"Layla, please don't touch that. Layla! Damnit." I got up and rushed over to my three-and-a half year old daughter, seizing her under the arms and swinging her up to rest on my hip. "What did mommy say? That's not ours. If you broke it, I'd get into trouble."
"Miss Martin, Mister Halloway wants to see you." My co-worker, Ashley, said, standing in the doorway and smiling at Layla.
"Okay." I exhaled loudly and set Layla down on the ground, exiting the room. I knew Layla would follow me, so I didn't even try telling her to stay put, because at least this way I'd know she wasn't breaking anything that didn't belong to us.
I walked through the offices, constantly looking over my shoulder to watch as Layla toddled after me. And of course, eventually, I looked at her at the wrong time and ran into someone, almost knocking them and myself over.
I looked up and saw someone who looked really familiar to me. He opened his mouth to say something, so I looked away quickly and grabbed Layla's hand, quickly pulling her into my boss' office and shutting the door behind us.
"Yes, Mister Halloway?" I looked over my shoulder at Layla, who was standing behind me and holding tightly to my legs.
"Are you busy?" He asked me, smiling at Layla who poked her head around my legs.
"No, uh, not really. Why?"
"Because I have a band that I'd like you to interview." He tapped his pen on his desk.
"Okay." I said, silently cussing him out in my head. I knew exactly what band he was about to make me interview and there was no way I was ready to face anyone in it. Not now, and not ever. Especially not with Layla here.
