Page 19 of Knocked Up By the Silver Fox

While I waited for him to respond I started looking around the back seat for Beth's earring. They looked nice on her, though they also looked good falling off her when I was pounding intoher. It brought a smirk to my lips as I ran my hand across the cool leather remembering how it felt to run my fingers across her skin.

I thought maybe she was pulling back and having second thoughts, but tonight showed me maybe I was wrong about that. We'd both been busy, and she was doing what I asked her by keeping things professional at work, but maybe we were overthinking this. I could tell the board about us and allow them to create whatever clear boundaries they wanted to ensure we weren't going to harm the business or its reputation. Then we'd be free to do as we please.

But I still felt hesitant. I knew Beth was sensitive to people talking about her too. She mentioned that before we even started anything. She didn't want the others thinking she was sleeping her way to the top. I respected that.

My fingers caught on something sharp and cold as I heard my phone buzz, so I paused my search to see Allen's response.

Allen 5:16 PM:Shoot.

I used my phone's flashlight feature quickly to locate the offending sharp object and found it was Beth's earring. I smiled and slid it into my pocket with her panties, then returned to my phone to respond to Allen.

William 5:17 PM:If I were to date one of our employees, what do you think the board would say? Am I running a risk there?

Of course I was being vague, protecting Beth's identity for now. She deserved that from me even if in a few days or weeks we decided to go to the board together. I just wanted to put feelers out and gather a good assessment of what they might do. Allen was my best shot at even a speculation as to that outcome.

Allen 5:18 PM:Geez, that's tough. I think you just be honest. You're running a good company, Will. You should be free to date whomever you please, but youshould know as CEO they'll expect perfection from you. They're protecting shareholders.

Allen's response was on par with what I thought he'd say. I nodded and looked out the window for a second before sending him a thank you text and realizing maybe I didn't want to uncage that lion yet. If I was going to risk my career and company to the finicky decisions of other people who might not agree with my relationship, I wanted to make sure Beth was fully on board for this relationship, that it wasn't just a fling to her.

I got home and slipped into the penthouse. I wasn't hungry, though food was on the table. I hung my coat there and walked into the living room where Abby sat on the couch for once, watching TV instead of studying. She looked up at me with a smile when I sat down next to her and scooted closer, cuddling into my side.

"I'm glad you're home." Her arms wrapped around me and she breathed me in.

"I'm glad to be home. It was a long week, huh?" I squeezed her and kissed the top of her head. I didn't know how many more nights I'd get like this, with her wanting to snuggle up to me. She was growing up so fast and in less than twelve months she'd be off to college. It felt like she was born, I blinked, and now she was an adult, ready to leave the nest.

"OMG, Dad. Cara's mom asked if I could go shopping for the day in Chicago. They're taking their helicopter and it will be so fun. Her mom will be there the whole time too, so please, please can I go?" She looked up at me with a pleading expression.

It wasn't something I'd ever let her do under normal circumstances, but I knew things had been tense between us. I knew the Glostners and I knew they were really good people. It did make me nervous to let Abby just fly off somewhere for a day or a weekend, but I knew I had come down on her hard about the formal and not going with that Sullivan boy.

"Her mom is shopping with you?" I asked, feeling very leery.

"Yes, the whole day. Please say yes. I've never ridden in a helicopter before." She looked so eager and excited, how could I say no?

I sighed and nodded. "Sure, but you have to take your phone, and you'll need to call me and let me know how things are going. Do they have security and?—"

"Dad, oh my God." She rolled her eyes but she smiled as she planted a long kiss on my cheek. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the best!"

"I am a pretty good dad, aren't I?" I offered a smug expression and she swatted my chest playfully. It felt good to be on speaking terms with her again. After telling her the formal was off limits, she didn't speak to me for days. And since we were on the right path, I decided to bring up something else I was hoping would help her hate me a little less. "And over Christmas break, I think we can go up to Boston to do some father-daughter stuff. Maybe we can stop by that little pastry shop you love there and see if they still have that family portrait of us hanging on the wall."

I smiled at the fond memory of Abby, Kate, and I posing for that photo the day they had their grand opening. Abby's face lit up at the suggestion and she hugged me again.

"Yes, that sounds so fun. I can't wait." She was beaming and I felt like I could finally relax. We'd been on shaky ground lately, but things were falling into place again. And after that encounter with Beth, I was on cloud nine anyway.

My phone started to ring, and I heard it distantly. I had to have left it in my coat pocket, and Abby jumped up instantly.

"I'll get it," she blurted out, and she dashed toward the dining table and my coat. I watched her reach into my pocket, but when her eyes narrowed and her hands came up, I saw Beth's panties in her grasp. "Dad, ew! Gross!" She scowled and looked up atme as she dropped the panties and my phone on the table by my uneaten plate of food. "What's going on?"

Abby looked hurt and angry, and I stood up and walked over toward her as quickly as I could, but she was so upset.

"How could you! You didn't…Oh my God," she gasped, and she shook her head and backed away when I tried to reach for her.

"Abby, please. Let me explain…" My chest felt like a nuclear bomb went off. I reached for her again and she swatted at me, this time not so playfully.

"My God, how could you? Stay away from me." She ran into her room and slammed the door, and I stood there pressing my palm to my forehead staring at Beth's panties on my table. Things just went from bad to better to the worst they'd been in months, and all because I forgot I stashed those panties in my pocket.

I sank onto a chair and rubbed my face, wondering how I'd get out of this one. It wasn't like I intended to stay single forever, I just hoped Abby would have responded better. Though, I probably should have been honest with her from the beginning. I would forever be digging myself out of holes if I didn't get a grip on what was going on. I just ruined things with my daughter again, and Allen's name flashed one last time on my phone before the screen went black.

Which problem to fix first?

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