Chapter 179
Orion
After days of intense preparation for the government bid, I decided Saturday should be dedicated entirely to Ryan. The poor kid had been shuffled between babysitters and his great-grandfather while I buried myself in work, and I was feeling increasingly guilty about my absence from his life.
But when I arrived home, the house felt unusually quiet. I found Mitchell in the hallway, looking distinctly uncomfortable.
"Where's Ryan?" I asked, loosening my tie.
Mitchell's expression grew more awkward. "They're out by the pool, sir."
Something about his tone made me pause. "They?"
Mitchell scratched his head nervously. "Well, sir, you know how Mr. Bryce enjoys... socializing. Perhaps you should take a deep breath before you react to whatever you're about to see."
What the hell could that possibly mean?
I strode toward the pool area, my confusion mounting with each step. The moment I stepped onto the stone deck, I understood Mitchell's warning.
There was Grandfather, lounging in a deck chair like some kind of aging playboy. He was wearing a ridiculous Hawaiian shirt in electric blue and orange, designer sunglasses that probably cost more than most people's monthly salary, and swim shorts that had no business being worn by someone his age. A small table beside him held what appeared to be a mojito garnished with fresh mint, a platter of gourmet fruit, and artisanal cheese that our chef had clearly prepared specifically for this poolside tableau.
But what made my blood pressure spike wasn't his ridiculous outfit—it was the fact that his attention was completely focused on staring at a woman's backside.
He brought a woman home? To swim with my son?
I scanned the pool frantically for Ryan, my protective instincts going into overdrive. Just as panic began to set in, he popped up from the water like a dolphin, his face bright with excitement.
"Miss Candy!" he called out to the woman, treading water with obvious pride. "Did you see that? I held my breath for almost thirty seconds just like you taught me!"
I immediately rushed forward and hauled Ryan out of the water, wrapping him in the nearest towel while trying to process what I was seeing.
The woman—Miss Candy, apparently—was an absolute bombshell in the most literal sense. She was wearing a red bikini that left very little to the imagination, showcasing curves that defied both physics and good taste. Her chest was so generously proportioned that I briefly wondered how she managed to stay afloat, let alone teach swimming techniques. Everything about her screamed "professional entertainment" rather than "swimming instructor."
"What the hell, Grandfather?" I hissed under my breath while vigorously toweling off Ryan. "Where did you find this 'teacher'? Are you sure she's actually qualified to be around children?"
Bryce stood up from his deck chair with obvious amusement, completely unbothered by my disapproval. "Relax, Orion. Candy is a dear friend of mine, and she happens to love the water. She's been teaching Ryan some excellent techniques."
He shot me a knowing wink that made me want to throw him in the pool fully clothed.
"I'm thinking about investing in a swimming facility for her," he continued with absolutely no shame. "Today's session was partly business research. That's why I call her 'teacher'—perfectly accurate, wouldn't you say?"
I could feel my jaw clenching. "I don't care how many girlfriends you have, but I draw the line at bringing them around my son. Ryan doesn't need to be exposed to your parade of—"
"Oh!" Candy interrupted, apparently sensing the tension as she approached us. "I'm so sorry if there's been any misunderstanding! But Ryan and I had such a wonderful time together. He's a natural swimmer—picked up the backstroke in just twenty minutes!"
The problem was that she was now standing directly in front of me, and her... assets... were at exactly eye level. I found myself staring determinedly at a point somewhere over her left shoulder, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity while she continued talking.
"I showed him how to do the frog kick properly," she continued with obvious enthusiasm, apparently oblivious to my discomfort. "And he's got excellent lung capacity for such a little guy. With a few more lessons, he could be doing laps!"
I was struggling to find an appropriate place to look when Grandfather rescued me from further embarrassment.
"Well!" he announced, standing and stretching theatrically. "Since Orion's here to spend quality time with Ryan, Candy and I should probably head out. Let me just change into something more appropriate for our dinner plans."
He disappeared into the house, leaving me alone with Ryan and his questionable swimming instructor. I was trying to formulate a polite way to suggest she leave when I heard familiar footsteps on the stone deck behind me.
"Orion, I need to talk to you about something important—"
I turned to see Aveline approaching, dressed in her crisp professional attire and carrying what looked like business documents. But the moment her eyes landed on Candy, her expression transformed into something that could have melted steel.
The temperature around the pool seemed to drop twenty degrees as Aveline's gaze moved from Candy's barely-there bikini to my obviously flustered state, her eyes narrowing with what could only be described as murderous intent.
Oh, fuck.
"I can see you're... busy," Aveline said, her voice carrying enough ice to freeze the entire pool. "Perhaps I should come back when you're less... occupied."
Ryan, completely oblivious to the adult drama unfolding around him, chose that moment to pipe up cheerfully: "Miss Aveline! Miss Candy taught me how to do underwater somersaults! Want to see?"
The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the gentle lapping of pool water and what I could swear was the sound of my impending doom.