✿ Aileen's POV

I stare out at the city lights that twinkled everywhere.

Jerk!

Would it have killed him to actually offer me something to eat? Instead, he got mad over God knows what and told me to mind my business.

I roll my eyes.

“Brat” I mutter.

A knock sounds on my door.

“Lee?”

I sigh.

“Out here!”

The footsteps get closer and Bonnie's head pops through the opening to my balcony.

“Hey. Why are you awake?”

“Why are you awake?” I chuckle.

“I was waiting for you to hear how your date went.”

“You couldn't wait till the morning, Bon?”

“Nope,” she replies, popping the 'p'. “And I brought you some Cheerios” she adds, fully stepping into the balcony.

I chuckle.

“Thank you, Bon,” I say and take the bowl.

She pours the milk for me and hands me a spoon.

“Now. Tell me... how'd it go?”

“Do I have to?”

“Yes. Your father sent me”

I make a face.

“Papi's awake?”

“He couldn't sleep till you got home. And when you did, he asked me to come ask you if you're doing okay. And whether that jerk did something bad to you” she explains. “His words... not mine.”

I chuckle and shake my head after I swallow some cereal.

“No, he didn't do anything bad to me.”

“So it went well?”

I shrug lightly.

“I guess.”

“You guess?” Bonnie frowns.

I nod and eat some more cereal.

“He bought me a three thousand dollar dress.”

Bonita's eyes widen.

“Three thou... three thousand?!” she whispers the second part when she realizes she's shouting.

I nod.

“Well damn.”

“But I am giving it back tomorrow though so.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I don't want it, Bon. I'm not with him for the money.”

“Why are you with him then?”

I look at her, knowing what she wanted me to say, and stuff my face with cereal. She chuckles softly.

“It's okay to say you're in love Lee” she smiles. “Unless you're not and all this is an act” she frowns.

“It's not an act, Bon” I mutter, looking away from her.

“So you really love him?” she asks, touching my arm.

I turn to her.

“Yeah,” I say, faking a smile.

“And you're happy?”

“Yeah” I let out again.

I was lying to my mother.

God!

Bonita smiles.

“Okay. I'll tell Henry it went great then.”

I nod.

“Tell him not to worry about me okay?”

“I will. Finish up and go to sleep okay?”

“Okay.”

She stands up and kisses my forehead before walking out of the balcony. I wait for the front door to close before letting out a breath and focusing on my cereal. I hear the front door opening again and I groan.

“Bonnie I'm fine!” I call out with a chuckle. “You worry too much abo...”

Her wild hair pops through the entrance to the balcony and I make a face.

“Why are you awake?”

“I had a bad dream, Lee” she sighs.

“C'mere sweetie,” I say, setting my cereal aside and opening my arms to her.

She shuffles over to me and I carry her into my arms and throw the covers over her.

“What was it about?” I ask.

“I don't wanna talk about it” she whispers.

I nod, not pressing further.

“Are you eating Apple Cinnamon Cheerios?” she sits up.

I pick up my cereal bowl.

“You want some?”

“Yeah.”

I hand her the bowl and she finishes the cereal, not once complaining about how soggy it'd turned. I take the bowl back and set it aside. Then I cuddle with her under the covers, gently rubbing her back. We stay like that and I wait to hear her soft snores but it comes.

“Lee?”

“Hm?”

“Will you sing for me?”

“You haven't needed a lullaby since you turned three.”

“Please?”

I sigh.

“Fine” I give in. “Which one would you like to hear?”

“Our anthem” she whispers.

I chuckle.

“That's not a lullaby, Cami.”

“Please Lee?”

“Okay, okay” I smile.

Camari snuggles deeper to my side and I clear my throat.

“You know I got it, I good got it
You know I got it, I'm your girl” I begin.

I feel her smile against my chest.

“Everything you miss the beat and life pulls you under...”

“And when you need your rhythm back yeah I'll be your drummmer” she chips in.

I chuckle.

“No matter where you're coming from I'll see your true colors” I continue.

“Oh, ooh, ooh, oh, oh, ooh, ooh” she sings.

“If you come undone I'll be the one to make the beat go on and on and on”

“You wanna sing the chorus together?” I ask.

She nods and I smile down at her.

“I'll be your A to the Z even if trouble's comin'
You know I got it, I good got it
You know I got I'm your girl
I'll be whatever you need call me and I'll come runnin'
You know I got it, I good got it
You know I got it I'm your girl”  we sing together.

I keep going, and going and going, till the words barely make it out of her mouth. I smile and slowly bring the song to an end. Only for Camari to open her eyes again.

“Why'd you stop?” she pouts.

“You fell asleep”

“No!” she whimpers.

“Okay, okay.”

I pick up the song from where I left it and keep going till Camari interrupts me.

“It was about you” she lets out.

“What?” I ask.

“The bad dream... it was about you Lee” she whispers, looking up at me.

I shift my weight.

“What about me?”

“You were lost. And we weren't there to help you” she whispers. “You left and got lost, Lee.”

I make a face.

“No. I'm not going anywhere, Camari. I'm not going to get lost.”

“You did in my dream” she sighs.

“No, it's just a bad dream... not real,” I tell her.

She fiddles with her hair.

“Tell me, what did you eat before bed?” I ask.

“Rice.”

“Did Bonnie force you to finish the broccolis?”

“Every single one” she shudders a bit dramatically.

I chuckle.

“That's why you're having bad dreams,” I tell her.

“Really?”

“Really, Camari Wilmore. I'm not going anywhere, okay?”

“Promise?” she stuck out her little finger.

“Cross my heart” I reply, hooking my little finger against hers. “I'm your girl” I add when we join our thumbs.

She smiles, all the traces of fear leaving her.

“Okay finish the song” she giggles.

“Aye, aye, captain” I salute her and continue the song.

Camari closes her eyes and clutches at my shirt with a smile on her face.

“And if the road gets long, I'll be hangin' strong.”

“Ye ah, ye ah, ye-e-e-e-e-eah” she chips in.

I smile.

“And if you get lost sometimes” I sing and pause for her to continue.

Camari opens her eyes and smiles up at me as she sings.

“I'll be your neon sign.”

“That's right,” I tell her again. “I'm not going anywhere.”

She nods and closes her eyes again.

“Ye ah, ye ah, 'cause I'm your girl” I continue.

Her eyes slowly close and when I stop singing, she doesn't wake up. I monitor the breeze. If it got too cold, I'd take her inside and let her sleep in my bed. Then I'd come back out to the balcony and sleep.

Why would Camari have such a dream about me getting lost?

“And where?” I mutter to myself.

I wasn't planning on going anywhere. So why that dream?

Camari stirs and I throw the covers around her properly and close my eyes... the dream at the back of my mind.

I'm getting her a dream catcher in the morning.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

“Girls wake up!”

I keep my eyes closed.

“Hey! Wake up, you're both going to be late!”

I feel a stir beside me.

“Lee?” Camari whines.

“Hm?”

“Wake up.”

“No, you wake up” I mutter.

“Lee! Cami! Do I have to use external forces?!”

That got my eyes open. I stretch and sit up. My arm tingles and I look at the sleep marks left behind by Camari's hair. Bonnie's voice comes again and I groan.

“We're up!” I yell back.

Camari pouts.

“What's the point of being an adult if you can't sleep and wake up whenever the hell you want?”

My head snaps to her face.

“Hey, don't say hell” I scold.

She makes a face and climbs out of bed. I sigh and get up. Grabbing the covers, I straighten the bed. The stone on my ring hooks a loose stitch at the edge of the blanket and I roll my eyes.

Reid Dalton is just bad luck!

I struggle to free the ring from the blanket, and when I try to take the ring off, it doesn't budge.

“Oh c'mon!” I huff, tugging at it.

“Need any help?”

I turn towards the entrance to the balcony.

“Papi, hi. Good morning” I greet.

He simply nods... something he rarely did to my greetings.

“Give it” he mutters and I drag the blanket away with me so he could help.

I watch him skillfully begin to untangle the seam from the ring's stone.

“Your great great great grandmother used to get her ring hooked to things all the time” he whispers.

I look at him.

“She said it was bad luck... your great great grandfather said it was because she was always in a hurry to get things done.”

“Did she stop getting her ring hooked to things?” I ask.

“No” he chuckles softly. “She took it off.”

I make a face.

“She took it off?”

“Yes. And made it into a necklace. Your great, great grandfather did the same to his. And they started a new line of tradition in our family.”

“But you don't wear your ring around your neck”.

“Because Bonnie doesn't think it's necessary. If her ring gets hooked to anything, she tugs till it rips free.”

I chuckle.

“Are you saying I should wear mine around my neck?” I ask.

“I'm not saying anything, Lee. Do what you think is best for you” he answers, meeting my eyes for the first time since he arrived.

I look at him and he lowers his gaze back to my hand. A few seconds later, the weight on my hand disappears.

“There,” he says.

“Thank you, Papi.”

He nods.

“I'll get Bonnie to fix the seam for you” he mutters and turns away.

“You don't like him very much do you?” I ask.

My uncle stops.

“Reid... you don't like him.”

He turns.

“I don't like how this was handled, Lee,” he says. “I didn't raise you to keep secrets from me... from your family. So if this boy is making you do that... along with taking my first daughter away from me, then, of course, I don't like him.”

“Papi I'm sorry, okay? I... it wasn't... I'm just sorry” I lower my gaze.

He sighs.

“I promise it won't happen ever again” I add, looking back up at him.

“You're an adult, Lee. Your choices are your choices. You don't owe me any explanations. I'm just a man who's worried for his kid. If you're safe, then that's all that matters.”

I purse my lips and look away.

“Are you still sleeping, Lee...” Bonnie walks in. “Oh hey honey” she kisses his cheek.

Bonnie looks between the two of us.

“What's... going on?”

I shake my head and thread a hand through my hair.

“Nothing Bon” I smile at her, fiddling with my ring. “Papi was just helping me with something.”

She nods. The breeze blows through my hair and I watch their faces crease into a frown.

“What did you do to your hair?!” Bonnie shrieks.

“What?” I ask, feeling it.

Oh right!

“I just... combed it a little.”

“Combed?” Uncle Henry asks. “That's not combed hair... it looks straightened.”

I give him a half-shrug.

“It'll... it'll wear out” I stammer.

“Wear out?!” Bonnie exclaims.

“Yes. I just have to wash it then my curls come back.”

My uncle scoffs and shakes his head.

“I'll wash it right now, Papi.”

He doesn't say a word.

“Do that right now” Bonnie frowns, stealing glances at him.

I nod.

“Would you like me to make you some tea, Hen?” she asks him.

“I'll get something to eat at the shop” he mutters. “I'm leaving this in the laundry room, Bon. Please fix it for her. Then I'll be leaving for the shop. Have a nice day... both of you.”

He walks away with Bonnie following.

“You too” I mutter under my breath, taking a seat on the mattress.

This isn't fun.

Bonnie's head pops back through the entryway and I stand up.

“I'm going to wash it” I quickly say and look around for my phone.

Bonnie chuckles and steps into the balcony.

“Don't” she says. “You look so beautiful with that.”

I make a face.

“But a second ago you...”

“Of course, I'll support my husband” she chuckles. “He's still brooding, Lee. But he loves you... and your hair.”

I smile.

“Have a little fun with it... then wash it off.”

I nod.

“Can I have my hair straightened?” Camari's head pops through the entryway.

“No.
Absolutely not.
Never gonna happen.
That's not a topic for discussion” Bonnie and I take turns ranting out to her.

Camari frowns and takes her toothbrush out of her mouth.

“I'll ask Dad” she huffs and turns away.

I chuckle.

“Thanks, Bon” I smile at her.

“Anytime. Now go get ready. You're taking her to school.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

Workers are skillfully cleaning the windows and trimming the bushes when I get to Paragon Scapes. Just before the entrance, a security guard with a German shepherd does a sweep of the building.

Jeez!

The parking lot is filled with different cars, so it is quite tedious to find a free space. I finally find a space after five minutes of driving around. I get out, lock my car and move toward the building with the dress, shoes, and purse, in a bag in one hand.

As soon as I step through the glass doors, the diversity makes me smile. People of all races and genders are constantly interacting with each other. No one is idle. Even while walking, employees are looking at documents or discussing revenues, or sharing new ideas.

I spot the janitors toiling to keep the floor clean and shiny, and the air fresh. In all, every person is performing their duty with determination and focus. The constant clicking of the keyboards, the buzz of the printers and the rings of the telephones, the ting of the elevators, and the clicking of shoes against the wooden floor fill my ears.

The air conditioners were on at full blast, cooling the space, and the air fresheners located in different spots made sure that the air was always fragrant and aromatic, like the smell of roses and lilies in an orchid.

I spot a woman behind a large desk and I move there.

“Hi. I'm here to see Reid.”

She doesn't look up from her computer.

“Do you have an appointment with Mr. Dalton?”

“No” I reply. “But it won't take long.”

“Is he expecting you?”

“No, but he'll want to see me.”

She sighs and looks up at me.

“Look Miss, unless you're a relative, I can't help you here. You need an appointment to see the CEO. Hell, you need an appointment to see the coffee boy” she scoffs. “So if you really wanna see Mr. Dalton, then please fill out this form...” she hands me a paper and a pen, “... and I'll give you a call when he can see you. Okay?”

I cross my arms.

“I'm not doing any of that. Where can I find him?”

“Outside... because I'm calling security” she threatens.

I scoff.

“Unbelievable.”

“Lee?”

I turn.

Wait, what's his name?

I smile at the tall man.

“Hi.”

He glances around.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, then chuckles, “Reid, right?”

“Yes...” I turn to the receptionist with a smile. “But this lady here is refusing to tell me where he is.”

“I'm sorry, Mr. Nielsen, but she doesn't have an appointment with Mr. Dalton.”

“I don't think Mr. Dalton's fiancée needs an appointment with him,” the man says.

The receptionist arches her brows and looks at me.

“You're the gold digger?”

I lean back and she slaps a hand over her mouth.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry ma'am. Please forgive me. That wasn't supposed to...”

“That's enough Freda” he cut her off and turn to me. “I'll take you to Reid. C'mon.”

I smile gratefully at him and shoot a death glare at the receptionist who looks like she could die at any point now. I turn and hurry to fall into step with Reid's friend.

“Um hi,” I call out to him. “Thanks by the way. If you didn't get there early enough, she was going to call security” I chuckle.

He smiles.

“My name's Hernan,” he tells me, catching on to the fact that I didn't know his name.

“It's nice to meet you, Hernan. I'm Lee...” Then I chuckle, “... of course. You already know that because you said my name”.

He smiles.

“How was your date?”

“What?”

He pauses at a curve.

“Your date with Reid. How was it?”

He told him?

I nod.

“Good.”

“I bet” he chuckles. “He said he'd text me back afterward but he never did.”

I smile.

“Oh, you know him... Reid” I say.

“Hm,” he hums.

“Shall we?”

“Do you really love him?” Hernan blurts out.

I blink.

“What?”

“Reid... do you really love him?”

I stare at him.

“I don't mean to come up at you like that but I'm sure you understand my concern. This news has been hard for all of us to digest... especially me” he says. “I'm his best friend, Lee, most times like his brother. We don't keep secrets from each other. So finding out that he's engaged to a woman I didn't even know he's been dating for two years is quite the shock.”

Oh, I know.

“So forgive me if I'm being too forward about knowing whether or not you truly love him. I'm just concerned for my friend. I hope you understand.”

I nod.

“Yeah... I do.”

He looks at me, waiting for an answer to his initial question.

“Hernan, I don't wish any harm upon your friend. I know it's a big shock, but I take this whole relationship very seriously” I tell him. “I'm not going to hurt your friend... and I know you didn't ask, but he's not going to hurt me. So don't worry, Reid's in good hands.”

He chuckles softly and nods.

“Oh I know, Lee. But he's not the only one I'm worried about.”

I furrow my brows. But before I can ask what he means by that, we're interrupted.

“Lee?”

Hernan turns away from me.

“I was just delivering her to you” he smiles and looks back at me. “Nice seeing you, Lee.”

He walks away and I can't help but stare after him.

Reid's not the only one he's worried about?

“What are you doing here?” Reid's voice cuts through my thoughts.

I turn to him and lift the bag.

“I brought this back.”

He arches a brow.

“The dress” I add.

“Ah,” he mouths. “Why?”

“I don't need it, Armani. And it's taking up space in my closet.”

“Your closet must be really small then” he chuckles.

Jerk!

“It is small,” I say. “Bakers don't have walk-in closets.”

He stops laughing.

“It was a joke.”

I don't laugh at his 'joke'.

“Just take it, Armani” I shake my head.

He looks around.

“Can we talk?”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“Please?”

I roll my eyes.

“Two minutes” I state.

“Let's go to my office,” he says and gestures behind me.

I turn and walk in the direction he gestures toward. The employees stop muttering when we pass by and I can feel their eyes on me. Reid hurries to hold open the door to his office for me. I pause and give him a look. He smiles and I roll my eyes at him before stepping in.

“What do you want?” I ask.

He sighs.

“Last night... I got mad... and wasn't exactly nice in the end...”

I arch a brow.

“So... I apologize” he lets out. “Friends?” he extends a hand toward me.

I set the bag on his long desk and cross my arms.

“You do know 'I apologize', 'My bad' and 'I'm sorry' are different, right?” I ask.

He shrugs.

“An apology is an apology, Lee.”

“Really?” I gasp dramatically.

“Yes. As long as the apologizer truly means it, the apologee must let it go.”

I scoff.

“I see.”

He smiles, his hand still extended.

“So... friends?”

“We're not friends, Armani,” I tell him. “And you're an idiot. Goodbye.”

I turn away but he tugs me back. I snatch my arm away and frown at him.

“Don't touch me.”

“I said, I apologize” he frowns back.

“I don't hear a 'sorry', Armani.”

“I don't say that, Lee.”

“Let me know when you do” I eye him and turn away again.

“Okay, okay” he stops me.

I look over my shoulder.

“Let me buy you lunch.”

I scoff.

“As an apology” he adds.

“You're not serious,” I tell him and head to the door.

The faintest of electronic clicks reaches my ears and I don't pay attention to it till I try to open the door but can't. I tug but it doesn't budge.

“You're not leaving till I say you do, Aileen.”

I shoot him a look.

“Let me out, Armani.”

“Not until you listen to me...”

“Take shortcuts around apologizing the right way?” I interrupt. “Pathetic, Armani. Let me out.”

“No. And before you threaten to scream, know that the glass is soundproof so save your breath.”

I roll my eyes and huff in annoyance.

“What do you want huh?”

He takes small steps toward me.

“Last night... did you eat?”

“That's none of your business, now is it?”

He cocks his head at me and gives me a look.

“No” I let out.

“Why not?”

“If you cared, you would have asked then.”

“I'm asking now.”

“It's a little too late for that, Armani. Doncha think?”

“Let me buy you lunch, okay?”

“Please?”

I scoff.

“You say 'please' so easily but it's hard to get one 'sorry' out of you?” I ask.

“So lunch?” he ignores what I say.

I shake my head.

“Why?”

He gives me a half-shrug.

“So I can make up for not feeding you last night,” he says, “And maybe... just maybe, we can get to know each other... professionally of course.”

I narrow my eyes.

“I'm not a dog you need to feed, Armani. And outside of this agreement, I'm not interested in spending time with you.”

His face creases slightly... like my words hurt him.

“No offense” I find myself quickly adding.

“None taken” he forces a smile on his face. “So lunch?”

I groan.

“Armani...”

“Open sky” he lets out.

I pause.

“Open sky... right here in this building” he smiles. “So what'd you say, fiancée?”

I sigh.

“One sandwich and a Mountain Dew... nothing more... nothing less.”

He raises a small remote and pushes a button. The small electronic sound comes back and Reid smiles at me.

“You got it.”

Thank you for reading!
Please don't forget to vote.
Ciao
~the_atticwriter