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The remaining days, until we left for New York, were the same as usual. I would wake up early, work out, go back to sleep, Demi would wake me up for practice, we'd leave after I had breakfast. Then depending on my to-do list for the day, we'd do all those things. Then evening practice and that was usually it, dinners aside.

Today, we leave for New York. I told Demi last night I wanted to leave early in the morning so I could spend the majority of the day in our hotel, resting. It's my one day off, I don't want it to go to waste because being on Royal Riders, being my parent's son, and being a celebrity was exhausting enough.

Hunter Industries is my father's company and the sole reason he now hates my existence. Because when I had the choice in college to choose between hockey and business, I chose hockey. Dad and I made a deal when I got into college on a sports scholarship.

That ultimately, no matter what, I would join and take over the business. But when I saw an opportunity to be drafted for the sport, I broke the deal and chose hockey behind his back. Besides, Dad may not have resented me before that, but he didn't like me either. He wasn't a good parent, he wasn't even there as a shadow while I grew up. Even when he got custody because my mom willingly gave it up.

I like my mom. I tolerate my dad. But I don't love any one of them.

I sat on the bed, listening to Demi brief me on everything I had waiting for me once we got back while she packed my bag. I laid everything out earlier and now she's packing it for me. "You have an interview with two magazines once we're back. Blade Runner Magazines and Playpen. You have a photoshoot with Catalyst and Aura. You have a radio interview as well. And—" She huffed, zipping up the bag and setting it on the ground. "Hunter Industries' silver jubilee party."

I let out a small groan, watching her. "Have you confirmed all these things?"

"Yes. I asked you for each one of them a few days ago. You confirmed. Do you want to cancel anything?"

I thought for a minute. It can't be that bad. I do this all the time. As long as Demi's there to handle me and get me out of there when I need her to. "No. Are you done packing?"

She stared at me, her look very clearly telling me, "It's your bag I'm packing," but she kept her mouth shut and nodded.

"So, what are we waiting for? Let's go."

She heaved a breath and made sure she had my house keys.

I walked ahead of her and she turned off the lights, walking out of my room. I began jogging downstairs but stopped when she called my name.

"Vince." She sighed, "I can't carry your bag down the stairs."

I lifted a brow at her. "Try."

She stared at me incredulously.

I'm being a dick. I know I'm being a dick. I don't normally make her do this, I know the bags are too heavy for her. But something about the way she acted at lunch with my mother has ticked me off.

"Try?" she scoffed. She grabbed the bag and stared at it, contemplating. She might just push it down the stairs. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before picking it up and quickly shuffling down the stairs, stopping every few steps. I waited till she reached me before taking it out of her hands and walking to the elevator. She followed behind me, catching her breath, and pressed the button to the lobby.

From there, I wheeled the bag while she walked to my car, opening the trunk for me. I put my bag next to hers, closed the trunk, and climbed into the passenger seat.

She started driving, glancing at the time on the dashboard. It's barely six in the morning, the sun isn't even out yet. She turned the headlights on and began driving while I folded my arms across my abdomen, leaning my head back and closing my eyes. "Let me know if you're hungry," she said softly, "I packed some snacks or we can stop somewhere too."

"Hmm." The drive was silent. I was trying to go to sleep but wasn't actually sleeping, which is why I heard and felt it when she clicked the car screen and reclined my chair slowly with a soft beep.

The chair stopped once it was reclined all the way and she let out a sigh. "One day," she mumbled to herself, "one day, I'll be able to quit this job."

My lip twitched in amusement but I kept it at bay.

She'll never be able to quit this job.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

I truly dozed off at some point and woke up when I felt the sun shining down on us as we went by an underpass. I opened my eyes and sat up, realizing she had opened the sunroof.

She glanced at me. "Morning," she said over the wind. I checked the time. It's only eight. "Hungry?" she asked.

I shook my head.

"Bathroom?"

"No," I mumbled.

"Thirsty?"

"No, Tiffany. It sounds like you are though."

She ignored me and slowed down at a red light, reaching into the backseat and bringing out her water bottle, taking a sip before checking her phone. There was a text but I couldn't see who it was from. "We're going to take a pitstop at the next gas station."

"No. I told you, no pit stops this time," I cleared my throat. "I want to get there fast." I felt her eyes on me for a long moment.

"Do you see this traffic? Does it look like we'll make it before noon like you wanted? I'll tell you, it doesn't. I need to use the bathroom, we're stopping, Vince."

"No, we're not, Tiffany."

"Yes, we are," she said slowly. "I can't drive when I need to use the bathroom."

"Suck it up."

"No."

"Yes."

"Vince."

"Tiffany." I turned to her.

She nodded slowly and then shrugged. "No. Look, I'm sorry, I know I'm your assistant and your wish is my command and everything, but I need to pee, so I will pull over, use the bathroom and be back in two minutes." The light turned green and she started driving.

"Tiffany, we are not stopping this car," I said sternly.

"Yes," she sang, spotting a gas station and pulling up to it. "We are." She flashed me a smile before parking the car, taking her belt off, and climbing out.

"That's five hundred dollars off your paycheck this month," I scoffed.

"You pay me enough, don't worry," she nodded, stretching her arms above her head. Her shirt rode up at her waist and I looked away, climbing out of the car to stretch my legs for a break. She looked at me and took another look around. "Stay in the car. People might recognize you."

"No," I said slowly, daring her.

She sighed and walked over, going on her toes and grabbing my hood, pulling it over my head. "Then stay like this." She held up two fingers, wiggling them. "Two minutes." She turned around, jogging over to the gas station and disappearing inside.

I told her no pit stops, of course, she didn't listen. I waited for her to come out and fell into thought while I did that. Why am I so pissed at her? Just looking at her little face is irritating me. Her existence never got on my nerves until now. What is happening? Until that day, she was just Demi Tiffany... Vaughn, right? Yeah, Demi Tiffany Vaughn, my assistant.

I don't know what happened that ticked me off. If it was something she said or something my mom said. But Demi Tiffany Vaughn seems to be running circles in my mind. It's frustrating me.

She came out a few minutes later, jogging back over as a breeze blew by, her hair flying behind her. She moved to get back in the driver's seat but I shut the door as she opened it. She looked up at me in confusion. "Do you want to drive?"

I gave her a single nod.

She moved and sat in the passenger seat while I climbed in, moved the seat several modes back to make more room, and then continued the drive. The passenger seat was still reclined and I moved it back up into a sitting position. I heard her huff but she didn't say a word as we continued driving. I heard her roll her window down before she rested her elbow on it and stared out while I drove past some cars. She did nothing but stare out the window the whole time.

I glanced at her every so often, but I realized what it was when we were stopped at a red light and I heard her chuckle softly.

I'd never seen her in this light until my own mother insinuated it. But Demi was actually... pretty.

I followed her gaze and saw that she was watching the car next to ours which had a woman sitting in the backseat, holding a baby. The baby was... fat. But cute.

Demi chuckled again, waving at the baby as it stared at her, grinning, showing the only two teeth it had.

"Is that a boy or a girl?" I mumbled.

"It's a girl," Demi answered.

"How do you know that?" I wondered.

She turned to look at me, frowning in confusion. "Can't you tell when you look at the baby?"

"No," I scoffed.

She didn't reply and went back to make faces that made the baby laugh.

The woman finally noticed and they rolled their window down. "Hi," the lady laughed, "I'm Linda."

"Demi," she smiled back. "What's her name?"

"Lola."

"Hi, Lola," Demi grinned, reaching her hand out and little Lola grabbed a finger, giggling.

Ew.

I mean, don't get me wrong, babies are cute but they're just... so much work. I never see myself having kids. Ever.

Suddenly, Linda gasped. "Is that Vince Hunter?"

Demi laughed awkwardly, retracting her arm. "Who?"

I watched her, grinding my teeth.

Who?

"Vince Hunter. Royal Riders, the hockey team."

"Oh, no," Demi shook her head. "People do say they look alike. Oh, look at that, the light's green, let's go." She turned to me.

I stepped on the gas and we drove past their car.

She rolled her window up, letting out a small sigh. I stared at her and she faced me. "What?"

I gave the car an abrupt break, causing her to lurch forward but she steadied herself by grabbing the dashboard and then she sighed and went back to staring out the window.

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