Free Bending the Rules: Breaking the Rules #2 by L.K. Lewis Page A

outreached when
she sees me enter the dining room at the club.
    “Hi, Mom. You look nice. Did you get your hair done?” I ask
as I walk into her embrace, air-kissing her like the country club socialite she
wishes I would be.
    “Oh, thank you sweetheart, Talia just did it Friday. It was
time I warmed my color up a bit for fall,” She says while unconsciously
smoothing out the ends of her now less platinum locks that lie perfectly at her
shoulders. “Are you ready for your first day tomorrow?”
    “I think so. I was one of the point people on the Thompson
Manufacturing account at Baylor, so I’m already well acquainted with the needs
of Adrian’s company. I spent a bit of time last night jotting down ideas of how
I can make some of his father’s dreams a reality.”
    “Don’t forget, honey, it’s your job to support Adrian, not
out-shine him. It’s great that you are prepared, but make sure that he’s the
one leading the company, not you.” OMG she doesn’t get it. My mother clearly
still thinks I’m supposed to be a 1950s housewife, not career-driven woman of
the 21st century!
    “No, Mom,” I say with a little added stank, “It’s my job to
offer creative insight, and see through different manufacturing initiatives
with our clientele. Adrian is the boss, and I will most definitely look to him
for guidance, direction, and approval, but he is hiring me to improve his
company, not be his little woman standing next to him at charity events.”
    “Morgan, you know I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant
that tomorrow is your first day, you don’t want people to think you are a know
it all.”
    This conversation is going nowhere, and I still have to
spend the rest of the day with my mother. I’m already exhausted from dealing
with her country club snobbery. I decide to give this one a rest and just
politely thank her for the advice.
    “Thank you, Mom, I know you mean well. Shall we order
another round before heading to the omelet station?”
    *****
    My mother and I have brunched, shopped, and now I’m about to
drop as I haul my bags into my apartment later in the afternoon. I will say my
mother has impeccable taste in clothes, and the credit limit to back that up,
so I really am always appreciative of a shopping day with her. I take care when
hanging my new garments in my bedroom closet, removing some more summer
appropriate items and moving them into my spare closet in the hallway. Next I
take pictures of my new shoes, then print them and affix the picture to the
outside of the shoe box so I can keep them neatly stacked in the closet, while
still knowing which pair is which.
    The bathtub is calling my name. I undress as the water fills
the tub, aerating bath oil filling the room with delicate scents of jasmine and
orange blossom. I’m immediately drawn back to memories of Drake and me in the
tub together. As I relax into the hot, soothing water, my mind drifts to the
first Saturday in September when I came home to Drake waiting for me with a
freshly drawn bath. It was one of our many nights spent apart maintaining our
single person statuses. I had gone to a friend’s wedding earlier that day, and
had texted Drake a few times to tell him how much I missed him and wished he
could be there with me.
    Drake met me at my door, taking my wrap and purse from me as
he kissed me gently, telling me how happy he was that I was finally home.
Dropping to his knees before me, he massaged my tired legs while removing my
heels, kissing my feet sweetly. When he rose to his feet, he grabbed my hand,
while carrying my shoes, bag and wrap with the other, and led me into my
bedroom.
    “You look absolutely breathtaking this evening, Morgan. This
dress is stunning on you, I would have been so proud to have you on my arm
tonight,” Drake said as he spun me around to face away from him so he could
unzip my dress.
    “I would have loved to have you with me. I missed you so
much today mister,” I said, turning my head so I