Page 26 of Not the Billionaire

“Where’s Gus?” he asked.

“He had other plans.” Skylar looked disappointed.

Dad walked in then and laid a tray on the counter, and Skylar placed the ganache in a pastry bag and began squeezing quarter sized rounds of chocolate onto the tray.

Sebastian watched them, standing side by side. Skylar most resembled Dad with her deep brown eyes and tall, strong nose. There was no mistaking that she was Ephraim Schultz’s daughter. Sebastian’s dark brown hair came from their father, but he looked most like their mother’s side of the family, while Augustus was a little of both—Mom’s eye and hair color, but Dad’s defining facial features. He hadn’t thought about it when he’d started this ridiculous farce with Genevieve, but now he hoped the fact that he looked the least like a Schultz would work to his advantage.

Mom put a pot of water on the stove to prepare for the next step. Coming together like this to make truffles on Granny Schultz’s birthday had become a tradition over the years. Sebastian’s heart ached because she was no longer around to be a part of it, but he knew she was still with them in spirit.

As they focused on their tasks, Sebastian couldn’t help but want to share all of this with someone someday. He thought about how much Genevieve had liked Great Granny’s truffles and wondered if one day he’d get to stand in this kitchen and make them together, or better yet, in their own kitchen, teaching their kids how to make them.

He shook his head. Okay, he was really losing it. He’d just met this girl, and he was getting way too far ahead of himself. They hadn’t even gone on a date yet, and he knew very little about her.

Before he’d given up on dating, he’d been the romantic of the family. That part of him had lay dormant for a long time, but he could feel it starting to come alive again. With Genevieve, he felt hopeful that tomorrow might be the start of something special.

When the water in the pan began to boil, Sebastian pushed the chocolate shavings from the cutting board into a large metal bowl and handed it to Mom, who set it over the pan of hot water to melt the chocolate. They could probably make this recipe in their sleep, they all knew it so well.

He leaned back against the counter and watched as Mom stirred the melting chocolate for coating and Skylar put the pan of chocolate into the fridge to cool.

“I didn’t know if you’d make it tonight or not, Bash,” Skylar said as she cleaned up the counter. She leaned closer and whispered, “Or is it Kurtis?”

“You’re funny,” he replied, but gave her a pleading look.

Dad laid a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder, and he startled. “I’d like to talk to you about something if you have a moment or two.”

“Sure, Dad.” He followed along from the kitchen and down the hallway to his father’s study.

Dad sank into the comfy leather chair by the window and pulled out his pipe.

Sebastian loved the smell of Dad’s pipe tobacco with its subtle cherry aroma. He didn’t care for it himself, but the scent felt like home.

“Am I working you too hard, son?” Dad asked.

“What? I love our company and my job. Why do you ask?” Sebastian took a seat in the leather wingback, separated from Dad’s chair by a small oval table that held a lamp.

“Your mother and sister seem to think—and I tend to agree—that you spend far too much time working and not enough time living life.”

He had no response, because it was true. He’d been more and more consumed with work as each year passed and had grown indifferent in the social areas of his life. Mostly due to fake friends and duplicitous women. He’d retreated into the comfort of work and family and trusted only old friends who had known him since childhood.

“I built this company to provide for my family. It has grown to something I couldn’t have ever dreamed it would, and while I worked hard to get us here, I never let it take away from the time I spent with your mother or you kids. I loved my work, but I cherished the important things in life. And I made time for them. For family, for attending and serving at church, for giving back to our community. That’s why the Schultz Foundation means so much to me. I always wanted to be able to use the money I made to give back.”

Sebastian nodded. He knew all of this about his father, but he wasn’t sure where Dad was going with it.

“Your sister tells me this year’s charity event is going to be something special. I’d like you to be a part of it.”

“I always have a part in the event, Dad.”

“I’d like you to be even more involved this year.”

Sebastian crooked his head. “Did Sky put you up to this?” He wondered if she was messing with him over the whole Kurtis thing.

Dad looked completely serious. “Nobody put me up to this. I think stepping away from some of your regular duties and helping the new coordinator will get you focused on something good and meaningful. I don’t want you to end up married to your job, Sebastian.”

This wasn’t at all what he was expecting when he’d sat down with his father, and it gave him a feeling of panic. He’d known he would be taking on extra work by helping Genevieve, but the thought of getting behind in his regular work made him uneasy. “Who’s going to keep up with everything if I’m not there?”

“Augustus and Skylar can pick up the slack.”

Sebastian snorted. “Skylar, yes. But Gus? He’s in the office maybe once a week at best.”

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