Chapter 17
Shane
The early morning sun filters through the blinds in my home office, casting soft patterns across the room. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air as I take a sip, flipping through contracts and investment reports. My usual morning routine these days. Working from home has become more frequent, thanks in no small part to Oliver's initiatives.
"All these years, I've just been too... stubbornly foolish to try anything new, and then you come in and change my mind in a month," I tell Oliver, speaking over the speakerphone on my desk. His new policy to offer optional work-from-home days for employees has shown phenomenal results.
Oliver's laugh comes through the line, light and easy. "Don't be too hard on yourself, Shane. It's a pretty new concept. A lot of people were hesitant to adopt it, and for good reason."
"Yeah, you're too nice. Truth is, I'm just another stubborn CEO, stuck in the past and afraid to try anything new. But you proved me wrong."
"I'm just glad to see it's working out well for the company's interests," Oliver replies, his tone modest yet pleased.
"Production is actually up, and so is morale," I say, pausing to reflect on the progress we've made. "A month ago, there was no way you could have convinced me that offering employees the option to work from home wouldn't lead to a drop in productivity. I thought people would slack off without the structure of an office environment. But the numbers don't lie. I never would've come up with something like this."
"I just followed the data," Oliver says. "Other companies have reported twenty percent increases in productivity among their remote employees, some even producing forty-three percent more business than their in-office counterparts. Figured it was worth a shot."
"The feedback from our people has been overwhelmingly positive," I add. "People are happier, more engaged. I'm sure they can't wait to see you push me out of the way," I joke.
"I'm less popular than you might think. I mean, you're Shane Matthews. Many employees are motivated to work here because they want to work with you. I'm one of them."
"Aww, come on. You're turning out to be a superstar. The best decision I made in a while was moving you up."
A knock comes at the door, interrupting our conversation.
"Give me a second," I say to Oliver. "Come in," I call out, knowing it's Nicole.
She enters, looking slightly out of breath, a hint of exhaustion in her eyes.
"I'll call you back later, Oliver."
"Sure thing, Shane. Later," Oliver responds, the line going blank.
I turn my attention to Nicole. "What's going on?" I ask with concern. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," she smiles a bit. "I was just chasing your nephew down, trying to get him to finish his vegetables."
I let out a hearty laugh. "Did you catch him?"
"Yeah, he's taking his nap now," she replies, but there's a nervousness behind her smile, something she's not saying.
"What is it?" I question, sensing something more.
"I hate to bother you, but I could really use that advance soon, if you could…"
"Of course. Sorry, I put in a transfer yesterday, so it should pop up on Monday after the weekend. But if you need money now, I could…"
"No, Shane, Monday is fine. I really hate to rush you on it, but I have a few loans I need to pay off."
"Sure, no problem. Are you sure you're okay? You don't need anything else?"
She walks up and kisses me on the forehead. "I'm fine," she assures me. "Sorry to bother you. I think I'll take a nap, too." She gives me a final smile before turning and leaving the office.
As the house grows quiet with Nicole and Jaime napping, I slip out by the pool for a quiet lunch and a quick phone call.
"So, how's it going with your little secret keeper?" Balina asks, her voice playful. I can hear the background noise of a busy film set, with someone shouting, "Clear the set!" in the distance.
"She's coming along, I guess."
"Give her some time, Shane. She'll get there."
"Yeah, I think so."
"So, what is it you need advice on now?"
"Well, I'm not great at this whole... courting thing. The last serious relationship I was in was with you, and, well…"
"I did all the courting," she laughs. "Wow, this one must be really special. I can't wait to meet her, though I'm not sure how she'd feel about you calling me for dating advice."
"Well, I guess she has her secrets, and I have mine."
"Yeah, you two are really starting off on the right track," Balina teases.
"So, what do I do to slowly show her I want her to be more? How do I start it off?"
"You start by casually inviting her to things. Include her in your plans, but don't expect her to always be present. More like... always considering her, you know? Always have a seat for her right next to you. And don't go overboard buying her a bunch of things that could scare her off, or worse, make her think you think she can be bought, or set her up to expect things from you. Treat her like a best friend forty percent of the time and a girlfriend the other sixty percent. Then slowly shift it to where she doesn't even notice."
"So no gifts?"
"Simple things, nothing too expensive, and make sure the gift means something and has some purpose behind it. No Cartier bracelets just because it's Tuesday. Focus on her interests and buy things that represent them. Think about the happiest couple you know. Use them as a model."
"Ms. Porter, we need you on set," a voice calls in the background.
"Shane, they're calling me back. I've got to go."
"Balina, you are incredible. Thank you."
"Good luck, Shane. Talk soon," she says before hanging up the phone.
I hang up the phone, Balina's words lingering in my mind.
The happiest couple I know... I only think briefly before Claire and Mark pop into my thoughts. I remember how anxious Claire was for me to meet him, how she fidgeted and stumbled over her words, trying to get everything just right. To this day, I wish I'd taken the time to know him better—to understand what kind of father he was to Jaime, what kind of husband he was to Claire. I wonder how it would've felt to have those family dinners, the kind where we'd all sit around the table, sharing stories and laughter.
But I was too caught up in work, too absorbed in cleaning up the mess left behind by Robert's deception.
That night, the idea hits me as I flip through an old photo album I found tucked away in the house. There's a picture of Jaime, Claire, and Mark standing around a grill with plates of burgers in their hands, their faces lit up with the biggest, most genuine smiles I've ever seen. The memory feels warm and inviting, like something I want to recreate.
I decide to fire up the grill for a poolside dinner. We start just as the sun dips below the horizon, casting the backyard in a soft, golden glow. Nicole insists on cooking the steaks, and honestly, I'm relieved. Cooking isn't exactly one of my talents. While she hovers over the grill, expertly flipping the meat, I set the table, the rhythmic sounds of R&B music playing softly in the background.
The smell of charred steaks fills the air, blending with the scent of chlorine from the pool. Jaime is nearby, his small hands busy with crayons, sketching away in his notebook. I walk over to Nicole, who's swaying to the music, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"That smells way better than anything I could've cooked," I say, stepping closer to her.
She laughs, a light sound that dances with the music. Then she turns to face me, her eyes sparkling in the golden light. "I could kiss you right now," she whispers, her voice playful. She glances over at Jaime, who's engrossed in his drawing, then looks back at me with a mischievous grin. "But I guess I'll wait till later."
"I'm looking forward to it," I reply with a grin, feeling the warmth spread through me.
Nicole turns her attention back to the grill, her movements fluid and confident. "This is great. Jaime seems really happy."
"Yeah," I nod, watching as Jaime hums along to the music, his pencil moving rhythmically across the page. "Claire and Mark used to have BBQs with him. I'm just happy it didn't trigger anything."
"Yeah, he's strong," she agrees, flipping a steak. "Did your parents do this kind of thing with you and Claire?"
"Nah," I say, shaking my head. "They had BBQs to entertain their friends, but just for us? Never. I guess I never told you, but we weren't ever really close. In fact, when I left home, we hardly talked after. They didn't really care to reach out or keep in touch, and I guess neither did I."
Nicole pauses, her eyes softening as she looks at me. "What about now? I mean, are they still... around?"
"Yeah, they're still around. I think about talking to them, but then I remember how they treated us as kids, and…"
"When's the last time you saw them?" she asks gently, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.
"Claire's funeral," I say quietly. "But I don't think we talked for more than a few minutes. Maybe it's better that way. What about you? Any especially good memories with your parents?"
Nicole's face goes blank for a moment, and then she smiles, though there's a touch of sadness in her eyes. "Tons, actually. My parents had their faults, but when it came to me and Giovanni, they tried to give us the world." She pauses, her eyes distant as if the memories are washing over her. I take a seat nearby and look up, giving her my full attention.
"I remember family time being the highlight of all our lives," she continues, her voice soft with nostalgia. "They lived and breathed for us, wanted us to have every experience in the world and be there to see us do them."
"It sounds wonderful," I say, and I mean it. I can't help but feel a pang of envy.
She looks down at me, her eyes searching mine with a hint of sadness. "I'm sorry, I just—"
"No, don't be sorry," I cut in gently. "It's the first time I've ever heard you talk about them. I'm enjoying it."
Nicole comes over and squats down beside me, taking my hand in hers. Her grip is warm and reassuring as she looks me in the eyes. "Shane, you should really consider making peace with them, or at least trying. Even if you think it's pointless or that they won't care, just try before it's too late."
I nod, the sincerity in her voice striking a chord. "I promise you I'll think about it," I say, genuinely meaning it.
She smiles, seemingly accepting it as good enough. "Now," she says, standing back up, "I think it's just about steak time." She turns back to the grill, the firelight dancing on her face.
The steaks are some of the most delicious I've ever had, and Jaime can't put his fork down, his little face full of pure joy as he devours his meal.
"Uncle Shane," he says between bites, "did you think about it yet?"
"What's that, bud?" I respond, wiping my mouth with a napkin.
"The puppy," he reminds me, his eyes wide with anticipation.
I look over at Nicole, who gives me a small shrug, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"I did, buddy. I think it's okay, as long as you can promise to eat your vegetables... without Nicole having to chase you down," I say, grinning.
"Okay," he says eagerly, nodding his head with enthusiasm. "I'll eat any vegetable you give me."
"I guess you just have to check with Nicole," I add, turning my attention to her.
Nicole raises an eyebrow, feigning surprise as she meets our expectant gazes. "Just one thing... We all get to pick the name together," she says.
The next morning, we head into town for brunch, and afterward, we stop by a few local pet stores.
It's at the third one where we find him—a small, brown-and-white puppy with a wagging tail and bright eyes. He's a rambunctious little thing, full of energy, and Jaime falls in love instantly. The dog seems just as smitten, sticking close to Jaime as if they've known each other forever.
We sit in the pet store, watching Jaime play with the puppy while the owner looks on, a smile of disbelief on her face.
"He's usually terrified of everyone," she says, shaking her head. "But I guess some people just have that touch."
"So, is this the one, buddy?" I ask, leaning down to ruffle the puppy's fur.
"Yeah, I love him," Jaime says, his eyes bright with excitement.
"And what are we going to call this little guy?" Nicole asks, crouching down next to Jaime.
"I want to call him Buddy," Jaime says with a grin. "So we'll have the same nickname."
We take Buddy home that day and introduce him to his very own room in the estate. That night, Jaime plays with Buddy until they both fall asleep, side by side, the beginning of a beautiful friendship.