I SHAKE MY shock of red curls in dismay. Irritated already this cold Tuesday morning.
"No Leon, get it done and get it done now."
"Yes, Ms. Killian."
"Have Kelly from accounting send me this month's expense report via encrypted email."
"Yes, Ms. Killian."
"Please stress to Kelly that if the email isn't encrypted it will result in immediate termination."
"Yes, Ms. Killian."
"And Leon?"
"Yes, Ms. Killian?"
"Thank you."
"It's my job, Ms. Killian."
I chuckle. "I know Leon. I pay you."
"No baby, that's mommy's...! Contract."
I look at the desecrated paper longingly. Well, that's two days of revisions down the drain.
Penelope giggles. I give my daughter a stern look.
"That is not funny, Miss Penny. Mommy spent a long time on that."
She shrugs. "Sorry, Mommy."
If you were sorry you wouldn't have shrugged.
"Yes, yes, sweetheart, I know. Mommy will fix it later."
"Penny hungry, Momma. I'm hungry."
"Penny's always hungry." She grins knowing I'm right.
She lifts her hands and clenches her little fist.
"Pick me up, Momma."
"Pick me up, Momma what?"
"Pick me up, Momma please."
I pick her up, kissing her baby cheeks.
"That's mommy's smart girl."
She shakes her head giggling, trying to get away from my kisses, her curls identical to mine but shorter.
I sit her on a chair beside me. I fix us both dinner. My daughter's three, and I thank God I can just fix one meal for the both of us.
Being a single mother and a business woman is exhausting, but I do it.
My daughter comes before everything.
Money, business, reputation; I don't care. If my daughter needs me, even if she wants to go to the park; we'll go.
And those who don't like it can conduct their business elsewhere.
"Little one, you have to go to work with Mommy tomorrow. "
She claps happily, cheering at the thought of being the boss. I roll my eyes good-naturedly.
She's bossy like her Mommy.
MY WORK PHONE rings at seven am.
"Leon, is one of my buildings on fire?"
"No, Ms. Killian."
"Am I being sued?"
"No, Ms. Killian."
"Is my money missing? Does someone have a picture of my daughter? Stolen merchandise? Breach of contract? My grandfather finally kicked the bucket!?"
"No, no, no, no and no, Ms. Killian."
"Damn," I mutter in dismay. "He just will not die."
I heard Leon choke back a laugh. British jerk.
"Why are you calling me then, Leon? Are you okay?"
"No, Ms. Killian. I am not okay. I am not okay at all. Your eight o'clock is demanding to be seen."
"Well, tell him to check his watch."
"He informed me that he full well knows the time, but insists on being seen."
"I guess he's screwed then. He set an appointment for eight, I expect him at eight. He didn't call within forty-eight hour grace period so, I don't know what to tell him."
"Should I directly quote you, Ms. Killian?"
I grin. "If I say no, will you do it anyway?"
"Yes, Ms. Killian."
"Then quote it. I'll be in my office at 7:45 sharp."
"And Miss Penelope?"
He loves Penelope. Leon is a stiff, awkward man, but he's good at his job.
The only person he doesn't act like a British robot to is Penelope, and seldom me. Even though I've known him since middle school.
Still, Leon has known her all her life.
At first, she scared him, and whenever I had her, he'd buzz around me trying to escape.
"She'll be with me today, so don't forget to—"
"Have fruit snacks and Apple juice. Yes, ma'am."
My alarm goes off. "I'll be there in thirty."
I hang up. After knowing me for more than ten years, Leon has me down pat. He's gotten used to my abrupt ending of phone calls.
It's not personal.
Once the conversation is done, I'm not going to waste twenty minutes saying goodbye.
In twenty minutes, I can make twenty grand.
Time is money. And no one fucks with my money.
I get up, getting ready. I don't need much time. I don't wear makeup, I don't fuss with my hair, it's curly.
I just spray it, comb it, and let it be.
I pick my outfit out the night before.
Time is money.
I get ready in fifteen minutes, my daughter in five, then I go to my office which is a mile away.
Taking my private elevator, I nod politely at the receptionist.
"Good morning, Ms. Killian."
"Good morning, Lily. "
Tapping my foot, holding my sleeping daughter, I wait for the elevator to get to my floor.
There must be a way to make this elevator go faster.
As soon as my elevator door opens, my left-hand stretches out, and my coffee is in my hand.
"Good morning, Leon my financial savior. "
"Good morning, Ms. Killian my... financial provider."
He's so adorable. Sometimes I wonder why dyed his hair black and went, geek.
"Do you want me to take Penny? "
"No. She's sleep. She needs to sleep. I'll keep her. You know she wakes up if you move her."
He nods. I unlock my office.
"Ms. Killian?"
"Send him up."
My eight o'clock storms in.
"What kind of businessman are you?"
