Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
BLAKE
Irun my hand down my face. Things are far more complicated than I allowed myself to believe.
All I wanted was revenge to make both our parents pay for what they'd done over the years.
I want to return the favor tenfold, but my grandfather always told me to be careful about seeking revenge.
It has a way of fucking you in the process.
If I want to simply break the company into pieces and sell it, it could put a whole lot of people out of jobs, depending on what the buyer would want to do with it.
I have found a couple of buyers for a couple of the different branches.
I am particularly concerned about a few of the smaller ones.
My parents might be assholes, but the employees didn't do shit to deserve to lose their livelihoods.
"Would you like me to order dinner, sir?" Emily asks. I moved my later meeting with Steve, our COO, to an earlier time, wanting to get home to Truly as soon as humanly possible.
Emily must believe I still plan to stay late. Fuck, I need Rachel back, but she's still on maternity leave. It would make things smoother. Rachel is a Rolodex when it comes to the employees here. Plus, there’s a trust that she and I share. All I feel with Emily is an uneasiness.
"No." I told my wife I'd be late for dinner, but I'm still going to try to make it home in time.
I want to keep working through the night and try to solve all the issues.
It's what I'd normally do, but I'm not going to bulldoze through this.
I'll have to take my time so as not to neglect my wife.
We just got on the same page, and I want it to stay that way.
"But—"
"How many more do you have to collect for me?" I cut her off. I'm not her keeper. If she wants to get herself dinner, that's fine, but I'm not going to have it with her.
Rachel and I would have dinner in my office from time to time, but she's a happily married woman. I wouldn’t care for the idea of my wife having a later dinner in her office alone with another man.
"About fifteen." I had to pull and make hard copies of all the employees’ files so that I could go through them along with salaries, time off, and other benefits. One way to make this less of a blow to them would be to cut thick severance checks and offer stellar references.
One of my main issues is not letting many people find out what I'm doing. Truly's parents are already on high alert. Thankfully, they don't have a fucking clue where we live. I kept the buy very low-key for that reason. I don't want them popping up. Especially if I'm not there with Truly.
Truly might be pissed at her parents right now, but she's a softie at her core, and they know it. She has been sheltered and can see the world through rose-colored glasses. It's a sweet innocence that I don't want her to lose.
"I want them on my desk come morning," I tell her, clearing out the open tabs on my computer. I grab a box and drop a stack of the folders I already have into it. If there is time after Truly falls asleep, I'll go over them.
"Yes, sir." Emily's tone sounds defeated, making me glance toward her.
"Is there a problem?" I ask instead of "Is everything okay?" Not opening that door. Fuck, I'm trying to get out the door. I honestly don’t care if there’s an issue or not.
"No, it's fine. I had a date, but I'll reschedule it.
" Emily stares at me as though what she just said should matter to me.
I'm unable to pinpoint the issue, but there seems to be something missing.
I don't have time to deal with it. Emily is paid very well.
The requirement to occasionally work through the evening at the last minute contributes to the high pay.
"I'll see you tomorrow." I dismiss her, not wanting her to go into any further personal details.
I stand, grabbing my suit jacket and letting my driver know that I'm ready. One of the many reasons I have a driver is because of city traffic. You never know when you're going to get stuck in it, but if you do, then at least you can work while someone else is at the wheel.
When I step out of the car, I give Cole a chin nod, letting him know he can head home for the day. I’ve got it from here. I smile when I make it into the house. Truly’s sweet, flowery smell fills the air. I set all my shit down by the door.
“Blake, Bear?” Truly sits up from the couch, rubbing sleep out of her eyes. “You’re home.” The way her whole face lights up when she sees me hits me hard. I make my way quickly over to her and pull her into my arms, sitting down so that she’s straddling me.
"You called me Bear." It's been so long since she has.
"Did I?" She lays her head on my shoulder, nuzzling close. "I haven't been saying it, have I?"
"Not really."
Truly lifts her head, sleep fading from her eyes. "I guess it takes me back to being a girl. That it's a silly name." She tries to shrug it off, but I know it's shyness.
When you grow up in a family that cares so much about what the rest of the world believes, that can linger. I hate it for her, but I can’t go back in time to change it. All I can do is make sure she’s free to be and say whatever the hell she wants going forward.
"It's not silly to me," I reassure her. "And anyone else who has an opinion on it can go get fucked." Truly snorts a laugh. I run my hands up and down her back. "Tell me about your day."
"Not much to tell. I organized a few things and played on my computer."
"Have you thought about searching for homes?
It might take time to find a home you'll want.
" Truly notices the details when it comes to those things.
She loves anything that's full of history with a story behind it.
I'd searched long and hard for her wedding ring, knowing how important it would be to her.
“Shouldn’t we wait until things settle down?” I know without her saying that she’s talking about the situation with our parents. I hate that we have that still lingering over our heads. I know my girl's mind won’t be at ease until that issue is dealt with.
“We’ve waited long enough, Truly. It’s our time to live.” She nods but doesn’t say more. Shit, I’m not sure how to handle this now. I was going to tell her that things might take longer than I initially thought.
"But do we know where we'll be looking?"
"Anywhere."
"Anywhere?" Her brows rise.
"No harm searching." I should reach out to a realtor.
I'm sure Lauren will know a good one. One that will keep their mouths shut. I don't need word getting out that I'm moving, but people might believe it's only another house we're adding to our portfolio. I'm already making too many moves. I don't want to draw extra unneeded attention.
"I don't want to get my hopes up." Truly fidgets, buttoning and unbuttoning a button on my shirt.
"Get your hopes up because it's happening at some point."
"Some point," she repeats under her breath.
"Do you not want to move?" There is a shift in her mood, but maybe she's tired.
"I do." She pats the button once she gets it done again, sitting up straighter. "I'm in a funky mood is all."
"Then let me get you out of it." I cup the back of her neck with my hand and pull her in for a long, hard kiss.
When I release her mouth, Truly's cheeks are flushed, and that softness in her features returns, making me relax more.
"I'm going to feed you, soak you in a bath, and fuck the hell out of you," I tell her, making her laugh.
"I'm glad you're home early." It's seven; I wouldn't call that early, but for me, I suppose it is early.
"Can only stay away from you for so long."
"Maybe I'll bring you lunch tomorrow, and then you won't have to miss me so much."
"Don't worry about it. I'm working through them to get everything handled.
" Her shoulders drop a fraction. I don't want her to see the madness that has become my office.
Truly is worried enough about her parents.
I'm not going to lay everything else on her, not if I can get it all handled myself, but I also don't want her to think she's unwanted there.
"If you want, you can. I just don't want you worrying over it. "
"I want to fuss over my husband."
I want that too. I want to take care of my wife and all her needs, and I'll do whatever I have to so that all her dreams come true.