All I know is that I started in the foster system at birth, and while I did stay with a family for the first two years of my life, I mostly jumped around from foster home to foster home until Gwen took me under her wing as a teenager.
And to be honest, I don’t have a desire to find my biological parents. I know a lot of people might feel strongly about this, but to me, it’s not something I want to do or feel that I have to do.
I am the reason I am who I am today, and any information about my absentee biological parents isn’t going to change any of that.
“Uh oh, someone has a very serious look on their face.”
I pull my eyes away from the screen of my laptop to find Damien standing in front of my desk. He searches my face closely, tilts his head to the side, and opens his mouth again before I can find a reason for my studious expression that doesn’t revolve around the sad truth—letting my work visa lapse and putting my career at risk.
“What’s wrong?” he questions and starts to walk around my desk so he can take a gander at what has me looking so “serious.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Quickly, I tap my fingers against the track pad to minimize the application that sits front and center. The very last thing I need right now is my boss finding out that not only did I fuck up my visa, but I impulsively married an American in Vegas just so I could un-fuck it up.
“N-nothing,” I answer as he comes to stand beside my chair and places a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Everything is just fine and dandy.”
Just fine and dandy? Goodness.
“What’s that?” Damien quirks his brow, and his eyes home in on my computer.
“Uh…” My words fumble over my tongue as he takes a closer look, and a hummingbird’s wing is now my heart as I dart my eyes back to my laptop screen.
“Are those the staging plans for the Laurel Canyon bungalow?”
The staging plans for the Laurel Canyon bungalow EllisGrey will be listing soon are, in fact, what is front and center. Oh, thank hell.
“Oh…uh, yeah,” I respond and swallow past the uncomfortable knot my thumping heart has pushed up into my throat. “I…um…I just finished those up this morning.”
Technically, I finished them up before I left for Vegas, but he doesn’t need to know that. It’s better for everyone if he thinks I’ve spent my workday doing, you know, work.
“Daisy?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you okay? You look like one of those buildings on TV when they televise their demolition. All sad and tired because everyone knows the big bang that’s coming.” His eyes are back on me now, and I discreetly suck some much-needed oxygen into my lungs.
Damien Ellis is one of the best bosses on the planet. Kind, hilarious, understanding, and sympathetic to his employees’ struggles, he’s the kind of man you want to work for. The kind of man who inspires and motivates you to be the best you can be. The kind of man who encourages you, challenges you, and helps you evolve in your career.
He’s…amazing.
But telling him that I put my job at risk—the job he gave me, mind you—because I didn’t keep track of my visa’s expiration date? No. That’s professional negligence that would be impossible for most bosses to understand, no matter how damn awesome they might be.
“Daisy.” He says my name again, but this time, it’s in a way that makes me realize just how much time has passed since he asked the question.
“Yeah?”
“Doll, I wasn’t born yesterday.” A laugh jumps from his perfectly hydrated lips. “I know when there’s some kind of emotional drama brewing better than anyone. So, honey bunny, it’s high time for you to spill the tea on what’s got you acting so weird.”
“What?” I feign confusion. “I’m not acting weird. No way. Nothing weird is happening, and I’m not acting weird.” When I realize just how weird my rambling response was, I add, “Maybe I’m just a little tired?”
“You’re jumpy and fidgety, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were sitting here watching porn on your company-issued computer.”
I choke on my tongue. “Uh, no. I wasn’t watching porn.”
“Taking sexy foot pics for your OnlyFans account, then?”
“Damien!” I exclaim on a laugh. “Oh my God, you’re deranged. I don’t have an OnlyFans account.”
“Personally, I am pro-porn and pro-Only Fans. I mean, have you seen the money some of the people are raking in?”