Sharp and smart with no in between.
Jameson’s eyes hold mine across the boardroom table. “I beg to differ.”
Tristan and Elliot scoff in disgust.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” I snap. “He is not ready.”
“You mean…not ready for his overprotective father to let him live his own life and grow into his full potential?” Jameson rolls his eyes. “Give me a break.”
I sit back in my chair, annoyed. “I am not being overprotective.”
“Yes you are,” Tristan replies. “I know how you feel, but you need to let him go.”
“You do not know how I feel,” I fire back. “You have no fucking idea how I feel.”
“Yes. I do. Harrison is also training for management if you didn’t remember? He was supposed to come back to Anderson Media straight after his internship and now he won’t. Jameson has seduced him into staying.”
“Because you work between the two companies,” I snap. “You’re three days a week at Anderson Media and two days a week at Miles. He doesn’t have to choose because his father is involved in both companies.”
“That has nothing to do with it,” Jameson snaps. “Harrison and Eduardo are needed in New York. They have enough potential, intelligence and grit required for management.” He looks between Tristan and me. “You both know that. They are needed in New York. This is their company too; they need to step up and be who we need them to be.”
I exhale heavily.
“Eduardo has an inner strength that cannot be taught,” Jameson continues. “And when you took him as your son he inherited a privilege. But that privilege comes with duty. And that duty is to Miles Media. I won’t have your pansy bullshit excuses that he can’t handle it when we all fucking know he could handle more than any of us.”
I run my hands through my hair. “Hayden is going to flip, he can’t move to New York on his own, he’s still too young.”
“He’s twenty-two,” Jameson fires back, “Do you remember what we were all doing at twenty-two? And besides, he won’t be on his own, he has Harrison and Fletcher, his two best friends, both living in New York. I’m here and Tristan is here, we can keep an eye on him.”
I roll my lips. “I don’t like this,” I sigh.
“You don’t have to,” Jameson replies.
“He can live in your penthouse,” Elliot says.
“Oh and run amok with Harry and Fletch, that’s not a disaster waiting to happen at all, is it?” I sit back, annoyed. “Imagine the three of them together out on the town. He won’t leave Hayden and his brothers and sisters anyway; I know he won’t.”
“Why don’t we ask him?” Jameson pushes the buzzer, “Can you send Eduardo in, please, Sammia.”
“Yes, sir.”
A few moments later a knock sounds at the door. “Come in.”
Eddie comes into view and smiles. “Hello.”
“Take a seat.” Jameson smiles.
Eddie sits down as he looks between us and I smile as I have an out-of-body experience. I see the little boy I met in Spain and now the man sitting here in front of me.
So much has changed and yet everything is the same.
He’s wearing a tailored designer suit, the best shoes money can buy and a Rolex watch, and not because I bought it for him.
Because he bought it for him.
“Eddie, we are exceptionally proud of you,” Jameson says. “You are a shining light in Miles Media’s future.”
Emotion overwhelms me and my nostrils flare as I try to hold it together.
“You’ve been a star in our London office but the time has come.”
Eddie looks between us in confusion.
“I would like you to work out of the New York office from here on in,” Jameson says. “Tristan will be training you in acquisitions management.”
His eyes widen and then flick to me.
I twist my lips as I try to hold my tongue.
“Would you like that?” Jameson asks.
Eddie nods. “Very much, sir. Thank you for the opportunity.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“I’ll have to speak to Mom first,” Eddie replies. “I can’t agree to anything without talking to her and Dad in private first.”
Good boy.
I give him a lopsided smile.
“Okay.” Jameson nods. “I respect that, but I need an answer tomorrow.”
“Thank you so much, Jameson, this is an incredible opportunity, I’m so grateful.” He shakes Jameson’s hand; his excitement is bubbling out of him, a tangible force. He then goes around the table and shakes Tristan’s hand and Elliot’s and then pulls me into a hug. “Thanks, Dad.”
No.
I want to throw myself on the floor and tantrum. Beg him not to do this. He can’t leave us yet, it’s too soon. His siblings need him around. Hayden won’t survive without her best little friend.
We’re not ready.
He bounces out of the boardroom and Jameson smirks over at my horrified face.
“Calm down, you’ve done your job, Christopher. He’s ready for the next stage of his life, to meet his full potential. You and Hayden need to let him go. It’s time for little Eddie from Spain to become Eduardo Miles of New York.”
I think back to the first time I met Eddie and how enamored with New York he was. How excited he was just to have a cap with the lettering NY.
My heart twists.
This is his every dream come true.
And he’s worked so hard for it, first to arrive to work every day, last to leave. Learning to read and write, completing college, you name it, he’s conquered it, without a single complaint.
The bravest person I know.
I’ve never been so proud of anyone or anything in my life. Hayden and I have had the privilege of loving him and calling him our son.
But becoming Eduardo Miles of New York has always been his destiny, this is his calling.
He will be a force to be reckoned with.
How could we ever stand in the way of an opportunity like this? Through tears in my eyes, I nod as I concede defeat.
“Look after him for me,” I whisper.
Jameson shakes my hand. “I promise.”
Hayden
Ten years to the day.
The moonlight bounces off the sea, a cool breeze tickles my skin.
Midnight, the witching hour.
I stand on the edge of the beach, my eyes roaming over the sand.
Ten years ago I promised a man that I would meet him on this very beach in Barcelona at midnight.
He tried to kiss me then and I declined, then he told me he was going to steal me from my husband.
I catch sight of his silhouette down by the water’s edge and I make my way down to him.
I’m wearing the same bikini I travelled with and my white dress that he loved so much. I kept it especially for this date, to reminisce with a full visual.
Take a step back in time.
Eddie is back at our holiday house here in Spain with his four younger brothers and sisters, two boys and two girls.
I’m on the beach meeting the man of dreams.
The one that didn’t get away.
Christopher turns, and as he sees me he gives me a breathtakingly beautiful smile; his dark hair is messed up. He’s wearing a white linen shirt with the top buttons undone and boardshorts.