Daniel had dropped Jessie of at school and then driven to work. Answering the phone just before he walked into the building.
"...no, everything's fine. Yes, really. Of course, I'm handling it alright."
*
Angel raised a sleepy hand as he walked in, biting back a yawn. There was gold glitter clinging to her hair.
*
Daniel raised his own hand even as he listened to whoever was speaking on the other end of the phone.
"I know, I know.. I.. Would you just... I get that but..." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I said I know! Look, can we talk later? I just got to work. OK, you too, bye." He hung up, glanced at his phone screen before putting it in his pocket.
"Morning," he said to Angel, leaning an arm against the desk.
*
"Hey, wife giving you trouble?" Angel grinned
*
Daniel felt like he'd been punched solidly in the chest at her words. "...no, not my... No, nothing like that."
*
"Oh..'kay, is Jess alright?" Angel asked
*
Daniel jerked a nod. "Yeah, she's OK, good." He flexed his right hand to try and control the tremors in it. "I... how are you?"
*
"Does it matter?" Angel ducked her head to answer the phone.
*
"Of course it does..." Daniel said quietly.
*
Angel was completely shattered, and was happy to keep her head down and work. She was so tired she wanted to curl up under the desk and sleep, or cry.
*
Daniel frowned but turned away to head to the studio to get ready for the first show. He knew Angel didn't know but her words had caught him off-guard and the rush of emotion hit him almost solidly.
*
Angel eventually gave up, abandoning her post for a proper lunch break, which didn't involve running round after anyone else or their children.
*
Daniel barely remembered Lucy's show, or even if he had spoken to her aside from to count her in and out. He had apparently made himself a cup of tea but when he finally remembered it was cold and he didn't have the energy or willpower to get up to make another one. He sighed and dropped his head into his hands, staying like that for a while.
*
"I don't know what's with you, but you need to pull your head out your ass," Lucy hissed at him.
*
Daniel started and lifted his head to look at her. "What?"
*
"You produce the show, you produced fuck all today," Lucy replied. "I don't adlib well."
*
"Sorry. I... I'm just tired. It won't happen again."
*
"Better not," Lucy shot back.
*
"It won't," Daniel muttered. "Don't worry, Monday will be back to normal."
*
"What's that?" Lucy snorted, striding away
*
Daniel frowned. "What?"
*
"Entitled bullshit, just because you've got awards, you and Sam, treating this place like a fucking creche," Lucy replied
*
Daniel blinked and then his jaw tightened. "That's not fair or true."
*
"Prove it, I could probably get your little friend binned for it," Lucy replied. "You're like everyone with kids, makes you special, more important than everyone else."
*
"My little... You mean Angel? What the bloody hell for?" Daniel stared at her, feeling anger bubble in his chest. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
*
"Don't I? I haven't pulled my mom out of the care home and plonked her behind the desk to save money,"
*
"That's not... This is nothing to do with you."
*
"Isn't it? I work here too,"
*
"My sitter bailed on me, I didn't really have a choice," Daniel ground out, he could feel a headache starting to throb behind his eyes, knowing it would spread to his temples soon.
*
"Just thinking, I should be using the staff too, bet she'd even do dry cleaning runs if you batted your eyelashes. Get her to," Lucy grinned nastily.
*
Daniel frowned deeply which then turned into a scowl. "Don't. Don't talk about her like that. She's a colleague, a friend.. not a door mat."
*
"Really? What's her last name?"
*
"Starr," Daniel replied. "I did check the staff list when I was hired. I like to know who I'm working with." He scrubbed a hand across his face. "Don't you have another show to get ready for?"