21. Small Big Changes
SMALL BIG CHANGES
BASIL
T he day Stratos went public, I should have been nervous.
I should’ve been pacing the floor, refreshing my phone, watching the stock price tick up like it was the most important moment of my life. Instead, I was trying to wrestle a sock onto the world’s squirmiest eight-month-old.
“No, buddy, we need both socks.”
Atlas—our son, our absolute tiny terror of a child—giggled and promptly yanked the other sock off his foot, waving it in victory.
Summer appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, barely containing her amusement. “How’s that going?”
I groaned, theatrically falling back onto the nursery rug. “He’s winning.”
She snorted and scooped Atlas up, pressing a kiss to his messy curls. “Daddy doesn’t stand a chance, does he?”
Atlas babbled something completely unintelligible, stuffing his fist into his mouth.
I sighed. “I built a billion-dollar company from nothing, but I cannot put socks on my own child.”
Summer grinned, setting Atlas on her hip. “Welcome to true humility. Parenting.”
By the time we went to the IPO party, Atlas had not only socks but little booties on. We decided he needed to be there, and we’d leave right after my speech, which I would give before dinner was served.
I had Atlas on my chest in a Baby Bjorn, and everyone was cooing about how absolutely adorable he was. And he was. Fuck, children were fantastic. He came into our lives and changed it because he changed our priorities.
“You feeling good, Basil?” Summer asked.
“Yeah.” And I was.
I looked around, feeling proud of what the team had achieved.
The champagne was flowing. The who’s who of the corporate world filled the ballroom, toasting to Stratos’s success.
Cameras flashed. Handshakes were exchanged.
My name was being mentioned in conversations that would probably be written about in business magazines tomorrow.
I always thought this was the moment I’d feel at the top of the world, but that happened…a while back, pr obably when Summer agreed to date me, giving us a second chance that I promised she’d never regret.
When I went up to the podium, Summer took Atlas. He was asleep in his mother’s arms—his beautiful, wonderful mother, who had taught me how to live my life better and healthier. I felt lucky that she still looked at me like I was worth the trouble.
“Good evening.” The room quieted instantly. Eyes turned to me. The CEO of Stratos Technologies, the man of the hour, the golden boy of aviation software.
I cleared my throat because emotions were constricting my throat. “I want to take a moment to thank everyone here. Today is a big day for Stratos. We built something incredible, and I’m honored to have been a part of it.”
There was a round of polite applause. I let it settle before continuing, “Tonight, I also have an announcement to make.”
I glanced at Felix, who already knew. At my mother, who gave me her blessing. And finally at Summer, who gave me the smallest, most encouraging nod.
I took a breath. “As of the end of this quarter, I will be stepping down as CEO.”
The room shifted. A low hum of whispers rippled through the crowd.
I smiled, completely at peace. “I’ll remain on the board, and I will always support Stratos’s growth. But it’s time for me to focus on something bigger than quarterly earnings and stock prices.”
I turned toward Summer, letting the words settle in the room.
“The leadership team is already looking for a new CEO and in the meantime our COO will be acting CEO.”
I collected my thoughts for a moment. “My plans for the future include more time with my wife and son, but also an initiative that I’m starting with my wife, Summer, to improve conditions for children in foster care.
Funding education, mental health support, better transitional housing—real change for kids who don’t get second chances. ”
There was a beat of silence and then applause.
People congratulated me once I got off the podium. I hurried to my wife and son.
“Should we?” I asked.
“Yeah, let’s go home,” Summer said as she stroked our sleeping son’s back.
So, we went home and…well, lived happily ever after, of course.
THE END