Daddy Issues

Chapter 5

When Sue got back to the office she stopped by Vlad's office before she went back to her own. She peaked through the glass door and saw him sitting at his desk, hunched over the same file from before. She saw the frown between his brows deepen with each page he turned. She squinted at him in vain because there was no way she'd be able to make out anything on the file from this distance.

" Can I help you with anything, Miss Raymond?" Sue's heart flew into her throat. She swallowed and took a breath as she turned around. She smiled at Vlad's secretary guiltily.

The poor woman was taken aback. Sue hardly smiled. "Miss Willis, you startled me, I was just going to speak with Mr. Mikealson. Please carry on." As Sue finished the door opened behind her revealing Vlad.

"Miss Raymond, how may I help you?" Sue turned to face Vlad as Miss Willis walked over to her desk.

"Why don't we go inside and sit down." She motioned for him to enter the office.

Sue's eyes darted around the office and she realized that the file was nowhere to be seen. He must have hidden it when he heard her outside the door. Sue scowled a bit. He's definitely hiding something, she thought to herself.

"So boss lady, what can I help you with?" Vlad leaned back against his chair swinging it slightly. Out of all her employee, he was the only one who dared to relax around her. Sue ringed her fingers in her lap. His lack of fear irritated her. How dare he be so relaxed!

Sue concealed her irritation and spoke calmly. "I realized earlier today that I never actually told you how things worked around here besides the obvious. So, if you failed to do anything, it's my fault."

"True," he smirked. She glared.

"Anyways, you should probably take notes." She crossed her legs and began listing. "1. Every month end, the head of each department is supposed to send me an update on their writers, potential writers and manuscripts. You've only been here for a week but it's the 30th of June and the other people in your department know about this rule so I'm sure they have something. Frankly I'm surprised they didn't tell you. Perhaps that's because they've been slacking off more than usual." Sue glared accusingly. Vlad chuckled.

"Are you throwing shade Miss Raymond?" Vlad asked still chuckling, shaking his head. "I didn't think you had a sense of humour or maybe that's just part of your mean side."

"I don't know what you're talking about and what makes you think you can talk to me like that. You really have no shame, do you?" Sue asked incredulously.

"No, no I do not." Vlad confirmed staring her dead in the eyes. "I booked a lunch for us—."

"Stop right there." Sue raised a hand, effectively cutting him off. "I'd say I'm flattered but that would be a lie. I don't make a habit of dating employees, anyone really—" Sue caught herself, realizing how pathetic that sounded. "What I mean is that, I think I made it clear enough where I stand with you and if I didn't I—"

"Let me stop you there." Vlad's eyes twinkled with humour and his lips puckered as he attempted to hold back his laughter. "If you'd let me finish, I was saying I booked a lunch for us tomorrow to meet with a potential author I think you'd really be interesting in taking on."

Well that was absolutely mortifying. Sue thought as she blushed furiously. She looked around the room, trying to play off the embarrassment she felt. "Oh, well in that case, good job." She cleared her throat.

Vlad rose from his seat and walked to the door. "I'd hate to be rude, but I have a lot of work to do working on that best seller I promised you. Wouldn't want to lose that bet and suffer that awful fate you bestowed upon me." Sue could take a message. She got up dusting the non-existent lint off of her suit pants and walked towards the open door with her head held high.

"Well, carry on Mr. Mikealson." She nodded at him.

"Will do, Miss Raymond." Sue scowled at how he stressed on Miss. "And don't worry you're not my type." With those words he shut the door. Apply cold water to burnt area.

Sue couldn't remember the last time her cheeks burnt so much. She turned sharply and walked down the hall to take the elevator back up to her floor. She scowled the entire way up and into her office. No one dared to utter a word to her.

She sat at her desk typing at her keyboard, backspacing and typing again. There was probably a handful of individuals who could irk her so. Vladimir Mikealson had made the list with the simplest of things. When she was with him, sometimes she had to remind herself who the boss was. For Heaven's sake, he practically threw her out of his office and slammed the door in her face. Not to mention insinuating that she couldn't get a man! Well she did that last part, but he made fun of her celibacy slyly.

There was a knock at the door and Jackie came in. "Excuse me Miss Raymond?"

"What." Sue's eyes rolled back in irritation.

"Your mother is here." Sue sighed and told Jackie to send her in.

"Hello mother." Sue rose to greet her mother kissing her on both cheeks. Her mother pulled her in for a hug and the image of a 6-year-old little Susie being cradled by her crying mother flashed before her eyes. She gave her mother a squeeze in return and quickly wiggled her way out of the embrace. "How are you?" She cleared her throat.

"I'm fine." Sue's mother, Lilith, sat on the visitor's chair while Sue leant against her desk in front of her. "What about you dear?"

"I'm good mother. Why didn't you tell me you were visiting?" Sue questioned.

"Why, so you can prepare your cool calm and collected farce. I think not. I like to keep you on your toes. See some emotion once in a while." Sue scowled at that. Her mother, no matter how much she loved her, was another person on that list of people that irked her. "Besides, I've missed you. I haven't seen you in forever."

"I saw you last week mother." Sue rolled her eyes.

"Exactly, oh the withdrawal I feel." Lilith placed a hand to her forehead dramatically. Sue couldn't help but release a breath of a chuckle. "That's my girl." Lilith smiled, happy that she could make her baby girl laugh.

"I've missed you too mother." Sue confessed.

"Good because, I want to have a family dinner tomorrow night." Before Sue could protest, her mother stood and placed her hand over her mouth. "No back sass. You're coming and that's final."

Lilith was not to be argued with. Sue chuckled shaking her head and nodded in agreement. "Yes mother."

"Am I the only one who can't make you laugh around here?" The two women turned to the sound of the voice. Vlad stood in Sue's doorway looking quite ravishing in his suit pants and long sleeve white button down, he'd rolled up at the sleeves.

"Oh my, who might this handsome man be?" Lilith glanced between Sue and Vlad.

"Mother, this is the new head of our Romance department, Vladimir Mikealson, Mr. Mikealson, this is my mother Lilith Holder." Sue introduced the two. "How may I help you, Mr. Mikealson?"

"Why hello there." Vlad completely disregarded Sue and went straight to showering her mother's hand with kisses. Sue's eye twitched rapidly. The nerve.

Sue was so absorbed by her irritation she hadn't heard the conversation between the two up till her mother invited Vlad for over for dinner. "What?"

"Vlad will be joining us for dinner pumpkin." Lilith spoke giddily. "How delightful."

"Mother I refuse to—"

"Oh, look at the time, I gotta run." Lilith looked at her watch-less wrist, kissed Sue on the cheek and ran out of their as fast as a sixty-one-year old woman could.

Before Sue could utter a word, Vlad performed the same disappearing routine. "Oh, would you look at the time. Gotta run, pumpkin. " He winked at her and shut the door behind him. Sue couldn't help the blush that rose up her neck and into her cheeks. She was grateful no one was there to witness her embarrassment. Vlad hadn't even told her why he'd stopped by.