Chapter 4 - Deanna

I walk out of the conference room with a smile on my face and another successful negotiation under my belt. 

Dotty walks up beside me and bumps her shoulder into mine.  “Hey, we are making progress.  I think the company’s rough times are behind us now.”

A slight chuckle spills from my mouth as I shake my head.  “The rough times are never over.  You can only prepare for them and be well equipped for when they finally appear.  Only then can the company strive and succeed.”

Ugh.  I hate sounding like my parents, but here I am.  I’m almost a carbon copy of them and the speeches that I used to hate are the same ones I give now. 

However, I have to admit that between them and what I have learned while working as an assistant at BW Fashion, I’ve picked up a lot of helpful tips and tricks.  I must use them correctly to get the company back on track. 

Dotty rolls her eyes.  “Yeah.  Yeah.  Yeah.  I know.  By the way, you are doing an amazing job.  My parents were talking about you and wished that you had started with us sooner.”

A small pain tugs at my heart. 

I shake my head.  “I wouldn’t have been ready sooner to come here.  You know that.”

She hesitates for a bit before she flashes a smile at some employees as we walk back to our offices.  She leans closer to me and whispers, “Sorry.  I didn’t mean it like that.  You know that, right?”

I press my lips into a thin line and nod.  “Yeah.  I know, but it still hurts talking about it.  It is all still too fresh in my mind to even try to think about it.”

We walk around the corner and down the hall in silence as our offices come into view. 

Only a few steps before we reach my door, Nathan slides out from his office and grins at us.  He glances at Dotty first and then he turns his attention towards me.  His grin widens as he directly looks into my eyes. 

Before I get any words out of my mouth, he chimes, “Great job, you two.  Another big deal under your belt.  What is your next target?  Maybe one of the big whales in the industry.  That would definitely guarantee a big payday for everyone.”

Dotty nods and slightly bounces up next to me.  “I would love it if we could get there, but I don’t think that will happen soon.  I’m just happy with the jobs we are getting and hoping that they will keep coming.”

Nathan reluctantly tears his eyes off me and glances back over at Dotty.  “The word on the street is that some big fish is looking to partner with some companies for their latest venture.  I don’t know if they are looking for anyone like us though.”

I don’t let him finish as I cut in.  “Don’t worry.  We are too small for any big fish.  Plus, I like to work with companies of similar size to us.  We are nowhere near where we would need to be to entertain projects from a big company.  We need to grow a lot more before that will ever happen.”

He shrugs his shoulders.  “You never know.  Maybe it will fall down into our laps someday.”

I glance over at Dotty and we both burst out laughing. 

If I have anything to do with it, it definitely won’t happen.  My streak of bad luck hasn’t stopped over the past few years. 

Luckily, my business adventures have been fruitful, but my private life is just as messed up as it was when I ran out of that church several years ago. 

Nathan stares at us and waits until we have calmed down, before he asks, “So, do you want to go out and celebrate the new contract?  Several of the staff are going.  I thought maybe the two of you would like to join.”

I look next to me at Dotty. 

She tilts her head while looking at me and silently asks if we should go. 

However, I don’t reply.  Instead, I look down at my watch and slowly shake my head.  “Sorry.  I have an appointment later that I can’t miss, but you can go without me.  Maybe I can join the celebration next time.”

Nathan looks at me. 

I can see from the look in his eyes that he has questions, but he has also learned through the years that I don’t answer anything regarding my personal life. 

After a few moments, he sighs and nods.  “Yeah.  Maybe you can join us the next time around.  I hope your big date takes you out to some fancy place.  Don’t let him skimp out on you and go cheap.  You deserve to be treated like a queen.”

Treated like a queen.  That would be nice. 

My lower lip begins to tremble, but before anyone can notice, Dotty pulls me around him and pushes me towards my office.  “We need to get our report done before she can leave.  Sorry.  Tell everyone to have fun without us.  Okay.”

She doesn’t wait for his response before she shoves me into my office and shuts the door behind us.

As soon as the door clicks, she steps towards me.  “Are you okay?  Do you need a few minutes alone?”

Alone.  I definitely don’t need to be alone. 

I slowly walk across the room.  When I get to my desk, I turn back around towards her and shake my head.  “No.  I’ll be fine soon.  Just give me a few moments.”

With a slight frown on her face, Dotty stares at me for a bit, until I add, “I’m fine.  Really.”

Her frown disappears and her smile quickly returns as she steps forward and sits down in one chair in front of my desk.  “On another note, are you really going to move out of the house?  You know my parents won’t let that happen, especially after what you have gone through.  Shoot.  Who am I kidding?  You are still going through it.”

I sigh and lean against my desk.  “I hate to keep bothering you and your parents.”

She shakes her head.  “You are not bothering us.  Plus, you have become part of the family.  My parents may not have officially adopted you, but they think of you as their daughter.  So, don’t even think that they will let you move out.”

She leans back and puts her arms on the armrests.  “Look at me.  Have you not heard my parents telling me I’m not moving out until after I get married?  Even then, I know that my mother will try to find a reason for my husband and me to live with them.  The house is way too big for just the two of them.  Plus, I think they will be lonely if I’m not around.  The same goes for you.  You might as well just accept it.”

I sigh and stare at her.  She has that look that I hate.  The one that says that I know she is right. 

Yeah, I know she is right.  However, I still feel like a burden to her and her family. 

“I guess you are right.  I’m sure your parents will barricade the doors shut if I try to move out.”

She smiles and nods.  “You know I’m right.  And yes, my parents will barricade every door trying to keep you in the house.  They are just wanting what is best for you, and they have determined that you need to be around family.”

Family is an empty word anymore.  I had once longed for and wanted a family so much with Brett, but that all went up in smoke.

I glance at my watch. 

Shoot.  I’m going to be late. 

I dash around my desk as Dotty asks, “You going to get the same thing as always, two white roses?”

While I’m closing my files on the computer, I nod.  “Yep.  Just like every time.” 

A dull pain throbs deep in my heart as the words taste bitter coming out of my mouth.  However, I ignore it.  This isn’t the time to get all emotional.  I can do that later.

As I grab my things, I glance across my desk.  “I’ll meet you at home.  I’ve got to go.”

I don’t wait for her response as I rush out of my office.  I need to get to the flower shop before they close.