AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s been two days since she made her emotional announcement at dinner and it feels like she’s avoiding me and her sisters.
And she seems sad. Not just missing New York sad, but the world has gone gray, don’t want to get out of bed sad. The other day, I found her with a book on her lap and she wasn’t reading it. She stared at it for a good five minutes without turning a page before she even noticed I’d walked into the room.
There’s only one person I know who might have the answers. I dial her number and wait for it to ring through.
“Noah,” Sadie says. “Did something happen to Daisy?”
“I’m not sure. Do you have a minute to chat?”
“I’m actually on my way to lunch. I’ve got ten minutes.”
In the background, the noise of the city plays through the phone. Traffic swishing and muted conversations, heels on pavement and distant sirens. “Great. I’m hoping you might figure out what’s going on with Daisy. She seems unhappier than I’ve ever seen her.”
Sadie gasps. “Hold on. I need quiet for this.”
I wait until the noise of the street fades. “I’m in the lobby of our building, it should be quiet here this time of day. Shoot.”
I sigh. “I know she’s sad about losing her job and she’s probably missing the city, but this seems beyond that, you know? She seems to have given up on everything she used to love.”
“I knew it,” Sadie says. “I knew this stupid plan was a terrible idea, but Daisy wants to get back here so badly. I warned her. I told her she shouldn’t do it, but she’s so determined.” She tsks. “It’s a terrible idea.”
“It is?” I’m totally confused. Is she talking about Daisy’s new job?
“Don’t you think it is? I mean, I know you’re more open-minded than most people, but Daisy is a good person at her core. She’s going to hate herself if she actually goes through with this and poaches an author.”
My chest hollows out. “She’s going to poach an author from her new job?”
“Shit.” A smacking sound comes through the line. “She hasn’t told you, has she? I figured she had because she tells you everything, but of course she didn’t tell you this.”
“Tell me what, Sadie? You know, I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t really worried about her.”
“Believe me, I know. I’m worried about her too. You didn’t see her, Noah. Before she quit, she’d been pushing herself too hard. She was barely eating, barely sleeping. She was willing to sacrifice her health for that promotion. When she didn’t get it…”
I want to scream at her to finish that sentence, but I can hear in Sadie’s voice how upset and worried she is about Daisy. So, I wait.
“She’s lost, Noah. And she’s hating herself. It’s the only reason she’d ever agree to steal an author from another publishing house.”
“That’s why she took the job with the publishing company here? She’s planning to steal an author? For Tenth Avenue Books?”
“It’s what Fernwood told her she has to do to get her job back.”
“That bastard.” I wish he was in front of me right now so I could tell him to his face exactly what I think of him.
“Yes,” she says slowly. “But Daisy agreed to it. She’s going to hate herself if she goes through with it. Convince her not to.”
“I don’t know if I can.” Daisy’s job comes first with her always. I’m not sure I’m enough to change her mind.
“You have to,” Sadie says. “Remind her what fun is, that her career isn’t everything. Show her she’s an amazing person even if she never runs a big five publishing house.”
“I’ll try.”
“Thanks, Noah. I’ll call to check in when I can.”
She hangs up and I go back to staring at the wall, only now I’m wondering how the hell I’m going to help Daisy. Especially when getting back to New York is what she wants and what will pull her out of this funk she’s sunk into.
I know who’s at my door as soon as I hear the firm, rapid knock. “Come on in, Daisy.”
She steps into my office with a nervous smile, holding up a bag. “I brought lunch to make up for missing breakfast.”
