*beep* *beep* *beep*

I hate that sound. I was so exhausted last night I chose the wrong option on my alarm clock and this horrenduously repetitive noise is blasting, urging me to wake up. I extend a lazy hand in its direction but can't find the right button to turn it off and I grunt in frustration. I find the wire though and follow it to the wall before tugging on it harshly to unplug it.

6:30 am why do I need to get up so early...I'm the boss after all and today I don't feel like getting up. I extend my other hand on the left side of the bed, feeling it desperately cold and empty. Two weeks now...it's been two weeks and I feel like shit. I shut my eyes close hoping I'll fall back to sleep but it's too late. I take off the sheets in a brusk movement and get up to take a shower.

I enter my walk in dressing and take the first items of clothing my hands fall on, not caring in the least if they match. I don't bother with jewels, with perfume, I apply a light coat of make up and fix my hair in a messy bun. I walk in the kitchen and stare at the coffee machine mentally face slapping myself. I did not take a minute yesterday to add water and fresh coffee and it is making a weird gurgling noise as it's trying to make the hot beverage out of nothing. Usually Juliette is the one making me fresh coffee... I open the fridge and sigh as I see it's still desperately empty. Never mind, I'll stop at Starbucks on my way to work, again.

I exit the elevator doors with a muffin in one hand and a huge Americano in the other. I'm chewing a big chunk and don't bother greeting my employees. They try to avoid my stare, they know I'm not in the mood. They send Nathalie instead for each request, somehow she's the only one who doesn't get on my nerves these days. After her 6-month internship I had decided to employ her as she was actually able to understand what I wanted, which was a notable accomplishment.

I see her busy at her desk but as soon as she catches my eyes she stands up. I enter my office, leaving the doors open for her as I know it has become a habit of hers to greet me personally.

"Good morning Mrs sheffield."

I don't feel like talking this morning and simply look past her from behind the cup of coffee. She walks to my desk and sits on its corner. Another habit of hers that she has trouble getting rid of.

"Hey boss." She leans closer to me, forcing me to hold her stare this time. "Is there a reason why you look like shit this morning?"

"This morning particularly?" I'm so tired and fed up I don't even register the inappropriateness of her comment.

"Hum." She clears her throat and I sense unease. "You've not been yourself the past week I'd say. But today is definitely the worst." She adds, looking me up and down. I do the same and realize my botton-up is creased. Not my fault I forgot to bring my clothes to the dry cleaner. Too busy to think.

"Everything's fine Nathalie. Please go back to your desk."

"You want to grab a drink later tonight? You know, as friends?"

"I don't know. I can't think clearly right now."

Nathalie finally leaves me alone. I grab my phone out of my purse and sigh looking at the screen. No messages. Not even a phone call. It's probably my fault though... The screen buzzes in my hand and I start hoping again but it quickly dies away when I notice the caller id. I let the phone ring without picking up. But I get a text soon after.

I replace the phone inside my purse and put my elbows on my desk , resting my forehead in my palms. Come on Amelia, get yourself together.

I need to find something to do, to keep my mind busy, so I turn on my laptop and start reading and answering the numerous emails I received during the night. Once I'm done I call my PA to ask her about my morning schedule and she tells me I have two business meetings.

Before joining my staff in the conference room I decide to change into a more fitting button-up. I always keep some in the wardrobe in my office, just in case. As I am taking the creased one off, I hear knocking on the door but don't bother answer, thinking the person behind will understand I don't want to be disturbed. But there is only one person who doesn't go by the rules and as I hear the handles moving, I know who it is and keep my back to her to prevent an awkward situation from escalating.

"What is so urgent that you couldn't wait outside Nathalie?"

I feel her eyes drilling holes in my bare back and I'm starting to get uncomfortable but I try to hide my unease behind a death stare and the steadiest tone I can muster as I turn around to face her.

"Nathalie, I'm up here." She slowly averts her eyes but doesn't try hard to erase her smirk. "I'll meet you in 5. Whatever the reason for showing up here uninvited can wait. Now leave."

Amelia...why did you hire her again?

The two meetings go slow and I'm bored. The lack of sleep of these past days makes it really hard to concentrate and the ideas I'm pitched are dumb anyway. How can they even come up with those! My 10 o'clock coffee doesn't help in the least. Now I wish I had brought my iphone with me, I badly want to text her...even if I know she probably won't answer...not now anyway...I notice everyone in the office is looking at me, waiting for a reaction and I realise I spaced out for the past ten minutes. I sigh.

"That was crap. The crappiest ideas I've been served in this office. I expect you all to come with something new and better by tomorrow." I stand and leave, retreating to my office after sending daggers to my PA. She knows what that look means: do not disturb under any circumstance. I grab my phone and read Lea's text again. I start typing an answer but finally press the green button and she picks up almost immediately.

"Hey Amelia! How are you?"

"I'm ok."

"You don't sound ok...Are you free for lunch?"

"No."

"Ok great! I'll see you in an hour!"

"Didn't you h..." she hung up. Gosh she's so infuriating...but I'm actually glad to see a friendly face and look forward to it, though I'll never admit it to her. I pace my office waiting for her and remember to call the receptionist to let Lea in.

It's almost noon...I know Lea won't be late, she's just like Juliette, always on time and I like that about her. I hear a knock at the door and stand up to open to a smiling Lea who rushes to take me in a tight hug. Gosh I hate when she does that...and she knows. She chuckles and lets go of me, grabbing the take away bags on the floor and settling them on the desk. She opens one and unwraps the content, sitting on an armchair. I copy her and start eating, realising I was starving.

We eat in silence, and I feel grateful she's not hurrying discussion... but I know it's coming so i take it into my hands to start.

"Why are you here?" Lea looks up from her salad and raises one eyebrow at me.

"I thought you might be lonely. Don't you like my company?"

"I only suffer it for Juliette."

"I know you're lying." She smiles. "Someone told me to keep an eye on you."

"Oh really...is it the same someone who doesn't return my calls and barely finds the time to text me back?"

"Amelia...she was angry and had the right to be. Time difference doesn't help...and she's always busy other there, meeting relatives she hasn't seen in a long time, catching up with her friends. You can't expect her to pick up whenever you call."

I don't see what to answer back and keep silent, staring absent-mindedly at the wall before me. I start when I feel Lea's hand on my arm and her other brushing away a tear I had not felt rolling down my cheek.

"I hate that you are both so stubborn. Amelia, you really suck at any type of relationship. Look at you..." weirdly her words don't anger me and I start laughing along with her. "She's been away for two weeks and I barely recognise you. What's with the bun? "

"Hu? You don't like it?"

"Not the point. Get a grip woman. I know long distance relationships can be hard but she's not going to be away forever. Time to do something about it."

"Why are you telling me this? Why did you come here?"

"I told you...to check on you...I know Juliette misses you despite being surrounded by her friends and family. I just figured it'd be hard for you, being alone, so I thought you might need a friend."

"I'm not alone. And we are not friends."

"Oh cut the crap Amelia." She laughs agin and I'm relieved she didn't take my answer seriously. I think I'm starting to li...starting to not hate her.

Lea doesn't stay long, she has her work to return to. But her words linger in my head. I agree I made the wrong decision and that I've not been trying hard enough for the past fortnight...I call my PA and grab my purse and iphone calling my chauffeur to meet me outside the building,

"Allez Lily viens te laver les mains on ne va pas tarder à passer à table."

"On mange quoi?!"

"De la quiche."

"Oh non, j'aime pas!"

"Mais si tu vas voir...celle de mamie est meilleure que la mienne."

"Merci ma chérie, mais tu sais que c'est pas vrai. Lily, fait plaisir à ta mamie et goûte au moins. Allez c'est prêt on peut passer à table."

Lily comes back from the sink and leaves droplets everywhere on her grandma's wooden floor while looking for the kitchen towel to dry them.

"Lily...c'est sur ta gauche...près du frigo...y a des traces partout sur le sol..." (Lily...it's on your left....near the fridge...now there are traces all over the floor...)

"Juliette, ne sois pas si dure avec elle, elle n'a que quatre ans..." (Juliette, don't be hard on her she's four...)

"Maman...s'il te plaît, ne commence pas. Lily viens t'asseoir, le repas est prêt" (Maman...please don't start. Come sit Lily, dinner's ready.)

I see Lily making a face and I cringe internally. She's being difficult lately and each meal is an ordeal. Food she loved are now left untouched at the side of the plate and she pouts, arms crossed, after two mouthfuls, declaring she's not hungry anymore after having bounced in the kitchen for the past hour repeating she's hungry and when dinner's going to be ready. Tonight again, she refuses to eat the quiche in her plate.

"Lily tu n'auras rien d'autre à manger. Tu aimes la quiche. Maintenant commence à manger." (Lily you won't get anything else to eat. You like quiche now start eating.)

We hear the doorbell and look at each other. People know 7pm is not a time to pay someone a visit...maybe a neighbour who needs help? My dad stands up, indicating us with his hand to stay put and he walks up to the front door. I'm too annoyed by my daughter's behaviour to pay attention to what is going on but my dad comes back, a questioning look on his face.

"Juliette, vas-y. C'est une anglaise. Je crois qu'elle est perdue. Je ne comprends pas ce qu'elle veut." (Juliette, you go. It's some English girl. I think she's lost. I didn't understand what she wants.)

As I stand up, not really connecting the dots, I hear Lily's excited voice and see her rush out of the dining table. "Lily go back to your seat!" And as my eyes follow Lily, they finally fall on her. She's wearing a power suit and stilettos and bending to catch Lily and take her in her arms where she plants kisses on her forehead. My dad is always clueless and doesn't understand what is going on but my mother figured and she's already greeting Amelia in. I'm in shock I guess. I didn't expect her here...not after the way I left.

Amelia puts Lily on the floor and walks away from my mother, not caring in the least she's still babbling. Her eyes were locked on mine the moment she entered the dining room and they are now so close. Her hands grab my waist steadily and that's when I notice my body is shaking. Amelia snakes one arm behind my back, bringing me closer to her and she removes a stray lock of hair behind my ear with her free hand, and I close the gap between us. I leave my lips a long moment on hers, feeling them curl into a smile, but I'm too shy to deepen the kiss and keep it PG in front of my parents.

"I missed you so much Juliette." She says in a whisper.

"Maybe you should not have cancelled then."

"I...I had a work emergency...I told you I'm sorry..."

Amelia was supposed to accompany Lily and I to France for ten days. She had agreed to meet my parents, my family and friends but the day before departure, she said she had to stay for work and being me, I didn't comprehend her priorities...and I left without saying goodbye. But now she's here and somehow I don't remember why I'm mad anymore.

"Quelqu'un pourrait me dire qui c'est ?" (Could someone explain who this is?)

"Papa....c'est Amelia..."

"Oh...me disait...hello Amelia!" (Oh...I was wondering....)

My dad shakes Amelia's hand timidly. He's not as confortable as my mom at meeting strangers but he's very welcoming in his own way. He points to the table and adds a seat for Amelia who sits next to me.

"Amelia!! Granny made quiche! You have to try it's very good." She says, attacking the quiche she would not touch a minute ago. I roll my eyes but won't comment. I'm too happy right now.

"Amelia, you stay long here in France?" My mom asks.

"I..." she starts but hesitates, and looks at me worriedly. I nod encouragingly, I want to know too. "I'm staying as long as Juliette is staying. I mean if that's ok with you ?" That question was for me.

"It's more than ok... Amelia?"

"Yes baby?"

"Nothing you already know."

.