Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
Simon
My dad turned to me. “My son is going to be a father.” He pulled me into a hug. “You’re going to be a great dad.”
His words hit harder than I thought they would. “You think so?” I broke our embrace.
“I know so.” He smiled. “Did you find out today?”
“No. We found out in St. Lucia. Bella threw up one morning, and the thought occurred to me that she might be, so I made her take a pregnancy test. I didn’t want her drinking any more alcohol if she were.”
“Well, you two certainly didn’t waste any—”
“William.” Mary placed her hand on his arm.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to become the one thing I always wanted to be. A grandfather. Bella, are you taking your vitamins?”
“Yes, William, I am.” She smiled.
“You need to make sure you’re getting enough—”
“Dad,” I said.
“What?”
“She’s pregnant. She’s not suddenly incapable of taking care of herself.”
“I know that, son.”
“You’ve been a grandfather for like five minutes,” I said.
“And?” His brow raised.
“You’re already being annoying.”
“Get used to it.” He pointed at me, and I smiled. “A year ago, if someone had told me we’d be sitting here having this conversation, I would’ve told them they were out of their mind.”
“I want an apology from you,” I said.
“For what?” My father’s brows furrowed.
“For your reaction when I came back from Los Angeles two months early. If I hadn’t, there would be no grandchild on the way for you,” I smirked.
“Fine. I apologize, son.”
“And?” I stared at him.
“You were right in coming back early. You have proven to me that you’re more than ready to take over the company.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I smiled.
“Now, there is something I want to talk to you about. But I’m not sure that with all of your exciting news you can handle it.”
I immediately became suspicious.
“What is it?” I asked.
He looked at Mary first and then turned his attention to Bella and me.
“I’ve decided to retire.”
“What?” I stared at him.
“I’m retiring.”
I laughed because I knew he was fucking with me. The problem was, he wasn’t laughing along with me.
“You’re serious?”
“Very serious, son.” He looked at Mary and smiled.
“When did you decide this?” I asked.
“Since you proposed to Bella.”
“Excuse me?” My brow rose. “And you’re only telling me now?”
“I wasn’t ready to tell you. Besides, you had too much going on with the wedding plans. It’s time, Simon. You’re more than ready to take my place. You have been for a long time. Mary and I want to travel.”
“In an RV?” Bella grinned.
My father smiled and pointed at her. “Maybe.”
“You’ll last two weeks,” I said.
“I figured you’d say that,” he said.
“You don’t know how to retire, Dad.”
“I’ll learn.” He grabbed Mary’s hand. “We’re traveling, son. The plan was to be gone for at least a year. But now with the baby on the way, we’ll have to do it in eight months. There’s no way I won’t be here when my grandchild is born. Besides, you’ll have free childcare.”
“What do you mean?” Bella asked.
“You both will be at the office all day. Have you considered who’s going to watch your kid?”
Bella and I looked at each other. That was something that hadn’t crossed our minds yet.
“And you’re not hiring a nanny. I will not allow my grandchild to be raised by a stranger. You didn’t have one growing up.”
“Only because Mom didn’t work,” I said.
“Doesn’t matter. Mary and I will babysit. Won’t we, darling?”
“Of course.” Mary smiled. “We’re looking forward to it.”
“I can’t believe you planned an entire retirement behind my back,” I said.
“It wasn’t behind your back, son.”
“It certainly wasn’t in front of me. I thought it would still be at least three more years until you did. When are you retiring?”
“The end of this month,” he said.
“Excuse me? The end of this month? That’s in two weeks,” I said.
“I know. All the paperwork is with the lawyer. As soon as they’re ready, you’ll need to sign them, and you will become the face of MDG.”
“I’m already the face of MDG,” I said.
“You’re the second face. When people think of MDG, they think of me.” He winked.
“You are keeping your seat on the board, right?” I asked.
“Of course. I’m not stupid. I’m retiring, Simon, not dying. In two weeks, you’ll be taking the top seat, son.” He smiled.
“And you’re comfortable with that?” I asked.
“More than comfortable. Hell, I think you’ll do a better job than I ever could.”
“Shit.” I smiled. “I’ll be the chairman and CEO of Montclair Development Group.”
“You sure will be. It’s getting late, and mama bear needs her rest.” He walked over to Bella and hugged her. “I’m so happy for you two.”
“Thank you, William.”
“Did you just call my wife ‘mama bear?’”
“I sure did.” He smiled and hugged me. “You two back in the office tomorrow?”
“Yep. We’ll be there.” Bella smiled.
We walked them to the elevator and watched the door shut. We’d just found out we were having a baby, and now my father told me he was handing me the company in two weeks.
“This is one hell of a fucking night.” I looked at Bella.
“Tell me about it.” She laughed. “Chairman and CEO.”
“Don’t start, sweetheart.”
“I’m not starting anything. I’m proud of you. Oh shit.”
“What?” I asked.
“This means you’re going to be my boss now.”
A sinister smile crossed my lips. “That’s right. The boss at home and now at work.”
“The boss at home?” Her brow arched. “In your dreams, Montclair.”