Struggling Dad Met Old Sweetheart At Reunion, Not Knowing The Billionaire Never Forgot Him
Shared Dreams and New Propositions
Xander hesitated, thinking of Lily.
“I should check on my daughter first.”
“Of course. I’d love to meet her, if that’s okay.”
They walked together to the child care room, where Lily was deeply engaged in a board game. Lily looked up, her eyes widening slightly when she noticed the elegant woman beside her father.
“Lily, this is Miss Sullivan. She’s an old friend of mine from high school.”
Felicity knelt down, extending her hand.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Lily. Your dad used to help me with my woodshop projects.”
Lily shook her hand solemnly.
“Did he build things for you? He’s really good at building things.”
“The best,”
Felicity agreed with a warm smile.
“He made me a beautiful jewelry box for my birthday once. I still have it.”
Xander stared at her in surprise. That small wooden box had been his first independent project, full of imperfections that he’d been embarrassed about.
“You kept that?”
“Of course I did.”
The look she gave him was laden with meaning.
“I’ve kept a lot of things you might be surprised about.”
After confirming Lily was happy to continue playing, they made their way to the hotel’s garden terrace. The October air was crisp, and the sky was clear.
They found a quiet bench beneath flowering vines illuminated by string lights.
“So,”
Xander said, breaking the silence.
“Sullivan Innovations. That’s incredible, Fell.”
The old nickname slipped out naturally, and he saw her smile widen at its use.
“It’s been a whirlwind,”
She admitted.
“Some days I still can’t believe it happened. What about you? Dave mentioned you started Green Construction after…”
She hesitated.
“…after Marie died,”
He finished for her.
“It’s okay to say it. It’s been three years.”
Felicity’s expression softened.
“I was so sorry to hear about the accident. I wanted to reach out, but I didn’t know if that would be appropriate.”
“It was tough,”
Xander acknowledged, surprised at how easy it was to talk about it with her.
“Raising Lily alone while trying to keep the business afloat. There are days I’m not sure how we’re making it.”
“But you are,”
She said firmly.
“That’s what matters. Lily seems wonderful.”
“She’s everything.”
His voice filled with pride.
“Smart like her mom, stubborn like me. Currently obsessed with volcanoes and determined to win the science fair.”
Felicity laughed.
“Like mother, like daughter. I remember winning that same science fair.”
They fell into comfortable conversation, years melting away. Xander found himself telling her things he hadn’t shared with anyone: his fears about providing for Lily and his dreams of expanding his business.
Felicity listened intently, asking thoughtful questions that reminded him of their late-night conversations as teenagers.
“Remember when we used to sneak up to Lookout Point,”
Felicity asked eventually, leaning back to gaze at the stars.
“And talk about where we’d be in 10 years?”
Xander nodded.
“I was going to be a famous architect and you were going to cure cancer.”
“Well, one out of two isn’t bad.”
She turned to face him.
“You’re still building things, even if they’re not skyscrapers. And you’re changing the world, even if it’s not through medicine.”
He studied her face in the soft light.
“Are you happy, Fel? Really happy?”
The question seemed to catch her off guard.
“I…”
She paused, considering.
“I’m fulfilled professionally. But personally? I work 80-hour weeks. I have acquaintances rather than friends.”
“The last three men I dated were more interested in my net worth than me.”
She shrugged.
“Success came with unexpected costs.”
“I’m sorry.”
And he meant it. Despite the vast gulf between their financial situations, in some ways, he realized he was richer where it counted.
“Don’t be. I made my choices.”
She looked at him intently.
“But seeing you tonight, it’s reminded me of things I’ve missed.”
The air between them seemed to change, charged with possibility. Xander found himself leaning closer, drawn by a magnetism that hadn’t diminished with time.
A child’s cry from inside broke the moment. Xander straightened, immediately alert.
“I should check if that’s Lily.”
It wasn’t, but the interruption had broken the spell. They returned to the ballroom where the reunion was in full swing.
Throughout the evening, they gravitated toward each other, sharing laughs with old classmates but always ending up side by side. Near midnight, Felicity handed him a business card.
“My personal number,”
She explained.
“I’d love to see you again before I head back to New York. Maybe coffee tomorrow? You could bring Lily.”
Xander accepted the card, torn between hope and practicality.
“Felicity, I just…”
“Coffee,”
She insisted.
“As friends, I promise. My billion-dollar empire won’t make it awkward.”
He smiled despite himself.
“Coffee sounds good.”
The next morning, Xander found himself unusually nervous as he prepared breakfast for Lily.
“How would you feel about meeting my friend Felicity for coffee today?”
Lily looked up from her cereal, milk dribbling down her chin.
“The pretty lady from last night? Is she your girlfriend?”
“No,”
He said quickly.
“She’s an old friend. We haven’t seen each other in a long time.”
“But you like her.”
It wasn’t a question.
“You smiled different when you were talking to her.”
Out of the mouths of babes.
“I’ve always liked her,”
He admitted.
“We were very close once.”
“Was that before you met Mom?”
Lily’s questions were direct as always.
“Yes, long before. In high school.”
Lily seemed to consider this seriously.
“I think Mom would be okay with you having a friend. She always said being lonely was the worst thing.”
Xander’s throat tightened. Marie had said that during one of their last conversations in the hospital.
“So, coffee with Felicity? Yes or no?”
“Yes,”
Lily decided.
“But I get hot chocolate, not coffee.”
“Deal.”
They met Felicity at a small cafe downtown. She arrived dressed casually in jeans and a sweater that probably cost more than Xander’s entire wardrobe.
“I ordered for us,”
She said after greetings were exchanged.
“I hope that’s okay. Hot chocolate for Lily with extra whipped cream, and black coffee for Xander—if your preferences haven’t changed?”
“They haven’t,”
He confirmed, touched that she remembered. Lily warmed up quickly when Felicity asked about her volcano project.
“Dad promised we’d get supplies this weekend, but he’s been really busy with work.”
“Science fair volcanoes are serious business,”
Felicity agreed.
“What kind are you making?”
As Lily described her plans, Xander watched Felicity listen with genuine interest. Something warm unfurled in his chest.
“You know,”
Felicity said when Lily finished.
“I might have some materials that could help. Would it be okay if I joined your volcano building session?”
Lily’s eyes widened.
“Really? That would be so cool! Right, Dad?”
“If you’re sure you have time,”
Xander said, surprised.
“Don’t you have a company to run?”
Felicity smiled.
“One of the perks of being the boss: I can delegate. I’m in town for another week, actually. Some business opportunities I’m exploring locally.”
The rest of the morning passed pleasantly. They walked through the park, watching Lily run ahead to feed the ducks.
“She’s amazing,”
Felicity said, watching Lily.
“You’re doing a wonderful job with her, Xander.”
“I’m trying,”
He admitted.
“Some days are harder than others. She asks about Marie, and sometimes I don’t know what to say.”
“You say what’s true,”
Felicity suggested gently.
“That her mother loved her very much and would be proud of who she’s becoming.”
They walked in companionable silence before Felicity spoke again.
“Can I ask you something personal?”
“Sure.”
“Are you actually doing okay financially? I mean…”
When he stiffened, she hurried on.
“I’m not trying to pry. It’s just, I overheard something at the reunion about the bank foreclosing on some properties in your development project.”
Xander’s jaw tightened. A development he’d invested everything in was on the verge of collapse.
“News travels fast.”
“I didn’t mean to overstep,”
She said quickly.
“It’s just, if you need help…”
“I don’t need charity, Fell.”
The words came out harsher than intended.
“I wasn’t offering charity,”
She replied evenly.
“I was going to suggest a business proposition. Sullivan Innovations is looking to establish a headquarters outside of New York. We need a contractor who understands sustainable building practices.”
Xander stopped walking, staring at her.
“Are you serious?”
“Completely. Your reputation for quality work precedes you. Dave Peterson wouldn’t stop singing your praises last night.”
She met his gaze directly.
“This isn’t about our past, Xander. It’s a legitimate business opportunity.”
He wanted to believe her, but doubt lingered.
“Why Westlake? It’s hardly a tech hub.”
A slight flush colored her cheeks.
“Lower operating costs, tax incentives, quality of life for employees…”
She paused.
“And perhaps some personal reasons as well.”
Before he could respond, Lily came running back. The conversation shifted, but Xander’s mind kept returning to Felicity’s offer.
By the time they parted ways, with plans for Felicity to join their volcano building session, he decided to at least hear her out.
