Chapter 12 12
“I believe so. Whiskey?” his father offered, already pouring a glass.
“Sure.” Stefan took it and sank into one of the leather chairs across the desk.
For a moment, they drank in silence — the kind that came with years of unspoken words. Then Richard leaned back, watching him.
“I hear you’re still playing detective.”
Stefan smirked faintly. “Still saving people's lives and secrets for a living, yeah you could say that.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Richard replied dryly, sounding unimpressed. “Another way is that you’re wasting your degree, your opportunities, and your life on something reckless and dangerous.”
Stefan took another slow sip. Of course his father didn't waste time to dive straight into the awkward. “Dad. We’ve been through this before.”
“And clearly, it didn’t sink in.” Richard’s tone sharpened slightly. “You had a place in this company. You and Emily. You belonged here, Stefan. You chose instead to crawl through alleys chasing adulterers and petty thieves.”
“That’s not all I do,” Stefan said evenly. “Some of the people I help have no one else to go to. They don’t have the luxury of lawyers and private security teams.”
“Spare me the noble speech,” Richard snapped, then sighed and rubbed his temples. “You should’ve left it the day you realized you weren’t bulletproof.”
Stefan leaned back, jaw tightening. “It’s not as bad as you make it sound.”
His father raised an eyebrow. “You were shot at last year, weren’t you?”
“That was—” Stefan hesitated, then muttered, “—part of the job.”
“Part of the job,” his father repeated, leaning forward now. “Your response to everything. Emily listens and does what she is told. She is doing fine now, isn't she? Why does it have to be different with you?”
For a second, Stefan felt sorry. He knew that despite what he projected, his father cared deeply for him and his sister. And despite the fact that he could be controlling and most times even annoying, that he was driven by fear as well. He didn't want to lose his only son.
“Emily can take care of things,” he told his father, “She'll make a good CEO. Even without me. I don't understand why you worry so much… ,”
“Well hopefully now you will now have more to worry about so you'll understand.” Richard replied, “Perhaps now you'll consider what I've been telling you for years and stay. You have a daughter now, don’t you? Juliana?”
Stefan froze, glass halfway to his lips. “You heard.”
“Your sister filled me in recently. I honestly don't believe she's kept such a thing from me for so long. And that’s why I’m asking you this again — why are you still planning on returning to this job? Even after now that you've got a child to think about. A little girl who needs her father alive, not chasing danger. Don’t you think she deserves a father who comes home every night?”
Stefan looked down, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. The words hit him harder than he cared to admit.
Juliana. So little Juliana with her tiny fingers, her laugh when she saw the rattle he’d brought the other day. The protective way he felt whenever he held her. He'd sacrifice anything for her. Anything at all.
And then there was Alana. Beautiful, sweet Alana. He imagined coming home to her and their daughter every night. Going to bed with her in his arms — all of it flashed through his mind. It didn't seem so bad.
He knew his father was right concerning Juliana— every word of it. But walking away from his job still felt like cutting off a part of himself.
“I can do both,” Stefan said finally, his tone firm but quieter. In the past he'd defended himself and his reasons more strongly, but now…. “I can do my job and still be a good father. I can be there for her.”
Richard Maynard looked at his son for a long moment — a steady, heavy gaze that seemed to weigh every word. “You’re lying to yourself,” he said softly. “And you know it.”
Stefan’s throat tightened. “You think I should quit? Just like that? You've wanted me to for years. Don't sit here and act like this is all in my best interest and not another way to get what you want,”
“I think,” his father said, folding his hands together and ignoring his outburst, “you should stop living like a man with nothing to lose. Because you’ve got everything to lose now. I know the man I raised you to be, and I shouldn't have to tell you how important this is.”
Stefan didn’t respond. Of course he knew how important it was. Being a good and present father was all he'd cared about since he found out about Juliana. He wanted to do right by her.
When his father spoke again, it was to highlight another issue. “And what about her mother? Alana, isn’t it?”
Stefan nodded slowly. “Yeah. Alana Jackson.”
“She must be something,”
“She is,” Stefan said softly, almost to himself. “Strong. Smart. And stubborn as hell. You don't need to remind me, dad. I know the right thing to do in this situation, but…”
“She’s not the type to marry for convenience, I suppose.”
A humorless laugh escaped Stefan. “You’d suppose right. I offered. She said no. Said marrying just because of the baby isn’t right. She wants to do things her way.”
Richard gave a quiet hum, studying his son’s face. “She sounds like a sensible woman.”
Stefan blinked, surprised. “You think she’s right?”
“Not exactly,” his father said simply. “I agree that you two should marry. Give your daughter the family name, Stefan. My granddaughter. It is for her best interests of course, but if her mother resists there are other ways to win a woman over. Woo her.”
Stefan frowned, “I don't think people say ‘Woo her’ anymore, dad,”
“Who cares? Make her want to marry you, Stefan. You are a Maynard, and believe me when I say it is part of the charm. Remind her that you’re not just the man who gave her a daughter — you’re the man she can’t imagine living without. There are ways to change a woman's mind, son and women care about things like these. You just have to figure her out. Find out what she wants.”
Stefan finished his drink. “Woo her,” he murmured, shaking his head. “Never thought I’d hear that from you.”
Richard chuckled, low and genuine this time. “Your mother taught me a few things. Seems you could stand to learn one or two.”