Her Silent Revenge novel Chapter 15

The Cardinal aims to make people feel special, just like the smaller properties owned by Higher Ends.

With that in mind, I check the small part of our funds that hasn't been allocated to upkeep. There's just enough in the flex budget to add a few little odds and ends.

Complimentary beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages. Fresh flowers in every room sourced from local florists.

In my experience, nothing makes people feel valued like flowers. Or maybe that's just because I never get them unless Mrs. Gabbard chips in a few bucks to put Arlo up to it for Mother's Day.

"Mommy?" Arlo asks. "When's lunch? I'm hungry."

"Soon. We'll find someplace nice," I say, scanning my order list for other ideas like fine soaps or extra toiletries.

"I want more hot chocolate." "Another one?" I frown at the screen.

My son loves chocolate more than life itself, like almost every kid. "I didn't get to finish before it spilled!"

"You have a point. We'll get you some later," I promise. That gives me an idea. A seasonal cocoa bar.

A warm drink and marshmallows for the fire in the lobby could add to the cozy atmosphere here, especially in winter. From what I've gathered, keeping up good traffic during the colder months is high on our priority list. If the cocoa stand is well received, I'm sure we could come up with something similar and refreshing for summer. Fresh juice, smoothies, or iced teas.

Satisfied, I lean back in my chair and hash it all out in my head, looking out the window.

How they managed to get such prime land for this place when they're a smaller start-up, looking out over the Missouri River like that, I don't know. Patton Rory might be a perfectionist asshole, but he's clearly doing something right. This venture is worth a few nightmares for his mentorship, I suppose.

If he continues to mentor me, that is.

There's no ignoring the fact that I'm one more disaster away from a pink slip, I'm sure.

"Come on, kiddo. Let's go exploring," I say to Arlo a little later, who looks like he's on the cusp of death by boredom again.

The Cardinal is good for a walk since it's absolutely huge.

Besides the rooftop pool with its fancy igloos, there's a basement gym and a bar. Everything is exquisitely presented, though some of the décor looks a little bland and too neutral. Almost like it's trying to appeal to everyone and doesn't stick with any style.

I make a mental note to study up on modern interior aesthetics when I get home. Art and design aren't my forte, but if a place ever looked like it could use more accents, it's The Cardinal.

"I suppose I have to be. I'm your mom and you're stuck with me."

He giggles. "I had more fun this morning than I ever had with Mrs.

Gabbard!"

Mrs. Gabbard, the sitter, lives in the apartment below us, and she's always been amazingly reliable—aside from today, when her daughter went into emergency surgery for a premature baby.

"I'm glad, Arlo, but it was just for today. Tomorrow, you're back to kindergarten."

"Aw, no. But Mom—"

"No, don't you ‘Mom' me. I have to work if you ever want to see a new toy. Never mind keeping us fed with a roof over our heads. We don't make the rules of the game called life, honey, and sometimes you just need to play it." I pull up on the street outside the apartment and start to help him out of his car seat.

"This game isn't fun." Well, no argument there.

I try not to laugh as he springs out the second he's free from his car seat and hurries ahead of me to the front door. "I don't wanna be stuck with Mrs. Gabbard, Mommy. I wanna go to work with you."