Page 60 of Boss's Baby Surprise

“I can, Kyle, and I have. Today’s my last day in the office, and it’s my last day working for you.”

“But, Alayna.” She couldn’t abandon me like this.

“Say goodbye, Kyle.”

I let out a heavy breath and realized that one simple mistake had ramifications in a much broader scope than I could’ve ever guessed. “Goodbye, Alayna,” I said, realizing I had screwed myself on so many levels.

“Goodbye, Kyle.”

I stared at the phone in my hand and started to think of how I could fix this. Alayna was a decisive woman, and I knew that her quitting was not something she would lightly change her mind on. However, I wasn’t the absolute asshole she thought I was being. Or was I?

I needed to go back to Chicago. I needed to face my fears and confess to Clarissa that having a son was something I had never expected, and even after I met him and knew in my heart that he was mine, I had to stay firm on my convictions and see proof before I could admit it Clarissa.

Clarissa had been right. I only needed to look at Leo and see that he had my eyes. Would I be able to convince Clarissa that I was truly sorry? That I had been wrong?

As the fireworks continued lighting up the night sky, I returned to my laptop and struggled with the purchase of an international flight from Hong Kong to Chicago. I missed Alayna already. I was so used to calling her and having her make all of my travel arrangements. I barely knew what I was looking at as I selected a flight.

I immediately called Sullivan.

“Happy New Year!” he shouted into the phone.

I could hear cheering and general noises coming from his end of the call. “I’m going to need you to take over the Greenway project,” I started.

“What are you saying? I can hardly hear you,” he continued to shout into his phone.

“I need you to—” I started again.

“Whoa, whoa. Why does this sound like work?” he asked.

“I am trying to tell you something,” I said.

“Unless you’re calling to tell me happy New Year, whatever you have to say can wait until we’re back in the office.”

“It can’t wait,” I said.

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because I’m not coming back to the office. I'm getting on a plane for the States. You’ll have to take over for the project.” I was yelling into the phone at this point.

“So I’m back in charge of the project I was in charge of before you showed up?” he asked.

“Something like that,” I said.

“Fine, whatever. Email me the details. I’m too drunk and in too good of a mood to want to figure out what you’re trying to tell me. I’ll see you in the office next week.”

It wasn’t until then that I noticed he was slurring his words slightly. Five minutes after midnight on the first day of the year was probably not the best time to be making rash business decisions, but I had already purchased my plane ticket.

“No, you won’t. You’ll get an email. I will talk to you later.” I ended the call.

I had approximately four days to pack everything up and get myself to the airport. It wasn’t until that point that I realized I wasn’t even certain about whom to contact regarding the short-term lease on this apartment. I doubted that I could get out of whatever agreement I was financially committed to. I would just have to accept that as my idiot tax because mistakes I made in my relationships were now costing me money. They already cost me my personal assistant, and they most likely cost me my son and the woman I was in love with.

“Damn it.” I threw the phone. I was in love with Clarissa, and I had fucked everything up. I needed to get back to her.

I didn’t even know if there was somebody living in my place in Chicago. Alayna said she was giving everything to Jenna. I didn’t have a phone number for Jenna. I guess all of the details would have to be worked out and finalized once I got back.

29

CLARISSA

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