Chapter Forty-Two (1/2)

Chapter Forty-Two

The day after we announced the news, Rochelle and Scott left for their honeymoon and I was happy knowing that now they can do anything they could dream of together and really relax. Scott's mother took Michael while they're away and a baby free week would do them good.

As soon as they left I felt relieved though, I loved her and I love Chase but I was over weddings and wedding planning. It felt almost like Chase and I put our relationship on hold to help Rochelle and now it was like a second honeymoon.

As soon as we walked through the door, the clothes came off; sometimes we couldn't even wait that long though.

We still pulled twelve hour days and I was blaming my pregnancy for those long lunch breaks we had been taking since we couldn't spend those extra four hours a day in bed.

Life was draining and I didn't know how much longer I could keep these hectic hours up. I was tired and sick all the time which made working difficult and Riley didn't want to hear that we needed help. We took on the company when it was much smaller and it's doubled the business in five years.

We were doing twice the work with the same amount of people and it wasn't only unfair to us, but it was unfair to the employees and getting Riley to agree to hire more people was like pulling teeth; actually I think pulling teeth would be easier.

I don't think Riley realized just how badly him taking all that time killed Chase and I, the strain it put on us with that and the babies and the wedding. I don't think Riley realizes that in thirty weeks, give or take, I will be having twins.

That was still a strange thought, twins.

Chase and I would be parents of twins and I wouldn't be working for a while, Chase would be taking time off; what did Riley think was going to happen when that time came?

He hadn't thought that far ahead and that's a problem because we need time to train people but anytime I tried to bring it up, he didn't want to hear it.

It's gotten to the point where I had to call Chase and Riley into a meeting and ambush them with the truth, they weren't going to like it but something needed to be done.

At the thought or suggestion of bringing someone else in to help at the level the three of us were at, Riley lost it because he didn't fucking get it. He was the one who came in last of the tree of us most days to spend the morning helping get Lina and Mia ready for school. He was the one who left late to be home with his wife and kids. I was the one who was first in and last out. I was the one that pulled the long days and did the most of the work.

I did everything they did and then had to take the time to make sure things were filled out properly and organize; I did more work than any of the boys realized and it seemed like they suddenly forgot how fucked up things got when I had to take time off work.

”Riley, we need to hire someone else. You took months off when Miguel was born and Chase will be too. Are you going to do it all by yourself?” I was yelling now because I was tired of his inability to budge. I was tired of working twelve hours or more every day, I was just tired.

”Can't Chase work from home?” Riley asked and I was ready to fucking loose it.

”You are so god damn selfish Riley, you don't give a damn that I am fucking pregnant and am working myself to fucking death while you get to come in late and go home on time and play husband and daddy. Chase and I don't get to do that.” Since we started dating Chase started staying later with me, he didn't use to.

I don't think he knew how much time I spent here until he left a few times and he fell asleep before I got home.

”This was mom and dad's, we're not giving it up, not even a part.” Riley was stubborn

”We aren't, we're hiring someone and we have more than enough to do that and we will talk about it because I've already made a call asking someone if they would be interested if the position should come up, they said yes.” I blindsided him with that and I knew it.

I knew it wasn't my place to be making these decisions but I just couldn't do this anymore.

”Excuse me.” Riley turned to face me so quick he almost fell over

”What?” Probably should have told my husband and business partner that but I didn't.

”Jameson is willing to discuss it and would move here depending on the money.” I'd been thinking about this since our wedding; Jameson would be perfect.

”Jameson, my friend?” Chase asked and I nodded

”You had no right.” Riley calmed down after Chase gave him a look to watch his temper.

”I know but I cannot work like this anymore. I want to spend time at home with my husband, I want to spend time with my children and I don't know if I'm coming back right away after they're born. I want to stay home for a year Riley. I have a life too. Do you not understand that I work eighteen hours at least twice a week?”

”I need a minute.” He left the room and Chase and I sat there in silence, waiting.

Riley left for a few minutes and came back only this time he was calmer and much more willing to discuss this.

We brought in our chief financial officer and discussed finances. We agreed that Jameson would be an ideal choice and what we were willing to pay him for salary. We agreed on a number of people to hire and went through to figure out which departments were struggling.

I told them we needed to hire two secretaries, one for Chase and I and one for Riley and Jameson, should he accept. I didn't need to be doing all the filing when I could be spending that time working on accounts and they agreed.

The meeting went until ten at night but we finally came to an understanding and I for one was relieved by it. I shouldn't have to make myself sick with stress over this when hiring a few people would stop that.

I didn't think that being pregnant would be this draining and after everything I've done, after all the time's Riley's had to skip out on work, I think I deserve to be able to take it easy for a bit.

Once we finalized plans we set a time to conference with Jameson tomorrow and put out the ads for the positions we needed, hopefully we would get interviews soon.

We all agreed that it would be a good idea to ask if Rodger would come back while I was on maternity leave. Rodger was mom and dad's old partner; he helped us transition after their death and then he left. I didn't know if he would come back; Those three were very close and their death hit him hard, he even sold his part of the company back to us.

”We can try.” Riley was skeptical, it wasn't that we didn't trust him but we just weren't sure if he would even consider it.

”I just think an extra person would be helpful when I'm on maternity leave. I would like to take a few months off and then see about working from home or only coming in a day or two a week. I want to spend time with my babies.” I didn't want to be that parent that worked too much to watch them grow.

My parents killed themselves balancing the work with being parents and I was just trying to make things easier on all of us so that all of our kids didn't have to feel like we weren't around.

The next day we talked to Jameson and our number was one he liked enough to move and after that things got crazy quickly.

We jumped full force with a remodel when we bought out the floor above us to accommodate for the new employees we would have. We interviewed together which we knew was intimidating, but we needed someone who wasn't afraid of it and the right people for the job have to be adaptable.

We bought out the level in the building below us and are about to go through an entire remodel. The top floor will be changed into five offices in case we expand again or Rodger gets back to us and then we were hiring on two secretaries who will be out front. The rest of the employees would be on the other floor we previously owned and the one we just bought.

”Are you okay?” Chase asked as he wrapped his arms around me and I was standing in destruction so no, I wasn't okay.

Let me tell you one thing, growing your business and going through a full remodel while pregnant and recently married was the worst decision I ever made.

”No, there's too much to do and it feels like nothing is getting done, our houses are a mess since we have to work from there and god knows how everyone's coping being shoved together.” I was about to break into tears.

”Go home Brylee, I can handle this; stress is bad for the babies.” He wrapped his arms around me and I felt instantly better as I inhaled his cologne that he's been wearing since I could remember, he smelt like home to me and I closed my eyes as I buried my face in his chest.

His fingers worked through my hair which calmed me down and I felt much better with the simple touch.

”I'm so tired. I'm tired of being tired, I'm tired of crying, I'm tired of throwing up, I'm just tired.” I loved that I was pregnant, but this was more than I expected. Being pregnant with twins sucked.

”Go home honey and take a nap.” He tilted my chin up and kissed me

”How about you both go home, I'll stay and watch over everything.” Riley was leaning in the doorway of destruction

”I don't mind staying, I just don't want her making herself sick over this.” I turned to face Riley and Chase had an arm wrapped around me, his hand caressing my stomach; it was his new habit.

”I remember when Monica was pregnant, she wanted to just lay down and would cry because she just wanted me there. I'm sure Brylee would appreciate some time with you and I don't mind staying, you two have done enough and Brylee was right; it's not fair to put so much on you two. Go home.” He insisted.