Richard's POV
The incessant ringing of my phone drags my attention away from the laptop in front of me. Lazily, I stretch a hand to grab the phone.
It is Daisy.
As my face breaks into a smile, pleasure spirals in my stomach.
I don't call her, even though I am always tempted to. This is one rule I have decided to follow no matter what until Arabel comes out clean about her real identity and Daisy's.
“Hey, princess," I mutter with a light chuckle.
“Hey, buddy.”
I laugh at that.
“Buddy? Where did you hear that from?” I ask with curiosity.
“From mom last night. She called Uncle Alex that, and when I asked her, she told me it meant friend. Since you are also my friend, I guess I am allowed to call you that, aren't I?”
My pulse hitched.
That guy is just her friend?
I don't know whether to be glad about this piece of information or not. Considering what happened two nights ago, I decided to keep my distance for a while until she is fully recovered and back to work. I haven't seen her in two days, and it's been really tough on me.
Having to lose her for several years was tough, but my inability to see her in just two days, knowing how close she is to me and how I can easily see her if I want to, was torturous.
All night, I keep myself busy, even though at intervals, my mind drifts here and there, and I find myself going through her profile on LinkedIn and every social media platform I can find her on.
Arabel has done a great job. For herself and our daughter. I am proud of her, and it makes me feel bitter for my mistakes.
Not realising how much she meant to be before Eve's arrival was my first mistake. Letting Eve's deceitful act get to me was the second. Asking for a divorce was the third, and lastly, letting her go.
“Buddy?!” Daisy's loud voice jerks into my thoughts. “Are you there? Don't you like the name?”
“Of course I do," I reply sharply. “I love it. You can call me that, and I will call you my princess.”
Silence elapses.
“Thank you for the ice cream. I got my phone from Mommy, that is why I am calling.”
“You are welcome. I don't mind buying you that every day, you know?” My eyes twinkle with pride, love, admiration, and laughter.
I still can't believe this girl is mine. My blood. A little version of me.
“Really?” She shrieks excitedly, making me confused for a while until it hits me that this is about the ice cream. “I love that ice cream. It's way better than the one Uncle Alex brings home.”
Home? Are they staying together?
“Uncle Alex?” I find myself asking out loud, unable to contain my curiosity. “Do you live together?”
“No!”
“Who is he?” I ask again, feeling low for wanting to get information from Daisy instead of Arabel. I feel like I am taking advantage of her.
But on second thought, I feel it is just a way to find answers to the questions I can't seem to figure out the answers to and a way to contain and satisfy my curiosity.
“My uncle. He's my mother's friend, too. He gave us this house…”
“Daisy!” A loud voice cuts her short, and I know it is Arabel. “What are you doing?”
“I'm on the phone, mom," Daisy replies politely, and I imagine her rolling her eyes at her mother.
“With who?” Arabel shouts, her voice becoming closer.
“My friend!”
Then silence follows.
I can't hear Daisy's voice or Arabel's. I am about to cut the call and call back to apologise on Daisy's behalf when the familiar voice reaches my ear, sending a wave of pleasure and satisfaction down my spine.
“Mr. Richard?”
God!
I shouldn't have let this woman go. I should have let her stay. I should have loved her, right.
“Mr. Richard?” She calls again, pulling me back to life.
“Hi. How is your health?” I question, feeling awkward. We haven't seen or spoken since the other day. I want to do everything I can to get close to her, but I don't want to disrespect her.
This is why I made the decision to wait until she has fully recovered.
Now that I have my doubts cleared about that Alex guy and the fact that he is nothing but a friend, there is hope that I can get her back. I will do everything I can to get her forgiveness and win her back. Even if it means kneeling down to apologize or having her hit me repeatedly to let out all the pent up anger.
I am willing to do all it takes now. I will give it my all and rectify my mistake.
“I am fine, thank you. I'm so sorry for the other day. I was not in the best of mood considering my ill-health, amongst other things," she says, surprising me.
I am thinking she would yell at Daisy and show her disapproval of Daisy calling me behind her back. I am thinking she would sound harsh over the phone and ask me what exactly I was doing on the phone with her daughter. I am thinking she would spell out her displeasure at my habit of mixing pleasure with business yet again.
She isn't doing any of that.
Instead, she sounds different.
There is not even a tiny bit of anger in her voice. It sounds rather chirpy and full of excitement.
It makes me wonder what is going on.
“I understand. I'm sorry for arriving unannounced, too. I was just too worried to keep calm," I mention, then quickly add in order not to give the wrong impression. “You are an important partner. I don't know why I was worried, but I guess it's just part of my profession…”
“I understand. You show concern for every one of your clients. That is one good ethic.”
I smile.
“Thank you.”
“I should be thanking you, sir. For understanding and not taking my behaviour to heart. I'm really sorry and thankful.”
My head swells. My heart rate increases. My smile widens.
Before I can think of what exactly to say to keep the conversation going and not make it awkward, Daisy says something that I can't hear clearly, but it reminds me of her request.
“Daisy called to thank me. Please don't scold her. She is my friend, remember?”
A light chuckle leaves her mouth, and a shiver of electricity jolts down my arm. “She is one stubborn child. She never listens to anything I say.”
I laugh too.
“I hope you are much better now?”
“Yes, I am. I should be back to work tomorrow, though I haven't rested enough from the bunch of work I have to do while being away from home.”
“Can I take my friend out?” I quickly ask, worried the word may never come out if I don't say it now. Worried the chance to ask will never come either.
She falls silent.
“Daisy, you mean?” She demands with a low tone.
“Yes, please.”
She falls silent again before answering. “I'm sorry that won't be quite possible. I do not…”
“I mean no harm, Mrs. Bella. Daisy reminds me so much of someone I used to adore. I won't harm her. I can never do that. I just want to spend some time with her. Just this once.” I assure her, with my heart racing at the thought of a rejection.
When she isn't saying anything, I add. “You can come with us if you don't feel comfortable leaving her with me.”
“No, no, no!” She chants sharply. “I can't.”
“You should. I'm very sure you won't feel uncomfortable leaving her with me next time if you come. I am good with kids. You should come see for yourself.”
“I thought you said just this once? Why are you already talking about the next time?”
I laugh.
I didn't mean to.
Then it hits me.
I haven't laughed this way in years. Since she left, no genuine laughter has escaped my lips.
“I'm sorry. Just this once is fine.”
“It's ok.”
My pulse pound. “It's ok? You mean I can come take her out?”
“No. I was talking about your apology. Mr. Richard, do you do this with every client?” Her voice is a bit loud now.
“No! I don't. I like Daisy. She is my friend.”
“Mummy, let me talk to Buddy." I hear Daisy screaming in the background.
“If you don't stop, I won't let him come take you out anymore," Arabel chides her, and Daisy goes silent immediately.
“Is he coming? Is it tonight or tomorrow?” She asks her mother calmly, but I can hear. It makes me smile.
Without any further argument about taking her out or not, I decide this was it. She has concurred without declaring it.
“Thank you. I'll come pick her up at 11 tomorrow. Goodnight.”
Without waiting for a reply or a disagreement, I disconnect the call immediately with a huge smile on my face.
This was an opportunity. An opportunity to start making things right. An opportunity to get to know my daughter. And an opportunity to get to know the new Arabella.
And this opportunity will be the beginning of a new, fresh story.
It will be worth it.