Billionaire Boss Went On A Blind Date — Unaware He Was The One Who Left Her 10 Years Ago

A New Path Forward

Nathan and Audrey sat in silence for several moments, watching their daughter. Nathan whispered finally, unable to tear his gaze away from Abigail’s face. “She’s incredible,”

Audrey agreed, her earlier weariness softened by shared pride. “Yes, she is.”

Nathan said. “She has questions about you every day. Has since she was old enough to understand what ‘father’ meant.”

“I want to answer all of them,”

“I want to be part of her life, Audrey. Whatever that looks like, whatever boundaries you need to set, I’ll respect them.”

Audrey replied. “I wouldn’t ask you to,”

“Despite everything, I’ve never doubted that you would be a good father if given the chance. That’s why I came tonight.”

The simple vote of confidence meant more than Nathan could express. “Thank you for that. And for raising her so well.”

Audrey nodded, then gestured toward the door. “We should let her sleep. The nurse said we could use the family lounge down the hall.”

The lounge was mercifully empty, offering a private space for the conversation they both knew was inevitable. Nathan sank onto a worn sofa, loosening his tie.

He asked. “What happens now?”

Audrey settled into an armchair across from him. “That depends on you, Nathan. On what kind of father you want to be.”

He answered immediately. “The involved kind,”

“I’ve missed nine years; I don’t want to miss another day.”

She noted, her tone merely practical. “And Reed Enterprises? The merger that’s falling apart as we speak?”

“Your life is in New York. Ours is in Boston.”

Nathan ran a hand through his hair, mind racing through possibilities. “The company will survive with or without the Mitchell merger.”

As for New York versus Boston, the answer crystallized with unexpected clarity. “Reed Enterprises has offices in Boston. I can relocate our headquarters if necessary.”

Surprise flickered across Audrey’s face. “You would do that? For Abigail?”

The certainty in his voice reflected a fundamental shift. “Without hesitation.”

“I built the company to create something lasting, but what’s the point of a legacy if you have no one to leave it to?”

Audrey studied him with renewed thoughtfulness. “You really have changed.”

Nathan corrected gently. “Not changed,”

“Just reminded of what matters most.”

He leaned forward, meeting her gaze directly. “I know we can’t simply pick up where we left off ten years ago. Too much has happened.”

“But I want a chance to be Abigail’s father. A real father, not just a weekend visitor.”

Audrey acknowledged. “She needs that,”

“She needs you.”

The simple statement filled Nathan with both joy and terror. “And what about you, Audrey? What do you need?”

Audrey took her time answering, her expression contemplative. “I need to know that this isn’t temporary.”

“That when the novelty wears off, or when work demands your attention, you won’t disappear from her life. From our lives.”

Nathan promised, with the same certainty that had driven his most successful business decisions. “I won’t,”

“Ten years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life walking away from you. I won’t make that mistake again.”

A tentative smile touched Audrey’s lips. “One step at a time, Nathan. Let’s focus on Abigail first.”

He nodded, accepting her cautious approach. “Speaking of which, I should probably give you this.”

He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a business card, scribbling on the back. “My personal cell number. Reachable day or night for anything either of you needs.”

Audrey accepted the card, her fingers brushing his. “I’ll add it to her emergency contact information at school,”

“As her father, you should be listed.”

The simple acknowledgement of his place filled Nathan with warmth. “Thank you.”

A comfortable silence settled between them. Outside the window, dawn was breaking over the Manhattan skyline.

Audrey suggested finally. “You should probably turn your phone back on,”

“See what’s left of your company.”

Nathan chuckled, the sound surprisingly light. “Probably,”

“But whatever I find, my priorities are clear now.”

He paused, choosing his next words carefully. “I’d like to take you both to breakfast once Abigail is discharged. Perhaps show you the Boston office I’ll be relocating to.”

Audrey’s smile widened slightly. “One step at a time, remember?”

Nathan agreed, matching her smile. “Right,”

“Though I’ve always been something of an overachiever.”

Audrey said with a hint of warmth. “That is something Abigail definitely inherited from you.”

As they rose to return to their daughter’s room, Nathan felt a sense of purpose and clarity. Despite all his achievements, none of it compared to the joy of discovering he was a father.

He knew that despite his past mistakes, he had been given a second chance. The Mitchell merger might be lost, but Nathan Reed had found something infinitely more valuable: a family.

As they reached Abigail’s door, Audrey paused, turning to face him. She said softly, the simple phrase encompassing far more than a location. “Welcome home, Nathan.”

For the first time in ten years, Nathan Reed felt he truly was home.