揧ou hear that, Dessy? You抮e the expert here in talking young,?Katelyn says with a wry smile. 揝ince your dear old dad has me running after espresso machine suppliers who shortchanged us last month, I don抰 have time to go on a honey badger hunt. So, you抳e got your first task.?
Destiny pops up from the floor. 揧ou want me to call??
揧eah, the shop on Seventh Street.?
揧ou抳e managed to cure her bonelessness, Katelyn. Miraculous.?I snort as I look at Dess. 揥hy can抰 you pop up like that when I tell you to get moving??
揧ou抮e a drill sergeant. Duh.?
揑 was a lieutenant. Sergeants are noncommissioned,?I mutter.
揝o, you admit you抮e a drill sergeant??
揥rong. I outranked your average RDC and you know nothing about the US Navy.?
揥hatevs. I know it made you a total hardass for life,?she whispers under her breath梥till loud enough to hear梐s she rolls her eyes.
While Destiny dials the store, I head back to my office.
I抦 perched in my tall leather chair before I realize I抦 still holding the damn mason jar.
We抣l track down its owner soon enough. I try to focus on reports, but my eyes keep catching on that small glass container.
Even if I had this sample reverse engineered, I can抰 use it right now. Plus, it抯 too delicious to waste.
I do what any sane person would.
Bottom抯 up.
My office door pops opens and Destiny bounces in.
Perfect timing.
Naturally, she catches me drinking from the mason jar and shakes her head with a loud click of her tongue. 揜eally, Dad? You抮e drinking your own research??
I give her my best mackerel-eyed stare. 揝he抣l be here soon enough and we抣l have a fresh sample we can actually use. Why waste this one??
揙kay. I think you just have a thing for coffee made by people you hate.?She pauses. When I don抰 even crack a smile at her silly comment, she sighs. 揌er name抯 Eliza Angelo. She抯 not on LinkedIn or Facebook, so I had to do some digging. You抮e welcome.?
揈veryone抯 on Facebooger for reasons I will never understand.?
Destiny shakes her head again.
揘ope. Everyone old uses it, you mean. Not her. She抯 listed as a virtual assistant on Instagram and Upwork, which means basically nothing. The HR lady said that depending on who her clients are, that could mean she抯 struggling to get by梠r it could mean she rakes in six figures.?
揟hat抯 solid digging, little bee. Though not terribly helpful in getting a proper salary proposal together for HR,?I say gently.
She stares at me like she can抰 believe I paid her an honest compliment.
揔ate and I researched it. VAs typically pull in thirty to seventy thousand dollars a year with the high earners being outliers. Kate thinks we should put two proposals together梠ne for an average VA and a backup if you think she抯 an outlier.?
I stare at my daughter.
揤ery thoughtful. Thanks, now I can retire.?
揇ad!?She stomps her foot. 揑t was mostly Kate抯 idea, so give her a raise. I抦 just the messenger. She says she抯 already working on the proposals for you.?
A smile pulls at my lips.
Most kids would take credit and try to use it to gain some reward. Somehow, I still have a selfless, honest daughter behind the brat.
I just need a reminder sometimes.
揑 have the best assistant,?I say, turning to the mini fridge behind my desk for a water.
Destiny grins. 揧eah, you do. You don抰 even know how many of my friends have asked if you need help. The older juniors and seniors would kill to have a summer job with you條ike literally go all Jane the Ripper. They all think you抮e fire and it抯 gross.?
I抦 swallowing water from the bottle I just opened when she says it. I抦 lucky I don抰 spray mineral water from an Icelandic glacier all over the goddamned place like a human sprinkler.
揥e抮e in luck. I抦 not in the market for a girl half my age who抯 going to hit on me even if Mrs. Storm resigns tomorrow. Tell them I抦 nobody抯 fantasy.?I cough into my hand again, trying like hell not to stare awkwardly. 揂lso, that抯 a subject we抣l never bring up again.?
揓eez, Dad…？
揌ow抯 shadowing? Not the sleeping pill you imagined??
She squeezes her eyes shut and grimaces, scrunching her small face.
揇addy, I love you, but I stand by what I said. Your job is boring AF.?
揂nd I know what that stands for, Dess. You抣l be grounded AF if you keep that up.?She flinches before I carry on. 揝till, I suppose you抮e right. Boring or not, someone needs to run this joint after I step aside, and you抮e an only child.?
揘ot my fault! You should抳e gotten remarried and had more kids. It抯 not like you were short on ladies lining up for dates.?She makes a yuck face.