"So now what? What's next for you?" Ryan asked me, and I pondered that thought over the bite of the five cheese homemade Mac and cheese poised midair. A dish that Ryan had so thoughtfully and lovingly prepared for me after remembering me telling him once that Mac and cheese was my favorite comfort food. He thought I could use the comfort and he was right. After leaving the office, I went home and packed an overnight bag and drove straight to Ryan's house. The high I had felt leaving the office had quickly faded and now I just felt tired, beat down and in my own head about everything. I really needed that comfort.

I set my fork down with the bite of cheesy goodness still clinging to the tines. "Not a clue. I haven't even thought that far ahead." I admitted with a slight shake of my head. "Unfortunately, I have to go back there tomorrow because I was so determined to make a dramatic exit with a mic drop moment, that I left his office and walked straight out the door. I have things in my office, mainly some family photos with my mom and dad that I need to pack up."

"Maybe you should call Chase and let him know what's going on. I mean, he's gonna find out sooner or later that you left. He could probably pack up your office for you." Ryan suggested.

"I ugh...stupid me...threw the journal at grandpa and left it there. He's probably destroyed it by now but on the slight chance he didn't, I would really like that back. It's something of my mothers, it's her words and it's something I want to keep."

I could see him shake his head slightly at my error, but he kept his mouth shut on the subject. He probably thought that was for the best. "Would you like me to call Chase or Erin so you can let them know what's going on? I think it would be helpful for you to have some friends to lean on."He offered.

Something about the way he said that didn't sit right with me. "Why? Are you tired of carrying my burden by yourself so let's just push it on them?" I snapped at him. Was I deliberately trying to pick a fight?

"Mia, that's not what I meant. I told you that I am here for you and I meant that. Chase and Erin are your closest friends and it's always good to have your village to help you through tough times." He consoled me in his practical, patient way that I felt I didn't deserve.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry I snapped at you. I'm just in my own head over this and I'm overthinking everything. I get what you're saying, but not just yet. I'm not ready to talk about it with anyone." I replied. I pushed my food away. I had lost my appetite.

"What about Jimmie? When are you going to tell him?" Ryan asked me.

Oh crap. I haven't even thought about telling Jimmie. How the hell was I supposed to do this?

"I don't know if I can Ryan. He has this beautiful life and this beautiful family. Am I just supposed to call him up and say 'Happy early Father's Day twenty seven years late, or congratulations. You're the father of a bouncing grown ass girl'. I don't want to screw up his life." I said sadly.

"You're not seriously thinking of keeping this from him Mia?" Ryan shot me an angry glare that made me want to crawl under a rock.

"I don't know yet what I want to do. Part of me wants to tell him right now and the other part of me wants to just let it go and erase it from my life. What if he hates me for derailing the life he built. I couldn't take that." I shot back.

"That's just your grandfather talking. He's gotten in your head Mia. Keeping this from Jimmie is no better than your grandfather keeping it from you, and deep down you know it. You know all to well how that feels. It would be selfish of you. He has the right to know." Ryan's words were adamant, leaving no room for argument. Was he trying to pick a fight too for whatever reason?

Tears sprang to my eyes hearing his words. I never before cared before what anyone thought of me, but Ryan's opinion meant the world. He just called me selfish after one of the worst days of my life and it hurt. Those words cut through me like a knife.

"For once in my life Ryan, I'm not being selfish. I'm thinking of two innocent little girls...my little sisters. They adore their father...and Jimmie is a wonderful father. But me telling the truth...that their father had an...an indiscretion years ago...that produced me. That could tarnish their image of him in their eyes. I don't want to put them through that. Put him or Chani through that. So no, I'm not being selfish here. I'm trying to take their feelings into account and not tarnish their family or his name or reputation." I cried angrily.

His expression softened. "I'm sorry Mia. I never should have called you selfish and I can see where you are coming from, but this is Jimmie we're talking about. . He adores you. Don't you want a family?"

"Of course I want a family. It's all I've ever wanted, but never like this and certainly not at their expense. I told you I don't know what I'm going to do. I just need a few days to process everything, to fully wrap my head around it. He does deserve to know the truth, I'm just...I'm scared."

"I know you are baby. I'm sorry if I came down so hard on you, but this is not like you. Where's the fire? Where's the fight?" He questioned.

"The fire and the fight left me the moment I walked out of that office. I'm so tired Ryan. I just need some time with this. My whole life as I knew it just imploded on me. I know in the next coming days I'm going to have some questions to answer about why I left the company but I don't want to think about that now. I don't want to think at all. Can we please just talk about something...anything else." It was then that I laid my head in my hands and started sobbing. When did I turn into such a crybaby? These last two days, I think I've shed more tears than I have in my entire lifetime. Never have I felt so weak and so needy.

Knowing exactly what I needed, he wrapped both arms around me and pulled me close, my head on his chest with his hand stroking my hair until my tears let up. I inhaled his scent, letting a wave of peace and serenity wash over me. It's gonna all be okay. I repeated over and over in my head.

"I've got an idea." He said, brushing his lips over my temple. "Why don't you come with me this weekend. You can stay in my bus the entire time. You can hide out if you want to or we can go public. Whatever you want." He suggested.

I immediately brightened over those words. The idea of not sneaking around anymore made me almost giddy with excitement, lending a bright spot to the whole predicament that I was in. "I say we go for the hard launch." I smiled up at him, watching his eyes sparkle as he smiled back at me.

It's all gonna be okay.

                                   **********

With my game face firmly intact, I marched myself into the office. I bypassed my own office for the time being and went straight to my grandfather. I entered his office without even bothering to knock.

"Mia...you came back princess." His jaw dropped in surprise.

"I'd like the journal back." I held out my hand, hoping he didn't destroy it.

To my surprise, he unlocked his desk drawer, pulled out the journal and handed it to me.

"I hope you've reconsidered leaving. You are a vital part of this business sweetheart. I could not do this without you. This will all be yours one day." He waved his arms around the massive office as if to encompass my entire future.

"I'm just here to clean out my office. You can tell everyone whatever you want about why I left. Make up some bullshit excuse...that's what you do best. I honestly don't care." I threw that last part over my shoulder as I marched out of the office...running straight into Jeff.

"Is everything alright Mia?" Jeff asked me, his tone full of fake concern.

"You wanted it all Jeff? Congratulations, it's yours now. I hope you fucking choke on it." I spat out the words and pushed past him, heading to my own office.

I emptied a copier box that had been sitting in the corner. I carefully placed the framed photos into the box, along with my favorite coffee mug and a few other personal items. My phone was blowing up as I was going through my desk drawers but I ignored it as I was focused on the task at hand which was getting out of here as quickly as possible.

Suddenly, Chase burst into my office, a look of pure shock written all over his face. "Oh my God Mia. I just heard the news. Are you okay?" He placed both hands on my shoulder and looked me straight in the face, his chocolate brown eyes full of concern. I guess news travels fast that I just quit the family business. I could only begin to imagine the story my grandfather had spun.

"I will be. Eventually. I just need to get out of here." I sighed. "I don't know what my grandfather said, but we'll talk later, in private. Come by Ryan's house later and I will tell you the whole story."

"Mia, your grandfather didn't say anything. It's all over the news about Jimmie being your biological father."