Page 4 of Baby for My Enemy Billionaire

“Katie…”

Katie shrugs.

“I’m not wrong, am I? You promised not to do any work while we’re there, right?”

I had promised that, and I hope that I can keep it. I know my daughter wants me to spend more time with her, and I try my hardest. It’s just a pain when so much work needs my attention. Even my mother says I am the CEO, so I can delegate the job when I want time off.

I should be doing that, yet it’s hard to shake old habits. Katie’s mother would tease me about being a workaholic. She wasn’t far off.

Ten years. It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since Marsha died. The pain isn’t as raw as it used to be, but it’s still there. I would give anything to have her back and for Katie to have her mother. She had been only three years old when Marsha died, and she barely had any memories of her that were hers alone.

But looking at my daughter, it’s almost like Marsha is back. She’s the spitting image of her image, which makes me smile and feel sad simultaneously. She would be proud of Katie.

“Dad? Hello?” Katie waves her hands around. “You’re staring through me again.”

“What? Oh.” I say and shake my head. “Sorry. Been a long day. Just give me a few minutes, okay?”

“And no cell phone? You’re telling me not to have a cell phone.”

“No cell phone,” I promise.

Mainly because there isn’t any cell phone service up in the mountains. Everything has to be done by the landline, which is probably my only saving grace. I need to be sure everything’s set beforehand.

The sound of the doorbell gets our attention.

“I’ll get it!” Katie hurries away. “It’s probably Grandma.”

“What? Oh.”

I had forgotten that I had asked Mom to look after the house for me. We will need someone to keep an eye on our dog and two cats, and Mom is more than happy to take the dog for a walk. Although I’m sure Daffy won’t be too happy, Mom is fitter than my spritely spaniel.

As I hear voices floating up the stairs, I go through the last of my emails and log out. My CFO and vice president will be in charge for the weekend. Things still happen even though we shouldn’t need to work at the weekend. Our clients always think we work around the clock.

They wouldn’t be far off with me, though, much as I don’t want to admit it.

Shutting down my laptop, I leave my study and make my way through the house. Daffy yaps and jumps in front of me before stepping beside me. I ruffle the fur on his head and keep going. Mom and Katie are in the hall, suitcases around my daughter as she cuddles her cat, Bella. Mom sees me first.

“Finn, I see you do not need to be surgically removed from your computer, then.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Mom.” I give her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m not that obsessed with screens.”

“Are you sure about that?” Mom gives me a skeptical look. “Well, you’d better get going. The roads are busy, and the temperature has dropped. It’s probably good weather for the ski slopes but not so great in the city.”

“Then we’ll head off.” I take Bella from Katie’s arms and put the cat on the floor. “Let’s get your things into the car, Katie.”

“I want to say goodbye to Gigi first, Dad.”

Before I can respond, Katie runs away. Mom smiles.

“She does love those cats, doesn’t she?”

“I’m beginning to regret getting so many pets.”

“It could be worse.”

“How?” I look towards the living room window. It’s already starting to get dark. “Thanks again for doing this, Mom. I’ll repay you somehow once we get back.”

“I know how you can repay me, but I don’t think you’d be able to manage that for me.”

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