Chapter Text
You know, for the record, I never wanted to choose a life of greed.
Or a life of never having enough.
Or hell, a life of never being enough.
But hey, that's just how things are when you enter the business world.
And lemme tell you, I didn't become the greatest fucking businessman to ever grace your television screen by being a pussy and giving up, no.
I worked my ass off to get to where I am today.
And sure, many of my methods may not be the most ideal (or legal), but who even gives a shit nowadays, anyway? Loads of people have done far worse things in the past and they've certainly made quite the living out of it.
Just take the world's most influential CEO for example: Bryce Tankthrust. That walking red flag of a woman is so filthy stinkin' rich, you can practically smell the wealth rolling off of her. She's got it all! The power, the status, and even a world-wide known reputation for being America's worst president. And how'd she manage to achieve all that fame and glory? Certainly not by following the system. She had all obstacles in her way removed so she could take the fucking reigns and run it herself.
And it worked.
So yeah, fuck it!
If my own birth mother can climb a corporate ladder with blood-tainted nails, who's to stop me from following in her heel prints?
–Flashback–
An infant's soft little whimpers were instantly shushed by the gentle rocking and cooing of his mother.
"Sh, sh, sh… it's okay, darling. Mama's right here. Mama's got you."
Bryce smiled down at her two-month old son and pressed a light kiss to his forehead, giggling at the wide-eyed expression that appeared on her son's face, which then turned into an adorable smile.
"I'm feeling a little left out over here," Bobby called out jokingly from the opposite side of the couch. Bryce playfully rolled her eyes at him but got up anyway to sit right next to her son's ridiculous father.
"You know you're the only man I'll ever love, Bobby."
"Yeah, you made that perfectly clear when you ripped out your heart for me."
Bryce hummed as she leaned into Bobby's side, carefully readjusting her hold on the small bundle in her arms. "And you returned that gesture by giving me a dozen more," she momentarily paused, then added, "that, and this little bonus right here." The CEO gazed back down at their child. Bobby wrapped an arm around Bryce's waist and lifted up his other hand to boop their son on the nose. This emitted a cute giggle from the infant, which made both parents feel a rush of warmth swell in their chests.
Truth be told, neither of the two had been ecstatic at the news of Bryce's pregnancy eleven months ago. They hadn't exactly expected for her to get knocked up on their first time. Not to mention, neither of the two had grown up with decent, loving parents. So you couldn't really blame them for initially wanting to get rid of the child. There was so much at risk, and the couple knew that. It scared them. But when Bryce had somehow felt the light thumping of a heartbeat that wasn't her own, she knew she couldn't terminate the being growing inside of her now. And Bobby, being the ever supportive partner he was, agreed to let Bryce carry their child, even if the thought of becoming a father absolutely terrified him.
They would get through it, though. So long as they had each other.
And to their relief, they did.
Bryce had given birth to their little boy two months ago and since then have been trying their very hardest to become the parents they themselves desperately needed growing up.
"I'll have to go back to work tomorrow, Bobby," Bryce sighed, craning her neck to look up at her boyfriend with worry-filled eyes. "Are you sure you can handle little Luxy for a few hours?"
"Don't you worry, baby. Me and our little man promise not to trash your place while you're gone."
Bryce snorted. "I hardly doubt a two-month-old can cause that much trouble. But just in case, I'll have Donovan stay here with you."
"Ooh, hear that, buddy? You get to spend the day with your old man and your uncle Donovan!" Bobby grinned down at their son. Little Luxy smiled, and the room was filled with his joyful laughter.
Bryce honestly couldn't have asked for a better life. She now had her own company, a loving partner, a loyal assistant, and a beautiful son who each filled the figurative hole in her chest with the love and happiness she had always craved.
She finally had everything she wanted.
What more could she possibly ask for?
–
"Bryce? Sweetheart, where are you going?" Bobby curiously asked his girlfriend as he watched her stumble to put on her heels, seemingly in a hurry.
"I have a meeting," Bryce replied, not even bothering to look at him as she made her way to the door. "I already fed Luxy and put him down for a nap, so you don't have to worry–"
A hand took hold of the CEO's wrist before she could touch the doorknob. Bryce gulped and avoided her partner's concerned gaze by keeping her eyes glued to the floor.
"You don't have meetings on Saturdays, dear," Bobby reminded, gently lifting his partner's chin up so he could properly look into her eyes. "Come on, Bryce. Where are you really going? You know you can tell me, right?"
The slight hesitation in her eyes made Bobby frown, and he slowly began to withdraw his hand from her face, only for Bryce to quickly grab hold of it and rest it above her beating heart.
"It's not because I don't trust you, Bobby. Lord knows you're the only person I can truly share everything with," Bryce confessed with a small smile, "I'm just scared you won't agree with what I'm about to do."
Bobby raised a brow. "And what exactly are you going to do?"
Bryce sighed, and finally let the cat out of the bag. "I'm going to give The Board what they want."
"You mean those old pieces of shits you met up with last week? I thought you–"
"I know," Bryce cut him off, sounding a bit defeated, "but this could really help the company grow. Just think about it, Bobby. I could buy us a bigger house, get myself a bigger office…hell, I could even pay for Luxy's education!"
Bobby's lips curved up into a smile. "You know I'll support you in whatever decision you make, baby. I trust you and your judgments. So if you think partnering up with those grandpas is a good idea, then I'm all for it," he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Just promise me you won't lose yourself in your work?"
The CEO smiled and nodded.
"I promise."
-
That turned out to be a lie.
And poor Bobby couldn't have stopped her if he tried. She was the boss, after all. She called the shots. While he…
Well, someone had to stay home and care for their kid.
"C'mon, little man, you need to eat your fruits!"
A now two-year-old Luxy pouted as he stared at his little plate with sliced apples.
"No."
Now, Bobby wasn't exactly the best person to be raising a child considering his destructive tendencies, but he was at least trying.
"Your mother would want you to eat your fruits, kiddo," he tried again.
"Mama not here."
His son's response should've been nothing more than a simple statement of fact, because it was true. Bryce wasn't home with them right now. She had work. Just like yesterday, and the day before, and the week prior, and the past several months. It honestly frustrated Bobby how little time his lover got to spend with him and their son. The old douchebags she's been working with are demanding so much of her time and energy to endorse product after product that, when she does get the chance to take a break and be back at home, she'd be too exhausted to do anything else but catch up on her beauty sleep. And Bobby couldn't even be mad at her for it.
"Alright, fine. Wanna go to the playground and throw sand at people?"
That brought a smile to Luxy's little face.
"Yes!"
–
On a very rare night where Bryce actually felt like being a mother again, Bobby found her upstairs in Luxy's room, humming a little tune as she was putting their son to sleep.
"Mama stay?" Luxy suddenly said with half-lidded eyes, a small yawn escaping his mouth.
For a second, Bobby hoped her answer would be different this time.
"Not tonight, Luxyboo," Bryce replied, her tone of voice void of any sympathy for the child as she proceeded to drone on about her hectic work schedule while the boy dozed off.
It was honestly heartbreaking to watch.
So much so that Bobby couldn't bear listening in anymore and quietly retreated back to their bedroom.
–
The more days that passed, the less Luxy saw of his mother.
But it was fine. He was fine.
His father, on the other hand…
Well, everyone had a breaking point, and unfortunately for little Luxy, he was about to witness a side of his father that he had never seen before.
It had all gone down at the park.
"Ewww, is that Bobby Worst?"
Luxy looked up from his little pile of twigs and leaves to see an orange-haired woman staring at his father with a look of disgust.
"Oh my god, it is!" said the other woman beside her with short, blonde hair.
Bobby's jaw clenched as he recognized the two women from his old school.
"Fuck off, sluts."
Both women gasped in offense, then spotted young Luxy approaching his father with a look of concern.
"Papa?"
The father frowned and went to assure his son that everything was alright, but he was cut off by Melony and Stacey's shrill screaming.
"Ew! Get away from that child, you pervert!"
"Keep your dirty hands off of him!"
Bobby huffed as he whipped his head around to glare at the two women. "He's my son, you stupid cunts."
That only seemed to make things worse.
"Gross! Who the hell would let themselves get knocked up by you?!"
"You don't even have a dad! What makes you think you're good enough to be one yourself??"
Bobby was now fuming at this point, and his claws were growing longer and sharper with each shaky breath he took.
"Listen to me, Luxy. I need you to cover your ears and walk back to the car. Don't turn around, just keep walking, okay?"
"O-okay…" The toddler nodded slowly and did as he was told.
By the time Luxy made it to the car, the faint screams he had heard whilst covering his ears had already died down, and he could already hear his father's footsteps approaching.
The ride back home was tense and quiet. Luxy didn't dare comment on his father's blood-splattered face, nor his bloodied sharp nails gripping the steering wheel. Bobby simply kept his eyes glued to the road, too tired to say anything else, and too ashamed to face his own son after what he had just done.
Perhaps it was time to consider what was in Luxy's best interests.
The boy obviously deserved so much better than a homicidal dad and an absent mom.
Bobby needed to talk to Bryce.