CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Nate couldn't use the goods sold by the suppliers just yet. He needed it transformed into good-quality fabric. However, Scarlet was right about one thing: he didn't need to sell it to someone else.

He could see it to himself.

If the suppliers weren't available to sell to the Claytons, their little business would fall into ruin. As for Nate, he could always find a way to work on the raw materials.

But, to do so, he had to make a phone call first. He would have done it another day since it was already late and no one wanted to receive calls at that hour. It was past the time most offices were closed.

Scarlet had spent the afternoon in his office, watching cartoons and eating cookies, occasionally asking how their plans were proceeding.

In the end, just as promised, Nate turned his computer off early and headed home in time for dinner. He would even have some time to spend with Jaden before eating.

It had been a productive day, and all he needed was someone to remind him who he was working so hard for. Alone in his office, he had forgotten about it.

He had even transferred Lara to the Human Resources department to avoid being watched by her while doing something evil, so he didn't see her until the time to go home. It was the first time after days that he had asked her to wait for him so they could go home together.

She had been so happy to finally see him that she had gladly stayed longer and worked overtime. With Jaden next to her, carrying papers where she told him to.

«It was a good day, wasn't it?» she asked when she saw Nate and Scarlet. «You two look so satisfied.»

«Everything is falling back into place,» Nate said.

A sort of plan was forming in his mind.
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«Today I learnt a new word, mommy,» was Scarlet's reaction. «Daddy taught me.»

«Oh, a new word?»

«Yes, mommy. Do you want to know what it is?»

«Yes, of course. I might learn something too.»

«Outsourcing!»

«Oh, cool,» Lara sighed.

«Do you know what it is, mommy?»

«Of course, I know,» she chuckled, remembering one of the first lessons of the only few courses she had attended in college. «It's when you ask someone else to do the job for you. Then, you pay them for the job and get your things back. Transformed.»

«That's right,» Scarlet murmured, her blue eyes wide in a daze. Her mommy was so smart!

«Daddy said we will do outsourcing,» she said. «So that we can save money!»

Lara tilted her head.

«Are you closing any factory, Nate?» she asked, suddenly worried for the employees of the corporation. Not much about the wolves working in the headquarters - they would keep their job even if it became useless. She was worried for the hundreds of factory workers, human workers, the LY Corp paid every month.

What would happen to all of those people if they closed a factory? She didn't want to see it happen unless there was a really good reason for it. Saving some money was not a good reason.

«No, not at all,» Nate said. «If anything, we might open a new one soon. But all these production facilities need raw materials to work. Our suppliers can't produce enough, so we'll handle it another way.»

Lara furrowed her brows, suspicious. Yet, she couldn't accuse her mate and daughter just like that.

«You bought the suppliers of my family's company,» she said, in the end. «Are you planning to use them to fuel your new fabric?»

«Something like that, yes,» he admitted, his shoulders droopy. There was no use in hiding anything if Lara could read his mind just like that.

At least, no one would think he was opening a new factory just to have an excuse to buy suppliers. His business could handle it, either way.

«I think you should talk with my uncle,» Lara said, then. «He might have the contacts of my family's competition. They will be more than happy to do the job for you. If you're outsourcing, I don't recommend you ask my parents to work the materials for you.»

«Thank you,» he chuckled. «I'll do that, then. If your uncle can introduce me to someone, it'll ease my job.»

«And you'll be home earlier, right?» Scarlet added, as if reminding everyone what was their priority.

Lara's face turned red as she realised her daughter had told her off to Nate. So, that was how Nate was ready to go home so early. Because their daughter had revealed all of Lara's nervous evening chatter.

«You don't need to rush things,» Lara said. «You're always here when we need you, Nate. None of us blames you for working hard, okay?»

«I know,» he said. «Let's go home now, okay?»

He let Scarlet down and held her head instead of carrying her. He needed his other arm free to pass it over Lara's shoulders. The woman was already holding Jaden's hand, so the family left the building like that.

Such proximity made both the adults relax, while the children felt something new they were getting used to. It was nice to see their parents getting along.

If they couldn't have their mom all to themselves, they could at least ensure she was happy and protected. With Nate around, she was.

«I want to eat steak,» Scarlet said, bowing forward to see Jaden, shadowed by their parents' figures. «And you?»

«Steak sounds good,» Jaden said. «Dad could bring us to that restaurant he likes so much.»

«That's right.»

«I like it so much?» Nate murmured, more amused than offended that his children were using him as an excuse. But he felt in the mood to celebrate.

And they were right: he did like that restaurant with private rooms. Not more than the pups did, though.

«But if you don't like it, we can always change,» he said out loud.

Seeing the faces of his kids made him laugh out loud. Even Lara smiled, happy that everyone got along.