Chapter 5 #2
"I love hot chocolate. Especially with whipped cream. When it’s really cold outside, it tastes extra good. I’d drink it every day if I could. But I can’t." I show her my glucose meter. "This instantly puts me in the red zone. But guess what’s great?"
The little girl looks at me curiously.
"I have super-special cocoa at home and a sweetener. When I make it with oat milk, I can drink it. Have you ever tried that?"
She shakes her head but looks intrigued. "So, what do you think about asking your Uncle Gabriel if we can go to the grocery store together? It’s right back there, like five minutes away. We can buy oat milk, cocoa powder, and sweetener… and then drink some together. What do you think?"
Her eyes light up immediately.
"That would be awesome!"
"But we have to ask your Uncle Gabriel first. Otherwise, he’ll complain… and I’ll swear back, and all my money will end up in your jar."
"Well, I don’t mind that," she says with a confident laugh.
"You might not, but I still need a little to buy the oat milk." I get up, offering her my hand. "You coming?"
"Okay!"
Well, that was close. How did she even slip out of the building without someone noticing? Surely, someone would notice the boss’s little niece wandering off.
"Your name’s Kim, right?" she asks, looking up at me with curiosity.
"That’s right. You remembered my name. Cool." Probably not easy with all the women Gabriel meets.
"Of all my uncle's girlfriends, I like you the best."
"Really?" Well, I’m happy to hear that.
"You're the first one who gave me money for the swear jar."
Oh, I see. Well, I don’t even know what to say to that.
"Mom always says money is the most important thing in life."
Ouch. Gabriel’s sister must be loaded too. Why does she have to teach her kid stuff like that?
"Self-love. Health. Family. Friends. Personally, I think those are the most important things. Self-love, because you should like and love yourself. Health, because we always take it for granted. Family, because they’re always there for us and we can give back.
Friends, because they make life better, and we make theirs better too.
" The little girl falls silent. "But having a little money to afford a place to live and buy food is good too. "
"Hot chocolate, for example," she says.
"Exactly. And I’m sharing it with you because we’re friends."
"Really?" Her eyes widen.
"Yes. You share what you love with friends. And I really love hot chocolate." Maybe I can teach her a little with this small gesture.
"Hmm." She ponders as we reach the glass doors, which automatically slide open for us.
"Hello. I’d like to see Mr. Kensington. He’s missing someone." I look down at Rosie, who glances at the two receptionists, who can’t believe who just walked in. They stare at each other in disbelief.
"Wait. Was the little girl outside?" one of them stammers.
"Yes. But Rosie and I are friends. So, we thought we’d come back together to see Gabriel. Right?" I glance at Rosie, who nods. "Is he in his office?"
"Uh, I… I’ll call upstairs right away. Just a moment, please!
" the receptionist stammers, grabbing the phone, while the other leans nervously over the counter, swallowing. These two really messed up. If they weren’t so busy with their phones, they would’ve noticed Rosie sneaking out and stopped her.
"Hey, Bree here from reception. Uh, Rosie is down here. I’ll send her up, okay? With, uh…"
"Kim." I nod politely.
"With Kim," the receptionist repeats, looking nervous, then nods. "Yes, all good. Okay. Mm-hmm. Okay, bye." She points toward the elevator and starts to explain, "Just go—"
"I know the way. Thanks." I look at Rosie and guide her to the elevators.
"How did you manage to get outside without anyone noticing?" I ask.
"Oh, that was super easy. I waited up front until a woman came, then just walked behind her. They probably thought I was her daughter." Clever kid, you have to give her that. A true little escape artist.
"You're one smart girl," I compliment her.
"Gabriel says that too sometimes. But it annoys him," she reveals. Well, that's interesting. She’s probably run away a few times before.
"Why’s that?" I press the button for the elevator and the doors open. Only now does Rosie let go of my hand and hops into the elevator, selects the top button, and looks at me in amusement.
"Because I never do what he wants."
Of course. What else.
"What does he want you to do?"
"Study. Draw. Be quiet."
"He wants you to be quiet?" I perk up as the doors close and we start to ascend.
"When he’s working, he has to make phone calls sometimes, but that’s super boring. It takes forever." She rolls her eyes.
Ah, that’s what she means.
"Yeah, work isn’t fun. But if your uncle doesn’t make those calls or talk to his employees, he doesn’t get paid. And he pays everyone who works here too, so then they don't get paid either."
"Oh, I see… why doesn’t he just say that?" She’s right; he could have explained.
"Being a grown-up isn’t that simple."
"I’m really glad I’m a kid," she says.
True. Be careful. Stay small and cute a little longer. Life is easier as a kid than dealing with work, taxes, and cleaning.
The elevator dings at the top. Doors slide open, and we step out. I already spot Sally next to Gabriel. They both rush toward us.
"Rosie! What are you doing?" Gabriel asks immediately. I can tell Rosie doesn’t like that he’s angry. He’s not furious—just concerned—but I step in, lifting her into my arms.
"You’ve got a clever niece. She managed to get outside all by herself just to see me. Isn’t that sweet?" A little fibbing is allowed, right? Rosie beams, looking up at me and then at her uncle.
"What?" Gabriel finally notices me, blinking between the two of us. Sally is bawling her eyes out.
"Kim wanted to go to the grocery store with me to buy hot chocolate. Can I?" Rosie blurts out. Straight to the point.
"Oat milk, cocoa powder, and sweetener. I still have time for that. If you’ll allow me?"
"Wait. One thing at a time. How did you… Hold on." Gabriel takes a moment to collect himself. "You can’t just run away." He’s trying to stay calm but shoots Rosie a reproachful look.
"I only ran away because I wasn’t allowed to have hot chocolate!" she counters immediately, clinging to me.
"Yes, because you have diabetes. Cocoa isn’t good for you." Gabriel isn’t entirely wrong.
"Kim has diabetes too. Just like me. And she can make me cocoa that I’m allowed to drink!" Well, that hit home—or so I thought. Gabriel glares at me. No, he definitely does not like that I planted this idea in the little one’s head.
"With oat milk. A very simple recipe. The grocery store is right nearby. I still have time before the interview with Mr. Bones. So, I thought that…" I don’t get any further.
"There will definitely be no cocoa as a reward. I was really worried about you. Sally too." Gabriel sighs and reaches for Rosie. She lets him pick her up so he can hold her in his arms. "You really gave me a scare."
Seeing Gabriel soft and vulnerable is something completely new. He adores the little girl and clearly feels infinitely relieved to have her safe. Rosie seems touched too, noticing that her uncle isn’t doing well.
"I didn’t want you to be sad," she murmurs, stroking his cheek gently. "And I wasn’t even that far away."
"Someone could have taken you. That’s why you always need to stay with your mom, me, or Sally.
" Gabriel glances at me but doesn’t say my name.
"Thank you for bringing her here, but I don’t need your help any further.
You can go down to the first floor and talk to Steven there.
" Just like that, he wants to let me go, leaving my hot chocolate promise dangling?
"I still have enough time to…" I try to object, but Gabriel shakes his head.
"For now, I’ll check whether the oat milk is okay for Rosie. Because of the sweeteners. I don’t know if she can tolerate them. I’ll consult her mother first."
"Of course." That’s what I expected anyway.
"So, I’m not allowed to go shopping with Kim?" Rosie looks up at Gabriel with wide, pleading eyes.
"Kim has an important conversation now. She doesn’t have time to go to the grocery store with you." A blatant lie. Rosie isn’t dumb; she’ll notice.
"Kim said she has time. You’re fibbing! You’re not supposed to fib!"
See? I smirk but keep quiet. No need to add anything else.
"Kim needs to be on time for the conversation to make a good first impression." He gives me a warning glance, but I still have an ace up my sleeve.
I turn to Rosie: "Your uncle isn’t entirely wrong about that." Gabriel actually likes that line, but Rosie pouts—until I add, "But after the conversation, I’ll have plenty of time. Your uncle can talk to your mom meanwhile. So, I’ll come back. I promise."
Rosie's eyes immediately light up. She looks at Gabriel pleadingly, and he shoots me a death stare, while Sally breathes a huge sigh of relief. She’s probably the most frazzled by the whole escape incident.
"Can we go to the grocery store then? Please!" Rosie begs, bouncing with excitement.
"I’ll discuss that with your mom first. Kim can come back after the conversation, okay?"
"Oh yes!" Rosie cheers, throwing her arms around Gabriel’s neck. She doesn’t notice how angrily he’s glaring at me. I just grin defiantly back at him.
"You’re a really good uncle, Gabriel." I can’t help but giggle and wink. Well, my dear, that’s what you get—you should’ve kept a closer eye on the little one.
"I’ll call Steven and tell him you’re already here. Then you can have your conversation earlier." Message received. He’s trying to get rid of me at any cost.
"Thank you very much." I probably shouldn’t get my hopes up about this position. Even though Gabriel is grateful I brought Rosie back, he’s convinced I’m trouble. At least as far as he's concerned. And someone like him definitely wants to avoid trouble.
"Come on. You can draw in my office until Kim finishes her conversation."