My first thought was to take my red suede boot heels off when I got home. The closed-toed part of the boots was absolute murder on my feet; I removed them the moment the front door shut behind me. My mother had always been against the heels – beauty shouldn't come with pain, she said – but my sister loved it when I wore them. In fact, she had sent me this pair just last week. They were stunning, a pair of close-toe platform heels, with red suede sides and a little gold gem in a V on the side. 

I felt myself unconsciously curve my lips into a smile at the thought of my sister. Teagan. She was due to call me any time between that first moment I walked in the door, until midnight. They ranged every week, depending on her schedule, but I took her calls anyway. They were far too important.

Picking up the delightful pair of shoes in one hand – I complain about them, but truth be told they're adorable – I dropped them next to the staircase with my coat and umbrella. Winter was fast approaching, and it was certainly not okay to let said winter touch my clothes.

Or my shoes.

I flicked lights on in the house as I went. The dark didn't bother me, no, but there was something more comfortable about having the lights on. They were warm; though the heat was running, they made it seem more comfortable. Even if they didn't really have an affect.

Dropping my purse in my office, I ventured into the kitchen to make myself some food. There was a pile of mail left haphazardly on the island, a small sticky note next to it.

Sorry I couldn't stay. I miss you already!

There's leftovers in the fridge, your favorite.

I'll call you when I land. Much love!

Xoxo,

Leon

My hand was opening the fridge even before I read the signature at the bottom. Right in the middle shelf, exactly where mentioned, was my favorite food of all time. I let a squeal out, practically yanking open the utensil drawer to grab a fork and dig in. The macaroni and cheese was good even cold – but I was quick to drop it in the microwave to reheat.

No point in eating something delicious if it's not at it's best.

I took to sorting the mail out while I waited for my food. There was a build up of at least four days. I had been so busy enjoying my time with Leon that I had completely forgotten the fact that the house actually needed maintenance.

Once the food was warmed up, I was sitting at the island eating, the pile of mail a daunting thing in my face. Why did people bother sending me so much stuff when I didn't look at half of it? A flash of irritation shot through me. My personal assistant had taking a sabbatical a little under a month ago. I was so positive I could keep everything under control – but I had forgotten just how much I had to take care of.

Sorting mail was a boring process. It kept me through my meal, however, and once I was finished I took it to the office to sort out when I returned. The entire house needed help. I wasn't above calling out a cleaning service, not at all, but it seemed almost...wasteful. Like I should attempt to do it myself first.

I was in the midst of washing the dishes in the sink – oh goodness could Leon eat – when the phone rang. I pressed my phone between my shoulder and ear so I could talk and continue doing the dishes. If I didn't finish them, they would never get done.

There was a lot of noise from the other end. Loud talking, clinking of plates. It took me a second to realize that Teagan was at a late lunch, and yet had called me.

"Teagan?" I sang, feeling my lips curl into a smile even more just because she had called.

"Blythe!" Her voice exclaimed. I could imagine the smile that she was wearing, too. Identical to mine, of course, covered in bright pink lipstick and hiding beautiful white teeth. "Hello! How are you?"

"I'm doing great, thanks. Are you at a lunch right now?" My question came on time – the noise in the background hummed with a change; they must either be finishing, or moving onto another course.

"Oh, we just finished." She lowered her voice conspiritually, "but honestly, I am definitely done talking to all these people. Only so much in a day, you know."

I knew. It was something that Teagan had been saying since she was six. "Yes, I get it. I wore the shoes you sent me last week – they are delightful."

"Perfect!" She giggled. "I get so many offers for shoes. I have no problem in sending you some, you know that. Is Leon still there? Put him on the phone!"

"Sorry, he just left. Sometime today, I think, since I just got his note." There was a disappointed sigh from the other end, and I hurried to finish my train of thought. "But don't worry. He said I can call when he lands – I'll let you know when that is."

"Alright." She was silent a moment, and her end of the line also dropped out. There was a whooshing, like she was in the wind, before her voice piped through again. "So, is there any gossip going on? Anything interesting?"

And just like that, the conversation came easy and we flowed for a solid two hours. Talking, at least moving conversation along, was a skill Teagan had picked up and subsequently flourished at. It was a lucky one to have; she was never bored with a conversation, and neither was the person she was talking to.

But everyone had their limits – Teagan included. Once she was done talking to you, that was it. No more decision about it. Just her cutting you off. She did so to me two hours later, a cheerful "Talk to you soon!" floating through. I knew I wasn't going to personally hear from her for another week. It was just the way Teagan worked.

I set my phone on the charger in my office, closing the blinds along the way. While I had been talking, I picked up some of the most urgent things to be done, the laundry being one of them. 

My laptop was still running when I pulled it out of my purse. I waited a moment, patiently, while it rebooted. The time was getting late, but without a PA, I was stuck doing a lot more work than usual.

It sounds pretentious, but I promise it isn't.

My email was getting spammed when I opened it up. 45 messages just from the time I left my office to home! It was crazy.

"Boring...not important...save for later...print..."I muttered, my fingers ghosting over the track pad. The light from the laptop created my reflection in the mirror across from me, a neon-white reflection that looked altogether too tired to be doing work.

But that was life, I guess. You're either awake, in which case you throw yourself into work with pep and excitement and get a lot done, or you're tired, and you work because it's a must.

Everything in my life was a must.