.
“We are struggling to find the right guy to give our Solentra Biotech case to. It’s no surprise there.
You and Pierce are top-notch lawyers who do a lot for this firm.
It doesn’t make our decision easy. So …” He looks over at Henry.
“So”—Henry picks up where he left off—“we want to hear each of you out. Tell us why you would be the best guy for this case.”
My throat tightens as I picture Eli’s soft, chunky fingers wrapped around mine this morning when I fed her a bottle. Affection pulls at my chest.
“Uh …” My voice cracks. I clear my throat.
“This case …” I try to gather my thoughts as they look at me with blank faces.
“This case will not be won easily. No pharmaceutical case is. It takes courage and stamina, and most importantly, it takes someone who can anticipate the opposition’s next move.
I’ve proven those skills time and time again.
If you pick me, I’ll give everything to this case, to the company. ”
Lies. It all feels like bald-faced lies. Because as I think about all the hours it would take, I picture missing Eli’s firsts along with it.
I can’t keep selling lies. The words dry up, and all I can do is sink back in my chair, the weight of my silence heavier than any argument I could’ve made. Their eyes flick to each other, and in that instant, I know—I’ve already said enough and far too little, all at once.
I don’t miss the look Stewart gives Henry before he meets my eyes. “I see. Short and sweet. I think I can respect that. Thank you for your time, Walker. We’ll be in touch.”
I should tell them about Eli. It’s the right thing to do, but instead, I watch them stand from their chairs and leave the room. My hands drag through my hair as I realize I just lost this case. There’s no way they’ll hire me after that lackluster argument.
I’m sure Pierce will talk their ear off about all of his accomplishments. They will be begging him to shut up by the end of it. He will show his passion and drive.
But I have passion and drive. I can win this case. It’s just … bad timing. And yet I know cases like this one are unicorns. I may never get an opportunity like this again in my career, and I just panicked and ruined it all in the span of five minutes.
I slam my hand down on the table, then push the chair out and storm through the hallway.
“In my office … now,” I growl to Bradly as I walk past him.
He follows me in immediately and closes the door behind him. The realization of what I just did begins to settle in, and my anger continues to build.
“Fuck,” I swear as I rip off my tie.
“Did they give the case to Pierce?” he asks as he remains by the door.
“No, but after that meeting, they sure as hell will be giving it to him.”
He looks at me like he doesn’t recognize me.
Like I’m not the same boss he had just a week ago.
Truth is, I’m not. I’ve never felt so lost and suffocated before.
Life has always been laid out for me. The next turn carved out ahead of time.
I’m not sure how to handle this, not knowing what tomorrow will bring.
“What happened?”
I sigh and let myself collapse down onto the couch in the corner of my office. “I’ve got a daughter, Bradly.”
He shifts uncomfortably. “I’m sorry I didn’t know that. Is everything all right with your daughter?”
A bitter laugh escapes me. “It’s okay. I didn’t know I had her until about a week ago. She’s just over a month old. Her mom dropped her off at my door and took off.”
There’s no hiding the shock; it’s written all over his face. “And that’s why you were out so much last week.”
“Right.” It feels good to finally tell somebody at work. “Do you think anybody noticed?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all. You are out all the time between court and meeting with clients. If they noticed you weren’t in the office as much, they probably think it’s for work.”
“I froze in the meeting. They wanted me to tell them why I was the best one to take the case. All I could think about was my daughter. I have no idea how I would manage both, to be honest.”
“Maybe it’s for the best. There will be other cases.”
My eyes catch on the Empire State Building, standing tall and proud in the center of the city.
Once, it was the tallest, the crown of the skyline.
Now, it’s just another giant, overshadowed by something newer.
The thought stings. Maybe we’re not meant to hold the top spot forever.
Maybe it’s not about being the best forever but knowing when it’s time to let go.
A dark cloud falls over me. “Yeah, I’m sure there will be,” I reply as I continue to gaze out. “I trust this secret will remain between us.”
“Of course, Mr. Harlow.”
I turn my head toward him. “Thank you, Bradly. Let’s get back to work. We’ve still got clients to take care of.”
He nods his head in agreement and leaves me alone to sulk. The once-competitive light that shone within me, driving me to be the best, feels dulled. I can’t shake it the rest of the day.
On Wednesday morning, it was announced in a company-wide email that Pierce would be handling the Solentra Biotech case. I had known it was coming, but the news still carved a deep wound inside of me.
Facing him in the break room when I went for another cup of coffee was torture. His smug smile. Shaking his hand and congratulating him were physically painful.
Three days into this working-single-father gig, and I know there’s no way in hell I would have been able to take that case.
Mrs. M has been great. She texts me pictures and updates while I’m away, and I’ve found that they’re the only thing getting me to the end of the day.
I’ve made sure to be home by five thirty each day to be back for Eli.
I pour myself a glass of wine and pull out my laptop to get back to work. I had to work until one in the morning last night to manage my workload, but I’ve survived so far.
Eva is going to take Eli this weekend so I can do whatever I can to get ahead of my work. She’s already talking about going shopping with them and buying them matching outfits.
Shopping. The word brings me back to last weekend with Jessie. Not only was it the most fun I’d had in a long time, but that moment in the dressing room was the hottest I’d ever experienced—and I’d experienced a lot.
She was so bold as she willingly undressed in front of me, daring me to do something about it. And, fuck, I almost did. If we hadn’t been interrupted, I would have taken her right there in front of the mirror.
My dick twitches in my pants at the memory. I’ve stroked myself to that memory four times already, and it hasn’t even been a week since it happened.
But it’s also her presence that I’ve found myself longing for all week. Having her here last night would have soothed the ache after finding out Pierce got the case.
It’s made me consider if my secret is worth spending a lifetime apart from her.
I look down at my takeout, not much of an appetite anymore.
I just got home from work not long ago, and Eli is hanging out on her mat on the floor.
She starts smiling up at the talking elephant I added to the top of it.
My heart swells in my chest. She’s never smiled like that before—so intentionally.
I grab my phone off the coffee table and snap a picture of it. I should send it to Jessie. She would love it.
No, I can’t. I need to draw the line in the sand. Opening up the gate for us to start texting each other could only lead to more blurred lines. The fact that I’m even considering exposing my secret is proof enough that I’m getting too close.
Only hours later, after Eli is asleep in my room and I’m lying on the couch after working, I start to think maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if I texted her. It’s just a text. She would want to see the picture. I should be proud of my daughter, not afraid to brag about how cute she is.
That solidifies it. I open up our recent text strand and attach the picture, then send it to her.
She answers immediately.
Jessie:Ohhh my gosh!!! Look at that smile!!! She’s the cutest!!!
I smile at my screen.
Me:I do think I made a pretty adorable baby.
Jessie:Ugh, of course you make this about you.
I chuckle to myself. Typical Jessie response—though I guess I deserved it.
Me:Would you expect anything less?
Jessie:Not at all. You are so predictable.
Something about her calling me predictable doesn’t sit well with me. I’m predictable when it comes to her because I need to keep my distance. I can’t fly by the seat of my pants and do what my instincts are when I’m around her.
I’m tired of it. Just once, I want to take her by surprise. To show her I’m the guy she used to know before everything changed.
Me:Oh, yeah? Predictable? Is that what you thought when I was touching you while you stood, naked and begging for me, in the dressing room?
My heart rate accelerates as a thrill runs through me. No more beating around the bush. We’re not going to let that moment pass by without acknowledging it.
But a reply doesn’t come through right away. After several minutes, I begin to panic, wondering if I pushed it too far, when my phone lights back up.
Jessie:Please, I wasn’t begging.
Jessie:You were the one who couldn’t keep your hands off me.
Jessie:And I’m on my knees when I beg.
Fuuuck. Picturing her on her knees in front of me has my cock pushing through my sweatpants right now. I can’t help it. I reach down inside of them and pump my fist up and down over my straining dick.
Me:Don’t think I don’t remember what that mouth of yours feels like, wrapped around my dick. Pure heaven.
I continue to stroke my cock as I bring myself back to that night. She was so greedy as she sucked on me like I was a damn Popsicle melting in the sun.
Jessie:Funny how you cling to that night. Too bad you’ll never get my mouth again—you wouldn’t survive it twice.
I come on my stomach as I read the text. Anger and relief mix together to cloud my thoughts. I can’t help but laugh. Leave it to Jessie to bring me to the edge like that, just to shove it in my face.