Chapter 34
PHOEBE
Two years can go by in a flash when you’re busy raising a very active little boy and saving your father’s business conglomerate.
But as I sit in my office going over the last quarter’s financial statements, the morning sun bathing the entire room in golden light, I allow myself a broad and hopeful smile.
“I think we did it, John,” I tell Mr. Terrence.
He’s been patiently waiting in his chair, coffee cup in hand, while I glossed over the report, one page at a time to make sure I didn’t miss anything. He mirrors my expression and nods in agreement.
“I believe we did it too, Phoebe,” he says.
“It took us a while. Getting some of those assets returned by the judge certainly helped,” I reply. “But it looks like Baldwin Enterprises has finally reached a neutral line.”
“Which means we can prepare for growth in the new year. Perhaps as early as next quarter,” he says, going over his copy of the report. “I see we’re doing better on Wall Street, as well. Is that a—”
“2.5% growth on our EonLite and 3.2% growth on our TackHass stocks? Yes, John, it is. We’re seeing an uptick, and our merger with Coates Industries in the manufacturing sector has certainly helped in that sense,” I say.
“Branching out into the online sector has also provided us with some exciting opportunities, at least for financial products.”
“You’ll be attending the San Francisco conference in September, correct?”
I nod once. “Theo will be joining me. He’s better equipped to navigate the fintech landscape.
In the meantime, our HR department is compiling some resumes for us to go over.
We’re picking the best and the brightest out of CalTech and Columbia to lead our Online Finance Department, once we get it off the ground. ”
“I have to say, your father would be proud,” John sighs, then sets his cup on the desk, blinking back tears.
Rarely do I get to see this man so emotional, and it tugs at my heart strings in all the right ways. “I’m doing my very best to honor his legacy.”
“And it shows. Forbes wrote a very flattering profile of you last week. You’ve read it, right?”
I laugh lightly. “Dominic read it out loud over breakfast the very morning it was published.”
“Oh, they’re mighty proud of you, too. As they should be,” John replies.
Dominic, August, and Theo have been by my side for this entire ride.
Through thick and thin, they kept building—their business, our family, our path together.
We’ve had our share of disagreements, but always with a healthy conversation to find a middle ground.
We’ve had some wonderful moments away from the madness of New York, too.
Every summer, we’ve dedicated a month to Hawaii, where it all started.
“How is Lucas, by the way?” John asks.
“Growing so fast,” I reply. “Two years old, and he already wants to figure out the world, what it’s made of, and how he can conquer it. He’s relentless.”
John chuckles. “Thank heavens he has three fathers to keep him entertained and in line, then.”
“Plus me. Plus the sitter. I swear, Sarah has been a godsend. That girl has the patience of a saint. Although, to be honest, Lucas is like most kids his age. Curious and courageous, sometimes too much for his own good. But I love every moment we spend raising him, protecting him, teaching him.”
“I suppose you’ll be bringing him around the office more as he gets older.”
“Oh, absolutely. Gotta keep with the Baldwin tradition. Besides, we’ve got such a great in-house service for all of our employees’ kids. Lucas loves hanging out down there.”
My son’s voice sounds through my doorway.
“Ah, speak of the devil,” I chuckle as John and I hear his rushed little footsteps echoing down the hallway.
“What a lovely surprise,” John declares as Lucas runs in with a huge smile and stars in his bright, blue eyes.
“Mommy! Mommy! Look!”
My precious boy with dark curls and round cheeks holds up a bouquet of fresh daisies. I stand to greet him. “You brought me flowers! Oh, honey, you’re such a gentleman! Thank you.”
“Hi,” he says to John, giving him a polite little nod.
“Hi, Lucas,” John says.
Dominic, August, and Theo join us in the office, all three dressed in their sharpest suits and looking better than ever.
“I love the flowers, baby, they’re beautiful,” I say to our son. “Did you pick them yourself?”
“No, Daddy did,” he points to Theo, who gives me a playful wink.
“We were hoping we could all have lunch today, if you don’t have anything else planned,” Dominic says as he comes over to kiss me.
We keep our displays of affection to a minimum when we’re in a business setting, mostly out of respect and consideration for others.
The general public may have accepted our polyamorous relationship, but the business world is a different beast altogether.
John doesn’t mind it, but we can’t speak for everyone else.
“That sounds great.”
“Waffles,” my son bluntly declares.
“You heard the man of the house,” August sighs, smiling.
“We need to include a bottle of prosecco with this lunch,” Theo adds. “We’re celebrating.”
I give him a surprised look. “What are we celebrating?”
“Another successful contract with Homeland Security. We signed it a couple of hours ago,” August says, his smile widening.
“I am so ridiculously proud of you three. That’s huge!” I exclaim.
“Yeah, about 8.7 billion dollars,” Theo chuckles.
“Then we’re definitely going to celebrate!” I say.
John gets up, retrieving his cup in the process. “I’ll let you all work it out. It seems as though I’m getting peckish, too. If you’ll excuse me.”
The guys shake his hand on the way out.
“Always a pleasure to see you, Mr. Terrence,” Dominic says, then closes the door behind him while Lucas stays glued to my side.
I place the flowers in a vase and add water from my hydration station, as I like to call my drink cart. These days, I’m only packing water, tea, and electrolytes.
“I take it he’s happy about the latest finance report,” my hubby adds, watching me as I put the flowers in water.
“Elated,” I reply.
Now’s as good a time as any. They’re in an excellent mood.
They just signed a huge contract. I already got my pep talk from Penny over the phone.
I feel ready. But my heart is still beating so fast. Two years since we were married, almost three since we got together, yet I still get so nervous about some things.
Then again, it’s an important thing to be nervous about.
“But I think I’ll have to pass on that prosecco,” I add, turning around to face my husbands with a soft smile.
Curious, they all look at me as Lucas fiddles with the hem of my pencil skirt.
“You love prosecco,” Theo says, almost pouting. He’s so damn sweet when he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
“I do. But I’m going to be off it for a while,” I say, cradling my lower belly with both hands. “For the next six months or so, to be more specific.”
Dominic catches on, lighting up like the sun. “You’re kidding.”
“Not kidding.”
Theo is the first to hug and shower me with kisses. “This is incredible,” he says and lifts me off the ground, spinning me around a couple of times.
“Come here, buddy,” August scoops Lucas up and joins us in a tight group hug.
Dominic delivers the ultimate embrace, planting a kiss on my lips in the process.
“We happy?” Lucas asks.
“Yes, we’re happy bud! And you’re going to get a new brother or sister.”
“Or one of each,” I say, then laugh at the looks on their faces. “I had an ultrasound yesterday, just to make sure everything was okay,” I tell them. “We’ll go together to my next appointment. But there was one certainty on that screen, gentlemen. We’re having twins this time.”
“We’re having twins,” Dominic echoes. “Phoebe, you incredible woman. You never cease to amaze us.”
“I do my best,” I say with a wink.
We laugh and hug and kiss, letting the moment unravel without a filter, without any fear of what comes next. Dominic pulls me close and whispers his promise in my ear.
“This is amazing. Everything is going to be okay. Remember, we’re in this together.”
“We are, aren’t we?”
“Hell, we’ve made it this far,” he adds, nodding at Lucas. “Look at this little guy. Come on, we’re obviously doing a bang-up job here.”
“And then some,” I say. “You’re right, we’ve got this.”
Our family is getting bigger.
Our future is getting brighter.
And while my mother continues to cope with life behind bars, while my sister struggles to reintegrate into society, while my father’s business empire rises from the ashes… I’m finding more strength, more love, and more happiness in the arms of my husbands than I thought possible.
The other Baldwin girl, they used to call me.
Today, I’m Mrs. Baldwin-Coates. CEO. Wife. Mother.
I’m also unapologetically myself, fiercely loved by not one, but three phenomenal men.
The End