“Understood, Mr. Scott,” Phillips replied before taking his leave.
Once alone, Eric picked up his phone and dialed a number. “Ernest.”
“Hmm,” Ernest responded, curt as ever. “What is it? Speak.”
“Here’s the thing. Gifford should be coming your way in the next few days. Just thought you ought to know.”
“Got it,” Ernest replied in his usual calm tone. “With Quentin keeping an eye on things, there’s no reason for me to step in. Gifford’s going to have to choke down this loss himself.”
“Great.”
The two fell silent and shared a knowing smile even through the line.
Meanwhile, Gifford, clueless as ever, was probably still basking in what he believed was a grand victory. That so-called big project he thought he had snatched from Eric was really nothing more than a snare—one Eric and Ernest had meticulously set up together.
Slowly, Eric’s smile faded, and he earnestly said, “Thank you, Ernest.”
“What nonsense are you going on about?” Ernest snorted. Then, after a short pause, he added in a low and deep voice, “You’re my brother. Not his. Don’t you ever forget that.”
Eric felt his chest tighten. For a brief moment, his eyes stung, and a small smile pulled at his lips. “I know. I won’t ever forget that.”
As he ended the call, he heard both Hadley’s and Joy’s voices drifting in through the open study door.
“Daddy? Where’s Daddy?” Joy called out.
“Joy, you’re running around without your socks on again?! If Daddy sees you barefoot, he’s going to be upset,” Hadley chided her.
“Oh no! What do I do now?”
“That’s what happens when you keep running all over the place!”
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Eric couldn’t help but smile. He stepped out into the hallway and, in one quick move, scooped Joy up into his arms. “Let me see. Who’s this little rascal running around without any socks?”
Joy squealed with delight as Eric lifted her high above his head. “Daddy, it’s me!”
“Is that so?” Eric cradled her tiny bare feet in his hand. “No socks, huh? These little toes are about to get gobbled up!”
He opened his mouth wide and pretended to take a big bite.
Joy let out a terrified shriek, but then burst into giggles when she realized he was only planting kisses all over her feet. “Daddy, that tickles!”
Soon, both of them were laughing so hard they could barely catch their breath.
“Alright, that’s enough!” Hadley said, trying not to smile. “Take Joy back to her room and put her socks on before she catches a cold!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Eric shot back with a dramatic salute. Then he blinked at Joy. “We better do what Mommy says, okay?”
“Okay!” Joy nodded obediently. She was a good child who loved her mother deeply, and with Eric setting the tone, she believed without question that everyone in the house had to listen to Hadley. No exceptions.
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