Chapter Twenty
ALEX
I’m a new man. It’s as if a thousand-pound weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I’m finally back with the woman of my dreams, and I’m going to be a father.
It puts things into perspective for me.
Life isn’t about this office—it’s about the people in your life, the ones who make your life complete. Tomi and Levi are those people for me. While I need this job to support them and keep the lifestyle I want for them and my child, I don’t need the drama that comes with it.
Unfortunately, it’s all a part of the job, and I need to suck it up.
Sitting down at my desk, I turn on the screen of my computer and type in my password to open my emails right as my door swings open with such gusto, I’m positive it might fly off its hinges. I watch Sasha, my receptionist, peek up from her station to check on the noise.
I steady my shoulders as Dad storms in, in his usual fashion, huffing and grunting like he’s going to give himself a damn heart attack. I guess I knew this was coming, I just didn’t think he’d be ready to stroke out quite so dramatically on entry. Honestly, he missed his calling, he should have been an actor.
“Alex—”
“Before you start—”
“No! Your blasé attitude to this job, to this firm, has got to stop. Now ! Your name is a part of this business, and people are noticing your lack of attendance. That reflects badly on me .”
Relaxing back in my chair, I exhale. “Because I’m your son, or because I’m your second-in-charge?”
He scoffs. “You’re being irresponsible and not behaving the way a COO should. If you’re not careful, Alex, I’ll have no choice but to demote and replace you.”
Sitting forward in my seat, I entwine my fingers and place my hands on top of the desk as I stare at him. “You won’t. You don’t have it in you to push me out. The problem is, Father, I know it.” He curls up his lip, going to yell something else at me, but I put up my hand and continue, “However, I won’t use that to my advantage as some people would. I know I need to be here, and I plan on making a better effort…” I pause, unsure whether to tell him or not, but he’ll find out sooner or later, so I’ll give him a snippet. “I have a family to support now.”
His head recoils back while his eyebrows narrow on me. “What the hell does that mean?
Standing from the chair, I round the desk and then sit on the edge crossing my legs over in front of me, staring my dad square on. “Tomi and I are back together—”
“That tattoo floozy?”
My hands ball into fists, but I contain myself. “She’s not a floozy, Dad. We’re moving in together, us and her younger brother, Levi.”
Dad scoffs, turning away from me, pacing the room. “Jesus Christ, they’re moving in with you. I knew she was nothing but a money-hungry—”
“Stop! I’m moving in with them . Levi doesn’t like change due to his disabilities, and my apartment wouldn’t be right for him.”
“Let me get this straight,” Dad bellows. “You’re moving out of your penthouse apartment to live in squalor with a woman you hardly know and her idiot brother?”
Anger surges through me as I step forward, the vein ticking in my neck. Everything in me wants to deck him, but he’s my father and my boss. I need to keep my cool. “Don’t you ever call Levi an idiot…” Fuck! I’m trying so hard to rein myself in. “So help me God, I’ll—” I stop myself before I say something I will totally regret.
His brows knit together as he stares at me. “Ha, you actually care about the kid?”
“Of course, I do. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t love them both.”
“Love? Love ! You love her? Of all the women you could have shacked up with, it had to be a boring tattoo artist.”
I scoff. “There’s nothing boring about Tomi, Dad. She’s the most complex, stunningly beautiful, kind, and generous woman I know. Not like the women you want me to be with.”
He curls up his lip. “What about Sasha, she’s more your type?”
I glance out the window at Sasha typing away busily, thankfully not hearing this argument. “She’s my receptionist. And she’s more your type than mine.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I scoff. “You think I haven’t seen you with Mindy in your office? Hell, Dad, this entire place knows about you and your receptionist . I wouldn’t be surprised if Mom knows, too.”
He gulps. I don’t think anyone has ever fought him like this before. Calling him out on his indiscretions is a big deal, especially when he’s doing it during work hours. I’ve known for years that he and Mom weren’t working. Hell, Mom’s probably diddling the pool boy for all I know.
Their marriage is a front for the company, that’s all.
Mom gets her lavish lifestyle, and Dad has a supportive wife on his arm to show off at fancy dinners. I bet they don’t even sleep in the same room anymore.
“This doesn’t give you an excuse to be lax about your duties, Alex. You’re the Chief Operations Officer, and if you want to take over from me and be the CEO when I retire, you need to step the hell up.”
I take a breath and nod. “I know… but we’re going to need to talk about my work hours. I can’t be as flexible as I was. I want to have time with them too. I can’t live for this place anymore. I can’t do what you did and live at work, ignoring my family.”
He grunts. “That’s what you think I did, ignored you while you were growing up?”
I shake my head. “Work is important, but my family means more. That includes you and Mom making time for us to come over and spend time with you as well.”
A slow smile crosses his face. “Well then, bring this Tomi girl over to meet us on Saturday night. Just you and her. I need to see what she’s all about before I can condone this union.”
I stifle a laugh. “Doesn’t matter whether you condone it or not, we’re together. Nothing you can say or do will change that fact, Dad.”
“Yes, but for how long? How long until she takes everything you own, leaving you to pick up the pieces of your fragile heart, and I have to fill your bank account back up?”
My lip curls. “That’s not what this is. Tomi isn’t like that. And since when have you ever filled my bank account ? I have money, lots of it, but I have worked damn hard for it.”
Dad rolls his eyes. “ Every woman is like that, son. Mark my words, she’s after your wallet… but bring her Saturday night. I’ll make up my own mind.”
“Fine, but don’t be an ass to her.”
He turns, heading for the door. “Me? An ass? I don’t know how to be one, Alex,” he argues, then storms out of my office, slamming the door on his way out.
I sink back against my desk, hating that I didn’t get the chance to tell him I’m going to be a father. But maybe that’s best coming from Tomi and me.
It’s our story to tell.
As a team.
Telling my parents together might also soften the blow.
Maybe .
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
For now, though, I need to tell Tomi that we have a dinner date on Saturday night. Two nights from now.
So, I pick up my desk phone and dial her cell. It rings a couple of times, and she answers soon after.
“Hello, Tomi speaking.”
A slow smile crosses my face. “That was very professional.”
She giggles. “I didn’t know the number, and if the school calls, then I have to be… you know, pleasant.”
I sink back into my chair, feeling calmer from simply hearing her voice. “How’s your morning?”
She exhales. “I was searching for OBGYNs ’cause we’ll need one of those. A good one.”
“Don’t factor in cost, Tomi. If you find one that’s expensive, we’ll go to that one as long as that’s what you want. My money is our money now.”
She exhales. “I’m only agreeing to this for the sake of peanut.”
I hold in my laugh. “Got it! So, listen, I just had my father in here—”
“Oh, God, how’d that go?”
I tense a little. “I told him about us. How I’m moving in, but that’s all I managed to get out before he invited you and me over for dinner on Saturday.”
She’s quiet down the line. A little too quiet.
I tense up as I exhale. “Tomi?”
“I’m meeting your parents in two days?”
I grimace. “If you’re okay with that?”
I can practically hear her overthinking from here. “Yeah, I mean, I have no idea what to say to them. What the hell do I wear?”
“Babe, you wear what you normally wear. You’re beautiful however you dress.”
“Shouldn’t I like… dress up or something? I mean, I’m meeting them for the first time. I should at least dress up a little?”
The tone in her voice lets me know she’s concerned about this, so I try to ease her nerves. “What about if I go in jeans and a tank top? Will that make you feel better?”
She’s quiet for a pause, and then she exhales. “If you believe they will accept us wearing our normal clothes, then okay. I just… I want them to like me, Xander.”
I tense up, knowing that Dad already has a sour impression of her. But Mom, she will be easier to convince. “It’s going to be fine… I promise.”
She scoffs. “Wanna say that like you mean it?”
Dammit. She can see straight through me. “I’ll be there and hold your hand through every step of the way. We’re in this together.”
“Why do I suspect I’m in for a rough night?”
Why do I suspect she’s one hundred percent right?
“Like I said, it’ll be fine.”
“Ah-huh, now I’m off to brainstorm topics of small talk at dinner parties.”
I chuckle. “There you go. Just don’t stress about it. You need to keep calm for peanut.”
She exhales. “Yeah, fine. Friday night, we start moving your stuff in, and then on Saturday night, we meet the parents. We’re doing this.”
I smile, feeling nothing but excitement that we’re moving forward instead of ten steps back like we have been. “Yeah, Tomi, we’re doing this.”
“Well, Mr. Businessman, have a good day. Don’t work too hard.”
I smile, glancing at the design work of her studio on my desk. “I’m working on a certain new development today. Something to do with the design layout of a tattoo studio.”
“Well, I look forward to hearing all about it tonight when you come home to us. I can’t wait. Talk to you later.”
“Rest up,” I tell her as I end the call.
The call has sent me into a tailspin.
Will Dad be on his best behavior at dinner?
Will Tomi?
Will they clash heads completely?
I have no idea.
All I do know is I will stand by my woman because she’s my main priority. I don’t want to end up like my father. I just hope he doesn’t say anything to scare her away. I don’t know what it might be, but I’m sure he’s holding an ace up his goddamn sleeve.
If there is one thing my father wants, it’s no distractions for me.
And Tomi is exactly that.
She’s a threat to him and this company.
The thing father doesn’t take kindly to is a threat.
They must be eliminated at all costs.