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“It wasn’t so bad,” Emmanuel soothed. “Let’s head home.”
When they pulled up to their house, Emmanuel removed his bags from the back seat before opening Ivy’s door.
“Welcome home, Manny.”
“Where are you off to?” Emmanuel tightened his hold around Ivy’s waist and nuzzled her neck. He was certain she could feel his morning hardness pressed against her backside.
She wiggled against him. Then she stopped sighing and informed him. “The washroom so I can get my day started.”
“But you said all of your meetings are scheduled for this afternoon.”
“I did, but I have to go prepare for those meetings. Don’t you have a company to run?” Ivy swatted his arm. Her voice was full of laughter.
“I do, but I have my morning free. It would be nice for us to go to brunch.” He was in no rush to get out of bed. It had been two hectic weeks since he moved back home. Between work, his children, and putting the puzzle of the past together, he had been going non-stop. Emmanuel hoped they could have the morning to themselves.
“Really? Your plan was for us to leave this bed? I very much doubted it.”
“Well… eventually,” he admitted. “Fine, go conquer the medical world.” Emmanuel kissed her neck, then squeezed her right breast before letting her go. “I’m going to crash for a while longer. Christ, I think my age is finally catching up to me. Working out with a twenty-one-year-old who is in his top physical shape might just kill me.”
“Hey, Dad want to work out with me?”Oliver had called and asked over a week ago.
Emmanuel immediately jumped at the chance. Although he had been gracious with his forgiveness, his son was still beating himself up for doubting the man he looked up to most in the world. They spent time together, re-establishing their bond. Now he could attest to his son’s fanatical commitment to his training. Oliver went just as hard off-season. Both his sons did. Benjamin had joined them on a few occasions. Their weight and core regiment were insane. He was going to have to decline the next workout session.
Emmanuel fell back to sleep, only waking up to say his goodbyes to his wife. When he’d gotten enough rest. He placed a three-way call to Darsh and Frank.
“Hey guys, are you both free to get together and go over the latest findings?”
“Darsh, you know what that means, don’t you?” Frank asked.
“He wants to go over the findings,” Darsh responded.
“Ivy dumped him for the morning and now he wants to spend time with us.”
Instead of allowing Frank’s back and forth, Emmanuel put an end to it with his offering. “Lunch will be ordered. I’ll see you in my home office in an hour.”
“I want sushi. That platter better be big enough,” Frank answered.
While Emmanuel waited for the men to arrive, he focused on business. Being a CEO was demanding. He was committed to his job and moving the company forward. The role wasn’t his first choice for his life. Hell, business wouldn’t have been the direction he took. He couldn’t help but think what his life would have looked like if he had been raised by his biological parents. Maybe he would have been able to live his dream and see how far football would have taken him.
The NFL had come calling, but he had promised his dad he wouldn’t accept it. So, he didn’t. Emmanuel was sure he could have had a great career. Then, when he retired, he would have become a coach.
“I knocked, but you seemed like you were miles away,” Frank announced as he entered the office. He dropped into a chair in front of the desk.
“Sorry, I have a lot on my mind.”
“Yes, plotting revenge is very consuming?—”
“Frank,” Emmanuel warned. If he allowed it, Frank would go off on inner peace rants.
Frank lifted his hands in surrender. “That wasn’t an attempt to talk you out of anything. It was simply an observation. I know you are keeping me busier than a motherfucker. The acquisitions are complete. You now own the banks that hold the loan for Leonardo’s business, personal loans, and properties. Also, the properties that house his condos in Vancouver and Italy.”
“Good. How are we coming along in obtaining shares of his company?”
“Five percent away from having controlling shares.”
“If it is a matter of funds, just up the offer.”
“I had already offered the last board member seven times the market share.”
