I'd be lying if I said I wasn't anxious as hell right now. I've never left Declan with anyone other than my bestfriend Everett.

I've become so protective over Declan after what happened with my ex-wife that's its become difficult for me to trust anyone near my son.

Hiring a Nanny was the absolute last thing I wanted to do, but it hasn't been easy trying to manage both being a single father and owning several companies.

I interviewed nearly a hundred Nannies. And I almost gave up when I couldn't find the right one.

They either lied on their resume, were only trying to get closer to me, unable to move in, or Declan just didn't feel comfortable around them.

So I was surprised when I saw how comfortable Declan had gotten with Laurel. And so quickly too. Which is why I decided to give her the job.

I just hope I made the right choice.

Sighing, I glanced at my phone. I had a strong urge to call and check in on them even though it hasn't been thirty minutes yet.

I anxiously ran a hand through my hair, my eyes frequently darting back and forth between the stack of papers on my desk and my phone.

A knock at the door and the sound of Everett's voice filled my ears. Although I could hear his voice, I wasn't actually listening as I was too busy trying to control my breathing and shake the paranoid thoughts from my mind.

I don't think I can do this.

I start to reach for my phone, but a hand shoots out and snatches it out of reach.

I look up, eyeing my phone in Everett's hand.

"Did you hear a word I said, Levi?"

"Give me back my phone," I demand, ignoring his question.

He narrows his blue eyes, giving me a quick scan before sighing. "Did you take your anxiety meds?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I took them this morning."

"Then what's got you so- oh," he says, seeming to connect the dots. "I'm sure he's fine."

He knew about my hiring Laurel and how that all came to be. He also knew about what happened with my ex-wife and how that situation was the cause of my current anxiety.

We've known each other since elementary school, so there wasn't a thing he didn't know about me and that I didn't know about him.

I keep my life pretty private, which isn't an easy thing to do when you are the topic of conversation on almost every tabloid, news channel, and blog nearly everyday.

Especially after the whole world found out my my ex-wife had abandoned me and my son to God knows where doing God knows what.

"You may be right, but just to ease my anxiety I'm going to call and make sure."

I held out an open hand, my palm upright as I waited for Everett to hand me back my phone.

Rolling his eyes, he sighed and placed the phone in my open palm. "Make it quick. We have a meeting to attend in ten minutes."

Nodding, I quickly pulled up Laurel's name in my contacts and called her. I pressed the device up to my ear, listening to the phone ring.

"Hello?" Her sultry voice sounded through the phone, her calm tone helping my body to relax.

My heart rate began to slow, and I no longer felt like ripping my hair from my scalp. "Is everything going okay?"

"Everything's going great. Declan's currently watching TV. Did you want to speak to him?" She asked, offering to switch to a video call.

"Uh no, that's alright. I actually have a meeting to get to, so I'll call and check in later."

"Okay."

Quickly hanging up the phone, I inhaled deeply through my nose and exhaled out through my mouth.

I felt a little better knowing that Declan was in good hands. I didn't feel so paranoid, the thoughts that had ambushed my mind replaced with thoughts pertaining to this upcoming meeting I have with a certain businessman.

He's a man I hired to handle the finances at one of two of my stock companies here in the city.

I was in the middle of giving Laurel the tour when he had called me to tell me that he had some bad news to report.

Apparently, there's a thief in my company. Someone has been gradually transferring funds into a separate account for the past two years.

I am beyond livid that people I hired to work in my company would be so comfortable betraying me. I put my trust in them and they stabbed me in the back.

Walking into the conference room, I took my seat at the head of the table, my patience rapidly declining with each passing minute.

I could be at home with my son, but instead, I am here having to deal with this shit.

"Well? Someone speak up!" I barked, Daniel, my assistant, and Everett making note of my irritation.

"W-We unfortunately haven't found out who's been s-stealing from you," Daniel stammered out nervously, expecting me to suddenly explode like an angry volcano.

"There better be some good news in there Daniel."

He nodded. "All of the stolen money was left untouched. And I froze the account to make sure it remained that way."

"Good."

I stood to my feet and turned my attention to my assistant. Although he's a bright young man with an impressive resume, he's clumsy as hell. He's practically a puppy.

"Any update on Natalie?"

He shook his head. "No sir."

I've been trying to track down Natalie for years with no such luck. The woman was a ghost.

My reasoning for wanting to find her had nothing to do with Declan and everything to do with me.

I need answers.

And not just that, but I need to make sure I'm prepared for if or when she decides to return. Despite not having been in Declan's life, she could still very well take him from me.

My jaw tightened at the thought of never being able to see my son again.

I wouldn't be able to read to him, tuck him in at night, or snuggle him close when he seeks my fatherly embrace.

I shake the terrifying thought from my mind.

I don't know what I would do without my son. He means more to me than my status and wealth. He's not just my greatest accomplishment, he's my entire world. And without him, my heart would stop beating.

So when I say nothing is beneath me- I mean that with wholehearted conviction. Because when it comes to my son, I will do anything to protect him.

And I mean anything.