Nate spent the afternoon managing his team and ordering the finance department to make enough trouble in the market, even at the cost of losing money. Like that, he could make sure Lara was safe.

When he was done directing, he could finally sit on his sofa and observe his calm pups with a satisfied grin.

«Lara is safe like this,» he said.

«Why?» was the automatic reply.

Jaden looked directly at Nate, waiting for the reply. He wanted to know where his mommy was, but since Nate didn’t want to tell him, he had to wait for her. At least, she was safe… But how?

«I’ve caused enough trouble for the people who kidnapped you,» Nate explained. «They’ll have to work for days to solve it. They won’t have time to look for trouble.»

«What if they decide to get my mommy and ask you to stop in exchange for her?»

«There’s not a chance. They won’t have time because our financial department will change strategy every time they get used to it. If they don’t want to go bankrupt, they better focus on the stock exchange and on their reputation.»

«Why?» Jaden asked again.

«They will soon receive interesting calls from people in search of information… People from different sectors, at that. It will be a spectacle to look at.»

«Will it be?»

«Yes, Jaden.»

«Okay… Uhm… What is bankrupt?»

«It’s when someone has no more money to pay debts.»

«Oh, it’s ugly.»

«Very ugly.»

«And what is stock?»

«The stock exchange is a place where you sell your actions and bonds.»

«Why do you send your actions, dad? I do my actions without selling them. Are you that desperate for money?»

«Not that kind of action,» Nate chuckled, looking for a way to explain it easily to his pup.

«You can make money like that?» Scarlet said, suddenly interested.

At the word selling, she pricked up her ears and left her teddy rabbit on the sofa. She nibbled on two chocolate cookies while listening to Nate’s explanation, one in each hand.

«Yes, Scarlet. A company can collect money by selling actions. You give a person a piece of paper where it’s written that you will split the profits, the money you make in the future, with them.»

«So bad… Don’t do actions, daddy!»

«I won’t. We don’t like the risk of someone buying too many actions and climbing to the top enough to control the company. Bonds are better for that.»

«And you don’t give money then?»

«You do, but you just borrow it. Someone gives you some money, and you pay it back in the future.»

«Borrowing is better,» Scarlet sighed. «At least you don’t need to split the money with people.»

«Correct,» Nate said, patting her head.

His kids were so smart, even though it was obvious they weren’t understanding a thing.

Jaden was still pondering, moving cookies from his plate to Scarlet’s. He would put one on her plate, wait for a second and take it back. Then, when Scarlet managed to snatch one and eat it, he frowned.

«You are right, dad. We shouldn’t sell actions!»

He tried stealing one of Scarlet’s snacks, and he ate one with a smug expression.

«I don’t like bonds either,» Scarlet said. «Who is the one bonded?»

«We are, Scarlet. We need to give the money back when we’re done.»

«And what is it that you are doing to those people? Buying their things and asking much, much money to give it back to them?»

«More or less,» Nate said, surprised.

Was Scarlet following the conversation with so much attention? Was she a genius? Oh, he couldn’t wait for Lara to come back and tell her how both the pups were so well-versed in business! They would become even better with age and more experience… Not to mention all they could do once they learned to read and write!

It was time to teach them some maths.

«Daddy, why are you looking at us like that?» Scarlet inquired, moving to him and reaching out to his face.

She caressed his face, trying to understand that new expression.

«Daddy is proud of you,» he said.

«Why?»

«Because you are smart.»

«Smart? My mommy never told me I’m smart. She always says I’m cute and pretty. Jaden is the smart one.»

«You both are,» Nate chuckled, instinctively picking up Jaden when he also reached him. «Dad’s smart pups.»

The two kids giggled, wagging their tails and hiding their mouths behind their hands.

Their ears twitched and trembled with their chuckles, and Nate moved their clothes away to free their tails. They were so happy after a single word, both of them. He was surprised, time after time. Having kids was difficult, but, sometimes, it would make him feel so proud and happy for their small successes.

He could understand why Lara didn’t feel it hard to bring them up. Even though they were needy and clingy, they also knew how to make it worth it. At that, in ways that Nate didn’t realise until finally living it on his skin.

«What do we do now?» Jaden inquired, glancing at the clock on the wall. Dinner time was far, meaning they were going to stay there longer.

«We wait for Lara,» Nate sighed.

«Where is she?»

«I have no clue.»

«Is that the reason why your heart does bump-bump?» Scarlet asked, pressing her hands on Nate’s chest. «So fast…»

«Yes. I’m a little worried, but it will be fine. We can’t stop your mother from going out just because we’re worried, jealous, or just want her here.»

«Really?»

«Yes.»

«But if mommy marries you, she will stay with you all the time,» she pointed out. «Is that why you want her so much?»

«No. She will still go out like this. She needs it, and we have to accept it.»

«You’re weird, dad. If I were tall like you, I wouldn’t let mommy walk around alone,» Jaden said.

«You wouldn’t?»

«No.»

«Then she’s lucky I am taller than you,» Nate chuckled.

Jaden’s pout made him laugh even more, and he patted his son’s head with ease.