Daddy’s Little Pet

ROBERT

“Good morning, Mr. Clarke.”

As I entered the premises, the staff and employees at my Orlando office greeted me enthusiastically.

I respectfully responded as I went from the reception to my office, my hands waving with a broad smile.

The office set aside for me was roomy and precisely as I liked it.

Similar to my office in New York, this one was opulent, with minimalist art hanging from the walls, a large desk with a laptop, and a few other items I needed.

The office featured a spare bathroom and changing area, and as I looked around, I reminded myself to ask Mark to fill the wardrobe with some new, crisp clothes.

I turned my head away from the changing area and turned to look at the office’s beautiful glass doors and balcony. My lips spread into a grin.

I always loved to hang out on balconies, because I cherished them so much.

Perhaps in the late afternoon while sipping alcohol and gazing at a cityscape or structure. I treasured the activity because it gave me solace.

I promptly got to work and began looking through the files that were put out for me because I couldn’t stand idle any longer.

I’d spent so much time in Orlando doing nothing, and now I had to work.

A knock came on the door a few minutes later, and I looked up to see Mark, my Orlando assistant, walk in.

He was dressed in his standard attire, which I’d come to associate with him, but instead of dark jeans, he was wearing a pair of black suit trousers and a white button-down shirt tucked in neatly.

Mark walked toward me, his dark brown hair combed back into a neat part of his head, and with an unreadable expression on his face, he placed a cup of coffee on the desk.

It smelled so good that I couldn’t help but sniff and inhale deeply before taking a small sip while smiling at him.

“Many thanks, Mark. This smells and tastes fantastic.”

“Thank you very much, sir. I apologize for not greeting you when you arrived earlier. I was busy organizing some files and-”

“It’s fine. I’ve already acquainted myself with everyone and settled in, as you can see.” I said sharply, waving my hands at him.

“Sir, yes.” He said with a curt nod, smiling back at me, the tense expression on his face gone.

He’d probably been afraid I’d chastise him, but I wasn’t that kind of boss, and I had better things to do than scold an employee for failing to perform minor duties.

“Do you have any calls or mail for me?” I asked, and he quickly nodded, his brow furrowed, and I watched him swipe at the tab he’d brought with him.

“Did you change your personal number to your professional number?”

“Yes, I did.” I replied with a nod when he asked.

I had one personal phone number now, the same one I’d written to Renee in the notes. The one I waited for her call day after day.

Today would be two days since I’d sent her the last gift. I smirked when I remembered that she wouldn’t be getting presents from me any longer.

Last night, I’d paid the delivery company in charge of wrapping my baby’s presents and told him that his services would no longer be required.

She should’ve gotten the message, and now I’d have to await her phone call patiently.

If she didn’t call, I’d do things the old-fashioned way and either contact her friend Nicole or meet her myself.

For the time being, I was done pursuing Renee. Now I was waiting for her to come to me.

“All right, sir. Well, Elite estate management sent you an email. Mr. Bradley called to inform you that the mansion is in order. He said the minor repairs have been made and attached is a…” Mark cut me from my wandering thoughts. He paused, his brows squinting as he rechecked the mail before continuing, “Attached is a PDF file consisting of expenses incurred. It amounts to a total of-”

“Pay him off. He attached the necessary account information?”

“Yes.”

“Good, pay him.”

“Okay, sir.”

“Anything else?” I asked.

Mark nodded, his hands scrolling through the tab before saying, “You got a call from an unknown number and some texts. Should I read them out or…”

“Can you give me the tablet?” I blurted sharply, my eyes dimming because I knew who it was.

Handing the tablet to me, I scrolled through the texts. Three of them from Amanda informed me that she wanted to see me and that I call her as soon as possible so we could schedule a – “A FAMILY MEETING WITH YOUR SON TOO. HE MISSES YOU.”

The words were highlighted in all caps, and my jaw gritted in anger. As I read through the text, my grip on the large device tightened, but I forced myself to relax.

I deleted every single message from the tablet after I finished reading them. I was tempted to block the number, but I wasn’t that petty, so I left it alone.

Maybe I’ll accept her invitation to a meeting and talk to her one last time.

‘But there’s no such thing as a last time with Amanda.’ I sighed as my subconscious reminded me of this fact.

“I’ll keep the tablet with me, Mark. You’re free to go.”

Mark bowed, obeying my orders, but I called out just before he finally left.

“Lest I forget….” I began, and he froze in his steps.

“Meet my stylist and get some clothes to stock up the wardrobe in the office changing room.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll do just that.” He replied, and I mumbled my thanks, watching him pad away.

When the door clicked, I dropped the pad on my desk. I grabbed the hot coffee, took a large sip, and sighed contently at its taste, my worries dissipating slowly.

Relaxing in my leather seat, my left hand going to my forehead, rubbing my temples, I tried to forget about Amanda and everything else plaguing me.

I kept telling myself she wasn’t worth my time, not after everything she’d done to me in the past.