Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

Lyra woke up early the next morning to find Phoenix already up and sitting on the edge of the bed. "Hey, Crash, we need to call your accountant."

She pushed to sitting, trying to get herself fully awake. She'd almost forgotten they needed to make that call now.

After a quick trip to the bathroom and several splashes of cold water on her face, she joined her Daddy on the couch.

After selecting a number in her registry, Lyra put it on speaker and signaled Phoenix to stay quiet.

The phone rang twice, and a woman answered. "Lyra? How's Japan?"

"I didn't go. Hey, I've parted ways with Boyd. Could you remove him from the payroll?" Lyra asked.

"It's about time," Tracy said dryly. "What made you come to your senses?"

"What?" Lyra asked.

"He's been a weight around your neck for a long time. I haven't said anything because it's your life, but I'm glad you put a stop to his freeloading," Tracy said.

"I'm going to take some time off here in New Zealand, and then I hope I can find a new manager," Lyra said, revealing her uneasiness with being on her own. She looked up at Phoenix and was struck by his worried expression. Lyra smiled at him to reassure him as Tracy answered.

"As soon as it becomes public that you've parted ways with Boyd, there will be an avalanche of people contacting you. This was a good move, Lyra," Tracy assured her.

"Any other thoughts you have that you haven't shared?" Lyra asked.

"Not now. Want me to tell you when something sets off my radar like Boyd did?" Tracy asked, understanding what Lyra was thinking.

"Yes, please."

"I'll do it. In exchange, when you can tell me what's really going on, I'd appreciate it," Tracy said.

Lyra looked at Phoenix, and he nodded. "As soon as I can."

"And you'll introduce me to the man you're with now?"

Lyra couldn't prevent a laugh from escaping her mouth. "You are too smart. I will, Tracy."

"Good. I'll look forward to it. Take care, Lyra. Let me know when you're back in the States."

After disconnecting the phone, Lyra shook her head as she considered how insightful her accountant and friend was.

"I like her. I'll look forward to meeting Tracy," Phoenix shared.

"I like her, too. She's blunt but so good at her job." Lyra looked back at the blank screen before adding, "And too perceptive."

After opening her cello case an hour later, Lyra pulled the instrument from the form-fitting lining that protected it as she traveled. She noticed a bit of dust on the wood and immediately opened a small section of the case that held extra strings and other supplies. Lyra grabbed the polishing cloth and carefully stroked it over her prized cello, returning it to the shiny surface she loved.

With all the fingerprints removed, she checked the end pin of the instrument and discovered the screw holding the spike in place had loosened over time. Rolling her eyes, Lyra wondered how many times she'd tightened that thing since she'd started playing the cello. A million?

A bit of velvet from the lining clung to the support. Lyra plucked it free and knew she'd need to check the case for wear. She placed the velvet on the edge of her music stand to help her remember. A small tear in the lining was nothing but a distraction. If it showed the case was deteriorating, then she had a bigger problem. Putting that on her to-do list for later, Lyra picked a difficult piece she was trying to master and began practicing.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Phoenix. Drink.

Rolling her eyes, Lyra picked up her glass and took a sip. To her surprise, she drained the liquid and wanted more. How did he know what she needed before she did? She stood to balance her cello on its side and headed for the kitchen to refill her glass. There, she found a granola bar with a sticky note. Eat me.

Lyra picked up the bar, and her stomach growled. Opening the package, she took a big bite. As she ate, Lyra refilled her glass with ice and water. She suspected the juice inside the fridge was meant for her, so she opened it and added a bit to give herself fruit-flavored water. After popping the last bite of the bar into her mouth, Lyra took advantage of the break to potty. With her hands washed, she grabbed her drink and headed back to her waiting cello.

Turning off the message notifications to maintain her focus, Lyra settled back on her chair to practice. The music swelled around her. Wrapped up in the beautiful notes, Lyra didn't look up when the door opened.

Large feet appeared in her line of vision. "Don't bother me," she said firmly as she continued to play.

"You have two minutes to finish up that song, and then it's time for lunch."

"Not hungry," she answered as she pulled the music from the strings.

"Ninety seconds."

Lyra bit her lip as she came to a tricky part. Her fingers and bow cooperated as she negotiated the flurry of notes. One foot began to tap. Distracted, she lost the rhythm of the piece and lifted her bow from the cello to send an artic glare at Phoenix.

"I finally mastered that part, and now I've screwed it up. Do you know how much work it will take to perfect it again?"

"Your practice schedule is important. Taking care of your health and enjoying life is equally essential," Phoenix said evenly, not responding to her anger.

"I've got to start at the very beginning now. Go on and have lunch without me. I'll grab something later or at dinner," she said, waving her bow dismissively in the air.

"That's a very expensive instrument that is important to you," he said ominously.

"What are you going to do? Rip it out of my hands?" she challenged as the frustration of her practice welled out of her.

"No. I would never hurt your cello. You, however, will stop playing at some point."

"Maybe I won't."

"Defying your Daddy is not a positive choice, Crash. You will have to stop sometime for food, water, or the bathroom."

Lyra squirmed slightly at that last suggestion. It had been forever since she'd used the bathroom. "I bet I can wait you out."

"Maybe. Phoenix picked up her partially finished drink and shook it. "You did drink your water. Good job, Lyra."

The sound alone, of the water splashing, was the last straw. She jumped to her feet and took a second to balance her cello as she clenched her thighs together. "No, no, no, no, no," she chanted for the few seconds it took to get the instrument settled.

Walking as fast as she could to the bathroom, she felt her control break just as she struggled to pull down her leggings. Lyra dropped to the toilet seat, holding her saturated panties and leggings away from her skin. "Crap!" What was she going to do? She couldn't go out there like this, and all her clean clothes were in that room.

"Need help, Lyra?" Phoenix asked, opening the door.

"Get out!" she yelled, horrified as she tried to cover herself.

"Take a deep breath, Lyra. I'm here to help you—not embarrass you." He set a pair of fresh leggings and panties on the vanity. "There are no secrets between a Little girl and her Daddy. I'm sorry I caused you to have an accident. That was not my purpose for shaking the cup."

She stared at his face, trying to read his expression. "What was your reason?"

"I had asked you to drink more water. I was checking to see if you had."

He knelt at her feet, efficiently whisked off her wet clothes, and threw them into the tub. Shifting slightly, Phoenix grabbed three washcloths from under the sink and ran the water with his hand underneath it. "Are you ready to get up?" he asked, wetting two terry-cloth squares and setting one aside on the vanity.

She nodded, trying not to cry. When she stood up, Phoenix washed her thighs and between her legs and buttocks. He then dried her with the other cloth before adding them to the pile in the bathtub.

"Let's get you dressed before you catch a cold. Panties first." He held them out for her to step into before helping her with the dry leggings. Phoenix lifted her out of the bathroom and grabbed the last damp cloth. He quickly washed the toilet seat and a few droplets from the floor.

With that added to the pile, he joined her in the hallway to give her a hug. "It's all better now."

"Thank you. I don't ever do that," she rushed to assure him.

"Accidents are called that for a reason. We don't do things on purpose. Then, they'd be called ‘purposefuls' or something like that. Let's go wash our hands and go down to lunch," he suggested.

"You aren't going to say anything else?" she asked, lingering back by her room.

"I'm not." Phoenix stepped into the bathroom to snag the clothes from the tub and held out a hand for her. "I'll start a load of wash with these while you clean your hands at the kitchen sink."

In just a few minutes, they were both ready to go. She hesitated at the door. "I yelled at you."

"And thought a bunch of mean thoughts," he confirmed.

"Don't I get spanked for those?"

"No. Not this time."

"Because I had an accident?"

"No, Little girl. Sometimes, there are reasons to get upset. I'll tell you what I could really use before lunch."

"What?"

"A hug."

She rushed to him and wrapped her arms around his torso, squeezing her Daddy tightly. Lyra loved how his arms held her tightly in response. Pressing her cheek against his chest, she whispered, "I don't know what's happening. It's like my whole world flipped upside down."

"There's always going to be one stable thing in your life from here on out. That's me. You can rely on your Daddy's support and care," he assured her.

"Boyd didn't take very good care of me," she reminded him.

"Boyd is very definitely not a good guy."

"He's no Daddy."

"So, chalk him up to an accident, clean up the problem, and get ready to move on with your life," Phoenix told her.

"Like we just did?" Lyra said, peeking up at him.

"Exactly."

"I'm sorry I thought bad things of you."

"Thank you, Little girl. Next time…" Phoenix warned and lifted one hand from around her body to swat at the air.

"My butt's in a world of hurt?" she asked.

"Let's just not go there," he suggested. "Ready for lunch?"

"Yes, Daddy."