I Built This Home For Me, For You

Chapter 6

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Okay, okay, another double update. This time ReadandLearntowrite asked for it so why not. Although I don't think I'll be able to do more of this for some time because I literally don't have any more chapters done😛😬

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They got ready for work quickly, with Camila pretending that she didn't see Lauren's concerned looks while they showered and dressed. Camila made them all breakfast, while Lauren prepared lunches for everyone, and then went upstairs to drag Daisy out of bed to come downstairs and eat. That was a challenge in itself, causing an early morning argument as Daisy bundled up under her blankets and ignored Lauren. "Come on, Dais, I don't have time for this. Get up and get ready, or I'll drag you out of bed by your ankles."

With a muffled sound of frustration, the blankets were pushed down off her head, revealing a wild mess of dark curls. "I'm suspended," Daisy grumbled, "I don't have to go to school."

"I know, but you're not laying in bed all day," Lauren told her in a clipped tone, "get up and get ready."

"Why? I'm not going anywhere."

"Yes you are, you're coming to work with me," Lauren told her, giving her a stern look as she opened her mouth to argue. "No. No complaining. Missing school and staying home to play video games isn't a punishment; you're spending the day at the office, and you better behave yourself. Now shift your ass."

She didn't move from the doorway until she watched her eldest daughter slowly push the covers back and climb to her feet. For a moment, Lauren was struck by how similar this all was; Daisy had her old bedroom, filled with computers and blueprints, shelves of books and gadgets, just like it had been when Lauren was a teenager. Then there was herself hovering in the doorway, chastising the dark-haired girl who seemed to be moving exaggeratedly slow, in a similar game that Lauren had played with her own mom when she'd been in Daisy's position. Her lips quirked up into a small smile, "You're not doing anything that I didn't do to piss off my mom. I have all the patience in the world and I'll cancel every meeting I have this morning, but you'll be in the car with me when I go to Jauregui Corp. Now, stop messing around and get in the shower; there are pancakes downstairs."

With a sigh, Daisy started to move at a normal speed, rolling her eyes as she padded barefoot over to her door, brushing past Lauren and pausing slightly. "You have to put money in the swear jar," her daughter snarkily replied, and Lauren laughed, ruffling her messy hair and giving her a gentle push towards the bathroom.

"I'm leaving in twenty - if you're not ready on time, I'll purposely put you on security with Hector all day, which would be even more boring than school," Lauren warned her.

Shaking her head, she walked back downstairs, pausing in her office to fetch her briefcase on her way to the kitchen. Lily was eating a stack of pancakes next to Camila when Lauren walked in, rolling her eyes as she took in her daughter's messy hair and untucked school shirt. "Where's your tie, Lily?" Lauren asked as she walked over to the half-full jar of coins, tossing in a few and pouring some coffee as she walked over to the table.

Taking a couple of pancakes off the precariously stacked pile, Lauren raised her eyebrows at her daughter. "It's in my room," she sighed, "I'll get it before I go."

"Good. You don't need detention as well," Camila said, wrinkling her nose as she smiled. Lauren stared at Camila a few moments, scrutinizing her face as she took in the dark shadows under her eyes, and the weary look as she ate her breakfast without her usual enthusiasm. A few moments later, the sound of footsteps on the stairs got their attention, and they turned to look as Daisy walked in. "Ah speak of the rebel," Camila laughed, and Lauren grimaced slightly, shaking her head as she cut into her food. Ignoring everyone, Daisy sat down and neatly stacked a few pancakes onto her plate, drizzling maple syrup over them and silently cutting into them. "How'd you sleep?" Camila asked.