Page 121 of Mr. Almost

I don’t think I have ever been as happy as I am right now. Even as a child, I don’t think I ever knew true happiness. Not the way I feel when I see the smile on my daughter’s face. Looking at the picture of the three of us on my desk, I can’t help but feel like my heart is full.

I used to be a workaholic. I would spend all the time I could at the office. I’ve rarely been here past four most days now. I spend all my spare time with Olivia and Arianna. I feel bad though. Eli hastaken up a lot of slack with The Williamson Group. Max has taken over everything at the hotel that I was supposed to do.

Honestly, I only show up here and answer some emails or take some calls. I have been in another world the past few months. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, though.

A knock on my office door has me pulling my eyes from the framed photo I recently put on the corner of my desk. After Halloween, I printed the family photo of the three of us and framed it. I swear I spend more time looking at it than I do actually working nowadays.

“Hey. Come in,” I tell Max as he stands at the open door.

He closes the door behind him before taking the seat on the other side of the desk.

“We need to talk.”

“What’s up?”

He cringes. “I’m going to just jump right into it. We need to talk about the future. What are your plans?”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Well, normally, you would have already been on to the next location at this point. Eli has been attending meetings around the country for you. I know there are some overseas that will be coming up. Have you thought about what you are going to do? While I love having you around, you can’t stay here forever when you have a job to do.”

My heart stops. I knew this day would come. I would need to make a decision about my future with my company. It’s not fair for everyone if I keep ditching meetings and such for my family. Still, I can’t imagine leaving them.

“Grandfather had the headquarters here when he ran things. I think I’m going to move them back here. Buy out a building and move everyone who wants to come. Anyone who wants to stay where they are will either receive a severance package or be offered another job if possible,” I admit.

It had been on my mind, but that’s the first time I spokeit out loud. I stare at Max, waiting for his response. I won’t lie, I’m worried he will think I am encroaching on his territory.

After several moments, he smiles. “Good. I was hoping you would say that. I think you’re making the right choice. Olivia and Arianna need you here with them. You don’t want to make them move. Not with Olivia doing so great with her position here.”

“You don’t feel like I’m encroaching?”

He shakes his head. “Actually, I had an idea I wanted to run by you.”

“Shoot.”

“The chief of operations position has been open for a while. I was hoping maybe you’d let me take it on. I can take a lot of your out-of-state and out-of-country meetings. Iris would come with me as my executive assistant. That way you wouldn’t have to miss as much with Liv and Ari.”

My brother is a fucking saint. I offered him that position a year ago, but he didn’t want it then. Said I could handle it without him. Now that he sees my priorities are elsewhere, he is stepping up.

“You want to give up the hotel? Father left it for you.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not giving it up. I’m taking a step away. You will be here to put out any fires. Besides, the hotel mostly runs itself now that we’ve gotten it turned back around. Especially now with all the new people. It’s going to be a transition, though, so I thought maybe we should give it some time and slowly give Olivia more responsibility. Eventually, I want her to run it.”

I raise my eyebrows. “You’re giving my girlfriend your hotel?”

He shrugs. “It’s the family hotel. She’s family.”

“She will hate being handed anything,” I muse as I lean back in my chair.

Max smirks. “I know, which is why I said we slowly give her the responsibilities until she is handling everything anyway.”

“Smart. I agree, but only on two conditions.”

“What?”

“You come back and visit often. Ari needs her uncle Max in her life.”

“Obviously. I’ll be here as much as I can.”

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