22. Jack

CHAPTER 22

JACK

O wen whistles between his teeth as we take in GourmetGlobal's monthly sales. They're good. Really good.

"Should we pop some champagne?" Owen asks.

I consider it, then nod. What the hell? It's four thirty anyway. The day will be over in a few hours.

I go to the cooler in the corner of my office and pull out a bottle that's been waiting for a special occasion, then select two flutes from the cabinet.

The moment feels incomplete, though. Something is missing.

Someone is missing.

"This is all thanks to Leah. She's taken the app to new heights since I gave her back control." I put the flutes on my desk. "She should be here."

"Call her down." Owen inspects the bottle's label. "Do you have any sparkling apple juice?"

"Why would I have that in my office?" I frown, but he only chuckles.

"You'll be a dad soon. Why would you not have apple juice in your office?"

That prompts another glare from me. Despite my obvious feelings on the subject, Owen still has no problem discussing my situation with Leah like it's the daily news.

"Have you spoken to her about the babies?" His expression turns serious, and I know what this is about. He still thinks that Leah, me, and the triplets are gonna ride off happily into the sunset together in a carriage pulled by unicorns — or whatever the twisted version in his head includes.

"We've only spoken about GourmetGlobal. And she's doing a great job leading it, which is why she's here."

He acts like he doesn't even hear the change of subject. "If you want to see the babies, you should just tell her."

"I never said I wanted that." I can feel myself bristle as I turn away from him and busy myself with removing the bottle's label.

"But I'm right, aren't I? You do want it."

I don't know what to say. Do I want it?

Sometimes.

Maybe.

And sometimes, yes.

But other times, no.

I like my life. Three kids would turn it completely upside down.

"Or is it Leah that you're really into?" Owen pushes.

Okay. Now he's just teasing. Which isn't cute.

When I whirl around, though, his face is completely serious.

"Or is it all four of them?" He cocks an eyebrow.

I exhale hot air. "Why are you trying to get me and Leah together? You've turned into a complete fanboy."

He laughs, completely unperturbed by my insult. "If you want Leah here, then let's bring her here." He goes to pick up my desk phone, but I'm already headed for the door.

"I'll find her. I need some sparkling apple juice anyway."

"Yeah, you do," he laughs.

As I head down the hallway, my mind spins with everything that's been happening lately. I expected GourmetGlobal to see an increase in revenue after Leah took over, but I didn't expect it to be this big.

The last month has been mind-blowing. So much that a simple toast isn't enough for my best employee. She deserves more.

But what?

I have to be careful when it comes to her. I can't let our relationship cross the line from professional to personal. So far, no one at Leadsom seems to suspect that I fathered the babies, and I'd like to keep it that way.

Whatever I do for her, it will have to be special. Just like her.

She's been putting in overtime lately, and since she's due to take an early maternity leave, I don't have much time left. Once she's out of the office, I won't see her for months.

And then she'll come back. A mother to three infants.

It's hard to wrap my head around it.

As I'm walking past the break room, I hear a familiar voice.

"…it's just too much," Leah says, her voice strained.

I freeze in the hallway.

Someone sighs. "I know, but I can help with some things." That's Taylor — which makes sense. The two of them seem to be glued at the hip.

"I don't know if you can," Leah goes on. "It's all paperwork and doctor appointments and work here, and…"

"Okay, okay. One thing at a time. What's at the top of your priority list?"

There's a quiet moment, and I glance around, making sure no one is watching me eavesdrop. What I'm doing isn't okay, but it's like I wouldn't be able to walk away if I tried.

"I need to find a new apartment," Leah says. "I haven't had any time to go and look at them, and I can't really tell how good they are from the pictures online."

There's the ding of the microwave, and one of them opens its door. So Leah needs a new apartment.

Of course she does. I've never been to her place, but I can only imagine it's not large enough for four people.

Well, hell. I can take care of that for her. My realtor, whom I've worked with for years, is one of the best in the city. He never lets me down.

I'm sure that he can find Leah the perfect place in no time at all.

And it can be my gift to her as a thank-you for bringing so many sales to Leadsom.

Happy with my decision, I stride into the break room. At the sight of me, the women freeze.

I'm about to ask them why they look like two deer in headlights when I realize exactly why. I've never been in the staff break room before. I'm the one who's out of their natural habitat.

"Good afternoon." I nod at them both.

"Good afternoon." Taylor sips her tea.

Meanwhile, Leah avoids my gaze and pokes at some sort of microwave meal.

"Leah." I clear my throat. "I wanted to thank you for the uptick in sales since you took over creative control."

She looks nothing less than shocked. "Oh. Uh, you're welcome."

She already knew about the increased numbers. It's my compliment that she has a problem with.

Or it's me.

My throat feels tight, and my skin heats up. She doesn't owe me anything other than a job well done, so why does it feel like I'm being snubbed by her?

Because I snubbed her, and now she's returning the favor. That's why.

It doesn't matter that I went to that ultrasound with her. It doesn't matter that I'm paying all this child support.

Leah will never like me because I can't be the man that she wants. The man who is a father to her children.

But that's fine. I don't need her to like me. People's personal satisfaction with me has never been of importance, and that won't change anytime soon.

I'm here to congratulate her on a job well done, and that's all.

"Would you like to join Owen and me in the office to celebrate?" I ask. "The both of you?"

Leah takes another bite of her food and then looks at the door. "That sounds nice, thank you, but I need to get back to work. I'm happy about the sales, though."

She slinks around me, and when our arms brush, electricity shoots through me.

Still.

Even after all that's happened between us.

Maybe Owen is right, and I do have my panties in a bunch because I want to be with Leah.

Except it's not like he thinks it is. I'm not looking to be a family man. I want the fun, confident woman I spent that first night with. Unfortunately, she's gone. She's about to become a mother and take on a whole new life.

And here I am, being a little pussy about it.

"She's happy about it."

"Huh?" I blink at Taylor, having completely forgotten that she's here.

"She's happy about it." She stirs honey into her tea. "Even if she doesn't say it. GourmetGlobal is her everything." She smiles slightly. "Well… used to be her everything. It's more like number two now."

The babies. Exactly.

I was right. She's a different person than the one I met. That's why I'm having such a tough time. It's hard to let go of the person I briefly knew her as.

I nod. "Everyone on the team should be proud, yourself included."

She shrugs like it's no big deal, and then we're just left standing there. Awkwardly.

I clear my throat. "Have a good night."

"You, too."

I'm out of the break room and heading back to my office in the blink of an eye. God, that was fucking uncomfortable. I felt like a teenage boy standing in the cafeteria in front of his crush and her friends.

And I didn't like it.

Damn Leah. No matter how confident I am, she still has this way of making me come undone.

Well, I tried. It seems we're just not meant to be around each other. I'll still find her the new home, of course. I'll pay for it too, as a thank-you for all her work.

And then I'll finally wash my hands of her. We'll be nothing more than boss and employee.

Nothing more. Nothing less.