Page 41 of Daddy Down Under

“Ocean? Like the body of water?” Oliver’s curiosity was palpable. “What’s he like?”

As I began to describe Ocean, a warmth spread through my chest. “He’s vibrant, full of life. Blond hair that looks like it’s been kissed by the sun, eyes as blue as the sea. He’s a surfer, actually.”

“Ooh, a beach boy,” Oliver cooed. “Sounds dreamy. How old is he?”

I swallowed hard, my voice dropping. “He’s younger. Twenty-four.”

“Twenty-four?” Oliver repeated, his tone more intrigued than judgmental.

“I know he’s too young for me.”

“Bullshit. Age is a number, and he’s far above the age of consent. What matters is how he makes you feel. So, how does he make you feel?”

I closed my eyes, picturing Ocean’s radiant smile. “Alive. He makes me feel alive.”

“Then that’s all that matters. You deserve happiness, Cash. Don’t let your fears hold you back.”

His words washed over me like a balm, easing the tension I’d been carrying. “You really think so?”

“I know so. Now, tell me more about this surfer boy of yours. I want all the juicy details.”

No way in hell was I sharing the truly juicy details or letting Oliver know about the details of the arrangement between Ocean and me, but I did tell him more about what we’d done and the things I had seen.

“He sounds wonderful, Cash,” Oliver said.

“He is. I know this is nothing more than a summer fling or whatever the Australian equivalent is, but he makes me happy, and right now, that’s enough.”

“Don’t close yourself off beforehand from what could be, okay? I’ve never heard you talk like this about anything or anyone.”

I couldn’t allow myself to think about that. That would only lead to disappointment down the road. “I gotta go. I’m at the Krause Group for the next meeting.”

“Alright. Say hi to Ocean from me…and send me some pics!”

I ended the call, letting out a deep breath. Telling Oliver about Ocean had felt good, better than I had expected. Oliver had reacted so well, even when he found out about our age gap. But as we pulled up to the curb in front of the Krause Group headquarters, I pushed all thoughts of Ocean away. I had a job to do.

The lobby was a hive of activity, men and women in crisp suits bustling about their day. I signed in at the reception desk and received my visitor pass. My shoes clicked against the polished marble floor as I made my way to the elevators. Inside, I caught my reflection in the mirrored walls. I looked…different. There was a spark in my eyes that hadn’t been there before. Was this the Ocean effect?

The elevator dinged, and I stepped out onto the executive floor, where I was immediately ushered into James’s office. James’s firm handshake and warm smile set the tone for our meeting. “Cash, good to see you again. How was your weekend?”

“Good. I explored a bit of your beautiful city and had the best time.”

He looked pleased. “So glad to hear that. Now, shall we dive in?”

I nodded, and we settled next to each other at the small conference table in his office. “I just got some new numbers in. Our Q3 earnings have exceeded projections by twelve percent…”

As James began to outline the company’s financial position, I focused on his words, making notes of some key facts.

“…which brings us to our expansion plans,” James was saying. “The board is eager to hear your thoughts on the Asian market.”

I leaned forward, all business now. “I’ve been reviewing the data, and I think there’s a real opportunity there, but we’d have to do a study into how we’d need to adapt the products for that market.”

“You mean sizes?”

“Yes, but also fabrics, patterns, and colors. Some of the current product lines may not do well because of cultural associations with some of the colors used, for example.”

“Good point.” James scribbled a quick note. “Definitely worth studying that. But all in all, you agree there’s room for expansion?”

“Absolutely. I think it’s smart that you focused on domestic growth first while building a solid reputation for quality and customer service. That will help tremendously with conquering new markets.”

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