Page 25 of The Boss and the Adoption Mess
"Why’s that?" I press the button for the elevator and the doors open. Only now does Rosie let go of my hand and hops into the elevator, selects the top button, and looks at me in amusement.
"Because I never do what he wants."
Of course. What else.
"What does he want you to do?"
"Study. Draw. Be quiet."
"He wants you to be quiet?" I perk up as the doors close and we start to ascend.
"When he’s working, he has to make phone calls sometimes, but that’s super boring. It takes forever." She rolls her eyes.
Ah, that’s what she means.
"Yeah, work isn’t fun. But if your uncle doesn’t make those calls or talk to his employees, he doesn’t get paid. And he pays everyone who works here too, so then they don't get paid either."
"Oh, I see… why doesn’t he just say that?" She’s right; he could have explained.
"Being a grown-up isn’t that simple."
"I’m really glad I’m a kid," she says.
True. Be careful. Stay small and cute a little longer. Life is easier as a kid than dealing with work, taxes, and cleaning.
The elevator dings at the top. Doors slide open, and we step out. I already spot Sally next to Gabriel. They both rush toward us.
"Rosie! What are you doing?" Gabriel asks immediately. I can tell Rosie doesn’t like that he’s angry. He’s not furious—just concerned—but I step in, lifting her into my arms.
"You’ve got a clever niece. She managed to get outside all by herself just to see me. Isn’t that sweet?" A little fibbing is allowed, right? Rosie beams, looking up at me and then at her uncle.
"What?" Gabriel finally notices me, blinking between the two of us. Sally is bawling her eyes out.
"Kim wanted to go to the grocery store with me to buy hot chocolate. Can I?" Rosie blurts out. Straight to the point.
"Oat milk, cocoa powder, and sweetener. I still have time for that. If you’ll allow me?"
"Wait. One thing at a time. How did you… Hold on." Gabriel takes a moment to collect himself. "You can’t just run away." He’s trying to stay calm but shoots Rosie a reproachful look.
"I only ran away because I wasn’t allowed to have hot chocolate!" she counters immediately, clinging to me.
"Yes, because you have diabetes. Cocoa isn’t good for you." Gabriel isn’t entirely wrong.
"Kim has diabetes too. Just like me. And she can make me cocoa that I’m allowed to drink!" Well, that hit home—or so I thought. Gabriel glares at me. No, he definitely does not like that I planted this idea in the little one’s head.
"With oat milk. A very simple recipe. The grocery store is right nearby. I still have time before the interview with Mr. Bones. So, I thought that…" I don’t get any further.
"There will definitely be no cocoa as a reward. I was really worried about you. Sally too." Gabriel sighs and reaches forRosie. She lets him pick her up so he can hold her in his arms. "You really gave me a scare."
Seeing Gabriel soft and vulnerable is something completely new. He adores the little girl and clearly feels infinitely relieved to have her safe. Rosie seems touched too, noticing that her uncle isn’t doing well.
"I didn’t want you to be sad," she murmurs, stroking his cheek gently. "And I wasn’t even that far away."
"Someone could have taken you. That’s why you always need to stay with your mom, me, or Sally." Gabriel glances at me but doesn’t say my name. "Thank you for bringing her here, but I don’t need your help any further. You can go down to the first floor and talk to Steven there." Just like that, he wants to let me go, leaving my hot chocolate promise dangling?
"I still have enough time to…" I try to object, but Gabriel shakes his head.
"For now, I’ll check whether the oat milk is okay for Rosie. Because of the sweeteners. I don’t know if she can tolerate them. I’ll consult her mother first."
