The Colonel's Secretary

Chapter 2.

Upon arriving in Miami, my mother came to pick us up.

"My little Harriet, just look at the precious granddaughter I have". My mother exclaimed as she snatched the baby from me and forgot about me as she headed towards Josie's car.

"Well, hello to you too, mom, I missed you too" I said sarcastically, to which my friend burst out laughing.

I glared at her, and then proceeded to hug her.

"Look how beautiful you are, that lovely baby has given you an enviable figure". Josie was not one to hold back before saying what she thought.

"Thanks, but I've always had a great body, you jealous thing," I playfully stuck out my tongue at her and continued laughing.

We got into the car and headed to my mother's house.

My mother lived alone; she raised me alone and never wanted to remarry. She said I would have a lot of babies and the house would be filled with them, so why bother with a husband? Her words, not mine.

My mother's house was beautiful and homey, with a white fence around the property, a fairly large porch, and a swing-like rocking chair on it. The big apple tree in front made me feel like I was in a movie house, and it was fascinating to live here again and have my little one grow up in such a beautiful and safe place.

Everything was the same.

The smell of freshly baked cookies reached my nostrils.

The scent of lavender air freshener was enveloping me; everything was just as I remembered.

"Let's go to the kitchen. I baked chocolate cookies, your favorite, Alex". My mother took my hands and dragged me to the kitchen without waiting for me to respond.

My mother was American, but my absent father was Russian, who gave me his last name but not his love.

Ivan Romanov.

That was his name, and I say "was" because he died a long time ago.

"And do you know where you'll be working?" I looked at my friend and smiled.

"Yes, a university acquaintance got me a position at Blake Corporation, so now I'll be the secretary to the Legal Director there", I said as I finished changing Harriet's diaper, while watching my friend and my mother open their mouths in astonishment.

And rightly so—Blake Corporation was one of the most coveted and well-known companies in the world.

"You're joking, right?" Josie asked.

"What? No, of course not" I frowned and looked at her incredulously.

"It's just that it's such a sought-after place, and they never have any openings. Your friend must be very influential there," Josie continued.

And yes, my friend Maryse was Mr. Blake's daughter, and she and her older brother worked there.

I met Maryse in my third year of university, three years after that love story I had told you about. She came to New York on an exchange program and never wanted to leave.

I didn't know much about her family, so we focused on each other until we became inseparable. Later, she helped me with my divorce from John, which led to her offering me the position.

"When do you start?" my mother seemed very excited for me to start working and leave Harriet with her.

"I will start tomorrow, so don't worry, you'll have your granddaughter all day," I said, and her smile grew even bigger.

Josie had to return home to her fiancé Jimmy, but she planned to visit during the week to see how I was doing at what she called the most important job in the world.

Monday morning.

The Blake Corporation building rose before my eyes, with all those tinted glass windows and its twenty-something floors, which was intimidating.

I walked with my back straight and my chin up, feeling empowered in my four-inch black heels, dressed in gray dress pants and a slightly loose long-sleeved blouse with a V-neck. I left my styled curls loose but controlled, and kept my makeup simple, highlighting my eyes and long eyelashes.

I felt perfect.

And quite ready.

I arrived at the reception and introduced myself.

"Hello, good morning, my name is Alexandra Romanov. I'm here for a meeting with Miss Maryse Blake," I smiled at the girl behind the reception desk who looked at me and then smiled.

"Oh, sure, they're expecting you on the 23rd floor. At the end of the hallway, you'll find a meeting room; you won't miss it, it's the only one with a nameplate," I nodded, took the visitor's pass she handed me for elevator access, and smiled, in thanks.

I got into the elevator and pressed the number twenty-three.

Now I was nervous.

When I reached the floor, there were many doors, but as the girl mentioned, only one had a marked plaque, so I headed there.

I knocked and then opened the door.

"Hello, good morning," I greeted.

My friend Maryse and her father, Mr. Joseph Blake, stood up and smiled at me.

I greeted them both with a handshake and took a seat next to Maryse.

"I'm glad to finally meet the woman who made my daughter not want to return to Miami," Mr. Joseph Blake smiled at me.

"Oh no, I'm not to blame, I wanted her to leave, but she stuck to me like glue," I smiled when Mr. Blake burst out laughing at my joke and Maryse just glared at me but held back her smile.

"Ha ha, very funny, Alex, but it was you who clung to me like glue, moping around and begging me to help you with your assignment," Maryse countered.

My mouth opened in a big O and I looked at her, about to burst into laughter.

"Your audacity is as big as your ego," I replied, smiling.

Mr. Blake was delighted with our banter.

"You were right, daughter, this girl will drive your brother crazy and might make him kinder to the people under his charge," he couldn't stop smiling and looking at me.

"Your brother?" I asked, confused.

"Oh, I didn't tell you, you'll actually be my brother's secretary, since he fired the last one just because she couldn't make his coffee right," she said, waving it off with her hand.

"I thought I would be your father's secretary, no offense," I looked at her father and he just smiled and shook his head.

"Don't worry, but yes, it would have been me, but a couple of months ago I handed the position over to my son, and now I'm enjoying my grandchildren at home. I hear you have a baby," I smiled at the mention of my daughter.

"Yes, she's 5 months old, and her name is Harriet," I mentioned proudly.

"Would you bring her by sometime? I love babies and children in general, but my son only thinks that life is work, so he hasn't settled down yet. Maybe seeing her will encourage him to at least think about having a baby," my friend and her father laughed, and I couldn't help but smile too.

"Sure, I'll do it if my mother lets me, which I doubt. She's been separated from her all these months, so it will be a bit difficult," Mr. Joseph's laughter relaxed me.