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I sneezed during a bath bomb demo and nearly blinded a woman from Jersey.”
I chuckled. “I’ll go get you a glass of wine.”
After pouring the wine, I took Daisy from her and handed her the glass.
“I sold aBlocked & Bathingbox to someone’s divorce lawyer, accidentally lactated while restocking theTouch Me and I’ll Crycandles, and told Grace I was going to marry the UPS guy because he said it was good to see me again.”
“So, good day then?” I asked.
“Honestly?” She glanced at me. “Kind of. I’m still unwell. But in a hot way, right?”
Daisy made a weird gurgle noise.
“Did she just laugh at me?” she asked.
“That was gas or a laugh. Either way, she’s judging you.” I grinned.
“Good.” Willa smiled. “The chaos is genetic. We did good, Blackwood.” She held her hand up for a high-five.
* * *
Three Months Later
I satamongst the board members at the head of the table in the conference room. My jaw was tight, and my hands were clasped. Uncle Kroy leaned back in his leather chair, glared at me, and folded his arms to his chest.
“You haven’t been mentally here since the baby was born,” Uncle Kroy said. “That child has turned you into a hobbyist, not a CEO.”
I didn’t move. I only glared back, picturing what a thousand knives would look like pierced into his body.
“This isn’t personal, Damien. But if you can’t take this company seriously anymore?—”
That did it. I stood from my chair and slammed my hands on the table.
“You’ve been trying for my position since my father died. Don’t pretend this is about my daughter!”
“You’ve become soft since Willa and Daisy came into your life. You spend more time watching that damn baby cam than in board meetings. I built this company with your father. Why he left you to babysit it is beyond me.”
I clenched my fists.
“You’ve been very distracted. You’re always leaving early, ignoring calls, and you told one of our investors to fuck off the other day.”
“Because he questioned my commitment, suggesting the ‘old Damien’ was more reliable. That’s why I told that motherfucker off. I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m just not letting work take over my life anymore. I have a family. Isn’t that what you all wanted?” I wiggled my finger at each board member—the vultures—the sharks.
“All I’m saying is let Willa take care of the family life. This is why Raquel and I never had kids. They’re too much of a distraction, and they soften you.”
“Better to be soft than a hard-core soulless asshole.”
I glanced at the watch Willa bought me last month for my birthday. The one engraved withYou Already Have Everything That Matters.
“Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness. I can still destroy you—all of you. I just won’t lose sleep over it anymore.” I stormed out of the conference room.
I stepped off the elevator and set my briefcase down in the foyer. Walking into the living room, I found Willa on the couch, feeding Daisy, and watching Chopped. She looked at me and immediately turned the TV off.
“Damien? I thought you had a meeting tonight?”
I took off my suit coat, tossed it on one of our wing-backed chairs, loosened my tie, and sat down beside her, smiling at Daisy.
“He said I was soft. He said you and Daisy made me weak.”