Page 137 of A Perfect Fit

He glances at the envelope in my hand. “Are you sure? Like, absolutely certain? It’s a big decision.”

“Yes.” I surprise myself with how calm I sound. “I’m certain.”

“Okay.” Aaron nods. “If you feel it’s the right decision for you, I’ll support you, and you can count on me to keep things running here.”

“Thanks, Aaron,” I say. “And thanks for taking my call in the middle of the night.”

He flashes a grin. “Aside from Jen, you’re the only person I’ll sacrifice a good night’s sleep for.”

Giving notice and stepping down as CEO isn’t something I take lightly. Dad handed his legacy to me and trusted me with his company, and this whole time, I was convinced it was the right thing to do—following his footsteps. But after everything that’s happened this past week, I’ve realized … if I stay at Carter Marketing Solutions, I won’t be staying true to myself. If Dad were still here, perhaps he’d be disappointed at my decision, but somehow, a part of me wants to think he’d also give me his support.

I always strived to have the perfect grades and perfect résumé, to be an all-arounder. It left me trapped in a box, a box that could contain nothing but what Dad and my teachers wanted of me.

Now, it’s time for me to step out of that box.

I’ll give the company three months’ notice and find work as a business consultant for an architecture firm while I apply for grad school—architecture school. I’ll finally be staying true to myself and following my own dreams, just like Isabelle.

It’s her nonwork day today, and I’m meeting her at The Daily Brew in about half an hour. I plan on stopping by the bakery to buy her favorite strawberry jam doughnuts before then to celebrate. My muscles relax, warmth spreading across my chest. She’ll be proud of me.

“I’ll leave you to it then,” Aaron says. He gives me a pat on the shoulder before leaving.

I take a few deep breaths. I can do this. I have to do this.

Footsteps echo as Andrew enters my office, shutting the door after him. He tugs his tie, lines of tension bracketing his face.

“Where have you been the past week? I’ve had to take on all your work.”

My jaw clenches. “I said I needed time off. I wasn’t aware I had to report my whereabouts to you.”

Andrew runs a hand through his hair. “I’ve been worried about you, Jackson.”

I almost laugh at the irony. “So now you’ve decided to start acting like a father?”

He exhales, taking a step closer to me. “Jackson, please.”

“Why did you do it?” I blurt out suddenly. I didn’t plan on asking, but I need to know. “Why did you and my mom betray my dad?”

The silence in the air is palpable. After what feels like an eternity, Andrew lets out a heavy breath. “Eric often worked late hours when he first started his business.”

“The same company you currently work at. How ironic is that, Andrew?”

“Eric and Suzanne were going through the first rough patch in their marriage, and they weren’t close,” he continues, ignoring my statement. “One day, Suzanne had another fight with Eric about him prioritizing his work over her, and that same night, I ran into her at a bar. I was going through a breakup of my own, and I suppose we were both trying to comfort each other.” His head hangs low. “It … led to a one-night stand.”

My grip on the envelope tightens until my knuckles turn white, my blood boiling and every muscle in my body tensing.

“Suzanne never told me you were my son. All those years, I never knew. It was Eric who reached out shortly before he passed away. He said he was willing to forgive me and offered me a chance to get closer with you by working with you here.”

My pulse elevates. Dad was so selfless, even after being betrayed like that.

I rip the envelope I’m holding in half, letting the pieces fall to my desk. “You deserve an Oscar, Andrew. Regardless, you won’t need to worry about me any longer.”

Andrew goes still. “What do you mean?”

“I’m quitting.”

His eyes widen. “You’re acting irrationally and with your emotions, Jackson. I don’t want you to regret this. If it’s because of me⁠—”

“It’s not just about you,” I interject, disheveling my hair.