Chapter 16: Chapter 16

ODETTE

I knew that eventually, I would have to talk to him again. However, it was too early, and there was nothing we could do.

My phone stopped ringing, only to immediately start again. Taking a deep breath, I answered the phone. I didn’t want to, but I knew he wouldn’t stop calling if I didn’t answer.

“Hello?” I said, my voice laced with annoyance.

“Etta?”

“What do you want, Tyler?”

“I wanted to let you know that I’ve secured a lawyer. I need your address to send some papers.”

“I’m not giving you my address. I’m not stupid. If you need anything, it can go through our lawyers. Text me your lawyer’s information, and I’ll have mine reach out,” I stated firmly.

“Don’t be difficult, Odette. I know you’re staying with one of your brothers. Just tell me which one,” he demanded.

“I’m not staying with them, and as I said, it can go through our lawyers,” I repeated.

I hung up on him to prove my point. I didn’t trust him. If he got my address, he’d show up.

I quickly sent Reece a text.

Odette

Tyler called asking for my address so his lawyer can send me some papers. I told him to send me his lawyer’s information, and I’ll have our lawyers deal with it. I don’t trust him.

Surprisingly, Reece texted back quickly.

Reece

You did the right thing. My partner agreed to take you on as a client.

Odette

Thank you!!

Reece

No problem. I hope your first day goes well. I’ll see you at home.

I couldn’t help but smile at the words “I’ll see you at home.” It had only been one day, and I was already acting like I had a high school crush.

I was brought out of my thoughts when someone knocked on my office door.

“Is this a bad time?” Olivia asked as she peeked in.

“No, come on in.” I was happy to see Olivia. It meant I had someone in town other than my brothers and Reece to hang out with.

“Has James updated you on the projects we are already working on?” she asked.

“No, we are going to be meeting about that this afternoon.”

“Oh, well, I’m currently working on a project, and the client isn’t happy. I’ve made all the changes they asked for, and it’s still not enough,” she said. I could tell she was exasperated.

“Send it to me, and I’ll have a look. I’m sure your work is good, and the client is just being difficult.”

“Thank you.”

“Send me any thoughts you have on it, like anything you are thinking about changing or things you don’t like about it,” I added.

***

By the time lunch rolled around, I was hungry. I’d been snacking, but my body craved real food. The only problem was that the smell of regular food made me nauseous. The scent of cooking oil or butter really turned my stomach, so I settled on a grilled chicken salad from the café downstairs, hoping that would satisfy my hunger for a bit. I wasn’t sure when everyone else took their lunch, so I used my lunchtime to look through apartment ads on the internet. There were a few that caught my eye. By the time my lunch ended, I had a list of apartments I wanted to check out.

As I entered the suite, Corina approached me. “Who is the lucky guy?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“You’ve got a keeper if he’s sending you flowers for no reason.”

Corina followed me to my office, a wide smile on her face. “I wish my husband still sent me flowers.”

There was a bouquet of yellow and red roses sitting on my desk.

I walked over, took the notecard, and opened it.

~I hope your first day is going great; I’m sure you’re crushing it.~

~-Reece~

“Who is this Reece person?” Corina asked.

“A friend, more than a friend, I don’t know. It’s complicated,” I answered honestly.

“Well, whatever he is, you better keep him because this means he is smitten with you. No one sends roses just to send roses.”

“I might just keep him. Who knows?” I said with a smile.

The only person who had ever sent me flowers before today was my father. He would send them whenever he knew I was having a bad day or on special occasions, even though I was little. He made sure I got flowers just as much as my mother did.

My feelings for Reece were difficult to articulate. I craved his company, and his presence seemed to illuminate the room for me. I was certain he would care for me and love this child the way a father should.

However, it felt unjust that he had to deal with my baggage to get what he wanted. He deserved to start a family, not inherit one. He deserved far more than what I could offer him.

But what if things didn’t work out? I was hesitant to depend on someone else. I had more than just myself to consider now. This child was more important than anything else in my life, and I needed to tread carefully.