3. Daisy
Chapter 3
Daisy
T he silken feel of champagne-colored satin gripped her curves as Daisy walked through the double doors of The Hollywood Topaz Hotel. Under the refurbished lights and the architecture preserved from the twenties, she felt like a star on the Walk of Fame, glittering for all to see.
The late May evening brushed its warm kiss along her skin, over the sleeveless gown with its plunging front and back, as she entered one of her favorite properties owned by Hidden Oasis.
The dress would turn every head in the room, bringing everyone’s attention to her and the conversation around the next CEO.
Attached to her side, Easton cleaned up nicely. He traded in his favorite polo shirt for a crisp brown suit. Pomade slicked his sandy brown hair into a trendy quaff, and he trimmed his beard, framing his oval-shaped face nicely. Beyond the distinguished aura exuding from the perfect fit of his tailored suit, excitement sparkled in his dark, mahogany-colored eyes.
He looked very handsome. Daisy told him as much before they left his apartment, lodged between their work-centered conversations. He said. . . something back before networking dominated the conversation again.
“You’re the secret weapon that’ll take my career to the next level. Investors love you. If they love you, they'll love me with the right push." Easton's sharp inhale dragged Daisy from her thoughts and tossed her headfirst into the endless circle of networking talk.
“Sure thing, babe,” Daisy said, burdened by the expectant weight of his eyes on her. She nodded along, but realistically, why did he need her help? Easton grew up in the same wealth and social brackets as those in attendance that evening. “I don’t think you need me to network, though. Making the shareholders feel good about themselves always works for me.”
“Well, you make it look easy. Do this one thing for me and help me network."
"One thing? I've never done anything else for you before tonight?"
“You know what I mean.”
Daisy’s eyes threatened to roll, unsure why Easton hid behind her like a shield. They occupied the same level of responsibility and power with their jobs; her association with him didn’t raise his marketability.
However, she held her tongue, refraining from an argument. If Easton wanted her help, he had her attention for as long as she could spare.
Daisy’s eyes scanned the room on the hunt for shareholders, sifting through the faces of familiar colleagues and their plus-ones. Everyone was dressed in full glamor, taking the evening’s high spirits in stride. Through the sea of jewel tones and neutral fabrics, clusters of shareholders emerged like beacons of light.
Daisy tugged Easton’s arm to guide him through the crowd of people. She nodded and mouthed greetings to faces as they passed. Heads swiveled with wide-eyed stares and slack jaws whenever people caught sight of her.
She lifted her chin high, plastering on a dazzling smile when she whispered to Easton, “Follow my lead. These are some of the closest shareholders to Mr. Ramsey.”
Daisy brought him outside the nearest cluster, but the circle opened with immediate greetings of her name and pleasantries. Her hand grasped those outstretched toward her and Easton, still smiling. As she identified the faces, the notable lack of Kenneth Malone and several other shareholders inspired a wave of relief. Tonight would already be a challenge with Jensen due to arrive at any moment. The last thing she needed was old men with bad attitudes to stand in her way.
“Miss Riggs, you never fail to captivate a room,” Tristan Merritt, one of her favorite shareholders, remarked as he grasped her hands in his. “Isn’t she radiant, folks?”
“You flatter me, Tristan. How’s the family? I assume you've been tearing up the green links in your free time.” She laughed, head tipped back to shake out a few loose, wispy strands from her updo.
The shareholders joined in the laughter, but little did they know they were eating out of the palm of her hand. She could be charming, contrary to Jensen’s assumption.
Since day one, Daisy had assembled a mental dossier of everyone she had met. She collected their likes, dislikes, information from their past conversations, and their relevance to her career. Some might think it manipulative of her, but the corporate world demanded survival. So, she rose to the challenge.
“Shea and the girls are wonderful. They don’t mind my golfing habit while they’re hitting the shops with a mimosa brunch afterward.”
“That sounds amazing. Up at the Ridge, right?”
"Of course. You do a great job with the upkeep of the properties, so I’m never disappointed when I visit. We moved into Del Mesa a few months ago—it’s so nice to get out of the city.”
Daisy nodded, all smiles for the shareholders. Frequent trips down to Del Mesa existed as a perk of the job, but she would never leave the city. The hustle and bustle spoke to her soul, a perfect reminder of how far she succeeded.
The loud, borderline-annoyed clear of a throat from Easton jostled through the pleasant flow of the conversation. Daisy noticed several shareholders glancing toward him. All too aware of how bad it looked, she nudged Easton forward.
“Has everyone here met Easton? He’s my date for the evening,” Daisy said, quick to salvage the conversation from a potential snafu.
Several shareholders extended their hands toward Easton, who greeted them with wordless handshakes. But Daisy’s chest twitched while staring at the almost flat expression painted over Easton’s face. Would it kill him to smile a little? Women in corporate do it all the time.
Tristan grasped Easton’s hand first, giving a hearty shake while smiling. “Ah, are you part of Daisy’s department? I appreciate how she knows her people like the back of her hand.”
"I'm in the financial department," Easton replied, voice cracking awkwardly at the end. "I'm the VP of Financials and Accounting. So, I'm responsible for all the auditing and ensuring Daisy's department stays within budget.”
Easton gave a dry chuckle before he paused, almost like he waited for acknowledgment from the crowd. But no one responded, not with laughter, neither pitying nor genuine. Instead, the shareholders turned to Daisy, who stayed perfectly still.
Even with her thoughts racing a mile a minute to spin some damage control, she hummed, “Lucky for us all, I’m persuasive. Easton’s known me since my UCLA days; he’s probably exhausted by my refusal to lose.”
That response garnered laughter from the crowd, soothing the anxiety coursing through Daisy’s veins harder than the shot of Pink Whitney she downed before leaving the apartment. Damage control could be her middle name.
“That sounds like something Harrison would say.”
“She’s an honorary Ramsey at this point. Everyone knows it.”
“Daisy, any chance you’d be looking for a protégé if you promote? My daughter is attending UCLA in the fall.”
The conversation fractured, but all the attention centered on her with every comment and question. Daisy held her smile firmly, calculating answers to each one when the gathered shareholders bristled quietly.
Daisy didn’t need to turn to understand the shift in the air or the quiet wariness spreading across the shareholders. Jensen had arrived.
“Good evening. I’m glad to see all of you made it to tonight’s events.” Jensen held his composure for long enough to greet the shareholders, chiming in from Daisy’s right. “Daisy, I didn’t expect to see you so early.”
“I never miss an opportunity to attend to our best shareholders,” Daisy remarked with a wink, eliciting a few rogue laughs from the shareholders she knew best. Her eyes flitted towards Jensen, finding him in a classic black suit with Delaney clinging to his arm in a matching cocktail dress. “I take client relations seriously.”
“Seeing as it’s my department, I’ll happily take over from here.”
“No need. I’m capable of holding my own.”
“I’m sure you are. Del, would you mind grabbing some drinks for us? Take my card.” Jensen kissed Delaney’s forehead and slid his wallet into her hands, smiling hard enough for his eyes to crinkle in the corners. In those moments, an image of a younger Harrison emerged.
Daisy knew what he was doing. He sent Delaney away to limit his distractions so he could dive full-force into the evening of schmoozing, making promises they might not always keep, and supplying their voting body with liquor. Two could play that game.
Daisy released Easton from her hold, patting his chest, "I'll meet up with you soon. Go talk to people, hang out with your friends."
She spoke to Easton, but her eyes caught Jensen’s. Delaney hovered at his side still, yet Daisy held Jensen’s attention on a tight leash.
“Daisy,” Easton said, sounding far from pleased with her suggestion. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. We should stick together tonight.”
“I have some business to conduct first, but I’ll find you later. You said you wanted to network, and I’ll only get in your way. There are plenty of people who you should speak to.”
“Fine. I’ll see you later.”
Easton huffed quietly, loud enough for Daisy to hear him, before he marched into the crowd like a man on a mission. Daisy’s eyes darted between Jensen and Delaney, who lingered at his side. Jensen's hand on her shoulder finally turned Delaney away, and she stalked into the crowd without protest.
Everyone in the circle faced Daisy and Jensen while closing the gap left in Easton and Delaney’s departure. The space between Daisy and Jensen shrank as their bodies shuffled closer together, sparing a hair’s breadth between their hands resting at their sides. Daisy could smell Jensen’s cologne bathing him in cedar and sandalwood, close enough to feel his knuckles hovering over her skin.
Every infuriating piece of Jensen Ramsey amplified the deeper he invaded her personal space, whether intentionally or not. Daisy imagined going home to cleanse herself of his presence, sticking to her like secondhand smoke.
Neither broke the silence, but an understanding switched on as easily as a light switch. Let the games begin.
When another shareholder, Gladys Beck, clasped her hands together, the clang of her rings signaled the shift from banter to business. Much like the bell before a fight, Daisy prepared to start swinging.
Gladys hummed, "I speak for many of us when I say Harrison's announcement of his impending retirement took us all for a surprise, but I feel optimistic. We are fortunate to have such accomplished candidates to lead us into the future.”
Jensen politely cleared his throat. "Of course, ma'am. I never expected the day to come so soon. Still, I look forward to representing Hidden Oasis in the best possible light. I watched my dad build this company into the giant it is. Nothing will change its trajectory to success, not on my watch.”
"Whoever becomes the next CEO will be what the company needs to thrive. The greatness of Hidden Oasis is only beginning," Daisy remarked, fine-tuning her interjection into a weapon. Jensen hadn't received the promotion yet. “I want this company to succeed beyond our wildest imaginations. I look forward to my role in shaping its course.”
There was a time and place for her to puff up her accomplishments, but that evening wasn’t it. Instead, Daisy played Miss Congeniality, the poster child for the employee almost everyone loved.
Almost.
Jensen’s hand brushed against her shoulder. Electricity from his fingers leaped up her neck until all the hairs stood up straight, sending thoughts of smacking his hand away too tempting to ignore. Yet, she stayed so perfectly still.
“It seems Daisy and I share your optimism, Gladys. But tonight isn’t about either of us. We should focus on my dad’s long service to the company, shareholders, and community.” Jensen’s hand dropped from Daisy's body fast, which was better for both.
"Exactly. Which is why we should toast." Daisy peered around until she caught sight of a server carrying a tray of champagne. She leaned over, plucking two flutes filled to the brim. She offered one to Jensen before lifting hers. “To Harrison Ramsey, the best among us.”
“Whoever fills his shoes will be the right fit.”
“Those are big shoes to fill, but it’ll be done.”
Daisy and Jensen held their flutes high, watching as the champagne caught the light to turn into liquid gold. The company's future stood between them like the world’s longest game of tug-a-war, swiftly speeding toward its end.
The shareholders applauded, garnering attention from the neighboring clusters to all the fuss. Their newfound focus meant more people to greet, charm, and please. Lucky for them, Daisy developed a taste for the charade.
She sipped on her champagne. Jensen did the same, taking slow and steady tastes while their eyes glared the other down from behind the rim.
Daisy hummed, “It’s been lovely to speak with you all. I need to make my rounds and welcome everyone else who’s arrived. But I will stop by later.” She prefaced her exit, ready to get ahead of Jensen.
As she turned, she heard Jensen speak, "Have a fantastic evening. Thank you for supporting Hidden Oasis for another year."
Daisy snuck a glance over her shoulder, finding Jensen staring at her back with those narrowed eyes he reserved for her. They stalked in opposite directions, ready to show the other who deserved the promotion.
Time blended together in a blur of faces and conversations Daisy could barely slot into her dossier for later. Nevertheless, she endured the fatigue until her face ached from smiling too much.
Sipping on her champagne got her through every conversation, often drier than the fucking desert. When she hit her limit, she used her drained glass as an excuse to move on. No one seemed the wiser.
In every conversation, Daisy became a perfect reflection of what they wanted from her, racking up congratulations and boisterous professions of support. Yet, those meant nothing while the liquor flowed. She couldn’t rest on her laurels too early; she wasn’t Jensen, the promised heir.
Daisy wandered through the crowd, her gaze always moving, picking through the faces for Easton. She hadn't seen him since Jensen arrived, and she owed him a drink. Call her many things, but she prided herself on following through.
She caught sight of the catering table, where a few finance department guys lounged with their drinks from the bar, jackets draped over their arms. The room pulsed with warmth from all the bodies packed into it, even with the doors flung open to invite fresh air in.
Sauntering over, Daisy dropped her empty champagne onto a passing tray, no longer needing its services. Her hands straightened the gorgeous golden body chain she layered underneath her dress, which twinkled with every move she made.
The guys in Easton's department snapped to attention when she entered their vision, stumbling over themselves. Daisy raised her brow; she barely knew most of them except for Nelson, the vice president of sales.
Daisy liked Nelson. She appreciated his dry wit and uncanny knowledge of the best Mexican food places within a five-block radius. During their meetings, he brought a voice of reason to the V-Suite, making him her favorite referee when she and Jensen bickered.
“Hello,” she greeted, hands tucked behind her back. Her eyes swept across the faces of her nameless coworkers. “Have any of you seen Easton recently? We’re supposed to have a drink.”
“No, ma’am.”
“Can’t say I have.”
“Not since the beginning of the night.”
Daisy took each denial in stride, not daunted by her search. Easton wouldn't have left without finding her since she drove them there. He should be somewhere among the masses congregated on the first floor, stretched between the Art Deco walls.
Nelson waved, finishing his cocktail from the bar. "I don't know if he's still there, but I overheard him mentioning needing fresh air. One of the guys suggested he check out the private pool deck. Floor seventeen, if I remember correctly."
“This is why you’re my favorite. Have a great night, gentlemen.” Daisy saluted, spinning around on her heel. Her dress’ train kicked up slightly in her wake, drawing the eyes of nearby shareholders.
Daisy nodded to every person who met her stare, focused on a route to the elevator through all the bodies. She slipped past conversations whose snippets beckoned her to stay a while and chime in, but she needed to find Easton.
She emerged from the crowd, showing the golden wristband snugly wrapped around her arm to the two guards flanking the elevator. One of them kindly hit the button for her. She beamed, choosing a thankful, closed-lipped smile to rest her sore cheeks.
The doors parted open to an empty elevator, but Daisy heard a shout ring out from behind her. “Hold the door!”
She spun around, stepping through the doors, as Jensen raced over. He lifted his sleeve to flash the same golden wristband Daisy wore when passing the guards.
With great reluctance, Daisy pressed her hand over the door until Jensen slid into the elevator. She sighed, clicking the button for the seventeenth floor. “What floor?”
"I don't know. I’ve been looking for Delaney for the past thirty minutes. No one has a clue where she’s gone.”
“What a coincidence. I've been looking for Easton… have you seen him?”
“Not since earlier. I assume you haven’t seen Delaney either.”
“Afraid not.” Daisy poked the 'close door' button until the doors shut, comforted by the ambient metallic hum. She leaned against the nearest wall and sank into the cold metal caressing her back. The body chain branded its shape into her skin, jingling as the elevator ascended.
Her eyes wandered to Jensen, standing in the center of the elevator with his brows furrowed together. He stared at his phone, perfectly agitated for a man whose girlfriend was missing.
“Is that Delaney?” asked Daisy.
Jensen's head snapped up. "Uh, no. It's my sister, Piper. I haven’t seen her since earlier tonight, but Dad said she wasn't doing well. Something about feeling insecure in her dress," he mumbled, returning to the screen.
Daisy closed her eyes, leaning deeper against the wall. “This might not mean much, but tell her that she looks lovely. The darker pinks suited her coloring. Plus, A-lines are perfect for a young woman and complement her curves. She's easily one of the best-dressed women here."
“I’ll pass on the message. My mom and Hayley tried to say the same, but she might take it better from someone who isn’t related to her and who. . . yeah.”
“Good. I’m infinitely cooler than you are anyways.”
Daisy half-expected Jensen to retort with some snarky comment or a huff, but another few incoming texts chimed. She opened her eyes again, seeing Jensen’s frown deepen.
He leaned over to press one of the buttons, fingers stopping short at the seventeenth. He double-checked his phone in silence and stepped back. However, the shift in his posture became undeniable. Something had him worried.
The numbers switched into the double digits and soon arrived on the seventeenth floor. Besides the dimmed rooms for pool equipment, two glass doors led to the glowing pool deck overlooking West Hollywood.
Jensen dug into his pocket, cursing under his breath, until he revealed a key card. The almost neon shade of aqua illuminated the dark glint in his eyes, which had been downright haunted since the elevator.
When he opened the doors, Daisy stumbled onto the pool deck behind him, hit with the hot air of the evening. The dark skies and sparkling skyline held her attention for a moment, standing brighter than the manicured hedges and the still waters of the pool among the wooden deck.
Daisy’s eyes raked over the deck chairs laid out until she spotted a dark purse discarded on the white cushion. “Isn’t that Delaney’s?”
"Yeah, it—" Jensen replied, but Daisy shushed him with a finger to his lips.
“Then, she’s probably here,” she whispered, removing her hand from his face. Daisy stepped forward on the ball of her foot instead of her heel, careful not to make the wood creak into the empty night.
She and Jensen walked down the length of the pool, tucked close together. But neither could prepare for when they approached one of the hedges at the end of the row.
In the alcove created between the wall, the hedge, and the glass railing stretched around the deck, they found Delaney. . . with Easton. Delaney’s dark cocktail dress puddled above her hips, but the sight of lace panties hanging around one ankle painted an unexpected twist. Easton’s body pinned her against the wall, but her mouth against his left no room for doubt.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Jensen snarled, causing the two unsuspecting lovers to freeze. Within seconds, they scrambled to let go of one another and frantically pulled at their clothes. Yet no "fixing" would undo the red bleeding into Daisy’s vision.
She knew they weren’t worth losing her job but lunged anyway. Only a pair of firm, muscular arms wrapping around her waist held her back from a fearful Easton and Delaney, derailing the first punch.
“Let go of me!” Daisy hissed at Jensen, twitching in his arms. Seeing Easton and Delaney with their rumpled clothes and the lipstick smeared between their mouths—she wanted to throw them in the pool. “Jensen, I’m serious!”
“I can’t do that.” Jensen’s hot breath panted into her ear while he kept her from swinging. She thought she knew the depths of his anger, but the venomous edge to his voice superseded anything he leveled at her.
His arms curled around her and tightened their coil until she stopped thrashing. Once the kicking and wrestling ceased, Jensen's grip loosened enough for her to stand on her own.
Daisy pointed between Delaney and Easton, who hadn’t moved since they were caught. “Explain. Now. Or I will be leaving the venue in handcuffs.”
“Have you two ever wondered how exhausting it is to date you? All you two care about is work. You put your relationships on the back burner," Delaney blurted out, and the guilty expression on Easton’s face injected a new rush of anger into Daisy’s veins. “Easton and I aren’t sorry—we’re in love.”
“In love?” Jensen spat. If his arms loosened any more on Daisy, she might escape and tackle Easton and Delaney off the roof. Jensen could have the promotion because she wasn’t one to accept disrespect.
“It’s true! Jensen, we haven’t been in love for years. Ever since you graduated college, you’ve become obsessed with Daisy. You always talk about her; I couldn't take it anymore. I don't understand why she has you wrapped around her every move. But I know it’s mutual. . . you two are preoccupied with one-upping each other.”
“I started talking with Delaney about how isolating it is to be involved with Harrison’s favorite. After so many months of neglect, one thing led to another,” Easton finally spoke up, not looking at Daisy or Jensen.
“How long has this been going on?” Jensen asked.
“It only happened once. Tonight. We reached our boiling point and had a moment of weakness. The rest of the time was talking only,” Delaney remarked, chewing on her lower lip. Her eyes flitted over to Easton, who closed his mouth.
“You’re lying,” Daisy hissed.
Jensen whispered, voice lilted in a warning, “Daisy.”
"No, they're lying. I'm far from stupid. You two are already in deep shit, so you might as well embrace the rest of the storm coming your way.”
Easton and Delaney glanced at one another before Easton sighed, “Fine. We’ve been seeing each other for months. Happy now?”
“Yeah, I’m so fucking happy to learn that you were sleeping with her and me at the same time, you absolute jackass.” Daisy’s sarcasm left every word punchy on her tongue, hoping she carved his heart out. He only used her to advance himself.
“You know what, Daisy? You brought this on yourself.” Easton shook his head, wrapping a protective arm around Delaney like she was the victim.
“Oh, I can’t wait to hear this one!”
"Earlier, you were supposed to help me network, but you didn't. I've had to put up with you being a frigid bitch in the bedroom for weeks because you’re too busy with work. Tonight was the last straw.”
“Hey, don’t fucking call her that,” Jensen snapped, sending Daisy's heart into pure silence. The frantic rush from her anger ceased so abruptly that she almost worried her heart gave out. But when his arms dropped from her waist, she heard it start again, "Your weakness as a man isn’t her fault.”
“You got this job because I gave you a good referral. So, watch your mouth. . . and you have two days to collect your stuff from my place before I burn it.” Daisy bared her teeth. She readied a slap so loud the greater Los Angeles area would hear it if he came any closer.
Easton didn’t argue back or say a word when Jensen stepped forward. Daisy's eyes studied the pain as it seeped out of every feature while he stared at Delaney.
She lost a bum who mooched off her for months, but he lost his high school sweetheart. Fuck.
“We’re done too,” Jensen snapped at Delaney, who hid behind Easton like he was a human shield. "You can move out of the townhouse with your things. You're also uninvited from the corporate retreat. Don't call me, apologize, or ask for a second chance."
At that moment, Daisy's heart almost wept for Jensen. She didn't hurt, not when she gained more than she lost. But he looked ready to break at any second.
“You should leave, lovebirds. . . before I decide to forfeit my job by wringing your necks,” Daisy snapped, breaking the tension with her threat. Easton and Delaney sprinted toward the elevator without hesitation, running off into the night as new lovers.
She watched them vanish but froze as Jensen wandered to the nearest deck chair. He staggered as he sat, burying his head between his knees and curling into himself, closed off from the world.
Daisy didn’t need to see him cry.
Daisy wandered over, standing in front of him to no response. She touched his shoulder. “I’ll grab Piper or Hayley, okay? You need someone who doesn’t remind you of the shitshow we just participated in. Stay here.”
Jensen said nothing but reached over and laid his hand on hers for a beat. Then, he pulled back, and Daisy headed for the elevators. A truce fell over them for the moment while their relationships crumbled into rubble around them.