FATED BOND

Daisy’s POV

A day before Nina’s birthday, Nadia and I went out to get her a present. I didn’t know what to get her because I felt she had all she wanted. It took me a great deal of time to decide on what to buy for her.

I got her a limited edition of Glossier’s The Gold set. It was a 14 karat plated gold and it adds shimmer to any outfit. I fell in love with the necklace and I was tempted to buy one for myself but it cost a fortune and my savings were already gone. Nina deserved it.

My book was completed already and Larry had gone through my book, pointing out a few things to be corrected. We met five times during the first week of the month. He was a great editor.

He also changed the title for me to a catchy and attention-grabbing one. He edited my synopsis and the whole outline before I sent it to Mr. Gonzalez’s email.

After he was done with the editing, he gave me the manuscript and I sent Mr. Gonzalez a message, telling him that I was ready for the contract.

He asked me to send him the manuscript and I did. He told me my book would undergo review for a few weeks and they would get back to me soon. I was expecting good news from them.

“I don’t have to worry about my savings since my book will soon be published. I’ll start making money soon”, I thought to myself as Nadia and I went out to meet Richard who drove us home.

Nina felt loved as Nadia and I woke her up, sprinkling water on her face that morning. We raced around the house till we were all exhausted.

I was the first to stop running because I was breathing heavily like someone who had done a marathon race. I was in my 7th month and I was damn heavy.

After my first prenatal care, Nina insisted I do an ultrasound scan and it revealed it was going to be a girl, just like Nina had predicted.

My cravings over the month keep changing. I have been craving a hotdog or a hamburger since the beginning of the sixth month of my pregnancy. I could barely go a day without it.

When Larry caught me eating one of it in the kitchen, on the night of Nina’s birthday, after Nadia and I had finished serving the guests from Nina’s office, he made a joke of me and I blushed real hard.

Nina furnished a little space in her private office for me, where I could also work as she already recognized me as a writer. As my birthday gift, she got me some clothes and two Designer bags.

Larry and I did the fact-checking of my book together. I didn’t do any research before writing so Larry thought it was necessary to verify names and titles as well as the dates and location. By the time we were done with the editing, I was awed by his editing prowess.

Larry was among our first guests. Nina didn’t want to visit her office colleagues over but I insisted she did.

Stella wasn’t around because her child was undergoing bone marrow surgery in India. She had been away for a month after Nina got to know about the situation from Stella’s husband.

Stella had refused to inform Nina. When Nina got to know, she asked the husband how much the surgery was going to cost and how much they have been trying to gather. Nina sent the remaining amount needed into her husband’s account.

Since then, I had been doing most of Stella’s work for Nina. I have been acting as her personal assistant since Stella left for India but we barely go to the office because of my condition, except on occasion demands.

I was introduced to each and everyone from Nina’s office by Larry, who wouldn’t leave my side till the end of the day.

Even though I told Nina that I wanted us to celebrate her birthday for that year differently, our guests were only 15, excluding Richard, the driver, Alex, the gateman, Nadia, myself, and the celebrant.

When Larry introduced me as Nina’s daughter, they were surprised. They wouldn’t stop asking me where I have been all long and I told them I was in New York.

They asked if I was with Damien in New York and I replied yes. I was already tired of the numerous questions and I sauntered to the kitchen, after excusing myself politely.

I saw some leftover hamburger in the microwave, hastily brought it out, and was munching on it when Larry appeared. I was a bit embarrassed but I covered it up with a smile.

He moved closer to me with a chuckle. “I understand it’s the baby’s doing.”

I smiled.

That was the first time he was making a statement about my pregnancy. Larry was a good-looking guy with brown eyes and a good physique. He could pass for a wrestler.

“Is she really your mother?” He asked as he joined me on the kitchen slab.

“Uhm?” I murmured, staring at him as I finished up the remaining hamburger.

“Is Nina really your mother?” He asked again.

“Why do you ask?” I smiled.

“I’ve worked with Nina since the beginning of my career as an editor. I’ve known her for more than a decade and she has never made mention of having a daughter. I know Damien both in pictures and in reality.”

“I never knew you were that close”, I tried to change the topic.

“Nina can’t do without me”, he grinned. “She detests my playfulness though but it’s a part of me and I’m sure she’s used to it already.”

“So you two discuss personal issues?” I questioned.

“I guess the answer to that is no because she never told me she has a beautiful daughter like you”, he looked at me from head to toe in admiration, before his eyes fell on my big belly.

He looked away. We were silent as our feet were dangling from where we were seated.

“I don’t believe you are married”, he finally blurted out.

“Nope, I’m not”, I answered sharply.

“I believe you have a boyfriend then”, he uttered more like a question.

“Nop, I don’t.”

“Uhm! You are a beautiful lady, Daisy”, he said and kept quiet. “I love your name, Daisy. It sounds unique and like a name given to flowers… just like a lily.”

“Daisy means a flower that depicts innocence, purity, humility, and chastity,” I told him.

“Oh!” He muttered. “So are you together with your baby father?”

“Nope,” I said again.

“It seems you don’t want to talk about it.”

“Yeah.”

“Alright. Back to my former question then?” He squinted his eyes at me.

“I don’t want to talk about that too”, I said bluntly without mincing words.

“Ok, fine”, he surrendered. “Your name suits you well.”

“Yeah.”

“I guess I’ll have to go then. I don’t want to keep making you uncomfortable”, he jumped down to go.

“I’m also going back”, I tried to jump down as he did.

“Let me help you”, he offered and pulled me down. We stood staring at each other before we pulled away. My pregnancy was serving as a barrier.

“Let’s go”, he said and we walked back together to the living room, where the party was taking place.