I Don’t Wear Anything When I sleep

Daisy sat on the edge of the leather couch in the waiting room, her back stiff, her bandaged hand resting awkwardly in her lap. The air conditioning was a little too cold or maybe it was just her nerves.

Her eyes flicked toward the sleek digital clock on the wall. Ten minutes had passed since Aurora told her he'd be there soon.

She had dressed simply, slipping into a one-piece dress that didn't require much effort, something she could manage with one good hand. The soft fabric fell just below her knees, neat, quiet, a faint echo of the girl she used to be. Her flats were scuffed, worn thin at the toes, but they were one of the few pairs she had left. Almost all her heels were gone, sold off piece by piece when the bills started piling up.

Daisy exhaled slowly and glanced at the security camera nestled in the corner of the ceiling. She didn't know why, but she felt like the security camera was moving and the feeling of being watched, creeping inside her heart. 

She rubbed her thumb gently over the bandages, trying to distract herself from the weight in her chest. It was probably just her imagination, the camera thing. Just nerves. Probably the pressure of walking into a new place.

A soft knock echoed from the door.

It cracked open a second later.

"Miss Daisy?" A calm, cool voice slipped in, Marla's, as sharp as her tailored blazer appeared, "He's ready for you."

Daisy stood slowly, careful with her hand. Her knees felt like they didn't belong to her, stiff from sitting too long, or maybe it was just her nerves. She offered a small nod and followed Marla down the quiet corridor.

Marla stopped just ahead, in front of a tall, matte-black door. Without knocking, she turned the handle and opened it.

"Please…" she said, ushering Daisy forward with a small gesture.

The moment Daisy stepped inside, the door clicked shut behind her, muffling the world outside. Her eyes instantly wandered around the big office room.

"Sit."

Her heart jumped at the sudden voice.

"Oh my God!" Daisy blurted out, startled.

She hadn't seen him at all.

Theo stepped out from behind a tall bookshelf, his silhouette sharp and precise against the soft afternoon light pouring through the high windows. He was already dressed immaculately, crisp shirt, cufflinks, no tie. His jacket hung off the back of the nearby chair, like he'd been there for a while, waiting.

Daisy blinked, trying to settle her breath. "You scared me…" she paused and blinked, "Sir." She heaved out a breath, louder than she meant to.

He didn't react. Just that same unreadable calm.

"This way," he said, nodding toward the sitting area by the windows.

Daisy's eyes followed his gesture, a low, elegant couch set against the far wall, facing a glass coffee table. A tray with a carafe of water and two glasses sat untouched.

Theo took his seat on the couch, casually resting one ankle over a knee, then gestured for her to sit across from him. She obeyed without a word, perching on the edge of the cushion like someone sitting in a stranger's house.

A few seconds passed in silence.

"How's the finger?" he asked finally, his eyes flicking to the bandages.

"Ah—" Daisy looked down at her hand. "It's getting better. Just... maybe still a bit hard to do heavy tasks—"

"Such as?" Theo cut in smoothly, one brow arching, like he was already testing her answer.

She blinked, caught off guard by the interruption. "Cleaning. Lifting things. Sorting paperwork for hours," she replied. "Basically anything that needs both hands for a long time."

Theo leaned back slightly, still watching her. "You assume that's what I'm hiring you for?"

Her lips parted, unsure whether it was a trick question. "Isn't it?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached for the carafe and poured water into one of the glasses with slow precision. "You said no last time," he said, voice quiet. "Yet here you are."

Daisy swallowed. "But, you are the one who offered me the second time," there was a subtle pout formed before she continued, "So…I think like I… needed to understand the job better. The contract… I didn't get to read it."

Theo handed her the glass without a word. Then, after a pause, he said, "I'm guessing your best friend didn't explain much."

She shook her head. "No, Aurora did say something, but it was kind of… vague. She said the job was like a maid's… but not exactly?" Daisy paused, her eyes shifting upward as she tried to piece it together. "I mean… she said it's more about 'filling the house.'"

Her eyebrows lifted as she gave him a small, awkward smile. "I'm not even sure what that means."

Theo's lips twitched, just barely. Not quite a smile.

"I see." He leaned back again, studying her like someone examining a puzzle. "I guess she herself didn't know your job scope."

Daisy blinked, her brows knitting. "Sorry?"

"Well," Theo said flatly, "I just need you to be by my side. Twenty-four seven."

Daisy's breath caught. "You mean… like an assistant?"

"No." His answer was immediate. Firm. "Not in the professional sense. I already have one."

"Then what am I supposed to do?"

"Live in my house. Be there when I'm home. Follow me when I go out. Answer the phone when I don't want to. Stay out of sight when I don't need you." His voice didn't rise or waver.

She stared at him. "That doesn't sound simple."

"It's not complicated either," he replied, gaze distant now, like he wasn't really talking about the logistics anymore. "You won't clean. You won't cook. You won't run errands. You'll just be… there."

She blinked, then muttered under her breath, "Thank God you didn't ask me to watch you sleep."

Theo tilted his head slightly, eyes still unreadable. "That would be hard," he said, voice calm, and his expression was still stoic. "I don't wear anything when I sleep."

Daisy froze. Her face gave her away before she could mask the shock.

Theo didn't smile, didn't smirk. He just looked at her, steady.

"Still interested in the job?"