From Hate Flourishes Love (Editing)

The Weight of Remembering

🅩🅐🅝🅓🅔🅡

I pinch at the bridge of my nose, trying to dissipate the band of pressure building under my forehead.

"I don't like the changes you're making to the business," my dad complains.

I exhale roughly, trying to focus on the work I had in front of me.

"I'm the CEO around here," I tell him. "You retired. So, for heaven's sake, stop second guessing my decisions."

His passion project in Australia fell apart, and now he's back in New York, trying to ride my coattails.

"I'm just trying to give you some advice ..." he says. "I'm your father. And I did run this company successfully before you were even born."

"Fine! Dad ... you win," I scoff, dragging my hand through my hair. "What changes would you make?"

He starts rambles about something, and I text my mother to come get him.

"You bought a pharmaceutical company," I remind him. "I
think they'd accomplish a lot more under your tutelage."

I'd say anything to get him to bother

"Ahh, yeah ..." he mumbles. "And I'm sure Kai is bored at home. I could invite him to come work with me. He worked well with board before the incident. With some mentorship from me. After his MD, he'll make a great medical director for the company."

"You're not telling my husband what to do with his medical degree," I tell him.

"Kai is a Storm," he scoffs angrily. "And every Storm has a responsibility to the family." He gets up, leaving my office in a temper.

I lean back enough to tilt my chair, happy to be rid of him.

Leaving my signature on the dotted line, I drop the contract on my assistant's desk and leave for the night.

I read my watch, and it's minutes after 2 am when I get back home. I expect Kai to be asleep, but instead I open the door and he's right there.

"Good night," Kai tiptoes to press a kiss on my cheek.

"Good night," I reply, watching my reflection in the mirror as my face flushes to a vivid red.

He smiles, and steps behind me to help me shrug my jacket from my shoulders.

"Did you have lunch..." Kai wraps his arms around me, "or dinner?"

Butterflies flutter happily in my stomach at his touch, lifting and dipping as his hands trail up to my chest.

"Or at least a snack?" He asks me.

"I didn't get the chance," I tell him. "I was too busy."

Kai drops his hand from around me, and faces me again.

"You were too busy to eat?" He snaps his brows together.

I gulp softly, heart fluttering. I think might be in trouble.