Page 102 of The CEO Enemy

He cuts me off gently, his voice strained yet calm. “It’s all right, son. You needed to ask. I’ve asked myself the same question a million times. But sometimes, no matter how much you try, you can’t save someone from their own choices.” He glances away, his jaw clenching. “I loved her, you know,” he continues, his voice softer. “More than words can say. But…I simply couldn’t sway her.”

I nod, the ache in my chest echoing the pain in his eyes.

“I want you to stay, Dad.” His gaze returns to me, an expression of disbelief lingering on his features. “I’ll be thrilled not to be questioned at every turn. If you aren’t questioning my every proposition and actually listening to what I’m suggesting, then of course I don’t have a problem with you still being on the board.”

“I don’t do well with the unknown, Sean.”

“Life is about the unknown, Dad. If I can do it, then you can do it.”

He gives me a curious look. “What are you talking about?”

“Jess and I are getting married.”

I wasn’t planning on telling him, mostly because I didn’t care if he knew or not. However, if change is really making him this worried, I need him to see that it’s not all bad.

He stares at me with wide eyes. “Is she pregnant?”

I’m not upset at his question. It’s a common assumption people might make. “No, she’s not. Not yet, but hopefully, one day she will be.”

“That’s…wow, all right.” His shoulders drop. “Son, I’m sorry, if I had known… I wasn’t aware it was that serious.”

“Well, it is.”

“I should have caught on when you vouched for her in the boardroom, a move you didn’t have to make, given your new position. I must say, I’m proud of you.” His expression softens into a gentle smile. “She must be a special lady.”

“She is,” I say, a smile tugging at my own lips in response. Witnessing my father’s smile—I never thought I’d see that day again. My fingers are itching to grab my phone and capture the moment, but somehow I sense it won’t be the last. “I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I’m willing to take the leap. I know I don’t want to stand still.”

“Congratulations.” He takes a deep breath. “If things are going to change, I might as well embrace it.”

“Change isn’t so bad. Sometimes, the curveballs turn out to be your biggest wins. Who knows? It might just go down as the pinnacle of your success.”

He rolls his eyes at my sarcasm, yet there’s no malice behind it this time.

Then, after a few seconds, he says, “You know what? You may be onto something, my boy.”

Getting to his feet, he pats my shoulder, gives me a nod, and heads for the door. Once he gets there, there’s a moment of hesitation before he turns around.

“It’s not that I didn’t want a son,” he tells me. “It’s that when your mother died, I didn’t know how to be a parent. She did all that, and it came naturally to her. So I focused on work, because that I knew and could control. If you and Jess have kids, don’t let this place,” he gestures around himself, “come first.”

With that, he leaves the room.

I sit there in silence, realizing that was the first time in my entire life he’s ever given me fatherly advice.

EPILOGUE: JESS

Several months later

Knock! Knock!

I wake up to the sound on the suite door.

With a groan, I reach for Sean, only to remember that he’s not sleeping next to me. He’s in the other suite one floor up because it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.

Oh, my God, the wedding.

My wedding.

I’m getting married.

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