Chapter 15

David

I woke up early to a gorgeous sunny day, and although there was a slight chill in the air, it wasn’t quite crisp enough to make me bundle up in a heavy coat. I sipped my coffee and went over my plans. I’d also gotten sketches from our artists, showing some of our bigger campaigns we’d done over the past few years that the kids might actually recognize. Although my nerves were a bit rattled, it was more to do with Sierra and making her happy than actually doing a presentation. I’d never had any problems entertaining a crowd, and in taking over my father’s company, I’d given more than a few speeches and held meetings with people far more intimidating.

I dialed Allison’s number, hoping Sierra was as excited as me. “How’s my two favorite girls this morning?”

Allison’s tone told me she was a little less enthused to face the day. “Sierra’s excited, and I’m wishing there were more hours in the day.”

“Take the day off. Your boss says it’s okay. Trust me.”

“My boss doesn’t realize that if I don’t get the programs installed on my computer, then our entire next week will be screwed.”

“It’s that bad?”

“It’s not good. Next week is going to be busy with the new client from the Anderson Group.”

“Shit, I guess we have slacked off a bit this week.”

“Yeah, and since my computer has just arrived, I have like four programs to install, and then I still have to put them to use and coordinate with IT. I guess I could bring them home with me and get IT on it first thing Monday, but that would still put me hours behind next week.”

This was why I sucked at my job. To me, nothing was this pressing, and yet, I always had Greyson to hold my hand. No wonder he’d wanted me to hire Allison. She’d taken a considerable load off him.

“No, I don’t want you to work on Saturday. If you really think you need today, why not let me pick Sierra up for school, do my presentation, and I’ll meet back up with you after?”

“I don’t know. I hate to bother you with having to get her there, and with the kids leaving to spend the rest of the day with their fathers after the presentations, my mother was going to meet us there and take Sierra home with her.”

I thought of all the other kids, and their fathers taking an entire afternoon together and wished like crazy I had a daughter of my own to do that kind of thing with. “Why can’t I bring her and then take her to your mother’s after? Then your mother won’t have to get out to pick her up. It would work perfectly, and you’d have the entire morning to set up the programs, and you can send it to IT early.”

She was silent on the other end of the phone. As I opened my mouth to ask if she was still on the line, she let out a long sigh. “Okay, but only if you’re sure you want to do all that. You’re already going above and beyond our friendship, and I don’t want to put you out.”

“Are you kidding? I’ve wanted to do this kind of thing all my life.”

Her giggle came through the phone, and it sounded a lot like little Sierra’s. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s been a lifelong dream.”

She had no idea. I’d wanted a family my whole life, and most of that time, I’d dreamt about her filling the role of mother and wife until I no longer thought that fantasy was possible. Now, strangely, she was going to make it happen.

“Okay, fine. If we spend any more time discussing it, you’ll both be late.”

“I’ll be on my way shortly.” I had my best suit laid out, and my presentation was ready to go. I just had one more thing to do before I could get dressed.

***

I arrived at Allison’s house, and as I pulled into the driveway, Sierra opened the door and ran out on the stoop. I could hear her when I killed the engine. “Mama! Mama! David’s here, and he took his Jeep apart!”

I stepped out of the Jeep and joined her at the door where Allison met me with a horrified look on her face. “What are you doing? You came all the way here in that thing? It’s too chilly.”

“No, it’s actually very warm. Jeeps are made with awesome heaters for a reason.”

“There are no doors.”

“That’s right. I told Sierra I could take it apart.”

“Well, she’s seen it now, so put it back together. I can’t have her riding in that death trap.”

I stepped closer and placed my hand on her arm. “Allison, do you think I’d do anything to hurt Sierra or put her in danger? The school is like three blocks from here, and even going to the diner, we’re not going far.”

“The diner?” Allison asked.

“Oh, yeah. I was going to ask if I could take her to the diner for a milkshake after the program.”

“A milkshake! Awesome! Can I, Mama?” She jumped up and down, and Allison gave me a death stare that told me I’d put her on the spot.

I stroked her wrist with my thumb. “Come on, Mama. I’ll take good care of her.” I gave her my warmest smile and pleading eyes. I’d come too far this morning to let them both down.

She seemed to deflate in front of me. “I know you will. Just promise me you’ll be safe.”

Sierra ran into the house leaving us alone. I took the opportunity to lean yet closer and taking her hand, I gazed deep into her eyes. “Of course. I’ve got this.”

We were a breath away, and I had the aching desire to kiss her, but Sierra ran from the house, taking my hand.

“I’m ready, David!” She jumped up and down and pulled me toward the Jeep. “Bye, Mama!”

“Wish me luck!” I gave her a wild grin and lifted Sierra into the passenger seat.

“Luck!” she called out from the door. She watched us with her hand clutching her blouse the entire time and worry set in her brow. Funny how after all these years, I still wanted to impress her and show her I could take care of her.

I knew that trusting me with Sierra was trusting me with what mattered most to her in the world, and I respected the hell out of her for that.

Sierra loved riding in the Jeep, and since Allison had her bundled up in a light coat and the heater did its work, we both arrived at the school minutes later, with warm bodies and only slightly cold noses.

A few of the fathers were gathered around talking in front of the school when we pulled up in my black, tricked out Jeep, and suddenly, whatever conversation they were having stopped as they checked it out.

I helped Sierra out, and she was all smiles when I grabbed my portfolio from behind her seat and lifted her down from the tall vehicle.

“Those men are pointing,” she whispered in my ear.

“They like the Jeep.”

“I like it, too.” She giggled.

I put her on her feet, and she straightened her dress before taking my hand.

We walked in, and I looked down to see that her chin was up and her little shoulders were as square as a soldier’s. She had confidence, and even her teacher seemed impressed as we walked into the room.

“Good morning, Sierra.”

“Good morning, Ms. Clare.” She gave her teacher a sweet smile.

Ms. Clare wasn’t so thrilled to see me, but I made sure to give her a kind smile as I walked Sierra to her desk and went to stand with the other fathers in the back of the class. Three of them asked about the Jeep and if it was built or bought. My answer, of course, was both.

Finally, Ms. Clare shushed us from our quiet conversations, and the presentations began. As it turned out, a few of the fathers were stay-at-home dads. Several were grandfathers and uncles filling in for single mothers who had to work. Two were IT guys, and the others had various jobs, all respectable in their own way, and each one making excellent points to the children.

When it was my turn, I stepped up and unpacked my ads and a few enlarged photos of the DeVant building, which was always my father’s pride and joy. I turned on the tablet which I’d brought to play a few of our more familiar commercials for the kids to see. Once I introduced myself, there were a few gasps and hushed whispers coming from the other fathers, and even Ms. Clare took on a whole new demeanor.

I started my presentation, talking about advertising and what the company was all about. How we met with clients who presented us with concepts, and how we’d then take that idea and develop it through different forms of media, so we could present it to the world, in hopes that it would bring sales and attention to the product or services. The children seemed wowed. Especially when they realized we were responsible for many of the commercials they’d seen during the Super Bowl.

When I was done, I took questions from the children like all of the other men, but this time, the fathers were asking questions, too. Many of the questions were geared more to the success and money involved, and how much some of the Super Bowl ads had sold for. I tried to keep the talk of money down to a minimum, but one of the more persistent fathers kept pressing.

“We’re talking millions upon millions of dollars, right, Mr. DeVant? I mean, I appreciate your humility, but it’s not every day these kids, as well as some of us fathers, are in the presence of, and correct me if I'm wrong, but a billionaire.”

A few of the mouths gaped in the room as if I hadn’t just put my entire life on display.

“The company is, yes.” I shrugged, still trying to play it off. I hated for anyone to look at me differently because of my wealth, and I knew I owed that to my father and my meager upbringing.

“But you’re the CEO, so you’re the man in charge of a billion-dollar company. What does that feel like?”

The kids’ eyes, including Sierra’s, bugged some, and they whispered about the money, understanding it meant I was extremely rich.

One of the other fathers spoke up. “Pretty good, I’d imagine.”

The other fathers laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile.

I let the question hang in the air and gathered up my things as Ms. Clare thanked everyone for coming.

Some of the fathers wanted to introduce me to their kids, like shaking their hands would rub my luck for wealth off on them. Others wanted to get a closer look at my Jeep. Sierra ate it all up and stood in a circle with the other kids talking, and one invited her to their birthday party which was still two months away.

I ended the mob after taking a selfie with one man, which was beyond weird for me. Once Sierra and I were down the road, she looked over and smiled. “Are you famous?”

It took me an entire milkshake to convince her I wasn’t, and then, when I dropped her off at the Bealls’s house, she thanked me and gave me a huge hug. It was the best hug, and only one other person’s could compete.

An hour later, I found Allison in the office, lying back on the sofa and rubbing her temples. “Is this what I’m paying you for?”

I stepped in, and she jumped to her feet.

“Sorry, I just got the computers down to IT to have them synced, and I’ve got a slight headache.”

“I hope you weren’t worried about us because we killed it.”

Her face lit with a smile. “Did you?”

“Yes, and she even hugged me. A big hug.” I used my best bragging voice.

“Oh, did she? A big one, huh? Must have been the ice cream.”

“Please, she liked the Jeep best of all.”

“Wrong, she liked you. Especially if she gave you a big hug.”

“It was nice.” I stepped closer, and she held my eyes with her gaze.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Let me show you.” I brought my arms around her and felt her breath hitch as I hugged her tightly.

“That’s tight,” she whispered.

I brought my lips down to hers and kissed her. Our lips mingled together as my blood flowed to my cock. Not only had I been waiting for what seemed like an eternity to kiss her again, but I knew I wasn’t going to stop there.

“I’ve missed you.” I stared deeply into her eyes, which smoldered as her chest heaved, pressing her breasts tight against my chest.

“I’ve missed you, too.” She looked over my shoulder at the door. “Is that locked?”

“Do you want it to be?”