Part 23:

Just tell board members they’re being idiots and watch them backtrack. You’re the CEO. You can do whatever you want.” That’s not how it works. Why not? What are they going to do? Fire you. You own controlling interest? They could make things difficult. Orchestrate a vote of no confidence. Leak things to the press. So let them.

You built this company into what it is. If they don’t see that, they’re the idiots, not you. Viven sat up, looking at him with something like wonder. You actually believe that? Of course I do. You’re brilliant. You took over a company at 23 and turned it into an empire. That’s not luck. That’s skill or obsession. Same thing sometimes.

She kissed him soft and slow, and Ethan tasted pad tie and possibility. When they pulled apart, Sophie was still asleep on the couch, completely oblivious to the adult conversations happening 3 ft away. Stay tonight, Vivien said. Both of you. I have a guest room Sophie can use. I want to wake up and have breakfast with you.

I want normal just for one morning. Okay. They carried Sophie to the guest room, which was as sterile as the rest of the apartment, but at least had a comfortable bed, and tucked her in. She mumbled something about penguins, and rolled over without waking. In Vivian’s bedroom, they changed into comfortable clothes and climbed into bed.

No dramatic declarations, no passionate scene, straight out of a movie. Just two people exhausted from their respective days, finding comfort in being close. Ethan. Vivian’s voice was quiet in the darkness. Yeah. What if the board votes against the expansion? What if I fail? Then you fail and you figure out the next move. That’s what you do.

You make it sound so simple. It is simple. Failing isn’t the end of the world. It’s just information. You adjust and try something different. She was quiet for a moment. Is that what you did when your shop was failing? I didn’t have a choice. I had Sophie depending on me. I couldn’t afford to give up. But you wanted to. It wasn’t a question.

Ethan stared at the ceiling, feeling the weight of her understanding. Yeah, he admitted. There were days I wanted to just walk away, sell the equipment, close up shop, get a job working for someone else. But then Sophie would ask me about my day, and I’d remember why I was fighting. Not for me. For her. That’s what I’m missing.

A why that actually matters. So find one. I don’t know where to start. Start with what makes you happy, not what’s expected or what looks good on paper. What actually makes you happy? She rolled to face him, her expression barely visible in the dim light from the windows. This you and Sophie in my apartment, tie takeout at my dining table, feeling like this place is actually a home instead of just somewhere I sleep between meetings.

Then do more of this. It’s not that easy. Why not? Because I have responsibilities, obligations. So do I. I have a kid, a shop, bills to pay, but I also have this us, and I’m choosing to make room for both. You’re choosing to make room for a relationship that’s barely a month old. Yeah, because it matters. You matter.

Viven kissed him then, and there was something different in it. Desperate and hopeful and scared all at once. When they pulled apart, she was crying. I don’t know how to do this, she said. How to balance everything. How to be a CEO and also be a person who has relationships and hobbies and a life outside of quarterly reports.

So figure it out. You’re good at solving problems. Solve this one. What if I can’t? Then we’ll figure it out together. That’s what people do when they care about each other. They figure out. She laughed through her tears. You’re very practical for someone who fixes cars for a living. Someone has to be.

You’re too busy being brilliant and terrified to be practical. They fell asleep holding each other. And when Ethan woke up the next morning, sunlight was streaming through the windows and Sophie was standing in the doorway looking deeply amused. You’re cuddling. She announced. Sophie, privacy, Ethan groaned. It’s 8:30. That’s late.

Vivien said we could make pancakes for breakfast. She paused. But you have to stop cuddling first. Viven was already awake. Her hair a mess and her eyes soft with sleep. I did promise pancakes, though I should warn you. I’ve never actually made them before. That’s okay. I’ll help. Sophie disappeared toward the kitchen and they could hear her opening cabinets.

She’s reorganizing your kitchen again, Ethan said. I know. I’m letting her. It probably needs it. They got up and joined Sophie in the kitchen where she’d already located pancake mix and was reading the instructions with intense concentration. It says we need eggs, milk, and oil. Do you have those? Vivien opened the refrigerator, which contained approximately three items.

I have bottled water, leftover takeout, and is that yogurt expired? It’s from February, Ethan observed. It’s definitely expired. I don’t grocery shop much. We noticed. They ended up ordering groceries delivered while Sophie made a list of everything they needed for proper pancakes. An hour later, armed with fresh ingredients, they attempted breakfast. The first batch burned.

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