The Dark of the Night

Daisy was getting in through the front door when she heard her phone ring. She rushed to it as soon as she could get the key to turn in the lock.

"Hello"

"Hello Daisy, It's Tom. I just wanted to let you know that I will be out of the country for a couple of days. I will probably be back by the weekend. Then we could meet up. How did your day go?"

Daisy didn't know what to reply. She suddenly had a man asking about her day. That hadn't ever happened to her in life. She had read about it in romances and fiction. But here was a man interested in the mundane happenings of the day and who cared enough to let her know about his whereabouts just so that she doesn't worry or suffer from insecurities. It was an extremely considerate thing for him to do and she felt extremely guilty about considering going out with Ramon behind his back. But Tom was a rare friend for her and she didn't want to tarnish this friendship by taking any favours from him. She would do everything in her power to keep her job if that meant keeping Tom as a friend and not just a random stranger willing to do something for her.

"My day... my day was fine. I got a new project... and insurance claim I am working to settle. The Hotel project went to Stella. She is a great solicitor." Daisy said but perhaps her tone didn't sound too convincing.

"I am already on way to the airport Daisy but if you want I can reschedule the flight. You sound like you might need some company. Am I right?"

"NO... I mean I am fine. I am not good at working under pressure and the CEO is scary. He knew my name and everything without me even being even introduced. He says the Chairman likes to be informed. He sounds like the mafia or something."

At that Tom gave a very heartwarming laugh. "If you say it's alright I believe you but you have to promise me that you will take good care of yourself and we will meet on the coming weekend. See you then."

"Okay, Bye. Have a safe journey".

"Bye. Take care."

As the line disconnected Daisy felt the loneliness creep back into her life. She could survive one week without her new found friend. She had survived decades before.

Monday night she counted sheep to put her to sleep but it didn't really work. She really wanted to leave this job. She wanted to be appreciated for her work but she couldn't sacrifice whatever financial stability that she had. She couldn't ask Tom for help. Would it really count as help if it was the reason that brought them together in the first place. It was Tom who offered to find her an alternate job. It would however still count as a favour and Daisy didn't want to give a man any power over her even if it were a man she trusted. Her trust had been misused against her before.

She had to survive on her own. She could enjoy his friendship while it lasted but she had to accept the reality that men always let her down whether it be her father, Jon or Dave. Right now she needed to think of her mother's medical bills and probably even those of her pregnant sister. She couldn't let things likes job satisfaction get in the way of that. Daisy took a deep breath calming her nerves and strengthening her resolve. Every morning was a new day.

The one week dragged on and the anxiety of spending a dinner with Ramon without the protection of Tom loomed large on her. Wednesday made her realize just how strong Tom had made her feel while meeting Ramon on Saturday. That is an odd sensation for her, the sensation of safety and security. She told herself repeatedly that her doubts about Tom were unfounded. The little messages in her inbox that she received at the end of the day reassured her. Still the fact remained that he wasn't coming back before the weekends.

It was already Thursday and it was one more day till the fateful day. Daisy tried to tell herself repeatedly that it was just dinner but no matter what an ominous feeling lingered on. Ramon was not a straightforward person and though she knew him longer than she had known Tom she just couldn't bring herself to trust him. A clearing of throat brought her back to the present. Stella Wilson stood before her with a pile of folders on her hand.

"Ms. Wilson. How may I help you?" Daisy asked.

"Melinda International account." sh made a pleading face that made her look much younger than her years and to Daisy she looked almost like a teenager.

"Sure Ms. Wilson. What do you need?" Daisy said with a reassuring smile.

"Please call me Stella" she beamed. "If my dad wasn't married to Mr. Osborne's elder sister I wouldn't even be here."

"So your mom..."

Stella cut her off. "My step mom happens to be Mr. Osborne's elder sister. I think my dad married her for the money but who am I to interfere." she shrugged.

Daisy felt a bit sorry for her. She and Stella never talked, mainly because because they hardly stayed on the same floor. She had heard many rumours about her being a spoiled brat and all that but from the first impression Daisy had of her she could say that Stella was a rather simple person.

Stella took a seat before her and like an eager student mopped up everything Daisy had researched about the client and the account and whatever notes she had gathered in previous KT sessions.

"Other than that you already heard what the CEO thinks of the Chairman."

"That he is a control freak, yeah?" Stella laughed. The CEO must be on either very good or very bad terms to call him something like that in a professional meeting.

At that moment when they shared a laugh at the expense of the Chairman Daisy's phone buzzed. It was a text message from Ramon. Daisy excused herself and went through the message.

La Komida Restaurant

17B Earnest Street

9 pm sharp

Dress code: Black

Daisy sighed. It was happening. One dinner and then Tom would be back on Saturday and advise her on the best course of action. It wasn't that Tom was completely absent from her life. Every evening he sent her a picture. He was apparently in France and the pictures were of the local sights. Daisy wondered if Tom was out sight seeing. Probably not. Probably those are scenic moments he wished to share with someone and perhaps like her he didn't have many someones to share them with. Daisy was lost in her thought when she saw Stella peek into her phone.

"Is it a meeting or a date?" sh asked peevishly.

"It is kind of both." Daisy confessed.

Stella frowned. "How so?"

"What do you know about the relationship between Mr. Osborne and Ramon Mendoza from the office on the sixth floor?" Daisy asked.

"Other than the fact that they play golf every Sunday and go to strip clubs on Saturdays, nothing much" Stella chipped in.

"Are men like Mr. Osborne allowed in strip clubs. Isn't there any age restriction?" Daisy said definitely put off by the visual.

"Apparently the older the men the bigger the pockets, so no upper age limit." Stella shrugged again.

Daisy found herself laughing heartily at her comment despite herself. After they had both sobered down Stella gasped. "Are you going out with Mendoza?"

"Well" Daisy cocked her head, "If I don't he threatened to get me fired by putting a word to Osborne."

"May be he does." Stella confessed. "You do not like him then?" It was more of an exclamation than a question.

"Ramon is forcing me to this date despite meeting my boyfriend last Saturday."

"Woah. That is intense. Do you think they are going to fight over you?" Stella asked with wide eyes.

Daisy smirked. "No, I don't think so Stella. The guy who introduced himself as my boyfriend isn't really my boyfriend."

"You sound disappointed." Daisy looked into her eyes and saw the sincerity of her words. She couldn't deny the truth to her then.

"I am but I can't risk my friendship for something elusive." Daisy admitted.

That was when Stella moved forward to wrap her arms around her. It took Daisy by surprise but she enjoyed the human connection.

"So do you have a dress..." Then looking at the message again "... black dress?"

"I have a black top I can pair with a grey skirt."

"No, you need a dress. We have to go shopping after office is over today. You may not be interested in him but nothing intimidates a man more than a sexy woman who knows her worth. And this is final. You help me with the drafts. I help you with your date. It's the least that I can do."

'Nothing intimidates a man more than a sexy woman who knows her worth'- Daisy thought on that for a while. Did she really know her worth. A part of her wanted to be every man's dream but there was a still smaller voice telling her that she wasn't worth anyone's time. Daisy didn't like dating not because she knew that the guy would never call back. She hated dating for fear that if he did call back she would have to hope for something and she was afraid of that hope being taken from her.

As the day came to a close Daisy found herself lost in thoughts of Tom. She hated doing this behind his back but she didn't need him to worry about her. If any one told her a week back that she could have a friend who actually worried about her and not the other way around she would have laughed it off. Yet Tom came sauntering into her life. But she had to focus on the impending meeting/date on Monday and she dreaded it.

"I am paying for the dress." Stella insisted.

"No you don't. I am not good at taking favours. I will take the other one which I can afford."

"Sheesh, you are uptighty."

"Time does that to you."

"I hope I never grow as old as you. Age is in the mind babes."

Daisy shook her head. Stella was impossible. Looking at her who would believe that she is a qualified solicitor. Daisy walked up to the counter and handed the cashier her credit card.

"Oh, Ms. Daisy Durant, your account with us as been prepaid. You do not need to make any payments, now or in the future." The cashier handed her back the card without swiping.

"No, I think you have made a mistake. You got the wrong girl. I can't afford to have a prepaid account at a fashion boutique. I didn't even know that there was such a thing."

"Well ma'am it says so in my computer right here that I am not allowed to accept any payments from you and if you do insist I am instructed to ask you to and I am quoting it 'Talk to Tom'. Does that make any sense?"

"No, he didn't. That scoundrel!" Daisy swore. Stella looked at her will a puzzled expression. "My 'boyfriend'" Daisy said gesturing the word boyfriend in quotes with her hands.

"Your boyfriend must be very rich." Stella remarked.

"Firstly he is not my real boyfriend and secondly I cannot accept this." Daisy said.

It was the cashier who replied. "Ma'am in that case we have been provided with your address to deliver your dress there."

Daisy frowned. This is not happening. "Ok, you know what, charge it to Tom and you know what else to charge. Charge the most expensive dress you have. I want him to regret ever doing this."

"That would be the Swarovski wedding gown. Ma'am, shall you take it with you or should we deliver it to the address provided." The cashier replied with a blank face.

"Oh wait" It was Stella who replied. "I believe you can take this now." she said bringing forth the silk Japanese collar dress she had earlier selected for Daisy." Daisy groaned as the cashier took everything and promised to get them delivered within two hours. Stella managed to convince Daisy to have a drink to cool off. Stella took a glass of wine. Daisy chose orange juice.

One more day and Tom would face the music for what he has done. Just then the phone pinged with a message from Tom. "Congratulations" it simply said. Daisy tried to message him back but the message would not be sent. The profile picture also vanished and it was then she realized that Tom had blocked her.

"What happened Daisy?" Stella asked worried.

"He blocked me. I was just trying to teach him a lesson. I would have returned everything." The tears came on their own and Stella offered a shoulder to cry on. That night Stella asked Daisy to spend the night at her place. Daisy felt so weak that she agreed. She lost the only friend she had just because she wanted to teach him a lesson, for what? For being kind and benevolent. Then she turned around in bed and saw the figure lying beside her. She lost one friend but gained Stella who may not exactly be a friend but was the younger sister that she never had. She sighed before closing her eyes. She had to sleep. Life went on.