Page 106 of Executive Decision

So, why are you still up?

ME

Couldn’t sleep.

Why are you still up

KRISTY

Sleep regression. Blame the kid.

ME

I cannot blame her. She’s blameless.

Kristy’s face flashed on my phone. I debated whether to answer, thinking about Daphne in the other room. But Daphne knew about Kristy. They’d been friendly several weeks ago when we’d volunteered to do childcare. So, I picked up.

“It’s easier to talk than type,” Kristy admitted. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.

“How’s Daphne?”

“Asleep,” I answered.

“Oh, so she’s basically living at yours now?”

Oh, how I wish!

“No. We had a date. She’s over for the evening. We went out to dinner, but like a normal person, she fell asleep.

“She’s not a normal person, Cal. She’s basically a princess.”

I snickered. “She’s a normal person.”

“So, is she joining you for the speech?”

My stomach dropped.

“She’s still in the middle of divorce proceedings, so who knows,” I said. “Hopefully. She might be in London, though.”

“You always said you’d never trust someone who was divorced.”

I set my jaw, “Kristy, that was a decade ago. Besides, she wasn’t the reason her marriage failed. This isn’t petty?—”

“No, it’s just wealthy people fighting over inheritances and real estate.”

“That man hurt her,” I said.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

“Kristy, he hurt her,” I raised my voice. “And I don’t want anyone poking fun about it.”

Kristy waited a minute. “Oh… okay. Sorry. I have hit a nerve. I wasn’t aware she had any problems with him apart from the cheating.”

“The cheating was just the tip of the iceberg. She doesn’t like talking about it.”

“But it’s going well?”

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