Page 19 of Without Warning
I hang up and head out.Jethro hands me the packet from legal.I read through it while Totten drives.I’m glad they were able to put this together quickly.I would have quit the board if I had to choose between them and her.Instead, I notified them I would turn over my voting rights to her.This means that even after I make Daphne mine, she will always have a tie to the aquarium, even if she decides to leave them.She will sit on their board in my stead.
After the meeting with the board, I make my way down to wait for Daphne by her Jeep.Other employees are getting off shift and walking through the parking lot.Security approaches me and asks what I’m doing there.I explain, and they leave me alone.I don’t like that they walked away so easily.
Finally, Daphne walks out.Her head is dropped, and her shoulders are almost folded in on herself.She looks wrecked.
“Baby.”I get her attention.
She looks up at me, startled.Her eyes are puffy, and I move toward her, ready to kill whoever made her cry.
“We lost him,” she says, then breaks into sobs.
I hold her against my body and help her into the passenger seat of her Jeep before messaging Totten to follow us.
“I need to pick up the girls.”Her voice is so soft and defeated.
“Where at?”
She gives me the address, and we go get them.When she gets out of the vehicle, she finally tells me what has upset her.
“We had a river otter pass away today.He’s been with the aquarium for years.”
“Oh, little girl, I’m so sorry.”I pull her into my arms and hold her tight.
She’s so soft-hearted.It kills me that she’s this upset over an animal she only recently started working with.I want to protect her from this pain and keep her safe for the rest of our lives.
By the time we pull up to her condo, she’s calmed down some and has been telling me about the otter and what happened to him.My heart hurts for her, and together we head up to her unit with the dogs.She goes to her room to change into something comfortable, and I take off my jacket and vest.It was my father who started me in the habit of only wearing suits to work, but I did start casual Fridays for my employees.I don’t participate very often, though.
Daphne steps out of her room with the dogs bouncing at her feet.She’s wearing another shorts set, but this time the shorts are a bit longer and have more material to them.She has a heavy hoodie on that nearly covers her hands, it’s so oversized.
“I needed something that made me feel hugged,” she says in a voice barely above a whisper.
Striding out of the kitchen toward her, I pull her into my body, and she wraps around me, holding on for dear life.Her body shakes as she cries, and the tears are killing me.I don’t like seeing her this upset.
When she calms down again, she pulls away and looks up at me.Her eyes are red and puffy, her nose is pink, and she is still stunningly beautiful.
“You should probably go.I appreciate all you’ve done, but we can’t jeopardize your standing with the board.”
“It’s all taken care of.I told them I wasn’t giving you up, and that’s final.”I only tell her part of what was determined today.“They said I should have come to them as soon as it happened.I explained that Friday was our first date.I don’t know who sent the pictures from Thursday night, but I’ll make sure you have protection from the paparazzi.I also assured the board there won’t be any issues at the aquarium.”
“Are you sure?Who took those pictures?It was before we even decided to go on a date.I don’t want to date someone where I don’t have privacy.I need it.I’ve already had my life detailed and gone through before because of social media.I don’t want to go through that again.”
I tighten my arms around her and lift her up my body before moving to the sofa.I sit with her across my lap.She squirms for a moment before settling.
“I don’t know who took those pictures, but it wasn’t paparazzi.I think you’re being followed.I’m not giving you up.My assistant is issuing a statement to the press that my private life is exactly that—private.I won’t hesitate to sue if our privacy is violated again.”
“Okay.”She leans into me and rests her head against my shoulder.I just hold her for a bit until her stomach growls.
“I’ll order us some food.”
“No, I have meals prepped.If you’re okay with that, we can have one each.”
“Sounds good to me.”
She heads to the kitchen to warm up dinner.When she’s done, she sets them on the table, and I walk over after sending a few emails and responding to messages from Jethro.
I enjoy the companionable silence as we both eat.I know she’s in her head, processing everything she went through today.When I’m done and tired of watching her just push her food around, I reach across the table and take her hand.She startles, as if she forgot I was here with her.
“You need to eat, little girl,” I say, and she leans forward to take a small bite.
