Twins for Christmas

by Layla Valentine

  “I love you, Isla,” he said. “So damn much.”

  “I love you too,” I said.

  “Okay, mom-to-be,” said Dr. Sousa. “We’ve got a baby looking like she wants to come out. You ready for this?”

  “More than anything.”

  He smiled.

  “I like that attitude. Now, it’s time to start pushing.”

  The next few minutes were a blur—I had no idea how long I was pushing for, but Dr. Sousa was a kindly, gentle presence throughout. The pain intensified to a point beyond anything I’d ever experienced, but then it faded and was replaced with relief—and the crying of a baby.

  “We have menina number one!” Dr. Sousa said.

  One of the nurses gently picked up the baby, blocking her from view. As she and another nurse cleaned her up at the nearby station, I tried to stay calm, my eyes on the doctor.

  “One baby out means we’re halfway home,” he said. “You ready for a little more pushing?”

  “Yes,” I said. “So ready.”

  The process repeated again, faster this time, and after more pain and pushing that I ever would have thought I’d have been able to handle, I was rewarded with more crying, and the nurses swept baby number two away to be cleaned up and weighed.

  “When can we see them, doctor?” Adam asked, clearly just as keen to have the babies back as I was.

  “Ah, right about now, I would say,” Dr. Sousa said with a smile.

  At his words, two of the nurses returned to my bedside, each with a tiny bundle in their arms.

  Two gorgeous baby girls, looking perfect and adorable. And they were calm, calm like sleeping little angels.

  “And they’re healthy?” I asked.

  “As healthy as they come,” Dr. Sousa said.

  “Thank you so much,” Adam said. “So, so much.”

  “All in a day’s work,” he said humbly. “On that note, I’ll let you four get acquainted.”

  One more smile and he was out into the hallway. The moment he was gone, the nurses at last handed me my babies.

  I couldn’t believe it. I simply couldn’t believe it. After all of these months, after all of the stress, the pain, the fear, and everything else, I finally had my girls in my arms.

  And they were more gorgeous than I ever could’ve imagined. One had hair with a tint of red like mine, the other with her father’s dark hair. Both gazed up at me, taking in the sight of me just as I was them.

  It was possibly the most perfect, wonderful moment of my life.

  “Oh, my God,” Adam breathed. “They’re…they’re…”

  Cool, unflappable Adam was long gone at the first sight of the little ladies. He looked almost boyishly excited.

  “They’re incredible,” he said. “The most perfect things I’ve ever seen in my life.”

  As he spoke, the baby with his dark hair reached up to him. The biggest, happiest smile I’d ever seen appeared on his face.

  “You mind?” he asked softly.

  “Of course I don’t mind,” I said.

  Carefully, he scooped up one of the girls and held her close.

  Okay—maybe I was wrong. The sight of the two girls had been the most perfect image that I’d ever seen, up until I saw Adam holding his daughter.

  He was a natural, the baby snuggled up to him close and tucking her head into his chest. She had to have known, just like I did, that in his arms was a great place to be.

  “Any ideas for names?” he asked. “We can’t just call them ‘Baby One’ and ‘Baby Two’ forever.”

  “Hmm,” I said. “How about…Emma? Anna? Sophia?”

  He appeared to consider them.

  “Those are nice names, don’t get me wrong,” he said. “But I think they need something a bit more special…more unique. These are very unique girls, after all.”

  “Good point,” I said. “We’ve got a long flight home. We can table the matter until then.”

  “I like that idea,” he said.

  A thoughtful expression formed on his face.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Just thinking about that word,” he said. “‘Home.’ Home could be right here, really. Home is wherever I’m with you and the girls.”

  Tears formed in my eyes.

  Everything was how it should be.

  Everything was perfect.

  Chapter 30

  Adam

  A month later

  I stood in front of Corliss headquarters, knowing it was likely the last time I would ever see the place.

  But I was ready. Over the last month in Rio, I’d taken care of matters, dividing my time between the factory and Isla and the girls. All the while I’d known in the back of my mind what was coming, however.

  After all, I was a father, and the mother of my children was an employee. Maybe if we’d had nothing more than a dalliance, the two of us could’ve swept it under the rug. Two little girls, however—there was no hiding that.

  My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I took it out to find a text from Sandy.

  “They’re ready for you.”

  Time to go to my execution. But I was prepared. Hell, I was even eager.

  I typed up a quick text to Isla before slipping my phone back into my pocket, taking a deep breath, and heading inside.

  A wry smile formed on my lips as I passed the portraits in the lobby, my eyes lingering on the one of me. I wondered how long they’d leave it there. Would it be down before the end of the day, maybe tossed into one of the dumpsters in back along with the rest of the garbage?

  Maybe I could sneak it out, I thought. Might look nice in the new house.

  I allowed myself a laugh at the idea of coming home jobless, a giant portrait of myself barely tucked under my arm. Isla would have to see the humor in something like that.

  I stopped in my office, taking in the sights for the last time. I was going to miss it. Really, it was a hell of an office. But as I took a look around, I realized how sterile and empty it was. Then I realized why—not a single picture of the girls.

  The board was waiting for me, so I didn’t linger long. I left, and after a short walk that seemed to take forever, I was at the doors of the board room.

  There, I paused. Not because I was nervous, but because the gravity of what I was about to do was sinking in. I was going to get fired. No two ways about it. And more than that, I was going to change the course of Corliss Enterprises forever.

  No small thing. But I was ready.

  “Come in, Adam,” spoke Edward after I rapped on the door.

  His voice was as even and calm as ever, but I could sense deep down that there was something more to it. And if that was how he felt, he was right.

  I opened the doors and strode into the place like I owned it. The entire board was there, Edward at the head of the table as usual. Bernard was there, and it was easy to tell by the expression on his face that he was very eager to hear about what had gone down in Rio.

  Boy, was he in for a surprise. Thinking about how he wanted to shutter the plant and put thousands of people out of a job for a quick buck, I couldn’t help but grin at the news I was about to drop on him.

  I stepped into the room, every pair of eyes there burning a hole in me. My phone buzzed again in my pocket. I quickly took it out and saw a text from Isla.

  “Here.”

  “Now,” I typed back.

  “Something more important to attend to?” asked Edward.

  He was right, but I wasn’t ready to drop that piece of news just yet.

  I smiled, letting them all know I was ready to begin.

  “I’m ready,” I said.

  “Well, Adam,” said Edward. “We’re all surprised to see you back from Rio so soon. We were anticipating you taking at least six weeks with that particular project.”

  “Not necessary,” I said. “Once I realized what needed to be done, it was simply a matter of doing it. And I’m very pleased with the results.”

  “Waste of time if you ask me,
” said Bernard Pyke, disdain in his voice. “Sending the CEO on a vacation to give pep talks or something. At your salary you should be living in this office.”

  “Not going to happen,” I said.

  I knew that Isla would be arriving at any moment. That soft knock at the door would be my cue that it was all about to go down.

  “As you all know, I’ve been feverishly at work making changes at the Rio plant. When I first arrived the situation was dire. Production was down, morale was low, and the plant was being run more like a sweatshop than a place we could be proud of.”

  I gestured to the table, specifically at the laptops in front of everyone.

  “I trust that you’ve had a chance to look over the information I sent you covering the last two weeks since the changes have been implemented.”

  “Yes, we have,” said Edward. “It’s all any of us have been able to talk about. But I’m still not convinced it’s the most cost-effective way to handle the situation. We’re going to need to give it time, see if the increase in production holds long-term.”

  “You don’t need to wait to see,” I said. “Because as the data I included shows, the increase in productivity and thus profit is exactly in line with other companies who have tried similar measures in the past. You all have nothing to look forward to but a better bottom line.”

  “Still,” said Edward. “I’m not looking to rush into things. And Bernard here is still eager to show me just how much money he’ll be able to save the company by shuttering the place.”

  The sly smile on Bernard’s face made it clear where he stood on the matter. If only he knew what I knew, he wouldn’t be looking so smug.

  Before anyone had a chance to say anything else, a soft knock came at the boardroom doors.

  That was it. Time to drop the bomb.

  “Who is that?” asked Bernard. “Were we expecting someone else?”

  “We weren’t,” I said. “But I was.”

  “What’s going on, Adam?” asked Edward, one eyebrow raised.

  “Before we continue,” I said. “There’s something I’ve been hiding from you all. Something that you have a right to know. After all, it will affect my position here as CEO.”

  “Cut to the chase, Adam,” said Edward. “You know as well as anyone that I don’t care for fooling around.”

  “Neither do I, Edward. And this is what this is all about—an end to the fooling around.”

  With that, I stepped over to the doors and opened them up.

  Sure, the circumstances weren’t the best, but the sight of Isla and our girls never failed to bring a smile to my face. Isla was dressed in casual clothes, the two girls in a double stroller.

  “Come on in,” I said.

  Isla entered, and I could sense that she was more than a little nervous about being the center of attention like that. But she quickly shed her anxiety and regained her usual poise.

  “What the hell is going on here?” asked Edward as he laid his eyes on Isla and the girls. “Why are there children in the boardroom?”

  “This is Isla Marten,” I said. “Senior Administrative Specialist at our LA offices. Though she’s been on maternity leave for the last month.”

  “Really looking forward to getting back to work,” she said with a professional smile.

  Edward didn’t need me to explain what was going on. He was smart enough to figure it out.

  “Tell me now, Adam,” he said. “For how long has this been going on?”

  “That’s…a complicated question,” I said. “Started a while back, and then…well, I don’t want to get into that. But the important part is that we’re together, and these are our little girls.”

  The girls cooed as if they knew they were being talked about. The board began eagerly chatting among themselves, all taking in this information and its obvious implication.

  “And what’s the purpose of this display?” asked Edward, gesturing toward the girls. “To flaunt them? For us to give you congratulations?”

  “Congratulations would be nice,” I said. “But that’s not the reason we’re here. As part of my joining Corliss as CEO, I was forced to agree that I wouldn’t ever get involved with any of my subordinates. And that was my intention. I’m aware that I had something of a reputation. And when I started here, I had every intention of living up to our agreement.”

  “Until you didn’t,” said Edward.

  “Until I met the most amazing woman I’ve ever known in my life,” I said. “Sure, it took my stupid self a long time to realize that I couldn’t live without her, but now that she’s in my life, that our family’s in my life, I’m the happiest man on the planet.”

  “How touching,” said Bernard. “Really moving stuff. But of course you know that this means your time here as CEO ended the moment your happy family stepped into the boardroom.”

  “I’m aware of that,” I said. “And I didn’t want to mislead you all.”

  “But you have misled us,” said Edward. “You’ve been having a relationship with Ms. Marten here for long enough to have a family.”

  “It’s a long story,” said Isla. “But…more like the last month.”

  “I’m confused,” said Bernard.

  “Like she said,” I said. “Long story.”

  “The story doesn’t matter,” said Edward. “Your actions do. And as of now, you’re no longer a member of this organization.”

  I nodded.

  “I accept that. But before I take my leave, I’d like to tell you the rest of the situation in Rio.”

  “There’s more?” asked Bernard.

  “There’s more,” I said.

  I glanced over at Isla, who offered me a warm, supportive smile as I prepared to deliver my next bombshell.

  “I wasn’t about to get fired and have Bernard here undo all of my work. So, I took the liberty of implementing the changes in Rio. And once I was done there and the plan had been outlined, I sent the new protocol to the rest of our international factories.”

  Gasps broke out around the room.

  “And when that was done, last night I typed up a press release and sent it to all of the major industry media companies. They’re putting together their stories now, and tomorrow the forward-thinking Corliss will be on the front page of every business section.”

  However shocked the board had been, that revelation pushed them over the edge.

  “You did what?” demanded Bernard, standing up from his seat.

  “I know this was extreme,” I said, “but it’s the right thing to do. Real, comprehensive benefits, better working conditions, wages that can support a family. Corliss will go down in the books as a global humanitarian organization. And if that’s not enough, the profits should make it all worth it.”

  “Humanitarian organization!” shouted Bernard. “This is insane!”

  As raucous as the board was in that moment, Edward was the complete opposite. He was cold and severe, his eyes fixed on me.

  He stood up slowly, deliberately. Then he raised his hand, and the rest of the board grew silent.

  “Adam, Ms. Marten,” he said, his voice sharp enough to cut glass. “My office. Ten minutes.”

  Without another word, he strode out.

  Isla and I shared a look.

  What he was going to say, we could only guess.

  Chapter 31

  Isla

  Mr. Corliss was mad—no doubt about it. I’d never even met the man face-to-face before. I’d seen him at a few company events, but that had been it.

  Hell of a way to meet the boss. If he even still was.

  Adam and I made our way to Edward’s office, the two of us saying nothing, the girls still fast asleep like nothing was going on.

  “Almost makes you want to be a baby,” said Adam with a wry smile, apparently on the same wavelength as me.

  “Are you okay?” I asked. “He seemed…like he was ready to explode. And I know he’s not the kind of guy to lose his temper easily.”

  “It’s
going to be fine,” he said. “Edward’s a serious man, but he’s reasonable.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  Adam’s cool attitude was exactly what I needed in that moment. He was his usual calm, unflappable self despite the fact that he was about to have to answer for one of the most controversial business decisions of all time to one of the most powerful men in the state.

  Truly, I was glad for it.

  In short order we arrived at the large double doors to Edward’s office. Adam knocked, and Edward called for us to enter.

  My heart was racing as Adam opened the door. I felt faint.

  The founder’s office was beyond impressive. It was like some kind of sleek, modern temple—ornate and grand but also sleek and stylish. And standing behind the massive desk, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared out the window onto the city, was the man himself.

  We entered slowly, Edward not saying a word. Finally, as we reached the center of the room, he spoke.

  “Surprised to see you with kids,” he said, not turning around to face us. “Two girls?”

  “That’s right,” said Adam. “They just turned a month old.”

  “And their names?”

  I felt as though it was time for me to speak.

  “Natalie and Noelle.”

  “Natalie and Noelle,” he said. “Pretty names. Unusual names. There a story behind them?”

  “Yes,” said Adam. “This…thing between us happened in Rio last Christmas. So, we figured some Christmas-themed names were appropriate.”

  “Noelle,” he said. “I get it. And Natalie, as in Feliz Natal. Very cute. And I’m sure the story is a heart-warmer as well.”

  He finally turned to face us, his expression grave.

  “Both of you sit down.”

  Adam and I shared a look of anticipation as we took our seats.

  Edward stepped slowly around the desk, eventually taking a seat on the edge.

  “Both of you did something severe,” he said. “Something that some might consider unforgivable. Adam, you used the trust we instilled in you in this position. And you, Ms. Marten, you helped him do it. There’s a chance that if I decided to get legal to look into it, they could find some way to pin the both of you up on something. Misappropriation of funds, who knows?”