Page 48 of The Boss's Triplet Surprise

“I think it’s better if it’s just the two of us. Could you meet me at the coffee shop on thirty-eighth in an hour or so?”

“Of course.” Richard sounded worried now. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes. But we do need to talk.”

“All right. See you in an hour.”

“Bye.” Dan hung up, then stared at his phone. The part of him that focused on business and profits over everything pointed out that this was probably a mistake and that he could lose RMA Pharmaceuticals — after all, the paperwork hadn’t gone through yet — but the part of Dan that loved his family and wanted to be a good person was stronger. He needed to come clean.

An hour later, Dan sat across from his father in their favorite old coffee shop. Richard sipped from an Americano, while Dan’s espresso grew cold on the table between them.

“Son?” Richard looked more worried than ever. “Tell me. What’s going on?”

“This isn’t easy for me to say.” Dan let out a breath. “But I haven’t been entirely honest with you. Leah and I… we aren’t really dating. We never were. Instead, we worked out a deal. She wanted a baby, and I wanted to prove to you that I was ready to inherit RMA Pharmaceuticals. A fake relationship and a real pregnancy seemed like the best way to achieve both our goals. I realize that lying to you like this has essentially proven the opposite of what I wanted to, and I understand if you don’t feel I’m ready to take over RMA Pharmaceuticals anymore.”

There was a long pause. Dan tried to read his father’s expression, but Richard’s face was unreadable. Richard took a long sip of his coffee, then set it down.

“You and Leah aren’t dating? And you never were?”

“That’s right.” It was an easy answer. Dan knew he needed to be truthful, and he would be.

“So, you don’t love her? And you never did?”

Dan opened his mouth to say no, but he hesitated. He thought of Leah, her smile, her beautiful green eyes, the thoughtful expression she always got before a particularly good idea. He thought of how selfless she was and how much of herself she’d given to her work on Forenal and to him. He thought of what a wonderful mother she’d be. He thought of how all-consuming it felt to kiss her.

“I… I think I do love her.”

“Son.” Richard shook his head. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed.”

“I know I shouldn’t have lied to you.”

“That’s true. I wish you hadn’t lied to me — and I wish you hadn’t felt like you had to. But that’s not why I’m disappointed.”

Dan’s stomach sank. He felt like he had as a child, when he’d stolen a piece of candy from a supermarket and his father had sat him down and explained why stealing was wrong.

“Why are you disappointed, then?”

“Because it’s clear that you love Leah. Even before you said so, I knew it. I could see it in the way you look at her and the way you talk about her, from the very first time. Whatever your reasons for getting close to her and starting a family with her, Leah is good for you. You’re a better man when you’re with her. Don’t you see that?”

“A better man, maybe. But even when we’re together, I’m not good enough.” Dan sighed. He wasn’t sure he wanted to tell his father all this, but perhaps it was time to try a new strategy. Honesty. “When I found out that we were expecting triplets, I freaked out. I ran away to the office so that I wouldn’t have to deal with it, even though I knew Leah needed me. I’m not ready to be a father. I’m not ready to be a partner to Leah. I would just mess it up. It’s better for me to stick to work and make money to support my family.”

“Of course you aren’t ready to be a father, or a partner.” Richard chuckled, which was so unexpected that Dan just stared at him. “No one is ready. And of course you’ll make mistakes. Everyone does. But the biggest mistake you could possibly make would be not trying.”

“I’m not so sure. Stepping back now was painful for both Leah and me, but what if I stay with her and still put my work first? What if I’m not a good partner? What if I hurt her years down the line? What if I’m not a good father to our children?”

“That’s a good point.” Richard nodded. “But I have to ask you. When you first started at RMA, were you good at everything?”

“Of course not.” Dan chuckled at a memory of one particularly huge blunder involving a shipment of packaging and a nonexistent trucking service. “I made a lot of mistakes.”

“And did you give up?”

“No. It was too important.”

“What did you do?”

“I asked for help. I read books and watched interviews with successful businessmen. I talked to you.”

“And isn’t your family, Leah and your children, more important than work?” Richard leaned forward, his intensity suddenly growing. “You can always delegate your work. You could even sell RMA — it’s not like you need the money. But are you ever going to find anyone else like Leah? Will she ever find anyone else like you? Don’t your children deserve to grow up with a loving, present father?”

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