Page 42 of Broken Daddy

I can’t fall apart at Ironside, not in front of my employees. Closing my eyes, I realize I can’t fall apart at home, either. Can’t let Gen see me like this. Or Eva.

My fists clench as I try to breathe out some of the stress. It doesn’t work, and I fight the urge to text Chris, because there isn’t anything to say, really. It’s not likehesent Jenson here. And Chris is a grown man—I can’t tell him who he can and can’t go to dinner with.

Absently, I pick up the business card. Black with silver letting.

Jenson Sharpe. Dupont Analytics, Owner & CEO.

Against my better judgment, I type the business name into the search engine and a few articles come up, including one on his recent marriage to a woman named Mel. Looks like my little brother rose in the ranks of the data analytics industry to inherit Dupont from the founder, Roy Dupont.

I huff, a little impressed. I’m not the only business owner in the family, then.

Coming down from the high of two confrontations in one stressful day, I decide to cut out early. It’s almost four, and I just want to be home. Maybe holed up in my office or walking out my frustration around the property.

Just as I’m about to click out of the screen and shutdown my computer, the news page reloads.

And right there, front and center, is my company’s name: Ironside.

Followed by a headline declaring stock has dropped and investors are questioning where their money is going since someone got wind that my financial lead was let go under suspicious circumstances.

Just what I need.

Chapter17

Genevieve

Sienna wraps me in a hug that’s so comforting, I melt into it.

“Aww, babe, are you okay?”

I pull away, blushing at the show of affection. In the kitchen, it was important to keep professional boundaries, but hard to keep Sienna at arm’s length. Maybe one of the good things about leaving the Fig is that I can actually befriendswith her now.

“Yeah. Sorry. Just super tired.”

We walk up to the counter of our favorite diner, Handy’s. It’s got a junky, old-school look to it, everything red leather and chrome. There’s an ashtray near the register—definitely a health and safety violation—and it smells like grilled cheese and pancakes. Exactly what I need.

“Is it the new job? Stressful?”

I shrug. Sienna knows the basics of what I did, setting up this little side business as a personal chef until I can figure something else out. Which, hopefully, will be Saucer.

“Yes and no. Not the way you think it is. I mean, the food I’m making is pretty basic. It’s for a ten-year-old and she’s happy with pasta that isn’t undercooked, at this point.”

Sienna laughs. “Single dad life, huh?” I try to suppress a smile as we both peruse the menu, even though I already know what I’m ordering.

“He’s actually a really good guy. I think he’s just got a lot on his plate, and summers must be tough with kids…right?”

We both share a blank look. Sienna doesn’t have kids, either, and isn’t planning on it. At one time, I thought we were in the same boat, but now, having spent so much time with Eva, I’m not sure.

Her eyes narrow. “I didn’t think you’d have a thing for single dads. You usually go for the no-strings-attached type.”

I give her a nudge, cheeks flaming as I protest, “Sienna! It’s not like that. He’s my—” I almost choke on the word “—boss.”

What I don’t say is what I’m really thinking.I’d let him boss me around any day.

She gives me a cheeky little grin that lets me know it was truly just teasing. The waitress pops up with a cherry red lipstick smile so classic it’s like a flashback to the eighties.

I order a milkshake and a steamed burger, plus a side of onion rings. Sienna goes for the tuna melt, a milkshake, and fries. We settle in and catch up, Sienna filling me in on how it’s been going at The Black Fig since I’ve been gone.

“It’s only been a month and a half, and we’ve already had to switch vendors twice because Erik keeps insulting them. I don’t know what it is. I guess Marla got a call from the last one…”

---