Page 12 of Worship Him

Jasmine gently takes Avery from me. "We'll be fine. Just go knock 'em dead."

"Okay, so her bottles are in the fridge. Make sure to warm them up, but not too hot. Test it on your wrist first."

She nods, her expression a mix of amusement and understanding. "Got it. Warm, not scalding."

"And her diapers are-"

"Under the changing table," Jasmine finishes. "I've been here before, Des."

I press on, undeterred. "Right, but remember she likes the lavender lotion after her bath. Oh, and her favorite stuffed elephant is-"

"On the rocking chair," Jasmine says, gently hugging Avery. "I've got this, mama bear. You focus on slaying that meeting."

I bite my lip, watching as Avery settles contentedly against Jasmine's shoulder. "I'll only be gone for two hours. Three, tops."

"And we'll be right here when you get back," Jasmine assures me. She gives me a playful shove towards the door. "Now go, before you talk yourself out of it."

I hesitate, my hand on the doorknob. "You'll call if anything happens, right? Even if it seems small?"

She rolls her eyes, but her smile is kind. "I promise to call if she so much as sneezes funny. Now seriously, get out of here before I have to physically remove you."

I laugh, the sound surprising me. It feels good, like releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Alright, alright. I'm going."

As I step out into the hallway, I hear Jasmine's voice, soft and soothing, talking to Avery. "Your mama's gonna take over the world, little one. Just you wait and see."

I close the door behind me, my chest tight with a mix of pride and longing. It's only two hours, I remind myself. I can do this.

About half an hour later, I sit at the head of the conference table, my eyes darting between the PowerPoint presentation and my phone. The buzz of conversation around me fades into white noise as I check my messages for the hundredth time.

"Destiny?"

I snap to attention, meeting the expectant gaze of my lead designer, Tara. "Sorry, what was that?"

She furrows her brow. "I was asking about the fabric choices for the fall line. Are we still going with the eco-friendly options?"

"Right, yes," I nod, forcing myself to focus. "Sustainability is key this season. Let's push forward with the organic cotton and recycled polyester blends."

My phone vibrates against the table, and I snatch it up, my heart racing. It's Barrett. I stand abruptly, chair scraping against the floor.

"Excuse me, I need to take this. It's urgent," I mutter, already heading for the door.

Once in the hallway, I answer breathlessly. "Barrett, what's going on?"

His voice is calm, but I detect an undercurrent of tension. "Adam's lawyer is pushing hard for a court date, Destiny. They're getting beyond impatient. There’s no way to put it off any longer."

My stomach drops. "How long do we have, do you think?"

"Not long," Barrett sighs, and I can almost see him adjust his glasses. "Look, I've been stalling as much as I can, but I can't keep this up. You know what you need to do."

I lean against the wall, closing my eyes. "I know, I know."

"Destiny," his tone softens, "If Adam finds out about Avery from anyone but you, it's going to be a mess. How long do you think something like that can remain a secret anyway?"

I run a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up. "You think I don't know that? I lie awake every night thinking about it."

"Then do something about it," Barrett urges. "Set up a meeting with Adam. Today."

My chest tightens at the thought. "I can't just-"

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