The Baby

nineteen

grayson astor

"Someone looks like they're in a less grumpier mood than usual," Matthew entered my office wearing clothes far from work attire. It was...jean shorts, slides and a hoodie. He looked like he might've been jumped on the way here. "You must be having sex again," he observed with a grin. He wasn't wrong in assuming my less obnoxious mood had to do with the change in my sex life. But I'm a man. A man who has needs, and when those needs aren't necessarily met, there's bound to be consequences suffered somewhere.

"What happened? Do you need money? Who do we need to hunt down?" I quickly asked him before he frowned.

"Nothing happened, bastard. It's called fashion. Not all of us choose to eat, sleep and breathe in suits," Matthew commented and I dramatically rolled my eyes. He was here because we were having a board meeting in an hour which included both him and my father along with the other board of directors. Every time I see my brother, I see him do everything possible to upset my father. And this attire will do exactly that.

"Whatever," I glanced at my phone when I received a text.

kalani: how busy are you today?

grayson: why?

kalani: i'm losing my mind, gray

I chuckled and could already feel Matthew's eyes on me as he wondered what I could possibly be smiling about.

Going on maternity leave was Kalani's idea. At first she was excited to spend all the time with the baby. I thought I was a workaholic, but Kalani is even worse because she can't stay home and enjoy this break from work.

kalani: would you have time for lunch?

I looked at the time. I had my meeting I needed to attend. But I would be lying to myself if I said I wouldn't rather have lunch and see Amelia.

grayson: i can be at cactus in thirty

kalani: yay!

"Change of plans. Talia!" I called out. My assistant's desk was outside my office and she could usually hear me if I yelled loud enough.

"Tracey, Mr. Astor," she corrected me. I honestly can't remember her name to save my life.

"Inform the board I won't be attending the board meeting," I ran my hand through my hair that was getting longer than I wanted. But my schedule has been hectic to say the least.

"Yes sir," she scurried out of the office with Matthew giving me a daunting laugh that pissed me off.

"What are you laughing about now?" I don't know why I even asked. He may be older but he's childish and finds everything funny. For all I know, he's laughing at something stupid I couldn't be bothered to know about.

"You're not going to the board meeting?"

"No. I'm...I'm having lunch with Kalani," I was hesitant about telling the truthful reason as to why I'm no longer attending it. But I realized there was no need to keep it a secret. I'm a grown man who is allowed to have lunch with my fiancé and daughter if I would like.

"The same person who won't even leave work on his birthday is the same one who is leaving work to have lunch? Who are you and what have you done with my brother?" He stood to go to my snack cart in the office. "You're turning into a family man."

I've never seen the need to take time off for my birthday. I would be taking time off just to be alone. The day used to remind me I chose work over anything else and despite how it never bothered me, I couldn't help my loneliness at times. The inability to trust or ever confide in anyone. Never being able to put my guard down out of fear of someone not liking what's going on inside. Now I've somehow landed this amazing woman who stumbled into my life on accident and has given me a gift I never knew I needed.