2 ETERNALLY GRATEFUL

Toni woke up with a start. Her sheets wet with sweat and the drumming of her heart told her just what she had dreamt about. She could no longer remember her dreams once she woke up, something she was eternally grateful for. But the nausea and fear lingering afterwards was always present.

She got up and headed for her en suite to shower. She rubbed really hard, trying to get rid of the horrid feeling the dream always left. A feeling she always failed to wash away.

She got out of the bathroom, one towel wrapped around her body, another covering her hair. She answered the ringing phone, already knowing whom it was.

"Hello Tom," she said, putting the phone on loudspeaker.

"Hi Toni. I was calling to remind you of today's meeting. You don't have to go you know."

Tom was the CEO of Dare Tech. He loved his job, maybe a little too much according to his wife. A ghost of a smile touched her lips when remembering how the older man and his wife had taken her in.

"Don't worry Tom, I won't mess up your deal, I'll just be there to observe silently and be your secretary for the day. I will even bring you coffee."

Toni knew how important this partnership with Booth Enterprises was to Dare Tech, which was why she wanted to be there and observe the whole sealing-the-deal thing. She knew she could be of help to him and she was glad she had used her spare time to learn the basics of corporate law.

"I hope you still remember how I take my coffee considering how very little you ever go anywhere."

She could hear the humor in his words, the warmth she had only known from him and Claire. It took everything she had to go out to a new place. Growing up she had only been home, ballet and school. After her father's death, her destinations changed to her new home and Tom's house.

"Don't worry I still remember: very little sugar and too much cream. I'll see you in thirty Tom, and stop worrying. Today will be great."

After hanging up she went to dry and style her hair then returned to dress; carefully covering her wrists and got something to eat before heading out.

It was days like these she enjoyed and feared the most. Days she got to try something new without a leash around her neck or fear of disappointing someone.