Winifred Dawson’s heart was caught in a tense, suspended state as she stared nervously at Garrison Reeves.
Noticing her anxiety, Garrison chuckled. “Why so nervous? Afraid I’ll stop you from going?”
“I just feel like if I miss this company, no one else will hire me. I don’t know anything, and I really like the atmosphere there.”
“Silly, how could you even gauge the atmosphere on your first day?” Seeing Winifred pout in protest, Garrison reached out and lightly pinched the tip of her nose. “I’m not stopping you. I’m just worried. And I don’t want you to set your expectations too high. The greater the hope, the harder the fall. Stay level-headed. If you want to work there, go ahead. Try the internship first. If it doesn’t suit you, don’t force yourself. And don’t forget to text me after work.”
“Why should I text you?”
“So I can pick you up.”
“No need. I’ll just take a cab home. It won’t cost much. If my colleagues see you picking me up, they’ll gossip.” Winifred explained, “More people mean more drama. Your face is all over financial news. If someone recognizes you, how am I supposed to focus on work? And I can’t exactly tell them I’m just doing this for the experience.”
Garrison nodded. “You’ve got a point.”
“Of course. I’m not the same person I used to be.” Going to work there was just a pretense. If Garrison drove her every day, the act would fall apart.
“Besides, you’re busy with work. There’s no need to worry about me like this. I’m not a child. The way you’re acting… reminds me of parents dropping their kids off at kindergarten for the first time.” Winifred muttered under her breath.
Garrison pulled her into his arms. “I don’t want you to be my child. You’re going to be my wife.”
And just like that, Garrison agreed to let Winifred go. He didn’t want to suffocate her-too much control would only breed resistance. Better to let things unfold naturally. He didn’t want to make her unhappy.
Winifred was right. She was her own person, with her own desires. She wanted recognition and the satisfaction of accomplishing something-things he couldn’t give her. Maybe working would help her grow more confident.
Garrison stopped worrying about the parrot that might never return. Winifred wasn’t a bird. She didn’t have wings to fly away whenever she pleased.
—
Winifred made it out the door without a hitch. After landing the job in yesterday’s interview, she reported to the company the very next day. Her closet was stocked with work-appropriate outfits.
This small company didn’t require formal attire-just neat and tidy clothes. Still, Winifred dressed in a blazer, her hair pulled into a high ponytail. Bright-eyed and energetic, she looked every bit the part of someone ready to embrace a new future. Little did she know that future was shrouded in darkness, one misstep away from disaster.
On her first day, Garrison drove her. Mindful of her concerns, he stopped a couple hundred meters from the office.
“Go on. New day, new start.” Garrison didn’t know how else to encourage her. Oddly enough, though Winifred was the one starting work, she had been the one comforting him these past two days.
Gradually, Garrison began to trust that Winifred could handle this small job, that she wouldn’t be bullied out there. Still, he couldn’t shake his unease about the company. Worried she might be stepping into a “den of wolves,” he ran another background check. Nothing. It was clean.
Too clean.
A flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Was it really this spotless? Then again, a newly established small company probably didn’t have much to hide.
Winifred opened the car door to leave, but Garrison called out, “Winifred, forgetting something?”
She turned, puzzled. The next second, Garrison unbuckled his seatbelt, reached out, and cupped the back of her head. Leaning in, he caught her lips in a brief, gentle kiss-soft, not demanding.
Three seconds later, he pulled back, though his hand lingered. Their foreheads still touching, he carefully adjusted a loose strand of hair near her scarf, careful not to mess up her ponytail.
“A goodbye kiss for work.”
The moment was perfect. Winifred’s face flushed, her eyes glistening, gaze darting away.
Garrison reached past her and pushed the door open. “Go on.”
Winifred floated out of the car as if walking on clouds, waving at Garrison. Work started at nine. It was only eight-thirty-plenty of time.
She stood by the roadside, watching Garrison’s car until it disappeared from sight. Just as she turned to leave, a sharp honk cut through the air behind her-deliberate, demanding attention.
Winifred glanced back. The moment she saw who was inside, the color drained from her face.