or reading them a book. Tonight they wanted a book.
“Oh, how can I deny these precious little faces.” Derrick gave in and squeezed in between his two princesses. Chloe was on his left and Madison on his right. “Which book did you choose?” Derrick asked the girls in a voice reminiscent of Pee Wee Herman.
“This one!” Again in unison. It was so cute to Derrick how the girls almost shared a brain. They finished each other’s sentences and seemed to say similar things at the same time. Although their personalities were completely different. Madison raised the book up from under the sheets. It was a dog-eared copy of Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake. He rolled his eyes.
“Okay but this book is a little beneath your reading levels. I know it is one of your all-time favorites. So maybe what we’ll do tonight is share the reading duties. Chloe, why don’t you start and then Madison can take over after a few chapters. Sound like a plan?” Derrick bargained for some help. He didn’t think he could stomach reading the book for a one hundredth time.
“Yay!” The girls responded. Chloe took the book from Madison and opened to the first page. She began reading in her little voice and Derrick lost himself in the moment, snuggled between his babies with their soft pajamas and fresh-out-of-the-tub shampoo scent.
A vision of Michael Wright flashed across Derrick’s mind. He grumbled to himself that he couldn’t even get a break to put his girls to bed without thinking about that rat. He was so steamed that Michael had the audacity to tell on him like a little school girl. It wasn’t enough that he defied his authority and embarrassed him in front of a client. A dead beat client which was even worse. But then he brought others into the mix, potentially tarnishing his reputation and ruining his opportunity at landing the CEO job. The traitor!
Chloe had finished the first chapter and handed the book over to Madison to read the next one. Derrick smiled approvingly down at Chloe who soaked it up. She ate up her daddy’s affection more so than Madison.
Madison began to read the second chapter in her more adult voice. Derrick noted the difference between the girls briefly before returning his thoughts to Michael.
Derrick reflected on several instances over the years where he had taken care of Michael. He brought Michael to several charity golf outings where he could rub elbows with important people and enjoy a relaxing day out of the office. The credit extensions he got Michael a few years back when one of their cars died and their roof leaked. Both of those events occurred within a week of each other and really set Michael and Stephanie back financially. The time Derrick promoted Michael to Supervisor before he was actually ready to lead others. Derrick took care of Michael because he knew the promotion brought a small raise which was desperately needed at the time. Then he backed Michael’s promotion to Manager a year ago. He felt confident in Michael’s ability to get the job done as a leader when he went for the promotion. He just preferred to work with Anna who was smoking hot. However, his sympathy for Michael won over and he recommended Michael get the promotion. More recently, Michael broke down about needing more money to get treatments for his sickly daughter. He had complained to Derrick that his credit situation was dire but he needed the money and was there anything that Derrick could do to jimmy his loan application through. Like a sucker, Derrick agreed to put in a word on his behalf. He liked Michael and knew he always struggled with money so it was the least he could do. And for what? To get stabbed in the back? To be ratted out like a criminal when all he wanted to do was help his fellow man up? He cursed that man and his bad luck for crossing paths with him.
Madison finished the last sentence and looked up at Derrick. “Your turn, Daddy.” Derrick snapped back to the present.
“Why
“Oh, how can I deny these precious little faces.” Derrick gave in and squeezed in between his two princesses. Chloe was on his left and Madison on his right. “Which book did you choose?” Derrick asked the girls in a voice reminiscent of Pee Wee Herman.
“This one!” Again in unison. It was so cute to Derrick how the girls almost shared a brain. They finished each other’s sentences and seemed to say similar things at the same time. Although their personalities were completely different. Madison raised the book up from under the sheets. It was a dog-eared copy of Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake. He rolled his eyes.
“Okay but this book is a little beneath your reading levels. I know it is one of your all-time favorites. So maybe what we’ll do tonight is share the reading duties. Chloe, why don’t you start and then Madison can take over after a few chapters. Sound like a plan?” Derrick bargained for some help. He didn’t think he could stomach reading the book for a one hundredth time.
“Yay!” The girls responded. Chloe took the book from Madison and opened to the first page. She began reading in her little voice and Derrick lost himself in the moment, snuggled between his babies with their soft pajamas and fresh-out-of-the-tub shampoo scent.
A vision of Michael Wright flashed across Derrick’s mind. He grumbled to himself that he couldn’t even get a break to put his girls to bed without thinking about that rat. He was so steamed that Michael had the audacity to tell on him like a little school girl. It wasn’t enough that he defied his authority and embarrassed him in front of a client. A dead beat client which was even worse. But then he brought others into the mix, potentially tarnishing his reputation and ruining his opportunity at landing the CEO job. The traitor!
Chloe had finished the first chapter and handed the book over to Madison to read the next one. Derrick smiled approvingly down at Chloe who soaked it up. She ate up her daddy’s affection more so than Madison.
Madison began to read the second chapter in her more adult voice. Derrick noted the difference between the girls briefly before returning his thoughts to Michael.
Derrick reflected on several instances over the years where he had taken care of Michael. He brought Michael to several charity golf outings where he could rub elbows with important people and enjoy a relaxing day out of the office. The credit extensions he got Michael a few years back when one of their cars died and their roof leaked. Both of those events occurred within a week of each other and really set Michael and Stephanie back financially. The time Derrick promoted Michael to Supervisor before he was actually ready to lead others. Derrick took care of Michael because he knew the promotion brought a small raise which was desperately needed at the time. Then he backed Michael’s promotion to Manager a year ago. He felt confident in Michael’s ability to get the job done as a leader when he went for the promotion. He just preferred to work with Anna who was smoking hot. However, his sympathy for Michael won over and he recommended Michael get the promotion. More recently, Michael broke down about needing more money to get treatments for his sickly daughter. He had complained to Derrick that his credit situation was dire but he needed the money and was there anything that Derrick could do to jimmy his loan application through. Like a sucker, Derrick agreed to put in a word on his behalf. He liked Michael and knew he always struggled with money so it was the least he could do. And for what? To get stabbed in the back? To be ratted out like a criminal when all he wanted to do was help his fellow man up? He cursed that man and his bad luck for crossing paths with him.
Madison finished the last sentence and looked up at Derrick. “Your turn, Daddy.” Derrick snapped back to the present.
“Why
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