Page 12 of Lost Times

Still, Jasmine beamed, a pink flush covering her cheeks, so I didn’t bother correcting that. Instead, I nodded, putting a hand on her back and gently nudging her toward one of the seats nearby.

“Yup, this is my girl. Now remember the rules, okay? I’m going to have to do a lot of work but once it’s over, if you behave, we’ll go and get ice cream.” I said and she bobbed her head, looking at every little thing as if it would disappear and she needed to take it all in now.

I shook my head at her but didn’t comment. Instead, I took my seat and pulled the first pile of papers toward me.

Sneaking a glance sideways to the head office, I asked, just loud enough for Kelly to hear. “I take it the boss is brooding in his office?”

She snorted, barely managing to choke the sound back enough for it not to be heard by others. Once she had that under control, she nodded. “Yeah, after you left he grabbed a chunk of the paperwork and squirreled away. At least you don’t have to worry about him getting snippy with Jasmine, right?”

I nodded, but my relief was over a lot more than that. If he stayed holed up, he wouldn’t even meet Jasmine. It was the perfect solution, and I sent up a prayer of gratitude for it.

I would take every easy win I could get.

“Job or no, if he’d started in on her after all but twisting my arm to be here when my shift was over, I wouldn’t tolerate it.” I growled and Kelly nodded, eyes on her paperwork as she talked from the corner of her mouth.

“Same here. Though he seems to be in a fouler-than-usual mood today. He’s never had any issues with us leaving for kids’ events before.”

A scowl carved across my lips, and I scoffed. “Lucky me then.” How ironic was it that the only child’s event he’d ever taken issue with was his own daughters? Not that he knew that or ever would.

Reaffirming my decision to never tell him, I focused on my papers, letting everything else fade to black. The sooner I finished them, the quicker we could get out of here.

Chapter 8

Ludwig

A sharp throbbing shoved behind my eyes as I set yet another stack of papers to the side. I’d gone through all of them, and they were perfect to the letter, as usual.

Unfortunately, there were plenty more where they came from, and it’d take me all night to get them done. Not that pulling all-nighters was anything new, but it’d be nice to get home at a decent time for once.

Shaking aside the foul mood, I pulled my next pile of papers closer, resolutely ignoring my phone and the missed call it showed. It was my father, and I already knew what he’d want. A status update. If he’d called yesterday I would have picked up instantly and given him a glowing report of how things were going, but today was the opposite.

I hadn’t expected the sudden influx of clients, so we were scrambling to get everything finished. The profits for today would look great, but only after we got the paperwork squared away. Until then, I couldn’t answer that call.

He’d probably be displeased with how long it took me to respond, but that was acceptable. If nothing else, it was better than the scorn and disappointment he’d doubtlessly heap on if he knew it was this late and all the work wasn’t finished.

Stopping long enough to rub between my eyes, I took a deep breath and tried to justbreathethrough it. At least most of the employees had agreed to stay late.

Images of one in particular came against my will.

A set of dark, flashing eyes and a fierceness I hadn’t seen on her until today painted behind my lids. Thalia had been ready and willing to force me to move out of her way if I hadn’t, and while it was frustrating that the playhadto fall during this mess, I couldn’t help but…admire that.

Had my parents shown up for even one of my school events?

Thinking back, I grimaced. No, they hadn’t, and they certainly wouldn’t have glared down at their boss to do so, even if they’d managed to make it to one or two. As long as I could remember, work was their life.

Sweeping a glance around at the papers still stacked high around me, I scoffed. And now work wasmylife.

Ignoring the pang twisting deep inside my chest, I forced the thoughts away and started on the newest round of paperwork.

There was no use in sulking, better to just power through and repeat it all tomorrow.

When I was halfway through my stack of paperwork, the door creaked open, the sharp sound driving a spike through my pounding head. Looking up, I massaged my forehead and growled. “What?”

Only to freeze at the small frame hovering in the doorway.

A girl I’d never seen before half hid behind the wood now, watching me warily, and immediately I knew who she was. Thalia’s daughter. I hadn’t thought I’d meet her, since I was doubtlessly going to be busy in here for the rest of the night, but apparently she’d wandered away from her mother.

Usually that would irritate me, but now I could only take in the features that were so eerily similar to Thalia that it was haunting.

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