Chapter 56

~~Ryan O’Brien~~ Ryan collapses in his seat. It’s barely past noon, and he’s exhausted. His mother, Adeline, had made him send about three dozen emails to various companies—potential partners—and at this point, if he has to send another “I hope this email finds you well”, he’d lose his damn mind. Jesus Christ. Half the companies on these emails aren’t even worth the attention. And Adeline has somehow forgotten that Ryan has a secretary. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” Ryan says, staring at his mother who’s penning something down in a book. “I’m right where I want to be,” she replies without looking up. “What if I don’t want you here?” “Great. You can leave.” “It’s my office,” he says. “You can’t set up a workstation in the CEO’s office. I can arrange for an office in your name so we can both get privacy. You are suffocating me, Mom. I can’t breathe.” Adeline's pen stills, her manicured fingers hovering over the page. Then, slowly, she raises her head and looks at him with that s