radicalducati Chapter 262
Chapter 262
The soft chime of Avery’s alarm clock pulled her from a deep sleep. She groaned lightly, stretching under the covers as a tiny weight shifted on the bed beside her. Sunny, her golden retriever puppy, was awake and wagging her tail enthusiastically, ready to start the day.
“Morning, Sunny,” Avery said with a sleepy smile, scratching behind the puppy’s ears.
Sunny barked softly, licking Avery’s hand as if to say, Let’s get going already!
“Alright, alright,” Avery laughed, throwing the covers off. “Let’s go outside before I have to get ready for work.”
She slipped on a pair of sneakers and clipped the leash onto Sunny’s collar. As they stepped outside into the crisp morning air, Avery couldn’t help but feel a sense of calm. The puppy was already bringing so much joy into her life, even amidst her busy schedule and the whirlwind of pregnancy.
After her morning walk, Avery rushed through her routine to get ready for work. She pulled on a tailored gray blazer over a soft cream blouse and paired it with black trousers, opting for flats instead of her usual heels.
“Alright, Sunny,” she said, kneeling down to the puppy’s level. “I’ve got a big day, but I’ll be back before you know it.”
Sunny looked up at her with wide, trusting eyes, wagging her tail.
“Don’t give the sitter too much trouble, okay?” Avery said, placing a kiss on the puppy’s head before heading out the door.
By the time Avery arrived at Kane Enterprises, the office was already buzzing with activity. Clara, her assistant, greeted her with a coffee and a stack of documents.
“Morning, Ms. Deveraux,” Clara said. “Your first meeting is in fifteen minutes. It’s about the expansion proposal.”
“Thank you, Clara,” Avery replied, taking the coffee gratefully. “Let’s make it a productive day.”
The meeting room was filled with department heads and executives when Avery walked in, her commanding presence immediately quieting the room.
“Good morning, everyone,” she began, setting her coffee on the table. “Let’s dive in. Where are we with the zoning permits for the Chicago expansion?”
Mark, the head of operations, cleared his throat. “We’ve hit a slight delay with the city’s approval process, but our legal team is working on expediting it.”
Avery nodded, her tone firm but understanding. “Let’s prioritize this. The longer we wait, the more it affects our timeline. Keep me updated daily.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Mark replied, making notes.
After a series of back-to-back meetings, Avery finally had a break in her schedule. She pulled out her phone to check the puppy cam she had installed at home.
Sunny was in the living room, rolling around with her favorite chew toy. The sitter, an older woman with a kind smile, was sitting nearby, occasionally tossing the toy for Sunny to fetch.
“Looks like she’s having a great time,” Avery said to herself, smiling.
She decided to call the sitter for a quick check-in.
“Hi, Mrs. Taylor,” Avery said when the call connected. “How’s Sunny doing?”
“She’s a little ball of energy, as always,” Mrs. Taylor said with a laugh. “We’ve been working on ‘sit’ and ‘stay,’ and she’s catching on quickly.”
“That’s great to hear,” Avery said. “Thank you for taking such good care of her.”
“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Taylor replied. “She’s a sweetheart.”
After finishing her workday, Avery headed home for a quick lunch break and some quality time with Sunny. The moment she walked through the door, the puppy bounded toward her, tail wagging furiously.
“Hey, Sunny girl!” Avery cooed, kneeling to scoop the puppy into her arms. “Did you miss me?”
Sunny barked happily, licking Avery’s face.
Avery set her bag down and grabbed a bag of treats from the counter. “Alright, let’s see what you’ve learned today.”
She guided Sunny to the center of the room, holding a treat above her head. “Sit,” Avery commanded.
Sunny tilted her head for a moment before plopping her tiny bottom onto the floor.
“Good girl!” Avery exclaimed, giving her the treat and plenty of praise.
Next, Avery moved on to “stay.” Holding another treat in her hand, she said, “Stay,” and took a few steps back. Sunny started to follow, but Avery gently held up her hand. “Uh-uh, stay.”
After a few tries, Sunny stayed in place long enough to earn the treat.
“You’re a quick learner,” Avery said proudly, scratching behind Sunny’s ears.
Refreshed from her break, Avery returned to the office for her afternoon meetings. She couldn’t help but show a few pictures of Sunny to Clara during a lull in the schedule.
“She’s adorable,” Clara said, smiling at the photos. “It must be nice to have her around.”
“It really is,” Avery replied. “She’s a handful, but she’s worth it.”
After a long day, Avery returned home to find Sunny waiting at the door, her tail wagging as if she hadn’t seen Avery in years.
“Miss me, huh?” Avery said, scooping her up.
She spent the evening cuddled on the couch with Sunny, scrolling through emails while the puppy napped on her lap. Occasionally, Sunny would wake up, stretch, and paw at Avery for attention.
“You’re going to be spoiled, you know that?” Avery said, laughing as she handed Sunny another toy.