PART 14:

I’m scared, Em, he said quietly. Of what? Of screwing up, of losing my job, of things changing and not being able to protect you anymore. Emma cupped his face in her small hands with a seriousness that made her look far older than eight. Dad, you’re the bravest person I know. You take care of me all by yourself and you never complain, and you always make sure I’m okay even when you’re tired.

You can do hard things. I’ve seen you. This is different. Stop saying that. Her eyes were fierce. You like her. She likes you. That’s not complicated. The other stuff is complicated, but that part’s easy. So, start with the easy part and figure out the rest. Adrian pulled her close again, overwhelmed. When did you get so smart? I’ve always been smart.

You just don’t listen sometimes. He laughed despite everything. Noted. That night, after Emma was asleep, Adrian sat at the kitchen table with his phone in his hand. He typed and deleted seven different messages to Selina before finally settling on, I’m sorry. You were right. I got scared and I said things I didn’t mean.

Can we talk? He stared at it for 5 minutes before hitting send. The response didn’t come for 2 hours. Adrian had almost given up and gone to bed when his phone finally buzzed. I’m scared, too, Selina wrote. But I’m willing to try if you are. I am. Then we need to do this right. No more hiding. No more pretending this isn’t happening.

What are you saying? I’m saying I’m going to fight for this, for us. But I can’t do it alone. Adrian’s hands were shaking when he typed, You’re not alone. I’m in this. Whatever it takes. Even if it costs you your job? He thought about Emma’s fierce little face, her hands on his cheeks, her absolute certainty that he could do hard things.

Even then, he typed, Okay. We’ll figure it out together. Together. Adrian set the phone down and pressed his hands against his eyes. He’d just committed to the scariest thing he’d done in 8 years, and he had no idea if it would work out or blow up in his face. But for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was moving toward something instead of just away from everything that could hurt him.

It would have to be enough. The decision to fight for it changed nothing and everything at the same time. Adrian still went to work Tuesday morning, still fixed broken thermostats and flickering lights, still nodded at his coworkers in the hallways. But underneath the surface, everything felt different, like he was walking around with a live wire in his chest, waiting to see which way the current would flow.

By Wednesday, the whispers had started. He first noticed it in the break room. Two guys from facilities management were talking in low voices by the coffee machine. When Adrian walked in, they went silent. One of them, Marcus, who Adrian had worked with for 3 years, gave him a look that was part curiosity, part something uglier.

Heard you’re moving up in the world, Veil, Marcus said. Adrian grabbed a coffee cup from the stack. Don’t know what you’re talking about. Come on, everyone knows. You and the ice queen upstairs. Her name’s Selina, and I’d appreciate you not calling her that. Marcus exchanged a glance with the other guy, Derek, newer hire, always trying too hard to fit in.

Touchy. Must be serious. What I do on my own time is my business. Sure it is, but when your own time involves the CEO, it kind of becomes everyone’s business. Marcus leaned against the counter. So, what’s the deal? She’s slumming it for a thrill, or are you actually dating? Adrian set his cup down harder than necessary.

You got something you want to say to me? Just making conversation. No, you’re being an There’s a difference. Derek laughed nervously. He’s just messing around, man. I’m not laughing. Marcus held up his hands in mock surrender. Relax. I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking. Good for you, I guess. Landing a billionaire. Must be nice.

Adrian walked out without getting coffee. The rest of the day wasn’t much better. He caught people staring, heard his name in conversations that stopped when he got too close. By the time his shift ended, Adrian felt like his skin was too tight. He texted Selena. How’s your day? Board meeting ran long, brutal.

Yours? People are talking. I know, I’m hearing it, too. What are they saying? Nothing I’m going to repeat. Ignore it. Easy for you to say. Her response took a minute. You’re right. I’m sorry. Do you want to meet tonight? Can’t. Emma has school tomorrow, and I promised her I’d help with her science project.

Tomorrow, then? Yeah. Tomorrow. At home, Emma was waiting with a shoe box full of construction paper and a determination to build a diorama of the ocean floor that would put everyone else’s to shame. “We need kelp,” she announced as soon as Adrian walked through the door. Hello to you, too. Hi, Dad. We need kelp for the diorama.

Green paper doesn’t look right. What does kelp look like? Like seaweed, but taller. And wavy. I looked it up. They spent 2 hours at the kitchen table cutting strips of green tissue paper and gluing them to the inside of the shoe box. Emma narrated facts about ocean ecosystems while Adrian tried to make kelp look wavy and mostly failed.

👉 [Tap here for the Next Part ] 👈