by S. M. Soto
“Yes.”
“No!”
Rose and I say in unison. The man, Tyler, frowns, his brows tugging together, and his bright red, bulbous nose glistens under the fluorescent lights. “Right, well, I have a few others interested, so I’ll need an answer soon.”
Rosalind scoffs in disbelief, and I shoot her a glare, telling her without words to be nice. “I have the first and last now. I’m willing to sign.”
“Great.” He smiles, and in doing so, I can see more of his yellowing teeth than I want.
I risk a glance at Rose and find her glowering at me, obviously not happy about this, but oh well. If I plan to make it, I need to break out on my own. I can’t keep relying on everyone for everything in my life. I did that with Dean, and look where that got me.
“You don’t have to do this, Daisy.”
I take her hand in mine and squeeze. “I do have to do this, Rose. Everything will be fine, you’ll see.”
After the papers are signed, I stand at the window with Faith, looking down at the clogged streets of the neighborhood. “This is our new place, Faithy.”
She makes a fussy noise, and I start to rock her in my arms, ignoring the slight burn in my muscles. I should be used to it by now, what with all the carrying and rocking I’ve done with her, but apparently not. It’s getting close to her nap time, and she’s going to start losing it soon if I don’t get her fed and put down.
“See, she hates it here already.”
I roll my eyes at Rosalind. “Stop it.”
She begins rubbing her temples. “God, I can’t believe I just let you do this. My parents are going to kill me.”
“You’re being dramatic, again. Why would they do that?”
“Because you’re like a daughter to them, and no one wants their daughter to live in a place like this. That, I can assure you.”
“It’s not so bad, Rosie. Just you wait.”
Something crashes in the unit next door, and then loud shouting begins. Slowly, I glance at her, and she has her brows raised in an “I told you so” expression.
Well, shit.
I probably should’ve waited to listen to the neighboring units before moving in with a baby who wakes up at the slightest noise, like a damn pin dropping.
This is fine.
We’re going to be fine.
I’m not going to regret this.
I’ve never regretted a decision more than moving into this place. Rose, her fiancé Damon, and the Reeds all stepped up to help me move into the small complex. I could tell, just by seeing the look on Rose’s parents’ faces, that they didn’t approve. Nonetheless, they still offered a helping hand.
I didn’t have much furniture to bring with me. I had gotten rid of most of my stuff at Dean’s and left everything else up for the taking. Caroline and Nicholas graciously bought me a bed, and I ordered some other odds and ends. I have a couch, no TV, two chairs for the makeshift breakfast bar, and a dresser for clothes. I still have more than enough money saved, and if I really wanted to go all out and buy everything now, I could, but I don’t want to be left in a pinch in case there’s an emergency. I need to think about Faith and always make sure there’s a cushion for us to fall back on.
By Wednesday, I was all moved into the place, and that’s when it seemed the seventh circle of Hell opened. The neighbors on both sides of me have no concept of silence, and the people on top of us seem to get up at all hours of the night and walk around with fucking bricks attached to their feet. For the past two nights, Faith has been waking up in a fit of tears, and I’ve been paying the price every frigid morning I drag myself out of bed to get to work.
The only plus side? Now that I have a Town Car at my disposal, it cuts my time in the morning in half. Sure, I still have to wake up at the ass crack of dawn just to get everything done, but there hasn’t been a better feeling than proving Callan wrong. Seeing the look on his face every day when he sees I’m on time almost makes up for this.
Almost.
Just as Faith’s nanny, Heather, walks through the door, I re-check my email before leaving. Like clockwork, Callan’s email is sitting in my inbox, waiting to be answered.
Subject: Requirements for Today
I need a coffee from Eleven Madison Park and a smoked salmon bagel with capers. Light on the capers and hollandaise sauce. Print the reports for the Harts and have the new drawings sent and cc’d to them both by noon. Penelope Marks’s assistant requested the revised contract be sent over no later than seven p.m. Block off my Friday afternoon. I have a meeting with Baz King and his wife in the conference room from three p.m. onwards. Q3 revenue reports are due Thursday.
Callan Reed,
CEO, Reed Architecture, INC.
There isn’t any point in responding to his first email of the day because, by the time I am on the road, finishing his requests, there is always another one waiting. Every morning at four-thirty on the dot, he sends his first email of demands. There is always another one by six, and sometimes, on his most needy days, there will be another waiting for me at seven. Every email is one hundred percent rhetorical and two hundred percent rude. There is never a greeting of any kind, and I can forget about ever getting a thank you. The asshole sure as hell never says please.
His second email reads:
Subject: Work Attire
The red dress you wore yesterday was distracting for the staff in the building. If you can’t dress appropriately as my assistant, look for work elsewhere.
Don’t let it happen again.
Callan Reed
CEO, Reed Architecture, INC.
My eyes roll so hard at the email, I’m surprised they don’t get stuck in the back of my head. Really, now the clothes I’m wearing are an issue? Yesterday, he had the nerve to message me about my time management because I was two minutes late to a meeting. Even though I’ve made it on time to work every single day this week, despite moving and dealing with a crying baby at all hours of the night, Callan still finds a way to point something out that he has a problem with. Since he can no longer complain that I’m late for work, he has to grasp at straws. Those straws being me, two minutes late for our unnecessary daily recaps and nitpicking about a perfectly professional red dress.
Per my routine, I kiss Faith goodbye, leaving her with Heather, and start my day. Callan’s driver, Stephan, is a sweet man who makes it a point to open and close my door for me at every single stop. It also helps that he steps on the gas, making our trips go that much smoother in morning traffic.
New York is a living, breathing entity I am still getting used to. It is the city that never sleeps. It is also ridiculously cold, something I haven’t quite gotten used to yet. By the time we are on the road every morning, the streets are filled with taxis and other cars. The sidewalks, milling with people from all walks of life, hell-bent on getting to their destinations. I can’t say this is a place I ever thought I would call home. I’m still not entirely convinced it is home for Faith and me. It’s much too loud and bright for someone like me. The streets are too crowded and busy, but I can’t deny the beauty here. There’s beauty in chaos, and that’s New York—beautifully chaotic.
For the third time this week, I make it onto the firm’s top floor with twenty minutes to spare. Knowing he’s already in his office, I knock three times and wait for his response before I enter.
“Where’s the—?”
Before he’s able to finish his sentence, I set his coffee down, along with his breakfast, then I pull all the files, contracts, and reports out of my purse and set them neatly on the corner of his desk. “Here are your coffee, breakfast, and the new contracts. I’ve updated the revenue reports. The meeting notes have been transferred onto a doc file, and I’ve even taken the liberty of printing them for you just in case you need them. I’ve also taken the liberty of getting rid of all the red, as requested.” I can’t keep the pride from seeping into my voice. Especially when I get a look at his face. It’s not surprise that’s written there, but it
’s not one hundred percent anger either. It’s someplace in between. As much as he probably loathes to admit it, I’ve stepped up to the challenge, giving him no reason to regret hiring me.
Callan’s eyes narrow, and I swear the muscle in his jaw clenches as if he’s grinding his teeth together. “Do you want a pat on the back for doing your job? Get the hell out.”
Normally, his words would be like a laceration against my skin, but this time, I let them roll right off me. He’s upset because he has nothing more to complain about. With a smirk, I turn on my heels and head into my office. I smile at the flowers that are sitting front and center at my desk. After the move, Rosalind bought me a bouquet of roses because she’s, well, herself. I think she’s been missing Faith and me a lot more than either of us thought she would. She FaceTimes every night with Damon at her side and makes sure she texts me every morning with a positive message. It usually reads something like, “Have a great day! You’re killing this job—just try not to kill my brother.”
Gently, I trace my fingers over the soft pink petals. I think this bouquet is her way of saying how proud she is. I may not be where I’ve always thought I would, but I’ll get there. Having her support means more than she’ll ever know.
When lunchtime rolls around, I bring Callan his sandwich from his favorite deli, and he stops me from leaving his office.
“I have a potential client that needs me to assess an empty lot. I’ll need you to create flight details and a travel plan. We’d need to leave in a few weeks. I had the important dates emailed to you, so figure it out. The following month is the Architects Awards. I need a tux, two RSVPs, and arrangements made for that trip, as well.”
A crease forms between my brows as I replay his words. “Mr. Reed, you said ‘we.’ Can you clarify who I’ll need to add?”
Slowly, he looks up at me, and a shiver courses down my spine. He stares at me with an expression that chills me to the bone. It’s so cold and brash. It basically says, “Are you a fucking idiot?”
“You’re my assistant, Mrs. Fletcher, which means you’ll be attending the event. You’ll be there with me, taking notes at the potential site for my client. The person who needs to be added is you.”
My stomach twists. A pit settles there at just the simple thought of traveling anywhere with Callan. “Okay. Right. Got it.”
“Get the hell out of my office and do your job.”
I do just that.
“What do you think I should do?”
“Rosalind?”
“Rose, are you even listening to me?”
Finally, Rose stops making funny faces at Faith and tunes back into the conversation I’ve been trying to have with her for the past ten or so minutes. She heaves a deep sigh and props herself up against her massive headboard. Her phone shakes as she does so, blurring the screen on FaceTime for a few seconds.
“What else can you do? This is your job, Daisy.”
“How am I going to leave Faith for an entire weekend? She’s just a baby!”
“I know, babe, but I’m not sure what other option you have.”
“Do you think maybe if I talk to him, he’ll consider changing his mind? Maybe I can make arrangements and bring the nanny for Faith?”
Sympathy crosses my best friend’s face. “I know my brother, and this isn’t just something he’s going to roll over on. You can try to talk to him. Just don’t get your hopes up, okay? Callan Reed isn’t known to play fair.”
She wasn’t lying.
The very next morning, just as I’m dropping off his coffee and breakfast with the requested morning files, I pause in the doorway, wringing my hands together.
“What is it, Mrs. Fletcher?”
I bite back a grimace at the use of the last name. I’ve already told him countless times to call me Ms. Casillas. Has he listened? Not at all.
“Sir, I’ve told you, you can call me Daisy or Ms. Casillas.”
Callan heaves a deep sigh and sets his pen down on his desk like it’s a hardship. “Your legal name is Daisy Fletcher, and that’s exactly what I’ll call you. Now, Mrs. Fletcher, why are you standing in my office, instead of working?”
Bastard.
“I just… I didn’t realize we’d be leaving for events and trips so soon. I have a baby. I don’t…I don’t know if it’s the best idea to leave her so soon. She’s been crying a lot lately and—”
“Does it look like I care?” He raises a stern brow, and it shuts me right up. “You took this job knowing what I’d need from you. I didn’t mince my words. I gave it to you straight. Didn’t you swear up and down you can do this?”
“Yeah, but the baby—”
“I’m not paying to listen to you talk about your baby. I’m paying you to do your job, and right now, you’re not. Figure it out by the end of the day, or you’re fired.”
I jerk back at the ice in his tone. My stomach twists with unease because I can’t lose this job. I’ve just moved into a new place. We’ve finally gotten settled. I can’t mess this up.
I head back to my office, fighting back tears of frustration. Why does he have to be so goddamn cold all the time? If he would’ve just let me talk to him and further explain, maybe he’d understand where I’m coming from. Maybe he’d understand why leaving with him, alone, without Faith, is so hard for me.
I coach myself to stay calm.
This will be fine.
I just need to give the nanny a call, see if she can come with me. Though that’ll be an extra ticket expense that will come out of my pocket—there’s no way he’ll pay her way. And if she can’t come, what the hell will I do? Faith isn’t in a place where the important people in her life can keep disappearing. What if I come back and she doesn’t remember me? What if she thinks I abandoned her?
After getting off a lengthy call with the nanny, there’s a knock on my door. I try to insert some pep in my voice and disguise the stress. Not only is Heather busy those weekends, but I’ll be forced to leave Faith behind and spend time with a man I’ve spent thirteen years trying to forget existed. I pleaded with Heather, but there was no giving in on her part, mainly because the children she watches every weekend need her. It would be unfair to them if I suddenly took her and her services on such short notice. That leaves me with no other option but leaving her behind with Caroline and Rosalind. And the thought of leaving Faith behind for four days makes me sick. Physically ill.
“Hi, sweetie. Hard at work?”
Surprise lights my face when Caroline pops her head into my office. She lets herself in, taking in the décor and most likely my disorganized desk.
“Not too shabby.” She grins.
I look around and shrug. “It’s a lot better than I was expecting.”
“How are you doing?” she asks. I meet her halfway between my desk and the empty chair and give her a huge hug.
“Great, actually. What brings you in?”
She shrugs, playing it cool. “Just came by to check on Callan, make sure he’s being a good boy.”
I laugh. Yeah, not likely.
“So, Rose tells me he’s already making you go on a work trip with him?”
Realization dawns. “I’m guessing she sent you.”
Caroline laughs. “You know Rose. My daughter can’t seem to help herself.”
I heave a deep sigh and collapse back in my chair. “I honestly don’t know what to do, Caroline. I need this job, but…God, the idea of leaving Faith for four days, so soon? It’s tearing me up inside.”
“No parent can be there for their child every second of every day.”
“The stay-at-home moms can,” I mumble under my breath.
She smiles placatingly. “Not even them. I think this will be good for you. It’ll be hard, there’s no doubt, but Daisy, my sweet girl, there is nothing you can’t do.”
My eyes grow misty. Christ. “What if she doesn’t remember me?”
“How can she possibly forget you? You’ll only be gone for four days, not an eternity.”
Understanding crosses Caroline’s face, and sympathy lights her eyes. “She’ll never have no one in her life because she has us. I’ve already told Nicholas that I’ve claimed this grandbaby as mine, and I’m not giving her back. Hear me?”
I laugh, swiping at the hot tears that escape, trailing down my cheek. “It’s not just Faith. It’s… I don’t know if I can be the assistant Callan needs. Sometimes I feel like I’m in over my head here.”
“You’re not. And I have every faith you’ll make this work. Now, what you’re going to do is make those travel arrangements, and between Rosalind, Nicholas, and me, we’ll take care of Faith while you’re gone. You can FaceTime all you need to. Understand?”
Some of the tightness in my chest ebbs away, but not completely. There’s another reason I’m hesitant to leave on this trip with Callan, though I don’t have the guts to speak the truth aloud, especially to Caroline. “Thank you, Caroline.”
“You don’t need to thank me. This is what family is for.”
My heart twinges.
The Reeds are the last of my family.
The thought alone is a blow to the chest.
The phone on my desk suddenly rings, piercing the stagnant silence. When I see who it is, tension crawls up my spine. Caroline must sense the way I’m feeling because she laughs.
“I’m guessing that’s my son?” My lips twist, and I nod. “I’ll get out of your hair. Why don’t you swing by tonight and have dinner with us?”
I pause, slightly taken aback by the abrupt change in topic. “Oh, I don’t know.”
“Nonsense. I’ll have Rose pick you both up after work.”
With a peck to my cheek, I wait for Caroline to leave before I answer the shrill ringing. “Mr. Reed.”
“Where’s my lunch?” His demand is cold and condescending. It only makes me hate him more.
