Chapter 8
1352 Words
[Ethan]
The boardroom hummed with anticipation, the air thick with the scent of expensive cologne and even more expensive ambition. I stood at the head of the gleaming mahogany table, my eyes sweeping over the faces of the potential investors gathered before me. They were sharks, every last one of them, and under normal circumstances, I'd be reveling in the challenge of reeling them in.
But today, my mind was elsewhere.
"Gentlemen," I began, my voice carrying the confident authority that had become my trademark. "Thank you for joining us today. I'm sure you're all eager to hear about the exciting opportunities Blackwood Hotels has to offer."
As I launched into my well-rehearsed pitch, a part of my brain couldn't help but wander. What was Oliver doing right now? Was he in school, making friends, learning new things? Did he have my love for numbers, or Ava's artistic flair?
Ava. The thought of her sent a jolt through my system, equal parts anger and longing. The memory of her at the gala, stunning in that emerald dress that brought out the green of her eyes, was seared into my brain. Even after all these years, she still had the power to take my breath away.
"Mr. Blackwood?" A voice cut through my reverie. "You were saying about the projected returns?"
I blinked, forcing myself back to the present. "Of course. As you can see from the charts, our expansion into the Asian market is expected to yield a 15% increase in revenue within the first year alone."
As I continued with the presentation, I couldn't shake the feeling of being off-kilter. Here I was, doing what I did best – commanding a room, closing deals, building my empire – and yet it all felt somehow... hollow.
For the first time in my life, there was something more important than the next big acquisition or the bottom line. There was Oliver. My son. The living, breathing proof of the love Ava and I had once shared.
"Ethan?" Zara's voice, low and concerned, pulled me from my thoughts. "Do you want me to take over the Q&A?"
I glanced at her, seeing the worry in her eyes. She knew me too well, could probably sense that my head wasn't fully in the game. But I'd be damned if I let these vultures see any weakness.
"I've got this," I murmured, before turning back to the room with a practiced smile. "Now, I'm sure you all have questions. Who'd like to start?"
For the next hour, I fielded inquiries about profit margins, expansion strategies, and market projections. On the surface, I was every inch the cold, calculating businessman they expected. But inside, my mind kept drifting to tomorrow's brunch.
What would it be like, sitting across from Ava and Oliver, playing at being a normal family? Would Oliver warm up to me, or would he regard me with the suspicion of a stranger? And Ava... could we find a way to move past the hurt and anger, to co-parent without tearing each other apart?
"Mr. Blackwood," one of the investors, a silver-haired man with shrewd eyes, leaned forward. "Your plans are certainly ambitious. But I have to ask – with the recent rumors about your personal life, are you certain you can give this expansion the focus it requires?"
The room fell silent, all eyes turning to me. I felt Zara stiffen beside me, ready to intervene, but I held up a hand to stop her.
"I appreciate your concern, Mr. Hawthorne," I said, my voice cool and controlled. "But I can assure you, my personal life has no bearing on my ability to run this company. In fact, recent developments have only strengthened my resolve to build a legacy that will stand the test of time."
As I spoke the words, I realized they were true. The knowledge that I had a son, a child to pass my empire on to, filled me with a newfound determination. I would build something lasting, something Oliver could be proud of.
"Now," I continued, allowing a hint of steel to enter my tone, "unless there are any other questions about the actual business at hand, I suggest we move on to discussing the terms of your investment."
The rest of the meeting passed in a blur of negotiations and handshakes. By the time the last investor had left, I felt drained in a way that had nothing to do with the rigors of business.
"Well," Zara said, perching on the edge of the table once we were alone. "That was... interesting."
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Interesting? That's one word for it. I'd go with 'excruciating' myself."
She chuckled, shaking her head. "You handled it well, all things considered. But Ethan, you can't keep going like this. You need to resolve things with Ava, one way or another."
I sighed, loosening my tie as I sank into one of the plush leather chairs. "I know. But how? She's made it clear she doesn't trust me, doesn't want me in Oliver's life. And part of me... part of me is so angry I can barely see straight."
Zara's expression softened. "That's understandable. But Ethan, you have to put that anger aside for Oliver's sake. He deserves to have both his parents in his life, working together, not at odds."
"And what about what I deserve?" I snapped, the frustration of the day finally boiling over. "Don't I deserve to have been there for my son's first words, his first steps? To have known him from the beginning?"
"Of course you do," Zara said gently. "But you can't change the past, Ethan. All you can do is move forward. Be the father Oliver needs now."
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the fight drain out of me. "You're right. Of course you're right. It's just... seeing Ava again, knowing what we've lost... it's harder than I expected."
Zara was quiet for a moment, then said softly, "You still love her, don't you?"
The question hung in the air between us, heavy with implication. Did I still love Ava? The woman who'd broken my heart, who'd kept my child from me for five years?
"I don't know," I said finally, my voice rough. "I don't know if what I feel for Ava is love or hate or something in between. All I know is that every time I see her, it's like a punch to the gut. And not just because of Oliver."
Zara nodded, understanding in her eyes. "Well, tomorrow's brunch is your chance to start figuring it out. Just... try to keep an open mind, okay? For Oliver's sake, if nothing else."
I nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. "I will. I have to. He deserves better than two parents who can't be in the same room without World War III breaking out."
As Zara left, I turned to the window, watching the sun set over the New York skyline. Tomorrow would be a new day, a chance to start building a relationship with my son. And maybe, just maybe, a chance to rebuild something with Ava too.
My phone buzzed, a text from Ava lighting up the screen: "Oliver's excited for brunch tomorrow. He's been talking about it all day."
Despite everything, I felt a smile tug at my lips. I typed out a reply: "I'm looking forward to it too. See you both in the morning."
As I hit send, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could make this work. For Oliver's sake, we had to try.
With renewed determination, I gathered my things and headed out of the office. Tomorrow would be a new beginning, a chance to be the father I'd always dreamed of being. And if that meant finding a way to co-exist with Ava, to move past our hurt and anger... well, I was ready for the challenge.
After all, I was Ethan Blackwood. I'd built an empire from nothing. Surely I could rebuild a family too.
Right?
- Writer
