Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 59671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Eddie is reading and writing like a pro and now is going to school as a senior. He is sitting in the top band of his classmates and has lots of friends, he just got his learner license.
Christopher hasn’t let me drive with him yet because I was pregnant, all I know is that every time they go driving, Christopher ages about five years and does a cross symbol as he walks into the house as if he is walking into a Catholic church.
The door bursts open and Christopher and Eddie come rushing in. “Sorry we’re late,” Eddie stammers,
“Hi, Grumps.” Christopher kisses me softly; his lips linger on mine.
Having this perfect little version of us has sent Christopher’s hormones into overdrive, he cannot love me more.
“You’re late.” I look between them as I hand Evelyn to Eddie. “Hold your sister.” Eddie takes her like a pro and sits down in the chair in the corner of the hospital room, he smiles down at her with so much love.
He’s a natural at this big brother thing.
“It was Eddie’s fault.”
“It was not,” Eddie fires back. “You left the gate open and the cows got into the top paddock.”
“What?” I frown.
“Then we had to chase them all back in and then I tripped over in cow shit and had to change,” Christopher snaps. “Nothing ever runs fucking smooth for us, you know this.”
“Don’t curse in front of Evelyn,” Eddie fires back. “She can hear, you know?”
Christopher punches his fist. “I’m the parent around here.”
Eddie rolls his eyes.
“Are my boys ready to take us home?” I ask.
Christopher takes me into his arms and kisses me softly. “You bet we are.” He turns to Eddie. “Let me hold her.”
“I want to hold her,” Eddie replies.
“Later, you’re the kid.” Christopher takes her from him. “The dad always holds the baby as you leave the hospital, everyone knows that. It’s the dad law.”
“I’m carrying her into the house when we get home then,” Eddie replies.
I roll my eyes. Fuck my life. “Are you two going to fight over holding her forever now?”
“Yes,” they both say in unison.
Eddie grabs my bags and Christopher puts his arm around his shoulders as he stares lovingly down at our little girl. “Let’s take our family home.”
Christopher
Five years later.
We sit around the board table, all of us together as we make plans and projections for Miles Media for the next five years.
Tough decisions have to be made, changes bought into place and implemented.
This is the sharp end of the job; it is also where Jameson shines and is at his best.
“Okay.” Jameson slides over his folder. “Next. I have made some recommendations on who I want to train up to management level in the New York office.”
I take the folder from him and open it up.
Eduardo Miles
I close the folder and push it back to him, “No.”
“What do you mean no?” He frowns.
“He’s not ready.”
Eddie has been working with Miles Media for three years and I hate to admit it but he’s a star in the making.
Sharp and smart with no in between.
Jameson’s eyes hold mine across the boardroom table. “I beg to differ.”
Tristan and Elliot scoff in disgust.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” I snap. “He is not ready.”
“You mean…not ready for his overprotective father to let him live his own life and grow into his full potential?” Jameson rolls his eyes. “Give me a break.”
I sit back in my chair, annoyed. “I am not being overprotective.”
“Yes you are,” Tristan replies. “I know how you feel, but you need to let him go.”
“You do not know how I feel,” I fire back. “You have no fucking idea how I feel.”
“Yes. I do. Harrison is also training for management if you didn’t remember? He was supposed to come back to Anderson Media straight after his internship and now he won’t. Jameson has seduced him into staying.”
“Because you work between the two companies,” I snap. “You’re three days a week at Anderson Media and two days a week at Miles. He doesn’t have to choose because his father is involved in both companies.”
“That has nothing to do with it,” Jameson snaps. “Harrison and Eduardo are needed in New York. They have enough potential, intelligence and grit required for management.” He looks between Tristan and me. “You both know that. They are needed in New York. This is their company too; they need to step up and be who we need them to be.”
I exhale heavily.
“Eduardo has an inner strength that cannot be taught,” Jameson continues. “And when you took him as your son he inherited a privilege. But that privilege comes with duty. And that duty is to Miles Media. I won’t have your pansy bullshit excuses that he can’t handle it when we all fucking know he could handle more than any of us.”