“You helped him?” I asked softly. She nodded, her curls bouncing. “I picked the colors.
And the sparkly lights.” Her face fell slightly. “It’s our happy place, so I don’t feel so sad about Rodger.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them. Here was this little girl, holding onto her brother’s memory with so much love, while her father — the man who barked orders and treated everyone like pawns — had poured his grief into creating something beautiful for her.
The sound of the front door opening snapped me out of my thoughts. Heavy footsteps echoed through the house, and a familiar voice called out, “Chloe?”
She ran upstairs, and moments later, Mr. Miles appeared in the doorway.
His eyes immediately narrowed when he saw me. “Kara,” he said tersely, “what are you doing down here? I told you not to come in here.”
I stood, wiping at my face, my words stumbling out.
“I… Chloe mentioned Rodger, and I didn’t know… she said he was in the basement, and I —”
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“This is why I didn’t want anyone to see. It’s… hard for me.”
His voice cracked slightly, and for the first time, I saw the weight he carried, the grief he’d hidden behind his demanding exterior. Standing in the warmth of Chloe’s “princess room,” surrounded by remnants of her father’s love and grief, I felt a rare surge of courage.
“Mr. Miles,” I began hesitantly, “can I be honest with you?”
His sharp gaze shifted to mine, but it wasn’t angry — just weary. “Go ahead.”
“I’ve been thinking about quitting,” I said, my voice trembling despite my resolve.
“I’m not doing real work here. Fetching coffee. Running errands.
It’s not why I took this job. It’s… it’s meaningless.”
He didn’t snap at me.
He didn’t scoff. Instead, to my utter surprise, he sank onto a small wooden chair by the tent and rested his elbows on his knees. For a moment, the mighty, unyielding Mr.
Miles just looked… human. “I’m sorry,” he said finally, his voice quiet.
“I’ve been hard on you, haven’t I?”
I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed silent. “You know,” he continued, rubbing the back of his neck, “this is how I was trained when I started. My mentor believed in breaking you down to build you back up.
I thought that’s what it took to push someone to succeed.” He looked around the room, his eyes lingering on the photo of his family. “But now… I see it’s nonsense.
Really, it is.”
The air between us hung heavy for a moment before he straightened up, pulling a folder from his briefcase. “Let’s start over,” he said, his tone firmer but no less sincere. “Here’s an actual assignment: review these blueprints for tomorrow.
I want your input on the design. Are you ready to actually work?”
My mouth fell open as I stared at him. Was this a test?
A trap? But then I saw the faintest flicker of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, and I realized he was serious. I nodded, unable to suppress a grin.
“Finally,” I said, relief and excitement bubbling in my chest. He gave a short laugh, then stood. “Good.
And Kara?”
“Yes?”
He hesitated, glancing at Chloe’s drawing on the table. “Thanks for taking care of her. And for…
sticking around.”
“Of course,” I said, smiling. “Tomorrow,” he added, walking up the stairs, “don’t be late.”
If this story had you hooked, wait until you dive into this one: I started a new job and discovered my boss was my longtime rival — Story of the Day. It’s a tale full of twists, and unexpected surprises.
Curious? Click here to read the full story. This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes.
Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided as “is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
