Chapter 92 #10: She And My Dad Used To Fight Bad Guys
The next day, the call comes in while Vincent and I are at work, reviewing a procurement report I have already flagged twice.
I know it is bad news the second I see the school’s number on my screen. I stare at it for half a second too long before answering. “This is Nora Calder.”
The principal’s voice is calm and practiced. “Mrs. Calder, we need you to come in. Lucy has been suspended for the rest of the day, effective immediately.”
I immediately drop the pen I was holding. “Suspended? For what?!”
“There has been a complaint filed regarding your daughter.” There is a pause, followed by the sound of papers shifting. “Another parent reported an incident from last week,” she says. “The matter was escalated to administration this morning.”
I close my eyes.
“She was attacked first,” I say. “You already have the report.”
“Yes,” the woman says. “However, the other parent insists the response was excessive and unsafe.”
I let out an incredulous laugh. “Your definition of unsafe is a child defending herself?”
“Ma’am, the report says you attacked the parent too.”
“Because she tried to hit my daughter!”
I hear a sigh through the phone. “The school has a zero-tolerance policy on physical aggression. Please pick her up within the hour.”
I close my eyes for a moment. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
Vincent sits up as I hang up, concern replacing the relaxed look on his face. “What happened?”
“That bitch reported yesterday’s incident to Lucy's school. They suspended her for the day.”
He exhales through his nose. “Jesus. We just talked about this yesterday.”
“I know.” I stand and smooth my skirt, already planning the quickest way home to change. “I have to get her. And I can’t leave her with the nanny – she’s out of town until tomorrow.”
Vincent rubs a hand over his face. “Bring her to the office. I will be out on a meeting but she can sit in my conference room, colour, watch something on the iPad. We’ll figure out the rest later.”
I hesitate. Bringing a five-year-old into Calder Investments on a Monday morning feels like a bad idea, but I have back-to-back meetings all afternoon, and cancelling isn’t possible. Not with the Singapore closing coming up.
“Fine,” I say. “But if she starts asking why everyone is in suits and staring at screens, I’m blaming you.”
He gives a tired half-smile. “Deal.”
Twenty-five minutes later I’m outside the principal’s office. Lucy is sitting in the front office when I arrive, legs swinging off a chair too big for her, her little backpack clutched to her chest like a shield. Her eyes light up when she sees me.
“Mommy!”
I immediately crouch in front of her, smoothing her hair back from her face. “Hey, baby.”
“They’re mad at me,” she whispers.
“I know, pumpkin.” I say softly. “Wanna tell me what happened?”
She shrugs. “I was in class when the principal sent for me. She said I get to go home with you!”
The principal steps into the doorway, clipboard in hand. “Mrs. Calder. We’ve spoken with Lucy. She understands the rules. We’re recommending a meeting with the school counsellor.”
I stand slowly. “I’ll schedule it. Thank you.”
The principal’s mouth tightens, but she doesn’t argue. “We’ll see you both tomorrow. Have a better day, Lucy.”
Lucy waves. “Bye, Mrs. Thompson.”
We walk to the car in silence. Once we’re buckled in, I glance at her in the rear-view mirror, knowing we have to have this conversation sooner or later. “You know biting isn’t the answer, right?”
She looks up at me. “But you said I should defend myself.”
I grip the steering wheel tighter. “I did say that. And I meant it. But there’s defending yourself, and there’s making sure the other person knows you’re not someone to mess with. There’s a difference between protection and punishment.”
She thinks for a moment. “So next time I yell louder?”
“Next time you tell a teacher right away. Then you come tell me. And if the teacher doesn’t handle it, Mommy will handle it.”
She grins. “Like a superhero.”
“Exactly like a superhero.”
We arrive at the Calder building just before eleven. The lobby security guard raises an eyebrow when he sees Lucy, but he smiles and waves us through. The elevator ride to the thirty-eighth floor feels longer with her small hand in mine, fingers sticky from the lollipop the principal gave her.
My assistant, Priya, meets us at reception, eyes wide. “Mrs. Calder, your eleven-thirty is already in the conference room.”
“Push it fifteen minutes. And can you order lunch for two? Something kid-friendly.”
Priya nods, tapping her tablet. “Chicken tenders and fries?”
“Perfect. And a salad for me.”
Lucy tugs my hand. “Can I have mac and cheese?”
“Don't push it.”
I lead her toward my office, past glass-walled conference rooms where people glance up, then quickly look away, pretending not to notice the small girl following the COO.
We're barely past the threshold when, we're interrupted again by a familiar deep voice. “Nora.”
I turn.
David steps out of the corner conference room, adjusting his cuff. Behind him, a junior analyst hurries away. David’s eyes move from me to Lucy, then back. The surprise is brief before his face goes carefully neutral.
“David,” I say, keeping my voice even. “Didn’t expect to see you here today.”
“McAllister wanted an update before the term sheet finalizes. I was happy to help.”
"Lucky us."
Just then, Lucy lets go of my hand and steps forward, head tilted, studying him. “Hi.”
David blinks. Then he drops to one knee so he’s at her level, suit jacket stretching across his shoulders. “Hi yourself. What’s your name, little one?”
“Lucy,” she says proudly.
“That’s a good name,” he replies. “I’m David.”
She squints at him. “You’re very tall.”
He chuckles quietly. “I get that a lot.”
“Why are you here,” she asks.
I’ve barely opened my mouth when David says calmly, “I work with your mom.”
Lucy’s eyes widen. “At her big job?”
“Yes, at her big job.” he says with a chuckle. “You’re not in school today?”
She shakes her head, curls bouncing. “I got suspended. But it’s okay. Mommy says I did the right thing.”
David’s eyebrows lift. “Suspended? That’s serious.”
“Tommy pulled my hair so I bit him.”
“Good job, Lucy!" he says high fiving her.
“David...” I warn.
“What?” He looks up at me. “Someone attacked her and she defended herself. He deserved it.”
Lucy beams. “That’s what Mommy said too!”
David smiles at her. It is not the smile he uses in boardrooms. It is softer, warmer, unsettling in how natural it looks on him.
“Then his mom tried to hit me, but Mommy stopped her,” Lucy continues, “She was like a superhero. She grabbed her hand and twisted it and told her if she ever tried again she’d need surgery to hold a coffee cup.”
David’s gaze flicks up to me. Something dark and amused passes through his eyes. “Your mother has always been good at making her point.”
Lucy nods. “She’s the best. She told me that she and my daddy used to fight really bad guys and win. Like superheroes.”
My heart stutters.
David’s face stays calm, but I see the exact moment the words hit. His eyes narrow slightly, the way they used to when he spotted a lie in a negotiation. Slowly, he looks up at me.
I force my expression to stay steady. Inside, my pulse races.
He turns back to Lucy, voice gentle. “So where’s your daddy today?”
Lucy shrugs. “I don’t know. But Mommy says my daddy is very important.”
The hallway goes quiet. Even the distant office noise seems to fade. David’s gaze lifts to mine again. Slow. Searching. The air between us feels heavy, like right before a storm.
I step forward and take Lucy’s hand. “Sweetheart, Mr. Reid has a meeting. And Daddy just called. He’s waiting for us at home.”
Lucy frowns. “But we’re at work.”
“He changed his mind. Come on.”
David stands smoothly, eyes never leaving mine. “I didn’t hear a phone ring.”
I smile, tight and professional. “It was on silent. You know how it is. Come on, Lucy. We have to go."
Lucy tugs my hand, reluctant. “But I like him. He’s nice.”
David’s mouth curves slightly. “I like you too, kid.”
I start walking, pulling Lucy gently with me. “Have a good day, David.”
Lucy twists to look back. “Bye, Mr. David! I hope I see you again!”
He raises a hand. “Maybe you will.”
I don’t look back.
We reach my office. I close the door, lean against it, and let out a breath.
Lucy looks up at me. “Why did you lie about Daddy calling?”
I crouch to her level and smooth her hair behind her ear. “Sometimes grown-ups need a minute to think before they say things. And right now, I needed a minute.”
She thinks about it. “Is Mr. David a bad guy?”
I hesitate. “No, baby. He’s not a bad guy. He’s just… someone Mommy used to know. A long time ago.”
She nods like that makes sense. “Okay. Can I have mac and cheese now?”
I laugh, the sound shaky. “Fine. Mac and cheese coming right up.”
But as I stand and move to my desk to call Priya, I can still feel David’s eyes on me.
David Reid is many things, but stupid is not one of them.
And I know, with the same certainty I used to feel when a deal was about to fall apart, that he’s already putting the pieces together.
Once David Reid starts connecting dots, he never stops until he sees the full picture.