Life Bank: Exchanging life for money

Chapter Six

As the business got better and better, Daniel got busier and busier-so much so his daughter grew up as if she didn't have a father. Even Linda was upset with him.
"Can't you just come back by seven to celebrate our little girl's fifth birthday?" Linda said, barely short of ordering Daniel.
"I can try. I will try." He corrected himself immediately.
"You have been trying for a very long time. Please, for her sake, try harder." When Daniel gave his usual excuse, Linda shot back, "I have run out of reasons to pacify her."
"Okay, I know already, don't nag."
"I am not NAGGING!"
Daniel ignored her and zoomed out of the house, straight to his sports car. He had more peace in his precious red car than in his own home.
"She must be having PMS," he murmured to himself, before driving off, not realising that all of her anger and frustration was only because she wanted her husband back and their daughter was growing up without her father.

***

At the office, Daniel sorted the accounts, absentmindedly biting on his pen.
Knock, knock.
Daniel looked up. "Yes?"
Lucy stood at the door of his office. "Boss, shall we do dinner together before the opening of the pub?" Lucy had joined Daniel's company as a secretary and manager when Drintertainment had expanded.
Daniel looked at his watch; it showed six, "Oh gosh, it's so late already." He saved the document and shut down his laptop. "Let's go."

***

Back home, Linda stared at the wall clock and fumed. It was eight, and Daniel had not come, not even called. She contemplated her next step: should she call him or just leave it, since the answer would be the same either way? She called.
The phone rang and rang, but no one answered it. "Why carry a mobile if you don't want to answer your calls?!" Linda shouted at her mobile, before throwing it across the room.
She stepped out of the bedroom and put on a smile for her little girl. "Daddy really cannot come home right now, I am sorry." The disappointed look on her girl's face pierced deep into her heart, a wound that she knew would never heal.
Daniel, on the other hand, was slurping his fried noodles while listening to the jokes Lucy was sharing, unaware of the hurt he was inflicting on the people he loved most
After dinner, they went back to the pub, and the night began.
At two a.m., Daniel sent off the last customer and began to pack up. He felt that he'd missed something and absentmindedly went for his mobile. "Shit!" He stared at the screen. All the missed calls reminded him about the order Linda had given him the day before.
"What happened?" Lucy asked.
"I forgot about my girl's birthday again."
"Aww, that's too bad. You better get something nice for her as an apology."
"It's not her that I am worried about." Daniel sat down on a table. "It's my wife who will be hard to handle."
He picked up a can of beer, which he had been having with the last customer, who'd now left. He began to drink. "Want to join me?"
"Sure." Lucy got herself a carton.
They drank and drank, while Daniel complained about his wife not being understanding and being too harsh on him and how much he did for the family. Lucy listened attentively and consoled him.
And after a few cans, Daniel was drunk. Lucy bent forward and kissed him. Even though he was taken aback, he responded from the lack of better judgement.

***

"Owww, my head." Daniel woke up and stared at the unfamiliar surroundings. They weren't that alien, he was in his office rather than his bedroom. He noticed that there was someone beside him and sat up. The blanket fell down and he saw that he was naked and so was Lucy. "Oh crap," he cursed softly.
Lucy rolled and slowly opened her eyes. "Morning, boss."
"Good morning," Daniel replied, embarrassed. "Er, what happened last night?"
"Nothing, just a little bit of talk plus some comforting," Lucy replied simply, giving Daniel a way out.
"Er..." Daniel was at a loss.
"It was nothing. Let's just forget about it, okay?"
"Er... if you say so." Daniel was not sure what else to say. He got up and quickly dressed. "I need to go home. Do you need a lift?"
"It's okay, I can get home on my own," Lucy said. She was single and had been living alone since she'd come from China to work. She was in no rush to get home.