Damon nodded. "Alright. I''ll do everything I can to grow Prospectus Technology. I''ll bring you back."


    N couldn''t help but smile. "Good. Don''t look so serious. After all, she is still my mom. She wouldn''t go that far."


    Damon forced a small smile. "When are you leaving?"


    "In three days," N answered.


    "That soon?" Damon asked.


    "Yes. So I want to spend these next three days with you and Buddy," N replied.


    Damon nodded. "I''ll clear my schedule for the next three days. I''ll also call Buddy''s kindergarten to excuse him from ss."


    "Okay," N replied.


    Just then, there was a knock at the door, followed by Mason''s voice. "Mommy? Are you in there? I finished my list!"


    N quickly wiped her tears and said, "I''m here, Buddy! Wait for me in the living room. I''ll be right out."


    She turned to Damon and said, "I''ll go check on Buddy. Finish up here and join us when you''re done."


    Damon nodded silently, and N left the study.


    After a quick stop in the bathroom to wash her face andpose herself, she joined Mason in the living room. He was sitting on the couch, holding a small notebook.


    As soon as he saw her, he held it out eagerly. "Mommy, here! This is my list of rewards I want!"


    N took the notebook andughed softly at the 20 or so items scribbled on the pages. "Buddy, you''ve got quite the list here. I''ll need time to think about which reward to give you.


    "Go upstairs, take a bath, and get ready for bed. When you wake up tomorrow, your reward will be waiting on your nightstand."


    "Really?" he asked excitedly.


    "Have I ever lied to you? Go on now," N urged.


    Mason chirped, "Okay!"


    After Mason raced upstairs, N sat on the couch and went through his list carefully.


    When she saw one of his wishes to go on an outing with both Mommy and Daddy-her eyes lingered, and an idea began to form.


    Back in the study, Damon made a call to Spencer. "Clear my schedule for the next three days. Postpone everything. If it can''t be postponed, cancel it."


    "Mr. Sumner, you''ve got important meetings with major clients tomorrow and the day after. We''ve been arranging these for months. If we cancel now, we might lose the deals," Spencer informed him


    Damon replied, "I have more important things to handle. Cancel them."


    "Mr. Sumner-" Spencer tried.


    "Spencer, I don''t want to repeat myself," Damon interrupted.


    Hearing the edge in Damon''s tone, Spencer had no choice but to agree. "Understood, sir."


    "Good. Inform Mr. Keane to oversee operations for the next three days. No matter


    what happens, I don''t want to be disturbed," Damon instructed.


    This stunned Spencer. In all the years he had worked with Damon he had never seen him set aside work for anything. Still, he managed a hesitant reply. "Mr. Sumner, is everything alright?"


    Damon''s tone remained cold. "Just do as I said."


    After ending the call, Damon contacted Mason''s kindergarten to arrange his


    absence. Then, lost in thought, he stared out at the night sky.