Liz
I stood outside the multistory building, looking up. My neck started to strain when I held the position a bit too long.
It was close to midday, almost lunchtime, and people were filing out of the building on their way to various appointments.
But I knew they had a cafeteria inside because this was my daughter's company.
I never really paid attention to the tech companies out there.
If I was being honest, I didn't really care about it.
Except for hers, of course.
I was all about the arts. So if anyone asked me what would be featured at MOMA for the next three months, I would be able to recite it by heart. I could tell them about the newest up-and-coming artist or give them the numbers for the most expensive item sold at auction in the previous week.
Technological advances different companies were going through or what the newest trend on social media was? No, I wouldn't be able to answer that.
But I knew the company where Claire worked had consistently grown quarter after quarter, and unlike many of the money-hungry billionaires out there, the big boss of this one wasn’t laying off their employees.
At least not yet. I knew that might happen in the future, but for now, my daughter was safe.
And she even got promoted.
I shifted on my feet, cursing the fact that I decided to wear kitten heels to work today. I’d been so flustered by everything that happened when I moved into Jax’s apartment that I hadn't realized I would need actual walkable shoes.
And I can’t be thinking about Jax right now or else I’m going to be going back to last night and the way she looked. Fuck, so perfect and willing to be used by me. Her noises. How perfectly she bent to my will.
I’d wanted to ravish her. It took all my strength to leave her. And even then I couldn’t stop my hands from wandering between my legs and getting myself off while hearing her moans still running through my mind—
“Mom?”
I turned to see my daughter to my right. She had her strawberry blonde hair up in a messy bun with a few braids falling out from the top, cute sunglasses on the tip of her nose, and a sweater and skirt combo that made me wonder if she got it from my closet.
My baby is so cute.
In her hands was a takeout bag from our favorite Thai place.
I gave her a smile and held up my bag with the newest matcha lattes from her favorite overpriced cafe.
“Great minds think alike.”
She gave me a smile and jerked her head to the side.
“Follow me, I’ll give you a tour and take you to my favorite spot.”
For some reason, a sense of panic washed over me, but she was already walking toward the building before I could stop her.
Me? She wants me to go inside?
I rushed after her just in time to catch the door before another group of people came out.
The lobby was large and very chic. The floors were glittering as if they’d just been polished, and the windows on all sides let sunlight in.
Claire went straight to the reception desk, and a girl with short hair and glasses beamed at her.
“I'm taking my mom in for lunch. Can you get her a visitor pass, please?”
The girl’s eyes shifted to mine, and she gave me a bright smile.
“Yes, of course!”
I watched as my daughter filled out the information just before I was handed a yellow sticker to place on my dark shirt. It stuck out like a beacon, but the moment I put it on, a sense of pride washed over me.
She's really taking me to her workplace.
The wave of emotion that swirled through me threatened to clog my throat. She was sharing this with me. It might seem so little to other people, but to me, Claire bringing me into her life was a huge step.
Especially being able to see just how successful she was at such a young age… It made me emotional. I was so glad she wasn’t held back by anything that had to do with her father.
Claire turned to me and waved me into the elevators, and that was when I saw my daughter come alive.
“This whole building belongs to Novak Enterprises. This is one of three in the city and holds all product, tech, and even some marketing teams. Each product has their separate design team, but they all roll up under one head.”
We shot up through the building until we reached the twenty-second floor.
“One quick pitstop,” she said, motioning me forward.
“Is this… all right? Am I allowed here?” I whispered.
She shook her head with a laugh. “Of course you are! I invited you. Plus, it's not every day my mother comes to visit me at work.”
My heart twisted in my chest. Why haven’t I done this before?
I had been so consumed with my own work and nervous at the thought of embarrassing her that I hadn’t even tried.
She walked with me along the hallway, pointing at where each team sat. They all seemed to have important names, like Critical Response, Regional Affairs, External Responsibility, or Crisis Protocol Management.
Then she led me into a small section with a very good window view, and I knew which desk was hers when I noticed the small clay cactus we’d made together when she was in middle school.
Unlike her colleagues’ desks, hers was very clean, with cute knickknacks and a lot more pink than I would've expected.
“My product is a little unique because it’s Novak’s newest venture.
Our CEO decided to dip into celebrity and influencer advertising, so we’re creating a marketplace that connects brands and celebrities.
It's nothing new, but let's just say we’re going to change the game.
Many of the products you see here have multiple managers, but I'm the sole manager for this one.”
I looked in awe. “Isn’t that… a lot for you?”
She shrugged.
“Like I said, it's new. And it’s… exciting. I get to meet lots of new people. Oh yeah, here!” She reached over to her desk drawer and took out a T-shirt three sizes too large for me. “I know how you like to sleep in big T-shirts. This is from a band I worked with not long ago.”
Holding it against my chest, I couldn't help but tear up.
“Claire… I'm so proud of you. Everything you’ve achieved, it’s just incredible. Truly, you've done such a good job.”
For the first time in a long time, my daughter beamed at me like she used to. I remembered that same smile during her graduations. When she accomplished something and was proud of herself, those wide eyes would find mine immediately.
“Oh Mom, don't get emotional here,” she said, quickly getting me away from her desk.
“I'm sorry, I can't help it.” My voice was choked.
“Come on, save it for where we’re going next.”
She took me to a garden on the floor above her workspace. We were still inside the building, but you wouldn’t be able to tell based on how open the space was.
There were a couple of employees eating lunch or walking around here and there, but we had found a small private place in the corner to eat together.
She told me everything about her job. Her projects. The celebrities she’d met. All of it. I soaked it all up, enjoying seeing her so happy and realizing I had been inadvertently stifling her. That trying to be supportive actually meant pushing her into a career she didn't want.
I’d never wanted to pressure her like my mother had done to me growing up.
I was never about hovering over her shoulder and making sure she got all A’s or dictating how she dressed and who she talked to. And I definitely did not want to even imply that she could only be a stay-at-home mom and raise babies.
All I wanted was for her to shoot for the moon. And even if I messed up along the way, she still did.
But she was also showing me she was still my baby. Still the same girl who went on frozen yogurt dates with me. Who gossiped about things happening at school. And who now blushed when I asked her if she was seeing someone and muttered something under her breath that I couldn't quite make out.
“What about you?” she deflected. “Have you been on any dates?
I choked on what was left of my matcha. Dates. That was definitely not what I would call fucking her best friend. Guilt felt like a hot brand on my back.
She reached out and patted my back until I got it under control.
“Claire, I just got divorced from your father—”
“Oh come on, Mom.” She gave me a knowing look. “First of all, it's been more than two years. I know you tried to keep it from me, but I knew you weren’t happy.”
“You did?”
My stomach lurched. I tried to keep it from her. I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable in her own house. Hearing her say this made me feel like I failed her.
She nodded like it was no big deal, leaning back in her seat and looking at the very vibrant pink flowers right beside us.
“I'm observant. I kept quiet because I knew you were trying your best. That was why I didn't really care that he left. If he wanted to forget his life and family and travel the world, that was his prerogative. And you know he and I were never that close.”
“I do know that,” I said in a small voice. I could come clean about my lie, but not now when he was acting so impulsively. It was better that they stayed as far away from each other as possible for now.
“So, yeah, I was really happy when you got divorced. I've been patiently waiting for you to move on and find someone who can treat you right—the way you deserve. He—or she, or they—should also be superhot and maybe a little younger so you can make up for all the years you wasted on Dad.”
This had my face flaming.
“Claire.”
She let out an unbridled laugh that had my shame slowly melting away.
“You would really be okay if I dated someone? Even if it were someone…”
I didn't know what to say because the only person who came to mine was the one I couldn't have.
You know?
Who is your best friend?
Who is way too young for me?
It was a ridiculous thought. Jax had gotten in my head, or I had gotten in my own head. I had forgotten what was important. Claire. Claire was the important one. She might be saying it was okay for me to date but—
“I disapprove of? That would only happen if you got back together with Dad,” she said bluntly. “Anyone else, I’ll approve. I trust you and your reasons for wanting to be with them. Your judgment has never proven wrong—except for Dad, but we really don’t need to talk about him anymore.”
I couldn't help but laugh. I hadn't realized I was also crying until tears fell down my face and into my hands.
“I’m sorry. I know we're at your work but—”
My words got stuck in my throat when she threw her arms around me.
“I'm sorry I said mean things to you in your office,” she whispered in my ear and hugged me close. “I was just stressed. I'm really happy you came to see where I work.”
My tears came faster now, and I hugged her back even tighter.
“I love you, Claire Bear.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
She held me longer than I ever thought she would be comfortable with in public, and when she sat back in her seat, I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off me.
Then she fiddled with her phone, and I heard mine ping.
“Two concert tickets? What is—”
“It's the same band as a T-shirt I gave you.” Her smile turned mischievous. “It seems to me you may have already found someone, so why don't you take them on a date? My treat.”
I didn't think my cheeks could heat up this much until now.
“Claire, I—”
“Nope! I don’t need to hear it now. I don't want to force anything out of you, so you can tell me when you're ready. Just… have fun, okay? Stop feeling so guilty all the time, okay? Do something for yourself.”
She stood up and started collecting our trash, and as she went to throw it away, I was stuck there thinking about how on earth I'd gotten so lucky to have a daughter like her. Someone who saw me, even when I tried to hide, and only wanted me to be happy.
All those years with him were worth it because of her. I would one hundred percent do it again just to have her.
She turned to look at me, that bright smile that had never changed on her face. From childhood to adulthood, I could see all the previous versions of it racing through my mind.
Now she's all grown up. And so am I.
I got up, daring to hope that she really meant it when she said she would approve of whoever I chose.