Page 36 of Daddy's Rule

"Two weeks since we signed a contract. Our agreement is up, and I believe you agreed to write a testimonial for Rent-A-Daddy."

My jaw dropped in surprise, and my blood boiled as I looked from the yellow-lined notepad to Bas and back again. A testimonial? That was what he was stressing? Here I had been imagining a real future with him, and planning how I was going to tell him I had caught feelings, and officially ask if we could make our arrangement a permanent thing, and he was just done? Just like that? No discussion, no heart-to-heart? No nothing. Just done.

Here's some paper. Tell the world I was a good daddy so I can get started making money.

"Wow, that flew by," I murmured, trying to keep my voice nonchalant.

"It really did." He smiled. "I really appreciate you doing this, Nyla. It's really going to help us get the business started. References are important."

"Uh, yeah." I stared at the computer screen, pretending to be so engrossed in what I was doing that I couldn't be bothered to give him the time of day. "I'll get on this when I finish up here."

"Great. Thanks." He leaned down like he was about to kiss my cheek, then stopped himself, chuckled and strode from the room.

When he was gone I let out the breath I’d been holding and allowed myself to feel my emotions. They came hard and fast. My heart pounded and tears streamed down my cheeks. Apparently I had imagined the connection between us. Apparently I had imagined that he liked being my daddy and he would want it to continue. Wiping my tears, I checked my bank account. It wasn't as much of a nest egg as I would have liked, but it was more than most people would have two weeks after having their savings wiped out. It was enough to get me an apartment somewhere that was anywhere but here.

Decision cemented, I picked up the notepad and began to write. It started wooden and overly perky, like any good sales pitch sound bite, but once I started writing I couldn't stop. My feelings poured out of me as my heart bled onto the paper. By the time I was finished, I had written two pages and knew that none of it would be usable outside the first two lines. But that was okay. I wrote it for Bas, and for me.

Rent-A-Daddy helped me get my life back on track after a serious upheaval. The caring Daddy the service assigned to me provided me with rules, goals and support, as well as a firm hand when I needed it.

There's your sound bite. I meant every word. But I also didn't. I don't know if it's possible to rent a daddy, to have someone care for you during the hardest parts of your life, and then to not develop feelings for them. Maybe it's possible, but it wasn't for me. The truth is, I've always had feelings for you, but I've always kept them at bay, always been able to prioritize our friendship and then our working relationship over the chemistry I felt. When we played, it was just play. But these past few weeks… were more than that. As much as I tried to compartmentalize them, I couldn't. And until a few minutes ago, I foolishly thought that you felt the same way, that the chemistry and connection we had always fought were undeniable. I guess I was wrong. I guess my mental state and everything I was going through clouded my judgment.

We will go back to what we have always been: friends and business partners, just like it should be. But first, I need some space.

Thanks to you and our arrangement the past few weeks, I can take some. My life is in order, and my finances are secured. So I'm leaving. And I'll be back eventually. I just don't know when. Apparently, I need some time to pull my head out of my ass.

Nyla

I set the pen down, gathered my purse, and fled the offices before anybody could notice I was leaving. It was time to move on.

Bas

Theo looked up from his desk and leveled me with a glare. "Dude, are you okay? You've been pacing around my office for the last twenty minutes. The stomping is starting to give me a headache."

"Good. You deserve it."

"Listen, I'm not stupid. I know you’re dying to swoop in there with some grand declaration of love, but it's Nyla. She's always held you at arm's length, afraid to let herself really feel the chemistry between you guys. And she's just coming off a failed marriage, so she's going to be even more gun-shy than usual. You have to give her a minute. Asking her to write the testimonial for us will force her to sit down and reflect on the past few weeks, and hopefully she’ll come to see what the rest of us have seen all along: you two are soulmates."

I grunted, grudgingly acknowledging that there was some truth in his words and substance in his plan. I glanced at my watch. "It's been thirty minutes. That's more than enough time."

Theo shook his head. "Let her come to you."

"Fuck that." I flung open the door and stomped down the hall to the conference room where I had left her. When I got to the door, I realized Theo was standing behind me. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all." He smiled but didn't move. "I have been waiting for this day for over ten years, and if you recall, I helped orchestrate the catalyst that finally brought the two of you to your senses. So, I'm staying."

"Fine. Whatever." I patted my pocket, making sure the ring I had purchased earlier was still there, and flung the door open. The conference room was empty. Well, almost. The legal pad I had given her to write the testimonial on sat in the middle of the table with the pen, but Nyla was nowhere to be found.

I grabbed the pad and started to read, my heart dropping when I got past the first two sentences. When I got to the last one, I glared at Theo still standing in the doorway, then pushed past him, running to the elevator with Theo at my heels, demanding to know where I was going. I pushed the button to call the elevator and when the doors opened, Nyla was there, Kleenex clutched in her fist, tears streaming down her face.

I stepped inside before she could stop me and pushed the button twice, once to close the doors so Theo couldn't follow and once to pause the elevator.

"Nyla." I wiped her tears and cupped her chin in the palm of my hand, my heart breaking at seeing that I had caused her pain.

"I wrote your stupid testimonial," she choked out between sobs.

"I saw and I came to apologize for listening to Theo."

"Theo?"

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