by Katy Kaylee
I considered wearing black or gray, as I understand they do a lot in New York, but instead, opted for a teal business dress that accentuated my auburn hair. It clung to my curves, but being a bigger girl, most things did. It wasn’t overdone or risqué.
I put on makeup, not too much, but enough to highlight my clear fair skin and blue eyes, and brushed out my hair, letting it dry in it’s natural wavy state.
I set AJ’s breakfast on the table just as he entered the room. “Did you brush your teeth?”
“Yep.” He climbed up into his chair.
“All of them? Or at least the ones you want to keep?”
He rolled his eyes at me as he picked up his spoon and dug into his cereal. I poured another cup of coffee, as my bread toasted. When it popped up from the toaster, I added peanut butter and then sat with AJ at the table.
“What are your plans today, little man?”
He shrugged. “Dunno.”
“Ah come on, are you and Kyle going to build a Lego metropolis?” I asked, referring to my nephew Kyle who was only a few months older than AJ. Of course, unlike me, my sister had been happily married when she conceived. Today she was still happily married, and now had two kids, Kyle and a two-year old daughter, Sacha. Had my plans gone right, I might have two kids too.
“Maybe.” His eyes lit up. “Did you know they have Legos to make dinosaurs?”
“I didn’t.”
He nodded as he worked to keep the too large bite of cereal in his mouth. He succeeded with the cereal, but some milk escaped. “I want it.”
“I don’t blame you.” I wiped his mouth with a napkin and made a mental note to add his request to the present list I kept on my phone. Being a mom meant writing down everything because there was too much to memorize otherwise.
We finished our breakfast and then made the short walk around the block to my sister’s home, where I dropped him off with a kiss. Then I trekked to the corner bus stop to take the bus to the BART station for the train under the bay to San Francisco. I had a car, but I didn’t like dealing with commuting and parking. Since BART was convenient, and I could read or work during the commute, it was a better option.
I arrived five minutes early, as usual. A few staff were already there. Most were friendly, but a few were a bit cold. They seemed to think I got my job and promotions because of my close friendship with Giorgio. I know I got the job because my family had a long history with him starting with my father working for him, and then Giorgio and his wife becoming surrogate parents when mine died. But I earned my promotions. I was very good at my job.
“Hey Michaela.” Clara, Giorgio’s former assistant, said as I passed her desk.
“Good morning Clara. Is the new guy in?” I nodded toward Giorgio’s old office.
“Not yet. But here are some things Mr. Altieri left for you to help him get settled.” She gave me a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry it’s not you. I think you would have been great.”
“Thank you.” She was one of very few who thought so, which was probably why Giorgio hired someone else. The job was demanding enough, employees who didn’t think I deserved it could make it impossible. “I’ll be in my office. Let me know when he arrives.”
“Will do.”
I went into my office, and only took a cursory glance at what Giorgio wanted me to review with the new guy. I set it aside and turned on my computer to check on the social media that had gone out over the last 12 hours to review the response. It was interesting how popular wine memes and posts could be.
“Michaela?”
I looked up at Clara standing in my doorway. She had an interesting look on her face.
“Yes.”
“He’s here.”
“Are you okay?” I stood up and straightened my dress.
“I think I just had an orgasm.”
I barked out a laugh. It was a funny statement in general, but Clara was in her sixties so for some reason it was funnier.
“It’s been awhile, so I’m not sure.”
“That’s sad,” I said as I joined her at the door. Although it had been years since I’d one, at least one given by a man.
“He’s …he’s …he’s just wow.”
I hadn’t been with a man since Alex. Not that there hadn’t been opportunities, at least in the last few years. But I didn’t have to be interested in anyone to appreciate a good looking man. Based on Clara’s reaction, I was really curious about the boss.
“I can’t wait to meet him.” I walked over to Giorgio’s old office and looked in. The man had his back to me as he looked out the window. Something about him had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.
He turned around, and I stared into green eyes that matched my son’s. I stared into the face of my son’s father, Alex Landon.
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