Ever After

Chapter 12: New CEO

I'm sitting in my car getting call after call from Jackson but I can't bring myself to answer. It's too much. I turn my phone off getting out of the car. I head up the little stone path knocking on the large door. "Just a second." Zane opens the door. "Teagan..." I start to cry before falling into his embrace. "Tea what's wrong?" I sigh pulling back. "Can I come in?" He nods moving out the way.

He had bought his own house of course and him and his girlfriend didn't live together but she worked a day job. He had found a nice spot that was between me and our parents house so he could always visit us both. "Have a seat Teagan and please tell me what's wrong?" His phone rings. "Don't answer that." He looks at it. "What's he calling me for?" I wipe my face. "I turned mine off." He hits silent. "Teagan..."

I huff. "He's been really deep in work the last few years. Always missing out on things for the kids and me. Now he's moody like one minute he's mad the next he's sorry and he won't try to change. I just want him to be there for us. Spend time with us. Then he goes and drops the bombshell that he has to go to Rome for a month or two to open a new branch of business. I just don't know what..."

"Woah woah woah! Did you say Rome?!" I nod. "So he's leaving?" I pick at my nails. "He wants us to all go. Me and the kids. He says we can home school them and Zane I don't know if I can. I'm scared." He pulls me into a hug. "Of?" I sob onto his shoulder. "Losing him. Moving halfway across the word and it won't change anything. He keeps saying that he will but the only time he can is when he's away from that damn job! So now I'm supposed to move so he can spend more time doing it?! I'd rather just be alone here! But two months is so long! The kids need him. I need him. What if he finds someone else in Rome and I never see him again?!"

I sob. "Teagan..." He says softly and I can hear the sadness in his voice. "I love him. I love him. I can't lose him. The kids can't lose him." He shushes me. "Take a breath Teagan. I'm gonna get you some water okay?" I nod and he gets up. When he comes back he has a cup of water and a box of Kleenex. "Here." I take a few and the cup. I sip some water before setting the cup down. I sigh. "Do you have a restroom I can use?"

He nods. "Up the stairs second door on your right." I nod softly. "Thanks." I get up heading up the stairs to the bathroom. I run some water over my face. It looked horrible from me crying. I huff drying my face off staring at my face in the giant mirror. "Get out!" I swing the door open rushing out of the bathroom and down the stairs.

"Zane..." "No she shows up on my porch crying her eyes out because you've made her that unhappy! I told you not to break her heart and your doing a horrible job at trying not to!" Jackson hangs his head in shame. "I know...damn it! I know! I wish I had given up years ago! I wish I had never made it this far! It's ruining everything I love!" Zane shakes his head.

"No you're ruining everything you love! That job doesn't physically keep you from loving my sister or my nieces! You are mentally keeping yourself from loving them! You need to get a grip! Or you'll be going to Rome alone and who knows, if you ever get to walk down the isle at the rate you're going it won't be with her by your side!"

He huffs. "I don't deserve to walk her down the isle...I wanted to give her more...I wanted to give them all more..." He glances up at me and my heart drops as I clench the railing. "I have something I need to do..." He says holding his gaze on me before turning to quickly leave. I jog down the stairs stepping out of the house as he climbs into his car glancing at me again before he pulls off. I knew where he was going. I grab my things saying a quick goodbye to Zane before leaving.

*

I barely park my car before jumping out of it at Jackson's office. I rush as fast as I can to the top of the building. I run to the desk seeing Sierra. "Where is he?!" She sighs. "He's holding a group meeting down the hall but he asked to not be disturbed." I sigh. "Sierra this is so much more important than you think. I promise I won't let him fire you just tell me which room." She sighs. "Third on the left."

I rush quickly down to it not even knocking before throwing the doors open. "Stop..." He looks up at me. "Oh Teagan you're just in time. Take a seat." I shake my head. "Cody here is the knew permanent CEO. Everyone this is my soon to be wife Teagan." I shake my head again.

"No...no..." I run out crying and he wraps me in his arms stopping me in the hallway. "Get off of me!" I say hitting him and he huffs. "Ow baby stop I did this for you. For the family. For us." I look up at him. "You just gave up your dreams for us and I would rather hurt everyday than to have watched you do that." He cups my face.

"Baby you don't understand because I hadn't really either until now. You had always been my dream. You and those girls of ours. Making you and them happy was all I ever wanted and I wasn't. I'm still owner and unfortunately I still have to go to Rome for a month or two but the majority of the work will be worked from a spare room wherever we stay...if you decide to go."

I huff. "And this is what you want?" He smiles. "I can gladly take the CEO title back whenever I want it. But for now yeah. It was stressing me out too much anyways." I laugh some and so does he. I press my lips to his.

I hear a lot of cheering and I laugh against his lips but he doesn't break that kiss. "I love you Teagan Peters." I hum. "Odd because I hate you, Jackson Peters." He presses his nose to mine. "That smile says other wise. Look at the little creases by your eyes." I laugh softly. "Shut up. Don't talk about them."

He hums. "Hey I love them. You know I do." We kiss again and before too long my phone vibrates. "Sorry babe but it's time to get the kids." He hums. "I'll come with. There's not much left for today anyways." I take his hand. "Okay." We step into the elevator and I lay my head on his shoulder that I'm barely tall enough to reach. I pushed the thought of Rome out of my head. It's been too rough of a day to try and figure it out now. I shut my eyes and as the quiet rushes over me I feel completely calm for the first time in awhile.

Enjoy!