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“And aren’t you going to be late for lecturing undergrads?”
“It’s still only seven. Anyway, nice deflection. You’re definitely happy.”
I started fixing myself the usual breakfast of a protein shake and egg whites. I was going to have a huge meeting over a different merger opportunity later this Friday morning, and I wanted to start it with the optimum energy boost. Maybe it was good that Symone was over so all the fruit didn’t actually go to waste. Well, it would have been, if my daughter knew when to leave well enough alone.
“I have a good business plan getting off the ground today with a particular acquisition.”
She shook her head. “No, this is different. It’s unlike how I’ve seen you in, well, years.” The playfulness was out of her tone, and she eyed me with sincerity. Pushing a few stray, red curls from her face, Symone said, “You really do seem at peace or excited in a way you haven’t since Mom. Okay, spill. Who’s the girl?”
“What?”
“You obviously have someone really special, not like all the others. Call it ‘women’s intuition,’ but I can totally tell.”
Raking a hand through my hair, I sighed. “I still can’t believe you’d be okay with all of this, kiddo.”
“First, it hurt to see you this sad. Second, I’m going to be off and married soon, and I need you to have someone else to focus on besides me.”
“Maybe you just want your old dad’s scrutiny out of your life.”
“True, but I mean that. Also, if you haven’t been seen out with her in the tabloids, it means she’s not the usual flighty bint you tend to be seen with.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but Symone wasn’t wrong. Iris was special, every bit the gorgeous, irreplaceable flower her name implied, and she was what I’d been looking for since I’d grown restless. Since I’d admitted I was lonely.
“Fine, I guess I’m not as mysterious as I try and be.”
“Not around someone who knows you so well,” Symone chirped back. “What’s her name? How’d you meet?”
“Her name is Iris Kilshimer, and she’s an intern in my office.”
Symone’s smile froze in place. “Is she younger than I am?”
I shrugged, trying to play it casual, even though I expected her rightly to ream my arse out over all of this mess. “She’s a rising senior at Trinity, so yes.”
Symone didn’t speak for a few minutes, and I expected her to lay into me then, to tell me that it was nuts, that everything I was doing was too much for her. Instead, she set her bowl of fruit aside and came to set her hand on my shoulder. “Dad, if someone makes you happy, they make you happy. I just am so scared for you being alone.”
“I’m forty-seven, not eighty-five. Also, I’m not alone when I have to run a multinational conglomerate day in and day out.”
“If Iris makes you happy, then I’m happy. I won’t say it isn’t weird, but if this is something that makes you not so miserable, makes you get out there with someone you really care about for the first time in fifteen years, then I’m willing to try.”
I swallowed hard. Symone reminded me so much of her mother. Priscilla had always understood my every move, always had that regal grace that I admired. I squeezed the hand over my shoulder. “I am so grateful for that.”
“Great. Now, biggest question: When do I get to meet her?”
***
“Excellent news. Thanks, Paul,” I said, finishing my conference call. Hopefully, I didn’t sound too rushed, but I had a lot on my mind.
It was nearing five o’clock, and I wanted to take off so I could enjoy a long, luxurious Friday night with my perfect vixen. Second, not only was I elbows deep in securing this deal currently, but next weekend was the annual charity ball our company sponsored. While Frances did most of the detail work, I still had final approval. Besides, since it was for the Irish National Cancer Foundation, I wanted it to be the best it could be. Every year for fourteen years, I’d tried to outdo myself, to ensure we had more money than ever before. Priscilla would have wanted that. I needed year fifteen to be the largest, most successful yet.
It just made it harder to concentrate on the final details of schmoozing the zoning official about the newest property I was sniffing out.
“Well, you know how it is, mate. I think you’ll like that district, and they’re willing to cut taxes for some development northeast of the city. Also, I really appreciate you being able to get some last minute tickets for Agatha and me. I’ve heard it’s quite the social event.”
“But of course,” I said. It was a small enough gesture to give up extra fundraiser tickets to make sure I got the tax breaks I needed. After the Donelson merger loss, I was keen to show Seamus all over again why I literally owned this town and most of Ireland. “See you next Saturday then.”
“Be there with bells on!”
I clicked off the phone and stood to grab my coat. If I hurried, I could snag an early reservation at that new Ethiopian place I’d heard rave reviews about. There were some advantages of still being the biggest developer in the city, and a huge part of that was whatever I said fucking well went. However, as I turned to rush out the door and find Iris to yank with me, I had to groan instead. Before me stood Seamus, but at least he had the sense to keep his eyes downcast and stop with his bigger gorilla shtick. It was obvious which one of us was in charge here.
