Page 70 of My Bestie's Billionaire Dad

"Yes... Maya stopped in. She told me. And she asked if I had any job openings for her... I offered her a paid position here to help her out if she needed it."

A myriad of emotions flood me. Relief that she's found a place where she'll be taken care of, sadness that she's chosen to ignore me, and a bit of jealousy that Steve knows more about Maya’s plans than I do.

"I'm glad she's got a backup plan," I force a smile, "Steve, I care about her and I want her to be taken care of. It's good to know she's got options. But…" I trail off, my gaze wandering out to where the kids are merrily playing. The sadness I've been holding back starts to creep up on me. The reality of the situation sinking in. "But it's not easy, you know? The silence, the distance... I don't.. I don't know what the fuck to do."

"Well, that's... quite the situation you've got yourself into, Hunter."

"You're telling me." I grimace. "I told Kaitlyn. She won't talk to me... And my ex-wife, she's another story."

"Hunter, life has a funny way of knocking us off the course we set for ourselves. But it's how you respond to those unexpected turns that defines you as a man. You've gotten yourself into quite the situation, but it's not the end of the world, you know."

I run a hand over my face as I consider his words. He's right. But it's hard to admit it right now. My ego is hurting.

"Maya is carrying your child, Hunter." He continues. "And whether or not you're ready for that, it's happening. You have a responsibility to her and to that child. But more than that, you owe it to yourself to step up and face all."

"And Kaitlyn?" I ask, my voice above a whisper. "How do I fix things with her?"

Steve shakes his head, a rueful smile on his face. "That, my friend, is a different kind of challenge altogether. But she's your daughter, Hunter, and she'll come around. But you've got to make the effort right now, and you've got to be sincere about it."

"God, this is a mess."

Steve hits me on the shoulder. "And only you can clean it up."

We get up from our chairs and walk around the youth club. The sound of the kids laughing feels like a weird contrast to the heavy conversation we're having.

My thoughts float back to the text I got from Maya yesterday. "She texted me back, finally," I confess, "but now, I don't even know what to do next."

"Well, Hunter, in my experience, text messages can only do so much. You're dealing with real-life issues here, not small talk. You need to see her. In person."

"I've been trying. She's been ignoring me."

"Do you blame her?"

"No," I admit. "I get it, but what do I even say to her?" I go off on a sarcastic tangent.

“‘Hey there, I just thought you should know that I'm not just your boss, I'm also doubling up as a midlife crisis poster child who happens to have impregnated you. No biggie, right?’ And then I could follow it up with an 'Oh, and did I mention that I'm old enough to be your father?'”

I finish with a self-deprecating chuckle, acknowledging the absurdity of the situation.

"That's the thing, Hunter. You can't script life. You need to listen to her, understand her fears and concerns, and reassure her that you're in this together. It's not just about you or her anymore. There's a child involved."

I shake my head, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "I just... I need to make this right. For Maya, for the baby... and for Kaitlyn."

Steve claps me on the back, a proud smile on his face. "You'll figure it out."

"Steve..." I change the topic of conversation. "Tell me about that new project you're working on. The one for the inner-city kids?"

Steve's face lights up. That's the thing about him, he's passionate about the work he does. That's half of the reason I donate so much to his club.

"Well, it's an initiative we're starting to provide educational resources and opportunities for kids who need the help. We want to help expose them to different career opportunities, workshops, and mentoring programs. We're building a network of volunteers who can help with academia, but we also want to give them life skills. Things like conflict resolution, financial planning — stuff they don’t teach you in school."

I nod, impressed. "Sounds like a great program, Steve."

I take out my wallet and start writing the check. I double the amount I usually donate and hand it to him.

"Take this and do great things, buddy," I tell him.

He smiles wide and his soft eyes squint together. "You know I will, Hunter. You always come through for us."

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