Page 69 of Matthias's Protective Embrace
“I can assure you this process was completely fair. In fact, the initial review of numbers and scores was blinded. No one even knew who they were looking at. We kept your father out of deliberations until the final decision when we needed his official vote. That’s only for the purpose of the rules of order; it wasn’t close. Everyone wanted you.”
“Thank you, but I still have to turn down the position.” I take a deep breath. It’s no surprise that they’re angry, especially after all the work involved in the process. If they think they’re mad now, they’ll be livid with my next statement. “And I’ll be submitting my letter of resignation next week.”
“What kind of fucking stunt is this?” Cedric yells.
My mother moves a little bit closer to us, clearly ready to jump into the conversation.
“Cedric, I think this is a family discussion. I’ll call you later tonight.” That’s it. When my father speaks, people listen. Even Cedric. He clearly has more to say but thinks better of it, choosing instead to let my mom get his coat and see him out of the house.
“Matthias,” my father says once my mom returns. “What’s going on? I thought you wanted the promotion?” There’s no anger in his voice, only confusion.
“I think—no, I know that working at your firm has been my dream since forever. And realizing that dream made me happy. But over the last few months, I’ve started thinking that maybe some other things could also make me happy.”
“Frank?”
“Yeah, Frank makes me happy. He’s never had it easy, having to constantly re-figure things out. It’s incredible. And I want to spend more time with him, but also be a bit more like him. Willing to re-think what my dreams can look like.” My focus over the last few years was beneficial for me, but it meant I never considered any other options. Now that I have, it’s opened up a world of opportunity. One I plan to take advantage of. Especially if that means having more time to spend with my boy. No more late nights in the office or weekends spent working. Some things are more important. Too bad it took me so long to realize it.
“And that means leaving finance?” my mother asks softly.
“No, not completely. I’ve been exploring my options. There’s a local place that’s been interested in stealing me away for years. I talked to them, and they’d hire me in at a senior associate level but also with some management responsibilities, as well. It’s a chance to do things a little differently but also to be at a place where I’m not the owner’s son.” They also boast about a better work-life balance. Of course, it comes with a lower salary, but not by that much. I’ve invested my own money wisely over the years, so it’s not like I’m hurting.
“You know I’ve never?—”
“Given me special treatment? Yeah, I know.” I snort. “If anything, I think you’re harder on me than you are on anyone else.” I hold up a hand as he starts to argue. “That’s not a bad thing. You pushing me is what’s made me so goodat my job. What’s given me a lot of options. I want to spend more time at home.” I leave off Frank’s name, but I know they’re both thinking it. “This gives me that ability.” I stop, breathing heavily after vomiting my emotions all over them.
“Matthias, we only want you to be happy. Does this change make you happy?”
“Yes.” I don’t need to think about my mom’s question. I’ve thought about it for weeks—months even—and I know it’s the right choice for me. Scary, but right.
“Then we’re thrilled for you,” my father says. “But very disappointed for the company. It’ll be tough there without you. Partly because you’re the best at what you do, but also because I’ll miss working with you every day.”
“I’ll miss you, too.”
“Well, you can both prove it by being around the house more often.” My mom pulls me into a tight hug. “We love you.”
“I love you both.”
“Now, how about some champagne to celebrate?”
“Oh, Frank’s going to come over soon. I should get home to him.” I need to tell him the news and hope he’ll be as happy as my parents.
“Call him and have him come here instead.” That logic is hard to argue with. I haven’t exactly told him about my plans yet. I meant to do that alone rather than in front of my parents.
“Great, I’m sure he’ll love that.” At least I hope he will. Springing a family get-together on him could honestly go in either direction.
“I’ll go get a couple of bottles out and figure out some snacks.” My mom: the eternal entertainer. I think either way—taking the job or resigning—would have ended up this way tonight. “Can Frank have chipsand dip?”
“As long as they don’t have meat or dairy. Leave the bags out so he can check.” I love that my mom thought about that without any prompting. We probably have fancier things in the freezer, but most of those won’t work for Frank. It wasn’t even a thought for her to consider serving something he couldn’t have.
I pull out my phone and text Frank, asking him to come here after class instead of heading to my house. He’s still in class, but I get a thumbs-up back from him.
FRANK
I pull up to Matthias’s parents’ house with a nervous flutter in my chest. I didn’t expect to be coming here tonight. I’m dressed for class in a pair of joggers and a stained pullover. It’s the opposite of fancy. Certainly, sitting through a class on nineteenth-century American literature doesn’t require much more. I think Mark Twain would appreciate my relaxed state while discussingA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.
After a long day of work, sometimes I don’t have the energy to pull on a pair of jeans. Is it disrespectful? Honestly, I doubt the professors know what we’re wearing. They have better things to worry about, like whether the projector in the room is going to work this week. At least I’m reading the actual book and not an online summary. A continuation of being a different version of myself.
But if I’m going to learn a lesson, this is it. Leave the house thinking I’m going to class and straight back to Matthias’s, end up socializing in a mansion.
