Morning came sooner than I had expected, I bathed Ryan and dressed him in the outfit I had picked out for him. He busied himself watching cartoons while I rummaged around the kitchen looking for edible items to fix breakfast.
The house was dead silent, Karen's shift didn't start in another hour so she was probably still asleep.
There was nothing but coffee in the kitchen and I couldn't deal with the taste of cheap coffee and neither could he.
"Where are we going mommy" he asked pointing at the suitcases.
I ran my fingers through his curly jet-black hair extremely grateful that he hadn't inherited my awful red hair.
"Where going to live in the big city with Aunt Leah"
"Is Aunt Karen coming with us" he asked again, his eyes beaming with excitement.
I was about to reply when the door flung open, it was Karen carrying a grocery bag.
"Yeah, Aunt Karen, you're back and you're coming with us to the big city, right?" he asked running circles around her.
"Slow down" I cautioned
"I'm going to go prepare something yummy for breakfast" she replied smiling softly.
She walked past me, our eyes meeting for a second. She seemed calm, she had probably come to terms with it.
Breakfast was over and it was time for our goodbyes.
"I'm really so.." I started but was interrupted by her pulling me into a tight hug.
"I'm really happy for you and I'm sorry for being an asshole about it last night" she broke down in tears.
"I'm sorry too, you were a much better friend than I deserved" I replied also getting emotional.
"Thank you for paying the rent?"
"It was the least I could do"
We hurried our goodbyes so she wouldn't run late for work and we both promised to visit each other.
I stepped outside with a little box and my baby in my hand I hailed a cab and got in without looking back.
An hour later I was in New York in my brand-new car riding with Nyla to check out my new apartment.
It was a really cool apartment and I was extremely grateful for the fact that it was private and properly furnished.
"I may have just found a new hang out spot" Leah called excited, I bagged her to stay for a sleep over just to help me settle in.
I put Ryan to bed early and we share a bottle of wine and talked about literarily everything.
We both concluded that it would be better I put him in daycare.
I couldn't stand the thought of having a stranger staying in my home all day and treating my kid poorly.
Sunday was spent shopping for the latest styles and fashions, if you can't beat them join them I thought to myself proud of my new wardrobe.
Leah helped me put in calls to some day cares and we got a place for Ryan.
"I'm so glad we're back in the same city" she said to me.
"And I'm glad you convinced me to apply for this job".
It was Monday morning and I was dressed in an extremely baggy suit pants and a sunning blazer on my pretty white top.
Ryan had been dropped off at daycare and I was on route to being early to work, hopefully my official first day went well.
All eyes were on me.
"Who's that?"
"The CEO's new personal assistant"
"NO, I heard she was an ugly slut"
"Well, she doesn't look like one"
I held my chin up and waited for my turn at the elevator. Jade was waiting outside my office.
"Well, you clean up nicely" she commented flashing her fake smile.
I chose to take it as a complement ignoring the hidden message in her words.
"Miss Kate already sent you your schedule for the day but she instead I come and talk you through it"
We had both gone into the office and I stared ascent mindedly at the view of the busy city.
"The CEO expects his coffee by 9 am and not a second later, he expects reminders for his meetings half an hour and five minutes before, he…"
"I've got it from here, you can leave" I waved at her, she was ruining the view I had been trying to enjoy.
I had gone through my work schedule and all I pretty much had to do was remind Mr. Reeds of meetings, reschedule them, a little paper work here and there and basically just try to not get fired.
Which meant I had to see him everyday but it was a small price to pay for job with such huge benefits.
I got the coffee ready and was knocking on the door to be let in, I had consiously adjusted my outfit countless times hopeful that he approved, he was my boss after all only made sense that I cared what he thought of my outfit right?
It was a minute past 9 when I was finally let in.
He seemed to have just gotten of the phone and was pretty annoyed.
"You're late"
I apologized and set the coffee down at his table.
"Disgusting" he uttered after a sip, his eyes finally leaving his phone.
I had worked in a coffee shop for half a year, I had drank coffee every morning for the past four years and nobody had ever said those words to me.
"Cancel everything I have planned today and prepare for a trip to New Jersey, we live in an hour time"
I just stared at him unsure of what he meant by WE I definitely didn't sign up for this.
"You seem to have adjusted properly but it also appears that you've gone mute" he said giving a proper glance at my outfit.
"I'll sort it all out" I replied taking my leave.
I had to speak with HR I couldn't go to New Jersey, I didn't have to right.