Chapter 4 - The Boardroom and the Breakthrough
Two weeks later, the tension at Patterson Development reached its peak.
A massive multi-million-dollar acquisition deal with a European conglomerate was coming to its final voting phase. Dominic was scheduled to host the primary stakeholders at a high-profile dinner at the mansion on Friday night. It was the kind of formal, high-stakes corporate event where perfection was mandatory, and any distraction could cost the company millions.
Normally, on nights like this, Ryan would be tucked away in the upstairs nursery with a private nurse, completely out of sight, while Dominic played the role of the infallible corporate titan.
But on Thursday afternoon, Dominic found himself standing in the hallway upstairs, listening to a conversation that changed his perspective entirely.
“You can do it, Ryan. One foot, then the other,” Norah’s voice drifted out from the playroom.
Dominic peeked through the slightly ajar door.
Ryan was standing between two parallel wooden training bars that Norah had managed to source and install in the playroom over the weekend. His forearm crutches lay nearby. Sweat beaded on the boy's forehead, his breathing heavy, but his eyes were locked straight ahead.
“I’m tired, Norah,” Ryan whispered, his legs shaking violently.
“I know you are,” Norah replied, her hands hovering just inches from his waist, ready to catch him if he fell, but refusing to lift him. “Being brave is exhausting work. But remember what we talked about? You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to try.”
Ryan clenched his teeth, let out a shaky breath, and took one, two, three solid steps forward before collapsing into Norah’s arms with a breathless laugh.
“Did you see that? Three steps!” Ryan cheered.
“I saw four,” Norah corrected with a grin. “You’re getting stronger every day.”
Dominic stepped into the room, clapping slowly.
Ryan beamed proudly, while Norah stood up, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“Dad! Did you see? Four steps without stopping!” Ryan exclaimed.
“I saw every single one of them, champ,” Dominic said, walking over and kneeling to ruffle his son’s hair. “You’re turning into quite the athlete.”
He then looked up at Norah. “We need to talk. Downstairs. In the study.”
Ten minutes later, Norah sat across from Dominic at the large oak desk. She looked calm, though a shadow of apprehension crossed her features.
“Am I doing something wrong, Mr. Patterson?” she asked.
“No,” Dominic said, leaning back in his leather chair and folding his hands. “In fact, you’re doing something extraordinary. But tomorrow night, we are hosting the European delegation. There will be forty high-profile executives, journalists, and investors in this house. It’s a formal gala. The staff will be running at full capacity.”
“I understand,” Norah said. “I’ll make sure Ryan is settled upstairs, and I’ll manage the catering team from the kitchen.”
“That’s not what I want,” Dominic said quietly.
Norah blinked in surprise. “Beg pardon?”
“I don’t want Ryan hidden away upstairs,” Dominic said, his voice firm and resolute. “And I don’t want you stuck in the kitchen. Tomorrow night, during the reception, I want Ryan sitting at the head dining table with me. And I want you standing right beside him—not as a maid hiding in the shadows, but as the person who helped bring my son back to life.”
Norah stared at him, her breath catching in her throat. “Mr. Patterson... your investors... society... they expect perfection. If Ryan struggles to walk in front of them, or if someone makes a comment—”
“Let them,” Dominic interrupted, his eyes flashing with a fierce, protective pride. “For six years, I cared more about what people thought of my family than what my family actually needed. That ends tomorrow. My son is walking. My home is healing. And anyone who has a problem with that can take their business elsewhere.”
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Norah looked at him for a long moment, a deep, resonant emotion stirring in her chest. The cold, distant billionaire she had met six weeks ago was gone. Standing in his place was a father—a real father, ready to tear down the world for his child.
“Okay,” Norah whispered softly, a brilliant smile breaking across her face. “We’ll show them.”
