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I shook the woman’s hand, very aware that her gaze was scrutinizing. Her black hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and her crisp suit showed off her slender physique. She was exactly the type of woman I could picture Caleb with; someone worldlier and more experienced. The thought alone irritated me.

“It’s a pleasure,” I said. I turned back to Caleb. “I can come back another time, when you’re not busy.”

“She’s here to see you,” he replied. “Your wardrobe is…” his eyes traveled from the top of my head to the tips of my heels, “Lacking.”

“Excuse me?” My voice hitched, and I felt my face warm. His jibe was unnecessary, especially in front of a complete stranger.

“You need some new clothes,” said Caleb. “You represent my company, and I can’t have you looking like that.” He waved his hand in front of me, and I struggled to keep from feeling both hurt and humiliated.

Something flashed in Caleb’s eyes when he caught my withering expression, but it was gone before I could blink.

“I’m sorry to have wasted your time,” I told Andrea. “Mr. Callahan will compensate you, I’m sure. Now,” I glared at Caleb, “I have to get back to work.”

My heels clicked loudly as I walked out with as much dignity as I could muster. Caleb had a terrible habit of making me feel no taller than a few inches, and I hated myself for allowing his words to burrow their way into my head.

AALIYAH MADE GOOD on her promise to take me to lunch, and after a delicious meal, we took a slow walk back to our office. We kept the conversation light, but I could tell Aaliyah was dying to ask about what was going on between Caleb and me. She was practically bouncing in her seat at lunch, her eyes aglow with child-like keenness. I’d tried to convince her there was nothing to talk about, but she was like a dog with a bone, and eventually I gave her just enough information to mollify her. I didn’t tell her everything, especially not that I was living with Caleb, because becoming the next source of office gossip was not on my agenda. I was distracted, so I allowed Aaliyah to steer our casual tête-à-tête. I wasn’t even sure what she was yapping about, and by the time we got back to Park Avenue, I had little to no recollection of the walk from Bryant Park.

My phone rang, and I pursed my lips when I didn’t recognize the number. At first I debated not answering, considering that the only person who actually had this number was my mother, but chose to find out who was looking for me.

“Hello?”

An aged male voice crackled through. “Uh, hello. Is that Ms. Kavanagh?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry to bother you. It’s Paul, the doorman at the Puck Building. Mr. Callahan gave me your name and number, and I thought I’d give you a call since I can’t reach him.”

“Is everything okay?” I asked, my mind immediately jumping to Braelynn.

“Well that’s why I’m calling,” said Paul. He sounded nervous, and unsure, and that wasn’t helping the sudden flurry of anxiety in my stomach. “Danielle, the Nanny that has been looking after Caleb’s daughter left the building an hour ago without the baby, and hasn’t been back. There’s no one else in the penthouse -”

“I’m on my way,” I interrupted loudly. Aaliyah stopped in front of the doors to Callahan Industries, and frowned.

“What’s going on?” she mouthed.

I shook my head, and ended the call before stepping into the street to hail a cab.

“Call Caleb,” I told her. “Tell him I’m on my way to his place, and to meet me there as soon as he can.”

“Kadence, tell me what’s going on.”

“No time.” A cab pulled up next to me at the curb, and I looked back at Aaliyah one more time. “Please, call Caleb, and if he doesn’t answer, keeping calling until he does.”

Her lips moved, but her response was already silenced from the inside of the cab. I watched as she ran into the building, and then told the cab driver where I needed to go. A few minutes, and several traffic violations later, the cab screeched to a stop outside the Puck building. I threw what little money I had in my purse at the driver, and flung myself out of the cab. My feet carried me to the elevators, and it felt like I’d stopped breathing while I made my way to the penthouse. Paul let me in – Caleb hadn’t given me keys – and I picked up my pace until I was standing in the nursery. Braelynn was screaming, tears staining her little red face and her small hands bunched into fists. Without hesitation, I picked her up, and cradled her to my chest, careful to support her head in the crook of my arm.

“There, there,” I cooed gently, brushing my fingertips over her soft hair. “I’m here, sweet girl.”

Braelynn calmed, and made a suckling noise with her mouth. I had no idea what her feeding schedule was, but I was willing to bet that she was hungry. I looked over my shoulder at Paul, getting a good look at him for the first time. He was an older gentleman with white hair, aged features, and surprisingly kind eyes. “It’s okay,” I said. “I’ll keep an eye on her until Mr. Callahan gets back.”

He looked at me with open suspicion, probably wondering whether or not to trust me, but then Braelynn stopped crying and I guessed that was all the proof he needed that she was okay.

“I’m going to keep calling Mr. Callahan,” he replied gruffly.

“That’s fine.” My gaze fell back to Braelynn. “I’ll feed the little Miss, and see if she needs to be changed.”

Paul grouched something unintelligible, and as soon as he left, I went about changing Braelynn. I buttoned up her baby grow, wrapped her up in her pink blanket, and ventured into the kitchen to find her bottles. Caleb had her formula labeled, along with everything else she needed, and once I’d sterilized and warmed her bottle in the fancy bottle warmer, I settled onto the sofa and placed the bottle in Braelynn’s mouth. She took it ardently, and ate with as much gusto that a newborn could. She had quite the appetite for such a small thing.

I watched her in awe, feeling unfamiliar warmth fill my chest. I could’ve sat there for minutes, or for hours, it didn’t matter. I was so enraptured by Braelynn that it felt like I’d lost all conception of time.