Page 14 of The Grump I Got Stuck With

Resigning from the company I founded and nurtured and built, brick by brick.

There was, admittedly, a little satisfaction in making them pay out for an exorbitant golden parachute to send me on my way. But the next challenge became what to do with it, and with my time. Like hell was I going to sit on my arse for the rest of my days. Didn’t matter that I didn’t have to work, I wanted to work. Wanted to show that I still had it, that I still knew how to make something a success. So I’d turned my focus to angel investing. I provided personal capital to early-stage start-ups, mostly in the tech industry, in exchange for equity.

It required a little more handholding than I’d expected. But if success meant having to make a call to talk the founders through their latest hurdle on Christmas Day, then so be it.

Bark. Bark. Bark!

But not with a dog in the background. I got to my feet, poking my head into the playroom. Kenna lay on the floor beneath a mountain of wrapping paper, giggling and shrieking while Princess raced around her. I caught Madison’s eye.

“Why don’t you and Princess find somewhere else in the house to be?” I suggested in a tone that made it clear it wasn’t a suggestion.

Kenna sat up suddenly, those blue eyes widening. “I don’t want them to go!”

“Daddy has to take a meeting,” I said. “And Princess is very noisy.”

“She can be quiet.” Kenna caught the dog in her arms, her bottom lip trembling.

That was a big fat lie, and we all knew it.

“Why don’t I take Princess and Kenna outside to play in the snow?” Madison suggested.

I immediately opened my mouth to reject the idea, but Kenna cheered. I scowled at Madison. I didn’t want Kenna out of my sight with a practical stranger and her yappy little dog.

“Trust me,” Madison said. “This way everyone burns off some energy, and you don’t have to listen to Princess serenade you. We’re playing Popstar next, just FYI. We already have the songs picked out, and Princess has been practicing.”

My lips curled back over my teeth. Wonderful.

“I want to play in the snow!” Kenna said, getting to her feet and tugging on my trousers. “Please, Daddy?” She pouted. “Pleeeeeeease.”

Madison stood as well. “I’m actually great with kids,” she said. “Even won babysitter of the year back home in Connecticut.”

“That’s not a thing,” I muttered.

The corner of her lips quirked. Those perfectly pink, rosebud lips that I had no business staring at. “No, but if it was, I definitely would have taken home first place.”

I rubbed my eyes. I really needed to jump on this call without Kenna and the dog playing Popstar in the background. Okay, fine. “I will allow it on one condition⁠—”

Kenna hugged my legs, squealing in excitement.

“—you play in the part of the yard that my office overlooks so I can keep an eye on things.”

Madison gave me a salute. “Whatever you say, Lord Crankypants.”

“Crankypants!” Kenna cried, giggling as she rushed out of the room to find her woolies and ski trousers. Madison gave me a sheepish grin.

I ignored her, poking my head into the hallway. “Make sure you put on your hat, Kenna!” I called after her. “And your gloves!” She was always forgetting them. Princess growled up at my knees.

“What do you want?” I grumbled under my breath.

Madison scooped the dog up. “She’s just excited.”

“Well, take that excitement outdoors. Before I change my mind.” I turned back to my desk, and Madison hurried off after Kenna, taking Princess with her.

Thank Christ!

I plopped myself into my chair and started the meeting.

“Here he is now,” Alfie said as I plastered a smile on my face. First rule of business. Never let them know how flustered you are. And I certainly wasn’t flustered by the woman who’d crawled through my dog door.