“Did you sleep well?” I ask as she eats the scrambled eggs I’ve cooked for her.
“Yes, Daddy,” she says, doodling with crayons on a sheet of paper.
I know she’s trying hard, she’s trying her best to cope, and I am proud of my girl.
Rachel, Anya’s nanny, is late today.
I already have her dressed and ready for school, and when Rachel shows up, Anya and I are reading her favorite books on the couch.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Davenport! I got on the wrong bus and…” Rachel is huffing and puffing like she ran up the stairs, but she couldn’t have.
I stand up and cut her short.
“I’m going to miss a meeting because of this. A very important meeting,” I tell her as she stands in the doorway. She looks like she’s going to burst into tears.
“I’m really very sorry, Mr. Davenport. I’ll find a way to make it up to you,” she insists.
“I don’t think you can, unless you’re willing to sign a billion-dollar deal with me.”
Rachel’s hand rises up to her mouth; she just gasps. I don’t have time for this nonsense. I really should have been at the office by now.
“Oh, will you stop tormenting everyone around you?” It’s Blaire. She’s standing in the hallway behind Rachel, looking in. She’s clearly been privy to the whole conversation and now decided she needs to add in her two cents.
“Blaire!” Anya squeals with joy, jumping over to her. Blaire pulls her up into her arms and regards me with an accomplished smile. Rachel is still standing in the middle of all of us, looking a little lost.
“You’re not exactly a part of this conversation,” I grumble and she rolls her eyes.
“You make it sound like Rachel just cost you a billion dollars. All you have to do is reschedule the meeting and all will be fine.”
“And you’re an expert on how I run my company?” I ask.
Anya is hanging off Blaire’s arms and I try not to take notice of the way they’re clinging to each other, like they belong together. Neither am I going to stare at how scrumptious Blaire looks in the shapely black-and-white dress she’s wearing.
“No, I know nothing about how you run your company, but I do have some common sense. Which tells me that no billion-dollar deal could rely on one meeting. Even you’re not that good. A deal like that is carefully harnessed through a well-oiled business relationship.” I’m silent. I don’t have an answer prepared and I’m genuinely impressed.
Blaire slowly puts Anya down and then bends low to reach her height.
“Now, you little missy, have a great day, okay? I’m off to work but I’ll see you later?”
“Today? Will I see you later today?” Anya asks excitedly. I hope she says yes, for Anya’s sake.
Blaire smooths the top of Anya’s hair and blows her a kiss.
“Of course you will. Maybe I’ll bring some pretzels back,” she says and walks away.
I am trying my best to not stare at her ass in that dress, so I turn to Rachel instead. She looks relieved, but when she catches my eye, she looks away, blushing.
“Just don’t be late again!” I snap at her before I go over to give my daughter a parting kiss.
I wish I hadn’t seen Blaire this early in the morning, because I’ll end up thinking about her for the rest of the day.
Erica brings me my coffee while I’m in the middle of a phone call. I’m at my desk, tapping my pen on a notepad as I listen to the droning voice of a man I really have no interest in speaking with.
Usually, I don’t take notice of Erica entering and leaving my office, but today, I get the sense that she has something to say.
Thankfully, the phone call quickly comes to an end and I look up at her questioningly.
“Yes?” I grumble. I have a lot of stuff to get through today, especially since I was late.
Erica is standing before me with her hands clasped together, her eyelids heavy as she tries to meet my gaze.
“I was just wondering, Mr. Davenport, if I can take the day off tomorrow,” she says.
“You need to speak to Susan about this,” I say and scribble some notes. Erica is still standing there and I look up at her.
“What is it, Erica?” I snap at her this time.
“I’ve spoken to Susan already and she says she’ll fill in for me tomorrow. I just wanted to