Unprofessional (Under editing)

Chapter 34: Birthday Boy

With a hopeful look I held up another pair of cufflinks, gaudy silver ovals that, now that I got a closer look, are ugly. "These? He might wear these, right?"

Talia glanced over at me after picking up a leather jacket 4 times too big for her and, while also being something Isaac would never wear from a rack. Makes me think who was she buying it for? "He would throw them into a drawer and never look at them again."

A few days before, I got a text from Talia saying that Isaac's birthday would be in a few days. I was rather surprised, not that he hadn't told me, but that he even had a birthday. My mind just simply can't in vision Isaac as a baby, I just always assumed that he spawned in with a business suit and briefcase.

Since he apparently doesn't like to celebrate it, this year she wanted to at least get him a gift, and texted asking if I had any idea of what he might like.

Talia groaned. "Why is he so hard to shop for? Aren't you like his personal assistant, shouldn't you practically be up his ass crack?"

I let out a soft sigh, setting the cufflinks back where I found them "The man is surprisingly cagey about his personal life." I said, eyes scanning the rows of sleek watches, pens, and minimalistic accessories.

Then something caught my eye. In the bottom of the case, tucked beside a line of leather goods.

"That," I said, pointing. "He'd actually use that."

___

Back at the office, I packed up the last of my things with a quiet hum in my throat. The stack of files I'd been dreading since last week—gone. Signed, reviewed, filed. I even managed to tackle emails I'd been strategically avoiding for days. My workspace looked... suspiciously productive. Clean.

I should've left. I was going to leave. But habit tugged at me.

I clicked my computer back on, standing as I leaned over the desk. One last look. Just in case.

My inbox refreshed with a soft chime. A new message popped upright at the top:
"Let's do another shoot—had a great time working with you. LMK if you're interested.–Julius"

The photographer.

I blinked at it. Julius had been sending me emails here and there about doing another shoot. I haven't replied to the two others, but now I hesitated. Something about it made me pause.

Before I could even hover over "Reply," a deep voice came from the doorway.

"Leaving early?"

I startled, looking up.

Isaac was leaning against the frame, hands in his pockets, eyes already on me. Calm, unreadable. Watching.

My pulse jumped. "Jesus, you scared me," I said, clicking the email closed with a little too much urgency. "You know, you could've just called if you needed anything. That's why I have an office phone."

His lips twitched slightly. "I was in the area." I opened my mouth to say something cheeky and flirtatious, but glancing over his shoulder, I could see some of my coworkers walking past, and suddenly I couldn't help but shrink back.

"Right," I muttered, brushing imaginary lint off my skirt. "Well... I finished everything. Miracles do happen. I thought it would be nice to pick Lovey up from school like I used to." Nowadays if it wasn't Jennette or Valerie it was a babysitter, now that I have the time why not?

That day and Miles's gun put a lot of things into perspective for me. I've been so focused on trying to provide for Lovey, that I forgot about what's really important, being there for my daughter, not just for all her screw ups but for all that she does right. My love, my life.