I’ve well and truly left behind my old lifestyle. While I know my younger self would be absolutely horrified at the idea, I’m glad for it now. My head is so much clearer now that I have direction.
It doesn’t take me long to arrive at my home. Some years ago, I lived on a massive estate in a four-story mansion, paid for and kept perfectly with my father’s money so that I didn’t have to touch my own, inherited billions. It seemed there was always some sort of party going on there.
Now, my home is smaller, but no less impressive in its own way. It’s a two-story manor sitting on a large block of land with a sweeping, flowering front yard. It’s an older place that I’ve renovated, so it still has repainted gables and a large balcony that circles the house. I designed the inside with warm colors that make me relax the moment I step inside. It’s my home.
I open the door and I hear a shuffle from deep inside the house, making a smile come to my face. Within moments a large, golden-furred dog barrels around the corner, panting happily. She jumps up on my body as soon as she sees me, almost knocking me back. I laugh and steady us both.
“Easy, Princess,” I say, amused. “Happy to see me?”
In response, Princess licks my face and drops back down, her tail wagging madly. I lean down and scratch her ears as a warm feeling grows in my chest. My father bought me Princess two years ago and she’s been the best companion anyone could ask for.
During the day, while I’m at work, Princess is looked after by Sarah, an older woman who does my housekeeping and dog sitting for me. She arrives before I leave, but is normally gone by the time I get home, returning to her own family. She’s friendly and kind, having worked for me here since I bought this house.
Otherwise, it’s just Princess and me, but I’m happy about that. Ever since my abandoned foray into making my way into every woman’s bed in the country, I’ve relished my solitude. I don’t need false relationships anymore to make me feel complete. I just need myself, my job, and my dog.
Without warning, however, Opal Kincaid’s face floats across my mind, and my fingers pause. The shock of seeing a face from my past, one that likely wasn’t too happy to see me, has kept Opal at the edges of my thoughts all day.
Now that I’m at home and relaxed, I can’t help but think about her. Is she working for McNamara Enterprises now? It’s more of a surprise that I haven’t seen her before if she is. Admittedly, the company was large and even that single building had countless floors… She could have been there all this time and I would have never known.
I shake Opal from my thoughts as Princess darts away, barking enthusiastically. Now isn’t the time to be thinking of her.
“Come on, let’s get dinner,” I say to Princess.
Unfortunately, forgetting Opal is easier said than done. She creeps into my thoughts over dinner, and then again as I slump onto my comfortable couch to watch a movie with Princess curled up at my side. After the movie, I sit down to try and do some work, but all I can see is Opal’s wide eyes, stunned at the sight of me.
Finally, disgusted at myself, I throw my pen down, stand up and stretch. Princess, sitting on the chair nearby, perks her head up, knowing that if I’m putting my work down, it’s likely time for bed.
“Come on,” I say to her and she ambles off her chair, blinking slowly at me in a way that tells me that she’s incredibly tired.
I let Princess out onto her deck, an enclosed area that’s pretty much a room with a bit of yard for her to play in. She settles down instantly on her large bed and tucks her nose between her paws. I chuckle and close the door.
I retreat to my bedroom and close the door behind me, stretching my arms over my head with a wide yawn. It isn’t late, but I feel inexplicably tired despite the fact that I’ve only spent the day listening to managers trying to convince me that everything was fine. My mind nags me about the report that I should have done, but I can’t bring myself to care right now. I can deal with it in