After much weeping and wailing, by me, and the promise of buying me dinner for a week, by Scarlett, we were walking through the lobby of the King Tower, the headquarters of the Crimson Defender. 

 “OMG,” Scarlett squealed. “I can’t believe we are here.”

 “Keep it together, Lettie,” I hiss. “We’re in public...”

 A tall woman in an impeccable pantsuit approached us. Her peach-colored hair was pulled back into a sleek, low ponytail. I will be honest with you reader, I was jealous, and am jealous. Whenever I try to do a low ponytail, I end up looking like a stable boy from the 1700s.

 “Hi, you must be Clary,” said the woman with perfect hair. “I’m Deanna Logan. I’m Mr. Masters’ personal assistant.”

 “Yes, I am.” I gripped Scarlett’s arm. “This is my friend, Scarlett. I hope that it’s okay that she came.”

 “Yes of course.” The woman held up her tablet and snapped a quick picture. “If you don’t ring any bells with Oz here, we can send you right up.”

 “Do you have superpowers?” asked Scarlett.

 Deanna smiled tiredly. “Does being super patient count?” She picked up two laminated badges from the security desk. “Okay, we’re all set. Oz cleared you both. The elevators are this way.”

 She led us to a bank of elevators that looked like a bunch of glass straws that ran the length of the tall building. “Right this way, ladies.”

 “Why are you squeezing my hand so hard?” hissed Scarlett.

 “You know I’m afraid of heights.”

 “Be brave little duckling.”

 Deanna hid a smirk. “And here we are.”

___

 “You’ll never take me alive!” shouted The Crimson Defender, running around his penthouse apartment barefoot with a cheap superhero cape around his neck. “Oh hi, Deanna.”

 A five-year-old girl chased after him. “Princess Zoe will stop you!” she shouted, chasing after him. The little girl looked up at Deanna. “Hi, Dee Anna.”

 “Hi Zoe,” she said. “Are you and your dad having fun?”

 “Uh-huh.” She glared at her father with her most menacing glare. “Get back here!”

 “Never!”

 We watched for a few minutes as the world-famous superhero and his daughter chased each other around the spacious living room. It was undeniably the cutest thing I had seen that day.

 Deanna looked down at her wristwatch. “Robert, your meeting starts in forty-five minutes.”

 “Cancel it!” The father and daughter said in unison. “We’re playing!”

 “I can’t cancel it,” she reminded them. “It’s regarding the deal with Frost Fabrications.”

 The Crimson Defender’s shoulders sank. “Right. Boo.”

 “And after the meeting, you and Hex are going to battle the Harlequins,” Deanna reminded him. I was impressed she could recall his schedule without notes. I need at least ten sticky notes and five calendar reminders to take out the trash.

 He turned to his daughter. “Alright, Princess Zoe. Daddy’s gotta go to work, but I’ll be back soon okay? Penny’s friend, Clary, and...” He looked over at Scarlett; his brow furrowed “And What’s-Her-Face will take good care of you.”

 Zoe frowned. “Okay...”

 He kissed the top of her head. “I love you.” The Crimson Defender turned to Deanna. “Dee, call the car around. I’m gonna get suited up.”

 “Of course, Robert.”

 Dear Reader. Do you remember when I mentioned earlier that I wasn’t smart? Well... I’m not. I watched dumbfounded as father and daughter took off down the hallway. The Great Crimson Defender needed his daughter’s fashion advice on which suits he should wear for his “meetings”.

 “So...” My voice echoed throughout the cavernous room. I looked over at Scarlett, who by the look on her face, had the same thought as me. “I didn’t know that the Defender had a kid.”

 Deanna smiled sadly. “To most of the world, he doesn’t. Zoe’s safety and happiness are his top priorities.”

 I shoved my hands into my pockets, wishing that I had thought ahead to get some insider information on my young charge. Instead, I said this. “Does she... does she like pink?”

 Deanna handed me a tablet. “Zoe’s basic bio is preloaded as well as her basic schedule. I hope that helps.”

 “It does.” The glorious woman had handed me a lifeline. “Thank you so much.”

 “Any other questions before I leave.”

 Scarlett’s hand shot up. “I have one.”

 “Of course. What is it?”

 “Where is the bathroom, and do you have cable?”

 “The apartment is loaded with every entertainment service available,” Deanna replied. “And the restroom is the second door on the left.”

 “Dope...” Scarlett scuttled down the hall toward the bathroom, probably to rifle through the medicine cabinet if I had to guess.

 “Are you alright?” asked Deanna, shaking me out of my stupor. “You look a little pale.”

 I smile. “I’m fine. Really. This babysitting thing is still kinda new to me, and I’ve never been inside a billionaire’s home before.”

 “Robert does like the finer things but it’s a home, just like anybody else’s.”

 I smiled politely, not wanting to admit that my last “home” before moving into my grandmother’s house was a tiny one-bedroom apartment that I shared with Stupid Carl.

 “Alright, we’re ready!” declared the Crimson Defender as he and Zoe came back into the room. He had swapped out of his tee shirt and basketball shorts into a stunning, three-piece suit. Zoe, on the other hand, had changed into a fluffy, yellow dress that complimented her father’s pocket square.

 “We’re ready!” Zoe echoed.

 Deanna typed a command on her tablet. “The car is waiting downstairs.”

 “Righty-o.” He knelt down in front of Zoe. “Alright, Princess. I should only be gone a couple of hours. Be nice to this babysitter. Okay, Zoe? Don’t scare off these babysitters like you’ve done with your last ones.”

 Zoe smiled sweetly. “I promise, Daddy.”