Page 7 of Off Limits (Alpha Billionaire)

“That was very kind of you. She hasn’t said anything. Did she like it?”

Jessica shrugged. “I don’t know, but I did see it wrapped up in her work in the basket she keeps everything in the other day.”

“Let me know what kind it was and I’ll have yours replaced. You can send me a link over text. This has been a very informative breakfast, but I have a very full day ahead of me.” I stood and wiped the corners of my mouth on the linen napkin before setting it on the table. “I’ll see you tonight, Max.” I reached over and mussed his hair. “Jessica.”

I left them in the dining room finishing their breakfasts, and I thought about logistics. The cook would have to get up around five a.m. or earlier to make bagels. That was ridiculous, especially since she also made dinner. I was going to have tohave a chat with her about reasonable work hours and making sure she didn’t think I was taking advantage of her. As much as Jessica likened my situation with staff who ran my house behind some magic curtain, this wasn’t feudal England, and my staff were employees making good wages and not indentured servants.

Once in the office, I mostly forgot about the issues with home and focused on my work. Managing multiple development projects while always keeping an eye out for other ways to expand kept me busy. Even with a home office, the days between one nanny quitting and Jessica starting had set me behind. A week later, I still felt as if there were items falling through the cracks.

I got to work. At some point, my admin had a deli sandwich delivered for lunch. The bag sat on my desk for at least an hour before she called me over the interoffice intercom and reminded me to eat.

Eventually, the sandwich was eaten, and I continued to work.

“Have you gotten out of that chair at all today?”

I looked up and my admin was standing inside my office door, her tote bag on her shoulder, her coat over her arm.

“You headed out for lunch?” I asked.

“Dylan, it's time to go home. You’ve been so focused all day. Did you remember to eat your sandwich?”

I glanced out the window. The light was changing, the fog starting to come in as it did in the early evenings. “Yeah, I ate the sandwich,” I mumbled.

“Maybe you need to wrap everything up and go home before it gets dark, or I’m afraid you’ll be at it and still sitting there when I walk in tomorrow.”

I nodded in agreement. “No, you’re right. I’ll just send this last email and then head home. I need to see Mother and Max before they go to bed.” A pang of guilt hit as I realized I hadn’t checked on Mother for a few days.

She left, and I stared at the computer. I reoriented my focus and reviewed the email before hittingSend. Done.

I Shut the computer down and had all the papers I thought I would need for the evening in my messenger bag when the phone rang.

“Dylan Anderson,” I said as I answered it.

“Dylan! Ryan Carmichael here. How have you been?”

I hadn’t heard from Ryan for a long while. I sat down. “Ryan, what has you calling? How have you been?”

“I have this proposal I want for your group, but I was hoping to schedule some time to run it by you before making it all official. You know, see if you think it’s worth pursuing,” he said.

“Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. Are you in town? Why don’t you come over to my place on Saturday? We can hit a round of golf and you can tell me what you’re thinking.”

4

JESSICA

Max played quietly on the floor at his grandmother’s feet. I sat off to the side. I was there in case either of them needed anything, but out of the way. This was Mrs. Anderson’s time with her grandson.

Max was always so sweet and careful with her. He might run and tackle his father or even slam a fierce hug around my legs, but he was always as delicate as a four-year-old could be with her.

Granted, she did remind him that her old bones couldn’t take rough handling. She didn’t look that old to me, but I didn’t know what was going on inside, and it wasn’t my place to ask.

Max got up and showed his grandmother the toy he had. It was a plastic dinosaur. She cooed over him and they did a little interacting, and Max went back to his spot on the floor with the other plastic dinosaurs. This was typical for all of their visits. Max loved dinosaurs and really enjoyed showing off each one. He didn’t have a favorite. They were all his favorites.

“Max, Nana is getting tired. Should we watch a little show?” she asked.

Max looked up from playing with the plastic toys. He looked at her, and then looked at me. I nodded.

“Let’s pick up the dinosaurs while your nana gets the show ready.” I pushed to my feet and crossed to where the bucket for the plastic toys was and carried it back to where Max was gathering as many dinosaurs into his arms as possible.

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