Chapter 19
Addison
I walked into the breakroom feeling like I was walking on cloud nine.
Despite the lingering nausea in my stomach, my morning with Daniel had distracted me enough from the discomfort of morning sickness.
I grabbed a bag of pretzels and a water bottle from the fridge. Small snacks helped my upset stomach.
I sat down at a small round table by the window and listened to the sounds of the city below, wondering what Daniel was doing now. I smiled as I crunched down on a salty pretzel.
“You look awfully happy,” someone said.
I looked up and saw Shelley standing in the doorway with a curious smile on her face.
“Just happy it’s Friday,” I lied.
I wasn’t happy it was Friday. It hadn’t hit me until I sat down at my desk this morning that I wouldn’t see Daniel again until Monday.
That was, if he was going to continue chauffeuring me to the city.
It was ridiculous, but also incredibly sweet for him to make a two-hour commute each morning on top of his drive to work.
“Any big plans for tonight?” asked Shelley.
“Ice cream and my couch.” I shrugged.
She laughed. She knew I was a homebody and practically begged me to come out for her birthday. It was a good thing she did. If it weren’t for her, I would never have run into Daniel. I also would never have ended up being pregnant.
“Well, I’m just sorry I didn’t get the chance to see you out of the office for once! How was that Bemelman’s place, by the way?”
“Fancy! And the drinks were dangerously good.”
“Good to know.” Shelley grabbed a bag of chips from the basket on the counter before giving me a little wave goodbye.
I finished my bag of pretzels and bottle of water, and walked down the hallway back to my office. As I passed by Brian’s office, he called me in.
“Addison, can you come in here for a minute?”
“What’s up, Brian?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe.
“We just got in the final numbers from Daniel Jacobs’ donation.”
Just the sound of his name made my heart bang violently in my chest.
“Oh?” I asked, trying not to let his effect on me show.
“Yeah. They’re big. Really big. I don’t know how Shelley did it. I’ve emailed them to you. Can you start working on the new budget?”
“Of course. I’ll get right on it.”
I walked back to my office wondering exactly how big Daniel’s donation was.
I sat down at my computer and quickly opened my email.
I scrolled through Brian’s email and saw the number.
The number of zeros made my mouth fall open.
It was our biggest donation ever. Hell, it was quadruple our last donation.
I had the urge to email him and say thank you, but decided not to. It’s not like he had done it for me. Right?
I started typing up a rough draft of a list of expenses for our next project at Leading to Learn.
We were planning to visit Cambodia next and were determining the best toy designs that would educate the children.
Thankfully, with Daniel’s generous contribution, our budget had greatly expanded, and we were able to pour more money into research on how to best serve the community, and also send more of us down there to help.
I went over the numbers and realized there was more than enough left over to hire on new staff and visit several other countries. My heart was full knowing we could really start making a difference and put Leading to Learn on the map as a major nonprofit. It was unbelievable.
As the “whoosh” of my sent email to Brian sounded from my computer, there was a knock at my door.
“Come in,” I said.
The door clicked open and a courier stood in the doorway holding a package.
“I have a delivery for an Addison Heartly.”
“Yes, that’s me.” I stood up and walked to him, eyeing the box in his hands.
It was matte black and I could see the word Bloomingdale’s etched in gold peeking out from under the black satin ribbon. What in the world? I never got packages delivered to the office, and even if I did, I hadn’t ordered anything. Especially not from Bloomingdale’s.
I jotted down my signature on the courier’s clipboard eagerly before taking the box from him. Once he was gone, I placed the box on my desk and opened the lid. On top of soft, gold tissue paper sat a handwritten note.
Be ready by 7:00 PM.
It wasn’t signed, but I would bet it was from Daniel. No one I knew shopped at Bloomingdales. What was he up to? The thought excited me and filled me with nerves.
I set the note aside and peeled back the tissue paper. Underneath was red satin fabric folded neatly. I slipped my hands carefully under it, lifting it out of the box as if it were a piece of fine China that would break. It unfolded in front of me, revealing the most stunning dress I had ever seen.
It probably cost more than my rent. I checked the size and breathed a small sigh of relief. The guy clearly knew women’s sizes, which made me feel a tinge of jealousy. I pushed it away as I held the dress up against me. I had never worn anything this nice.
I carefully folded the dress and placed it back in the box. I looked at the note again and bit back a smile. I would be seeing Daniel sooner than I thought. I wondered what he had in store for me. Whatever it was, I knew the rest of the workday was going to drag on.
On my lunch break, I called Monica and filled her in on everything.
I told her about the past week with Daniel and about the mystery package.
She seemed skeptical at first. Her usual protective self.
But when I told her how he seemed interested in my pregnancy and how he seemed like a different person, she began to soften.
I promised her I would FaceTime her before I left for the night.
After lunch, the rest of the day went slowly.
I caught myself staring at the clock, just watching the minute hand tick painfully to the next number.
By five o’clock, I had barely focused on anything but the night ahead.
I quickly clocked out, barely saying goodbye to any of my coworkers.
I rushed to get to the subway and caught the train back to Brooklyn before it closed its doors.
I sat the whole ride home, clutching the Bloomingdale’s box tightly on my lap.
By the time I got to my building, I only had an hour and a half to get ready. Normally, it was more than enough time for me. I could get ready in ten minutes, but tonight was different. I had a once in a lifetime dress to wear with the Daniel Jacobs.
I clutched the box as I headed toward the stairs to my apartment. I spotted Beatrice meowing at the bottom of the stairwell and let out an annoyed sigh. Elma really needed to keep better track of her cat. I debated leaving her there, but didn’t have the heart to.
I scooped up the fluffy cat with one arm and knocked rapidly on Elma’s door.
“Coming!” she called out, a tone of annoyance in her voice.
I heard the locks of her door click and she swung it open.
“What is it?” she said sharply.
I held up Beatrice, and Elma’s face softened.
“Oh, you escaped again, have you?” she said, taking the cat in her arms. “Sorry, I was catching up on my soaps. Did you know you can record shows now?”
Only for the past twenty years.
“Wow,” I said, feigning surprise.
Elma looked me up and down and before I could move the box out of view, her eyes latched on.
“Bloomingdale’s, huh?” she asked curiously.
“Oh, yeah. I treated myself after work today.”
I could tell by her face she didn’t believe me. If I were living here, there was no way I was shopping at Bloomingdale’s.
“Is that right?” she asked, unconvinced.
“Yup, I better be going.”
“Before you go…there was a gentleman caller here last week. He looked very familiar. Very rich.”
“Oh? Weird. Maybe he was lost,” I said innocently.
I turned away and walked up the stairs to my apartment. Now, I only had an hour and twenty minutes to get ready.
Inside, I stripped off my clothes and turned the shower on.
I tapped my foot impatiently waiting for the water to heat up.
As I stood in front of the mirror, I studied my body.
Really, the only thing that had changed was the size of my breasts.
I wasn’t showing in my stomach area yet.
I ran my hands over my bare belly and smiled.
The steam fogged up the mirror, signaling it was time to get in the shower. I took my time exfoliating, shaving, deep conditioning. The dress deserved that. At least, that was what I told myself when my mind wandered to what might happen tonight.
Once I was out of the shower, I towel-dried my hair before taking a blow dryer to it. I couldn’t remember the last time I had taken the time to style it. I usually just threw it in a bun or a ponytail, so it was out of my face. Now, I struggled with a round brush and my arms were tired.
After I was done, I grabbed my makeup bag and sat on the floor in front of my full-length mirror.
I looked inside the bag at my modest makeup collection and started brushing it on carefully.
I added a little more blush than usual, an extra coat of mascara, and shakily drew a cat eye with liner.
Lastly, I swiped on a coat of rosy lipstick.
Now it was time for the dress. The thing I was most nervous for.
There was a chance it wouldn’t fit. I carefully removed the tag and stepped into the pool of satin at my feet, sliding it up my body and over my arms. I held my breath as I arched to reach the back zipper and slowly zipped it up. I let out a sigh of relief. It fit.
I rummaged through my closet to find the one pair of heels I owned. The same strappy black ones I had worn my first night with Daniel. I tied the straps and I looked at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t help but feel like an imposter.
My nerves started to kick in, so I picked up my phone and FaceTimed Monica.
“Hello!” she answered, holding a glass of wine.
“Please tell me I don’t look ridiculous,” I said, turning my phone to face the mirror.
“Holy shit, Heart!” she practically yelled.
“Shhhh.” I giggled.
“You look like you might get pregnant again.”
We both burst out laughing. I already felt better.
“You have to tell me everything tomorrow. Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Go get him, girl.”
I ended the call and checked the time. It was seven on the dot. I slid the phone in my small black clutch and walked out into the hallway, locking up behind me. I slowly walked down the stairs, not wanting to trip. At the door, I took a deep breath, as if everything in my life was about to change.
I pushed open the door and stepped out into the cool night.
In front of me stood Daniel leaning against his town car with a single rose.
For a moment, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
He wore a black suit, his hair pushed back just right, and a smile that melted me into a pool of liquid that I wanted him to dive into.