John glanced nervously at the clock, 2:58 PM. Two minutes until his next meeting. He reached for his phone, the one nestled amongst the usual desk clutter of coffee mugs, half-eaten donuts, and crumpled tissues. A bright smile filled the screen – his new stepdaughter, Lily. He’d only known her for a year, having married Lily’s mom, Sarah, not long after his own messy divorce.
John wasn’t exactly known for emotional stability. Rumors about the violence that led to his first marriage’s demise still swirled. Yet, here he was, remarried with a ready-made family. It felt…convenient. Sarah, a single mom herself, seemed happy enough. Lily, well, Lily was two. A blissful stage of ignorance towards John’s complicated past.
John tapped the screen, his reflection momentarily replacing Lily’s grin. He looked tired. The constant pressure of his job, an economist who held the fate of the nation’s economy in his pronouncements, weighed heavily. Just this morning, he’d had to make a crucial call – should the Federal Reserve cut interest rates or wait? He’d chosen caution, emphasizing a wait-and-see approach. It was a delicate dance, balancing economic data with public confidence.
A sharp pang of guilt pricked at him. Was he being as cautious with his personal life? Here he was, already eyeing a third marriage, a thought that sent a shiver down his spine. Lily deserved a stable home, a father figure who wouldn’t disappear like the last one. John sighed, pocketing his phone. He needed to focus, for the economy, and perhaps more importantly, for the little girl with the sunshine smile who now called him Dad.
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