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She pretended to snore even though I knew she wasn’t asleep. I left her alone and stared up at the ceiling of my room. I had arranged for a wakeup call to be sent at four, but it seemed like I wasn’t going to get any sleep now anyway. When Helen’s snoring become softer and deeper, I sat up, rubbing the back of my neck as I rose to my feet. I grabbed my cellphone as I walked into my bathroom, the lights turning on automatically.
Turning the faucet on, I splashed the water on my face, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly before looking at my reflection the mirror. I vaguely took note that my dark hair was getting frizzy, that my ivory white skin looked a little dry. Yet my eyes, my green eyes, were the only thing that really captured my attention…maybe because they reminded me of my father’s.
“If not for those eyes, I’d think your mother created you all by herself,” he used to say to tease me. And when I’d say whatever smartass reply back, he’d laugh and say, “You’re my kid alright.”
I wish he knew how much strength his jokes gave me.
I wish he knew that each time I looked at myself in the mirror, I remembered… I am the daughter of Liam Alec Callahan, which meant one thing:
“I am a victim of nothing and no one,” I said, standing up straighter. Taking the perfectly folded white towel from the basket beside me and drying my face, I pressed the green key on the touchscreen mounted on my bathroom wall.
“Good morning, ma’am.” O’Phelan appeared on the screen, already dressed for the morning.
I smirked at him. “I’m now convinced you are a vampire, O’Phelan.”
“I assure you, ma’am, I have enough gray hairs to prove I am not.”
I smiled at that, placing the towel back on the counter. “The welcome home brunch in honor of Wyatt today; I do not need to remind you how important it is, do I?”
“No, ma’am.” He lifted a notepad beside him. “I’ve already arranged for the yard to be prepared as per your direction by 7am this morning. The food will be out by 9:30. Guests arrive at ten.”
“The clothes?”
“Arrived last night; they’ve been steamed and arranged. The maids will send them out by eight, along with further assistance for Mrs. Callahan, should she want it.”
“Do not disappoint me today, O’Phelan.” I was already dialing on my phone. “I’m every bit as meticulous as my grandmother.”
/> “Which is why I sleep in this suit.”
I paused, looking back at the small screen to see the corners of his lips turned up into a smile; “Two jokes before the sun is up, O’Phelan; you must be very sure everything today will proceed flawlessly. I guess time will tell.”
“Would you like some assistance getting ready this morning?” He switched the subject seamlessly.
“No. Just take care of the others,” I said, ending the feed and dialing my next victim as I pulled out the bath oils from the drawer under my sink.
“Who in the fuck—”
“Good morning, Greyson,” I cut in before he dug himself into a very deep hole. There was ruffling and soft sigh on the other end…a female sigh. “I wasn’t interrupting anything, was I?”
“No, ma’am—”
“Good. I’m hosting brunch this morning; I want all the most important family members, both Irish and Italian, to be here by ten am.”
“Ahh…” He paused for moment before his voice became more serious…much more him. “Is the boss aware—”
“I. AM. AWARE,” I cut him off before he could finish the thought. I walked over to my Le Grand Queen tub, made of exotic Caijou; it stood on four legs made from pure 24 karats and had features which made it worth over a million dollars. I turned on the faucet before continuing, “Ethan may be back in the city however, he hasn’t officially told you or anyone else that I’ve stepped down. Which means when I tell you to do something, you do it without making me waste my breath.”
“Of course—”
“Greyson,” I said calmly, watching the tub fill. “Over the last few weeks I’ve come to think highly of you. However, you of all people should know that what I think of you means nothing if you cross the line with me. After all, I thought very highly of Tobias as well… Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said quickly.
“So you’re going to…”
“Bring the Irish and the Italians by ten.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, “And see, this is why you are the new go-between for the clan and the family. Congrats on your promotion.”
