“Don't use me as obstacle to expensive gift.”
Grace hugged Victoria.
That ended argument.
Dinner was homemade pizza.
Grace asked direct questions.
“Are you Dad's girlfriend?”
Ethan nearly inhaled mozzarella.
Victoria answered calmly.
“I think so.”
Grace looked at him.
“You think?”
Ethan drank water.
Victoria smiled.
“He struggles with labels.”
“I do not.”
Grace continued.
“Are you going to fire him if you break up?”
Victoria froze.
Ethan said:
“Grace.”
“What?”
“Reasonable.”
Victoria answered.
“He no longer reports directly to me.”
Grace nodded.
“Good.”
Then:
“Do you like dogs?”
“Yes.”
“We don't have one.”
Ethan said, “Correct.”
“We should.”
“No.”
Victoria looked at Grace.
“What kind?”
Ethan stared.
Traitors.
Later, Grace went upstairs.
Victoria sat on couch.
Ethan beside.
“You bribed her.”
“With astronomy.”
“She was going to like you anyway.”
“How know?”
“She likes people who make me nervous.”
Victoria smiled.
“Smart child.”
He touched her hand.
Silence.
Comfortable.
Then Victoria said:
“I want children.”
Ethan looked at her.
She continued before he could respond.
“I’m not proposing.”
“Reassuring.”
“I am thirty-four.”
“I know.”
“I don't know what my body can do.”
“Pregnancy complicated.”
“Maybe impossible.”
“I froze eggs before accident.”
“I don't know if I want to use them.”
Ethan listened.
“I just need you to know.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
She waited.
“That’s it?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don't know.”
He moved closer.
“If we stay together long enough to make decisions about children, we make them then.”
“You have Grace.”
“Yes.”
“She comes first.”
“She is my daughter.”
“That's not answer.”
Ethan understood.
“You would not always be second.”
Victoria looked at him.
He continued.
“Parent-child love and partnership aren't same competition.”
“I can prioritize Grace's safety without making you emotionally secondary.”
“That matters.”
She nodded.
Ethan asked:
“Would you want biological child?”
“Maybe.”
“Adoption?”
“Maybe.”
“No child?”
She breathed.
“Maybe.”
He smiled.
“Then we have three maybes.”
“Very efficient.”
Victoria leaned against him.
He kissed top of her head.
No promises.
Better.
The corporate investigation lasted nine months.
Harold Vance was charged with conspiracy, fraud, falsification of aircraft maintenance records, and related offenses.
Julian Marks cooperated.
NorthStar operators cooperated faster.
Sterling survived.
Barely.
Stock recovered.
Kestrel deal changed.