Page 43 of Handling the CEO

Because when I said take the girls home, I meant both ‘my’ girls, as I don’t just care about Tae, I care about Dahlia Jara. My fearless and funny and often silly woman, which I care for more than I should after such a short time. But I do and decide right there and then I will not be letting her go, and pray she won’t either.

Jon

Iknocksoftlyonthe door frame and Tae lifts her head from her phone.

“Hey sis, how do you like the room?”

My guestroom is probably the least appealing place in the house, as it’s usually used by Nate sleeping off a night of heavy drinking or, once in a blue moon, by my mother when she visits from the South of France. So, it’s basically a bed and a couple of side tables with an empty wardrobe.

“It’s… a room. But I can make it better. I have some ideas—did you know ‘very peri’ is the color of the year?” She smiles with intent, and I will definitely need to hire an interior designer and some builders, as DIY is definitely not a skill of mine. And google veri peri! I hope it’s not neon green.

“That sounds… interesting. By the way, DJ called her personal shopper to pick up some clothes and toiletries for you and will bring them over in a bit.”

“She did? Awesome! Are there any NA-KD in there? Any Lululemon?” She eyes her overalls, which clearly weren’t a long-term plan.

Marcus didn’t even scratch the surface. Scared shitless doesn’t begin to cover being faced with girls’ clothing brands. Unsure if those were clothing brands, could be perfumes for all I know.

“I think that’s a question for DJ.” I sigh and sit on her bed. “There is something else I want to talk to you.” I pause a bit, as it isn’t an easy subject, and try to find my words. “It’s about what happened earlier with your mom. I wanted to know if she ever did anything like that before?”

“God, Jon! No!” she declares, and by the look on her face, I see she is telling the truth. “She never did. She never grabbed me or hurt me. I think the whole move here stressed her out. We usually do Saturday shopping sprees, or we go to the spa, but ever since we came here, she has been in the office day and night. I know you two don’t get along, but we do spend time together and some days she really tries to do the right thing, and involve me in her life. The problem is that besides clothing, we don’t have that much in common.”

“OK, Tae, I trust you. But you do realize she should be more involved in your life, not the other way around, right?”

“I am aware. But that’s just not who she is. She doesn’t understand me fully, and I don’t really get her. I didn’t want to tell you, but I have been a bit lonely ever since Mia, my former nanny, retired.”

“Why didn’t you say? I could have called more. Or done more Zooms? I would have flown over to New York more, too.” Shit, have I been messing up for a while? The memory of calling me the day I met DJ hits me, and I am ashamed I fobbed her off so quickly, when my sister clearly needed me.

“I… don’t know. Maybe I should have been more honest.” Tabitha looks sad, and I am at a loss for what I can say or do to make it better.

“But Jon, it’s OK, I am here now. Thank you for letting me come home with you. I was a bit worried at the restaurant and was not sure I should leave my mom’s, but now that I am here, I feel much better.”

“Nonsense. You are always welcome here. Maybe I could have painted the room before though,” I change the subject as I am beginning to really worry. I will fuck this up.

“Yes, white is boring,” she giggles. “I have ideas. I’m going to make a Pinterest board and show you!”

“OK, that sounds like a great plan.” It should keep her busy for a while. “If you want to come down in a bit, food is coming.”

“Chinese?” Her eyes sparkle at the thought of sweet and sour chicken.

“Always, for you.”

“YES!” she whoops, and I am glad I can get at least dinner right.

DJ

ThefamilybrunchIhad planned to introduce gently Jon to my siblings went a bit ‘Pete tong’ and yet somehow Miranda’s meltdown brought us all together more than a few drinks did. After the witch left, we all made sure Jon’s sister was OK, and then sat around the restaurant for another round, mostly bitching about what we all witnessed.

Marcus also warmed up to my boyfriend even making some ‘man2man’ jokes. Laura was already his supporter. Meeting him only confirmed it, with a wink and “good job” as she pinged my ear on her way out, in her annoying ‘big sister’ kind of way.

Jon was a bit stunned and anxious, fingers rapping on the table until I held his hand in mine, but he did try not to show his sister that he, too, was not expecting the whole circus.

I so wish Miranda wouldn’t have harmed Tae. My anger was beyond anything I experienced in a long time. I just wanted to protect that young woman and am glad Jon and Marcus took her outside before I did something truly violent.

I have been texting with Tabitha ever since the charity luncheon. I am already feeling close to her, connected by our preference for expensive shoes and clothes, and Grey’s anatomy—though we both agree that the show has overstayed its welcome. And our connection through Jon.

The stories about him would have surprised me a month ago. Now, when I hear a tale of him trying to find her a Monster doll in 2016 and calling the manufacturer’s CEO himself and swapping flying lessons for a puppet for her just cements how much he loves her. How he was the only person in her life who not only asked how her studies were, but also if she was happy. If she was worried about her biology presentation that was due the next day and wanted to talk about it, not only what grade she got.

So, when we took her home that afternoon, Jon set her up in his guest room, where she seems to be settling in just fine.

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