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“Come on, you need to get to school, and I need to get to work,” I call out, louder this time.
I missed my morning workout because Aria wanted to sleep at my house. My ex-wife dropped her off last night, and we had a movie night in the cinema room, watching a tween movie I can’t remember the name of. I just soak up my time with her while she still wants to know me. It’s also a good time for me to be without work mode on.
“Seriously, Aria, you must get up. I have to get to work. I have back-to-back meetings.”
I check my watch, and I have five minutes for her to get up, eat, dress, and get out the door. I don’t like my chances, especially when she pulls the blanket over her head as I walk closer.
Leaning over her bed, I grab the blanket and pull it off her head. “Now, sweetheart. I won’t ask you again.”
There is more grumbling, but she rolls out of bed this time.
Victory!
“I’ll make you breakfast. Just please get dressed.” I walk out of her room and into the kitchen to fix her up with some cereal.
She shuffles into the kitchen just a few moments later, propping herself onto a stool. “I hate school. Why do you and Mom make me go?”
I push the bowl and spoon in front of her and say, “Eat. And you go to school to get an education, so you can get a job when you’re older.”
“I guess I have to, if I’m going to be a doctor.”
“You’re too young to figure out your career, but you can go to school and learn.”
She puts a spoonful into her mouth and chews, and I rub my brow, thinking how I can hurry her up.
I send a quick email to Cassie to tell her I’ll be late getting in, and she will need to handle everything until then.
Pulling out my wallet, I slide some lunch money to her because I can’t do packed lunches. My housekeeper would do it, but it feels wasteful when I remember as a kid, whatever food my parents made, I threw out. I’d rather not waste anyone’s time and give her money instead, then at least I know she’ll get something she likes.
She picks it up and stuffs it into her pocket, continuing to eat much too slowly. I stand at the counter, going through the morning emails, but when she pushes the food away and slides off the stool, I close the browser and glance up at her and ask, “Are you ready?”
“Yeah, let me get my bag.”
I finally drop Aria off at school and get to work. A little wired from being an hour behind for a workday, but it’s okay.
“Morning, Cassie. I need a coffee, please.”
She smiles. “Sure thing, boss. I’ve got a couple of things to run past you first.”
“Sure. Fire away,” I say as I walk to my desk and let her get me up to speed with what I need to know. Cassie is a lifesaver; I couldn’t function without her help. She organizes my work life and even my personal life sometimes too.
When she finishes talking to me, I begin working while she grabs me a coffee. The first project is a meeting I have...
Oh, shit.
In half an hour.
I pull up the designs and spend the next couple of minutes working on them. My stomach rumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten. And now it won’t be for another couple of hours.
I sip my coffee on my way to the client’s office. I have ten minutes to set up and prepare. Opening my case, I get back to work. When I finish writing on the whiteboard, I take a breath and turn around to double check my information.
And that’s when I see none other than Gracie, like a vision from my dreams. She lets out an audible gasp at the sight of me.
I can only stand here, completely stunned, staring back at her. When I recover from the initial shock, I blink. What is she doing here? And when my brain catches up that it really is her, and that my mind isn’t playing tricks, I run my gaze over her from head to toe. Oh my, she looks incredible. The way she wears a figure-hugging black suit and heels has me feeling a little hot under the collar. I tug on it a bit, trying to cool myself down.
I would love to have this boardroom alone so I could have my wicked way with her. I enjoy the view of her way too much to get through this meeting without distraction.
A throat clearing makes me flinch, and I remember where I am. Shaking my head, I move to my seat and take a sip of water, trying to focus on my notes. She has taken her seat opposite Mason, and I grind my teeth together.
