The next morning after that disastrous and pointless dinner, I had to leave early. I had two important meetings in the morning, and I couldn't send Stuart in my place as the poor guy was in the New Jersey branch. It had to be me. Well, at least at work I excelled, because outside of it, I had become the worst of the worst in every sense - a father, a son, a man, a human being.
As soon as I heard my alarm clock ring, I got up and went straight to the shower. Nothing like a good hot shower in the morning to give you energy.
After putting on my usual impeccable suit and shoes, I gave the meeting agenda one last look and got up.
Silently, I left the place where I never wanted to leave, my room, but life had to go on.
Walking towards the staircase to go down to the kitchen, I was moved by something that didn't seem like me.
As I passed by the door of the beast's room, I opened it and noticed that he was still sleeping. Because it was a cold morning, I approached him and covered him, only then realizing that he was holding a photo of his mother while sleeping.
In that moment, I felt a knot in my stomach and my eyes burned. I stroked his hair and left without him even realizing that I had been there. Then, I ended up entering Elisa's room. I couldn't get close to her yet, the pain was still too constant and present in me, but I saw that she was sleeping curled up under a huge blanket.
Feeling like a complete jerk, I went downstairs and went to the kitchen.
Gloria, as usual, had already served my coffee.
"Good morning, Gloria," I said.
"Good morning, Mr. Blake. I hope you're feeling better," she replied.
"I feel tired, but it's part of it. I'll be out for most of the day and will only be back in the evening. Take care of everything as usual, alright?"
"You can count on me, sir. And just so I don't forget, as you asked yesterday, I've already scheduled the interview with the new nanny candidate for 5 PM, as instructed."
"Perfect... I hope this one works out because if not, God knows what I'll do."
"It will work out, sir. Have a good day," Gloria said.
"Thank you, Gloria. You too."
Everything seemed to be going normally, if it wasn't for the fact that at some moments throughout my day, I still thought about that strange woman I had seen almost 24 hours ago.
Her image was strong in my thoughts, and I just wanted to know why. But in the end, I couldn't let anything hinder my reputation process.
Between one meeting and another, I found myself sitting in my chair, looking at the panoramic view of the entire city of Chicago when my phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Blake, dear..."
I recognized that voice from anywhere. And every time she spoke to me, trouble followed.
"Mia... What brings you the honor of your call?"
"Blake, I'm coming to Chicago for some business and talking to Mom, she decided to have a dinner."
I rolled my eyes. In the midst of the chaos that my life was in, the last thing I needed was one of my mother's dinners filled with her friends who hit on me in various ways since I became a widower.
"Great, Mia... Good for you... I hope you enjoy it."
"Blake, I don't think you understand..."
"Yes... I understood that Mom is having a dinner, but what does that have to do with me?"
"Everything, my love. We'll have it at your house because there's more space... and also, I can enjoy and spend more time with my nieces and nephews that I rarely get to see."
"Oh, Mia, why do you always inform me last minute? I have a commitment as soon as I get home."
"Hmm, a commitment? And may I know what it is?"
"I have an interview with a nanny candidate for Nicolas and Elisa."
From the other side, I could hear Mia's laughter.
"Oh, no, Blake... You've won... this will be the event of the year... Nicolas has already terrorized five candidates, and this time I'll have the pleasure of seeing it personally with the sixth candidate... It's a done deal... I'll be at your house later to make the preparations."
"taptaptap...it goes well with glory. Now I have to go mia...see you later."
I turned off my phone and left it on the table. This action was enough time for the door of my office to be opened and for my secretary and a group of highly interested shareholders to enter.
"Ready, Mr. Blake?"
"Yes..."
"Then let's go..."
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