Three Hearts Left Intact

Chapter 22: Split Image

Upon further look into her email, Lauren smiled as she read it. "Deeds done," no matter how many times she heard the phrase it never ceased a grim from emerging. That was until she hit the latter part, "now pay up." She rolled her eyes annoyingly getting to work on her half of the exchange.

Within the next twenty minutes half a million dollars were transferred over into an account under the alias, DeedDone.

Continuing to write back more emails, Lauren worked until the clock stroke six. Kaila had been peacefully napping in the taller friends grip for the past three hours. 'Great, she better not be up late tonight.'

Getting ready to stand up, Lauren looked down at the small girl nibbling softly on the hem of her shirt. For a split second she was lost in herself, watching the rhythmic suckles of the young child. She caught herself mid way into letting out a awe. 'What are you doing Fendly?! You were not just about to coo at this! This isn't what you signed up for. Keep your head in the game. Kay's only going to be here until the auction in two weeks. That's only fourteen more days of this babysitting gig. Once it's all over you'll be promoted to chair of your own department, sitting besides mom, dad, and Luke. You are not about to mess all your hard work up with some freak.' She scolded herself internally.

Looking down disgusted in her seat, Lauren coldly spoke. "Wake up Kaila, we're going to eat dinner." She startled the smaller girl awake putting her down on the ground. When her feet came in contact with the floor, Kaila immediately fell down to the ground. Her legs were still asleep, as was the rest of her body. Grunting loudly Lauren began walking to the door, stepping over to the girl on the floor in the process. "Now Kaila." She stated waiting next to the open door with her arms crossed.

Kaila let out a loud whine as she managed to flip onto her stomach and began crawling towards the door. Mentally face palming Lauren wrapped her arms around Kaila's waist and lifted her up onto her hip. When Kaila stopped whining and began to settle herself into the tall girls arms, Lauren reluctantly bounced Kaila up in her arms ruining the comfort for Kaila.

When her whining started back up again, Lauren simply looked at Kaila with knowing eyes and the noise stopped. Smiling and looking back up, Lauren walked the two of them over to the cafeteria. Many employers from the department had beaten the girls to it. The seats were filled with people and the line for food was horrendous. 'Great' Lauren processed thinking about what to do. Just as she was about to shrug dinner off and head back to her office, Kaila's stomach interrupted her with a loud growl.

The small girl curled as much as Lauren would let her into her chest noticing the discomfort in her stomach. Lauren looked at the line ahead of them and shook her head, looking at a side door Lauren walked into the kitchen. Grabbing a plate off a rack she walked around the few chefs cooking up dinner for the department scooping up a mixture of vegetables and meat onto a plate. All eyes were on them but no one dared say a word.

Taking the plate in one hand she left the busy crowd in the cafeteria back to her office. As soon as she stepped into the room, she placed Kaila down on the floor while she placed the plate on her desk and moved a chair besides her leather one. She patted the seat as she began cutting up the different pieces of steak and leaving it out for Kaila to eat. Meanwhile Lauren reached into her backpack pulling out a container with a home made meal. As the two enjoyed dinner, silence was something Lauren wished for.

Kaila had been asleep for long enough that all her energy had come right back. Not having anywhere else to let it out, she began talking Lauren's ear off. First it was about the woman she had seen earlier in the halls, then it changed to her dreams, and now they were stuck on the topic of stuffies animals.

Silently finishing her dinner, Lauren put her plastic container back into her bag seeing Kaila had barely touched her food since she had been spending more time talking than eating. Trying to get a word in between the small girls rants, Lauren sighed moving her chair closer to Kaila's. Grabbing the fork from off her plate, Lauren stabbed a piece of steak and bringing it to Kaila's mouth.

The small girl had stopped mid sentence to accept the offer before chewing the food up so she could speak again. The few seconds of silence brought peace to Lauren's ears.

Not wanting to deal anymore with the rant, Lauren began hand feeding Kaila her food. Bite after bite she left no room for a word to slip out. Quarter way through her plate, Kaila began feeling uneasy in her cold seat. Lauren was turned around facing her backpack as she was grabbing a napkin when Kaila slyly slid her way into her lap.

Taken by surprise, Lauren turned back with the napkin in hand eyebrow raised looking at the girl with a saucy mess around her mouth. Chuckling lightly when Kaila smiled revealing her stained teeth, Lauren quickly wiped her up before wrapping one hand around Kaila's waist to secure her in place while she finished her plate. Coming to the last piece Lauren and Kaila had developed their own game. Lauren would serve the fork around making different vehicle noises before ultimately landing in the small girls mouth.

Every time her reaction was the same. Kaila giggled at the reward. As soon as dinner was done and Kaila was cleaned again, Lauren placed Kaila down on the rug near her desk. "We've got another hour before we can leave for the day. Go on and play for a bit." She smiled watching Kaila nod and go off to fantasy land with the mouse again.

Getting the last of her work done, Lauren began packing away her belongings seeing Kaila dragging handfuls of toys over. "Here" she proudly held out a coloring book for Lauren to put in her bag.

Accepting the book from out of Kaila's hands, rather than putting it in the bag, Lauren put it on her desk. "Let's leave that here along with your other toys. It will save me from having to bring them everyday."

Nodding in response Kaila threw all her toys back to her spot on the rug. Sitting for an hour made her legs have pins and needles, she stood feeling herself wobble slightly as she felt her weight shift from one side to the other.

Just as she was about to make it, the numbness of her feet made her oblivious to the fact she was tangled in her own legs. She took a step tripping over her ankle in the process sending her quickly towards the floor. Right before her head could collide with anything Lauren scooped Kaila up holding her tightly in her arms. "Woah, there little one. I don't need you getting hurt. Why don't you go sit by the door while I finish up." She ushered the girl away not even realizing what slipped out of her mouth.

Shaking her head to regain more consciousness of herself, Lauren threw her bag over her shoulder grabbing the stuffed mouse off the floor and walked towards Kaila. "Let's go." She softly said handing the girl her mouse.

In one hand she held Kaila's leaving the other for her to play with her stuffie. Guiding her back to their heavily guarded home, Lauren exhaled sharply shutting her bedroom door.

Making quick work of getting them both ready for the night, they ended up in bed each half asleep. Kaila was out like a light as soon as Lauren tucked her in. Sitting on the edge of her side of the bed, Lauren threw her hands into her hands. 'What am I doing?!'
——————————————————————————
Let me know what you think about Lauren and her internal conflict. Thanks Lexx signing off