Page 41 of Matthias’s Protective Embrace (Cardinal Falls #3)

Chapter Twenty-Five

MATTHIAS

“Mom? Dad?” I let myself into my parents’ house like always, heading straight toward the living room. It’s cliche to call it the heart of the house, but it’s true.

“We’re in here, dear,” my mother calls back. I can hear soft voices coming from the living room.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” I say as I enter. They entertain a lot, so it’s not uncommon for me to find them with clients, friends, or family. I usually get a heads-up if they know I’m coming over. My visit today is a bit of a surprise.

“Not interrupting at all. In fact, we were just talking about you.” My father and Cedric, one of the other partners, stand from their positions around the coffee table.

“Hey, Cedric, didn’t know you’d be here.” I shake his hand. “If I can borrow my mom for a minute, then I’ll get out of your hair.” I turn to my mother and cock my head toward the kitchen, hoping she’ll follow.

“Nonsense. Sit and talk with us a bit.” I hesitate.

I know how these things go. I sit for a second, and the next thing I know, everyone’s on their third scotch of the night.

As much as networking has been a big part of my life, I’d really love not to be here for hours.

Frank’s coming over a bit later, and I want to be there when he arrives.

“Just for a few minutes. I’ve got some things to take care of tonight.” And one boy I plan on taking very good care of later, if he’ll let me.

“Mark and I were discussing the final decisions for the senior associate role,” Cedric says.

Shit . I didn’t expect them to decide so quickly. The interviews were only two weeks ago, and big decisions like this have a process with the board. “Oh?”

“We’ll have to see what we can do about getting you a bigger office.

” Right, lead with the consolation prize.

It says something that I pick out these tactics with so little effort.

I’ve watched my father use them on people in this room my entire life.

As a kid, I’d sit in the hallway, hidden by the wall, listening in while he did business.

I suspect he knew I was there all along, but let me be.

What better education on how the real world works?

“One better fit for a senior associate. We can give the new junior associate your current office.”

It takes far too long for the information to seep into my brain. “You’re giving me the senior associate position?”

“We’re not giving you anything, Matthias. You’ve worked hard for a long time. Everyone knows that. Your numbers are excellent, and the clients love you,” my father adds.

“Thank you,” I say before steeling myself for the conversation ahead.

Honestly, I thought I had a few more weeks.

Or at least a chance to work out what I want to say before I had to say it.

Telling my mom tonight was the first step.

A soft launch that would allow me to feel out how it would go when I told my dad and the rest of the firm.

Well, no time like the present.

“I really appreciate everything that you and the company have done for me. More than I can possibly put into words. I know a lot of kids would hate working with their father, but I adore getting to go to work and see you every day.” My father and Cedric are both nodding enthusiastically, like this is some acceptance speech.

“Which is why it’s so hard for me to turn down this opportunity.

” Their faces go between confusion, shock, and anger.

“I can assure you this process was completely fair. In fact, the initial review of numbers and scores was blinded. No one even knew who they were looking at. We kept your father out of deliberations until the final decision when we needed his official vote. That’s only for the purpose of the rules of order; it wasn’t close. Everyone wanted you.”

“Thank you, but I still have to turn down the position.” I take a deep breath.

It’s no surprise that they’re angry, especially after all the work involved in the process.

If they think they’re mad now, they’ll be livid with my next statement.

“And I’ll be submitting my letter of resignation next week. ”

“What kind of fucking stunt is this?” Cedric yells.

My mother moves a little bit closer to us, clearly ready to jump into the conversation.

“Cedric, I think this is a family discussion. I’ll call you later tonight.” That’s it. When my father speaks, people listen. Even Cedric. He clearly has more to say but thinks better of it, choosing instead to let my mom get his coat and see him out of the house.

“Matthias,” my father says once my mom returns. “What’s going on? I thought you wanted the promotion?” There’s no anger in his voice, only confusion .

“I think—no, I know that working at your firm has been my dream since forever. And realizing that dream made me happy. But over the last few months, I’ve started thinking that maybe some other things could also make me happy.”

“Frank?”

“Yeah, Frank makes me happy. He’s never had it easy, having to constantly re-figure things out.

It’s incredible. And I want to spend more time with him, but also be a bit more like him.

Willing to re-think what my dreams can look like.

” My focus over the last few years was beneficial for me, but it meant I never considered any other options.

Now that I have, it’s opened up a world of opportunity.

One I plan to take advantage of. Especially if that means having more time to spend with my boy.

No more late nights in the office or weekends spent working.

Some things are more important. Too bad it took me so long to realize it.

“And that means leaving finance?” my mother asks softly.

“No, not completely. I’ve been exploring my options.

There’s a local place that’s been interested in stealing me away for years.

I talked to them, and they’d hire me in at a senior associate level but also with some management responsibilities, as well.

It’s a chance to do things a little differently but also to be at a place where I’m not the owner’s son.

” They also boast about a better work-life balance.

Of course, it comes with a lower salary, but not by that much.

I’ve invested my own money wisely over the years, so it’s not like I’m hurting.

“You know I’ve never?—”

“Given me special treatment? Yeah, I know.” I snort.

“If anything, I think you’re harder on me than you are on anyone else.

” I hold up a hand as he starts to argue.

“That’s not a bad thing. You pushing me is what’s made me so good at my job.

What’s given me a lot of options. I want to spend more time at home.

” I leave off Frank’s name, but I know they’re both thinking it.

“This gives me that ability.” I stop, breathing heavily after vomiting my emotions all over them.

“Matthias, we only want you to be happy. Does this change make you happy?”

“Yes.” I don’t need to think about my mom’s question. I’ve thought about it for weeks—months even—and I know it’s the right choice for me. Scary, but right.

“Then we’re thrilled for you,” my father says. “But very disappointed for the company. It’ll be tough there without you. Partly because you’re the best at what you do, but also because I’ll miss working with you every day.”

“I’ll miss you, too.”

“Well, you can both prove it by being around the house more often.” My mom pulls me into a tight hug. “We love you.”

“I love you both.”

“Now, how about some champagne to celebrate?”

“Oh, Frank’s going to come over soon. I should get home to him.” I need to tell him the news and hope he’ll be as happy as my parents.

“Call him and have him come here instead.” That logic is hard to argue with. I haven’t exactly told him about my plans yet. I meant to do that alone rather than in front of my parents.

“Great, I’m sure he’ll love that.” At least I hope he will. Springing a family get-together on him could honestly go in either direction.

“I’ll go get a couple of bottles out and figure out some snacks.” My mom: the eternal entertainer. I think either way—taking the job or resigning—would have ended up this way tonight. “Can Frank have chips and dip?”

“As long as they don’t have meat or dairy.

Leave the bags out so he can check.” I love that my mom thought about that without any prompting.

We probably have fancier things in the freezer, but most of those won’t work for Frank.

It wasn’t even a thought for her to consider serving something he couldn’t have.

I pull out my phone and text Frank, asking him to come here after class instead of heading to my house. He’s still in class, but I get a thumbs-up back from him.

FRANK

I pull up to Matthias’s parents’ house with a nervous flutter in my chest. I didn’t expect to be coming here tonight.

I’m dressed for class in a pair of joggers and a stained pullover.

It’s the opposite of fancy. Certainly, sitting through a class on nineteenth-century American literature doesn’t require much more.

I think Mark Twain would appreciate my relaxed state while discussing A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.

After a long day of work, sometimes I don’t have the energy to pull on a pair of jeans.

Is it disrespectful? Honestly, I doubt the professors know what we’re wearing.

They have better things to worry about, like whether the projector in the room is going to work this week.

At least I’m reading the actual book and not an online summary.

A continuation of being a different version of myself.

But if I’m going to learn a lesson, this is it. Leave the house thinking I’m going to class and straight back to Matthias’s, end up socializing in a mansion .

Should I start wearing a suit to school? I’d have to buy a suit first. Would I need more than one?