I listened, but part of me couldn’t believe this was really my life. Was this really me, sitting here with Ella and my daughter playing happy family? Or was I dreaming?
After breakfast, I kissed Molly and lingered near Ella.
She winked at me. “Not today, but one of these days we’re going to have to christen your desk at work.”
My eyes widened as all kinds of wild images ran through my head. I drove myself to work, all the while whistling as I drove.
“Morning Robert,” I greeted the security guard standing by the entrance, as I walked through the glass doors of the building.
He stared at me in surprise before replying in a stuttering voice. As if my friendliness had shocked him.
I searched my memory as I slipped into the elevator and realized how sometimes I would be in such a foul mood that I never said hello to anyone.
Shame flooded me. I’d never given it a second thought before. Such behavior reminded me of my father when I was growing up. He’d been in a perpetual bad mood and his usual response to questions had been barks.
I vowed to be friendlier to my employees. One of the strengths of Meyers Designers and Architects was our employees. We’d gotten top notch designers and architects as the company expanded. We also paid the best in the industry and our benefits couldn’t be compared to any other company in South Carolina.
Still, a little friendliness went a long way. It cheered people up. I knew this because when Ella aimed her gorgeous smile at me in the mornings, it lightened my heart and made my whole day.
I stepped out of the elevator on the tenth floor where the company offices were. My company occupied the eighth, ninth and tenth floors of the building. I got the same reaction Robert had given me from everyone I greeted as I went through the wide carpeted corridors to my office at the end of the hallway.
My mornings were usually taken up by a series of meetings with our architects and designers and this morning would be no different. The only difference was the sense of anticipation I felt in my stomach. I had a quick sandwich lunch at my desk. Then I had a client meeting in the conference room at two P.M.
Before I knew it, two thirty came around and I was back in my office, waiting for Ella and Molly. Lightness filled my chest and I found myself smiling for no reason. Perhaps it was because it would be the first time Molly had ever been to my office.
This notion rang as false even to myself. At five years old, it wouldn’t really make much of an impact for Molly to see where her dad worked. It was mostly for Ella. Warning bells sounded again. I told myself, I rarely got a chance to show anyone what I had created.
By the time my secretary buzzed me to let me know they had arrived, I’d actually started to grow impatient. “Show them in,” I said, getting up. I grinned widely as the door swung open and Molly walked in followed by Ella.
Molly looked around my office wide eyed.
I shifted my gaze to Ella and immediately my body heated up.
What was it about her? She was sexy without even trying. She wore the kind of short dresses she favored and I loved. This one showed off her figure without appearing overly sexy. My hands itched to slide her skirt up, and cup her ass.
“I love your office,” Ella said, looking around. “Isn’t it nice, Molly?”
My daughter held my gaze and nodded.
“Thank you,” I came around the desk and stepped closer to them. “This is my favorite spot,” I told Molly and led her to the ceiling to floor glass window. It had a gorgeous view of the city.
She placed her palms on the glass and peered down.
I looked back at Ella and we exchanged a warm smile.
Moments later, my secretary brought in some coffee for myself and Ella, and a glass of apple juice for Molly.
We chatted as we drank our coffee.
Molly drank her juice while standing by the window and taking in the view of the city below.
“I have somewhere else I want to show you,” I said to Molly when we had all finished our drinks. “It’s on the eighth floor. Let’s go.”
Molly slid her small hand into mine as we walked, and I pretended this was a normal occurrence, but inside my chest, my heart felt like it might burst into a million splinters of joy. We were making progress. My daughter was beginning to trust me.
On the eighth floor, I greeted the receptionist and led my girls down the hallway to a huge room at the end. I pushed the door open and we were met by a burst of color and children’s voices.
Molly padded in.
Ella turned to me. “What is this place?”
“A play area for kids. It’s for our employees who have no child care at home and they have to work. This way, their children are taken care of, and they get to be productive at work.”
I felt proud of the play area we had created. In a survey, our company had been ranked up there with one of the best places to work. I firmly believed that to get the best out of your employees, you also needed to provide the best for them.
Child care, benefits and enough rest time, so when they were at work, they focused and gave the company their best. They also got to bring their dogs to work if they had well-behaved pets. It was a symbiotic relationship.
“Wow!” Ella exclaimed, clearly impressed.
I introduced them to the two ladies who took care of the kids. Today, there were four kids, all under ten years old.
Molly seemed drawn to the playhouse in a corner and she entered, joining the little girl playing there.
“Looks like we’ve lost our
