Page 20 of If You Give a CEO a Chance

No.

But I’d rather not argue with my mom about it. Fallon is an adult. She can handle getting situated without me coddling her. Hell, she’s certainly had no problem taking over my apartment without consulting me or vocalizing her grievances. Much to my dismay, it’s safe to say she’s acclimating just fine.

Dylan: I still can’t believe you let her move in.

Presley: Right? He’s always been protective about his personal space.

Harrison: Mom didn’t exactly give me a choice.

Cash: Oh, please. You’ve never had trouble saying no in the past.

Presley: Like when you refused to participate in the first group chat. You had no problem telling us you weren’t interested.

She started a group chat for the whole family, but my dad didn’t join because he never checks his phone. I left after one too many interruptions during my meetings, and Dylan followed shortly after he was teased about his nonexistent dating life before he and Marlow got together.

However, my reprieve was short-lived. Last month, Mom started this group chat that includes me and my siblings. She didn’t give me a choice about joining this one, but thankfully, most of their energy goes into texting the main group with Everly, Marlow, and Jack, unless they’re feeling particularly nosy about my life choices.

Harrison: I’m in this chat, aren’t I?

Presley: Only because Mom said you and Dylan would break her heart if you didn’t join.

Dylan: We’re happy to be here, Mom.

Harrison: Suck-up.

Dylan: Says the guy who let a woman he doesn’t like move in with him because Mom said so.

Harrison: Says the guy who fell for his kid’s nanny.

Harrison: Remind me, Dylan. How’s the dog training going?

Dylan: Training is going well.

Harrison: Is Waffles still playing dead when you ask him to shake?

Mom: Harrison, be nice to your brother.

Cash: Yeah, Harrison, be nice.

Harrison: At least now we know why Cash is one of mom’s favorites.

Mom: I don’t have favorites.

Presley: Of course you do.

Dylan: You had a group chat that was literally called Mom’s Favorites that only included Cash & Presley.

Mom: Presley wouldn’t change the name.

Presley: I make no apologies. That’s what Harrison and Dylan get for leaving the chat.

Mom: We’re moving on to a new topic.

Mom: You’re all coming to visit for the holidays, right?

Dylan is the only one who lives in Aspen Grove, preferring to give his daughter, Lola, a sense of normalcy. Cash and Everly live in London, and my sister, Presley, and her boyfriend, Jack, live in New York City.

While my primary residence is also in New York City, I also have an apartment in Maine, where the old Stafford Holdings headquarters used to be. I usually take a private helicopter when I travel there, although I mainly work out of the New York office, which we officially made headquarters earlier this year. I also own two hundred acres outside of Aspen Grove, where I’ve had a cabin built. It doesn’t get much use since my parents always want me to stay with them when I visit. Still, it’s a solid investment and a retreat in our hometown that I can call my own.

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