The Backpack Bride (Give a Bookish Girl a Biker #1)

Chapter Five

Roxy

A sense of desperation like I’ve never known clings to me as I walk into work. I told Axel I’d received a promotion without even knowing if Edmund will accept Christian Price’s recommendation. Guess all I can do is bank on hope. Hope that it’ll all work out. That even without piles of money at my disposal like Axel’s uncle, I’ll be able to work and save and take care of us both.

And rock at being Edmund’s secretary.

Head held high, I stop directly in front of Edmund Talbert’s office door and knock. “Come in,” he calls a second later. I take a deep breath as I turn the knob and enter.

“Uh, hi, Mr. Talbert. I’m, um...” A sudden bout of nerves strangles the words in my throat. Clearing it, I try again. “Mr. Price...er, Mr. Christian Price offered me a permanent position as your secretary.”

Edmund’s eyebrows fly to his receding hairline. “Oh? When was this?”

“Yesterday.” I swallow. “Right after he fired Shane.”

Edmund already seems to know about that little detail by the way he grimaces. “I want to formally say that I do not condone Shane’s actions toward the female employee he harassed.”

Part of me wonders if he knows I was the one Shane harassed.

“As I told Mr. Price,” Edmund continues, “I had no knowledge of Shane’s deplorable actions.”

I nod because I think that’s what he expects. “Of course not. You would have reported it, had you known.” I say it with all the false assurance I’m guessing he’s looking for.

“Of course.” He clears his throat. “Anyway, I appreciate Mr. Price sending you over.” He motions for me to sit and gets right into the work I’ll be doing for him. Clearly used to having a competent secretary, he has no problem issuing me tasks to complete by the end of the day. “You’ll work at the empty corner desk out on the main floor. If Shane left anything there, you can just...toss it in a box.” He runs a hand down the back of his neck like the thought of Shane having ever worked for or with him unsettles him. “Whatever office supplies you need should be in the storage room.”

“Got it,” I say with a smile. “Will there be anything else, Mr. Talbert?”

“Not right now. Just work on those reports for me and get that mock-up from graphic design by lunch if they have it.”

I write the last little note on my phone, then practically float my way to my new desk. My permanent desk that’s no one else's, just mine.

To Shane’s credit, he didn’t leave anything behind, which means I won’t have to pretend to throw his things in some imaginary box. But the bland, gray desktop looks naked, with no personality. I make a mental note of some things I’ll need from the supply room before heading that way.

My phone vibrates in my back pocket. I wouldn’t normally slip it out to see who it is at work, but it could be Hardlove with updates on the situation with Marcus. I hurry to the supply room for cover; thankfully, no one’s there. When I answer the call, a woman’s voice sounds through the phone.

“Miss Dia?”

“Yes?”

“This is Mrs. Bardwell from Axel’s school. I’m calling to inform you that Axel has skipped detention the last two days.”

I stifle a groan. “I apologize, Mrs. Bardwell. I wasn’t aware.”

“There was an electronic notice posted on your parent dashboard in the app.” I bite my bottom lip, cursing that stupid app.

“Well, you see, I actually lost my log-in info for the app and—”

“It’s the parents’ responsibility to check the dashboard regularly, Miss Dia. It’s also your responsibility to make sure your student meets the disciplinary requirements set forth by the school. If he doesn’t serve his assigned time in detention, you’re looking at expulsion. And something tells me that’s the last thing you want to have happen.”

A knot forms in my throat, and I struggle to speak past it. “Yes, of course. I-I'll log into the app as soon as I get off work today and make sure he stays for detention.”

“We appreciate your cooperation, Miss Dia. Have a nice day.”

I resist the urge to scoff. “Yeah, you too.” I press the end button and jam my phone back into my pocket. Bracing my forearms against the shelves in front of me, I drop my head and let the tears fall. How am I supposed to help Axel when he won’t help himself?

My heart’s being torn in two over wanting the best for Axel and trying to be the best for him. Why can’t those two things co-exist? Why can’t everyone see that we're both going through a hard time and need a little extra grace? That I’m trying so hard to keep us together so he doesn’t spiral further?

I know that’s what will happen because it’s what happened to me .

Memories of when Dad let his alcoholism take over assail me, and I cry even harder. After that, I stopped listening to everyone who tried to help me, even Eddy. My cyclone of bad choices wreaked a devastating path through my life that I'm not sure I can recover from.

I won’t let that happen to Axel.

The door opening startles me. I spin toward the wall and wipe my face, hoping whoever it is didn’t hear me ugly crying through the door.

“Miss Dia?”

My shoulders tense at the sound of that voice. At the deep, sexy rumble that belongs to the CEO’s hot son. I wish I could ignore him, but I can’t pretend the guy responsible for my promotion doesn’t exist. “Hm?” I hum, sniffing back the rest of my tears before I turn around.

“Are you...okay?”

Reluctantly, I meet Christian Price’s eyes, knowing I must look like a red-faced mess. “I’m fine,” I lie.

His Adam’s apple dips on a swallow as his dark brows bunch together. “What’s the matter?” All at once, his expression turns stormy. “Did something else happen with Shane that you didn’t mention—”

“No, it’s not Shane.” I bite my lip, mentally chiding myself for interrupting him. But I can’t have him thinking it had anything to do with anyone at the office. “It’s nothing work related.”

His shoulders seem to relax as he sticks both hands in his pants pockets and takes a casual step toward me. “And yet, you’re crying at work.”

I close my eyes, hating that I let my emotions get the best of me in front of him. How many more times can I humiliate myself this week? When I open my eyes again, he’s openly assessing me. Patiently waiting for more explanation.

And God help me, but he feels safe to confide in.

Maybe it’s because he rescued me from Shane yesterday or maybe it’s the brightness of his eyes paired with the open earnestness in his expression that beg me to tell him why I’m so bothered...I don’t know, but I find myself wanting to blurt out the truth.

“It’s just...” I start, then huff out a breath. “My brother died.”

He shifts his stance as his breath catches. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

I nod a little shakily. “Yeah. It’s been really hard. And now I’m trying to adopt my nephew, Axel, but...” A hysterical sort of laugh erupts from my chest. “But I’m not sure I’m the best person to care for him.” More tears leak from my eyes against my will. “Because he keeps getting in trouble and I...I’ve been trying so hard to do the right thing for him, but—”

Christian’s eyes are wide and searching, and too late, I realize I’ve said too much. He’s likely regretting giving me that promotion now.

Shaking my head, I touch my fingers to my lips. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I told you all that.” I try to start past him, but he stops me.

“Please,” he says gently. “Please finish your story.”

I swallow the lump of nerves that have lodged themselves in my throat. “Is that a command from my boss?”

He shakes his head and doesn’t break eye contact. “No. I’d say it’s more of a plea from...” He falters for a second, blinking. “From a friend.”

My eyes search his. “I hardly know you.”

“True.” An endearing sort of smirk toys at the corner of his mouth. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t get to know one another. As friends.” When I don’t immediately respond, he adds, “Isn’t that how all good friendships start? With awkward interactions like this?”

Despite the pain still lingering in my heart, I smile. “Yeah. I guess so.”

Christian backs up to lean against the shelves across from me, crossing his arms and ankles like he’s settling in for a while. “All right. Then if you’d like to talk about what’s going on with...Axel, was it?” At my nod, he continues. “If you’d like to tell me what’s going on, I’d be happy to listen.” He shrugs. “I’m not the best at giving advice, but I can try. At least one person in my life says I’ve got the older, wiser brother thing down.”

His easygoing smile sets off butterfly-sized zings of attraction in my stomach, but I ignore them. Especially when he refers to himself as an older brother. If that’s how this relationship is going to go, I’ve got no business drowning in his good looks.

“I really don’t want to hold you up, Mr. Price.”

“It’s Christian. And I’ve got nowhere else to be.” Still looking like there’s nothing he’d rather do than listen to me ramble on about my depressing life, he waits for me to say more.

With a sigh, I decide to give him the bullet points. “All right. Like I said before, my brother died a few months ago. It’s been really hard on my nephew.”

“Understandably,” he interjects.

“And right now, I’ve got temporary custody of him. I’m trying to make it permanent, but because of his record...” I pause, gathering my words. There’s no way I’m letting the company’s future CEO know about my record. “And some other factors,” I say carefully, “the court is looking more favorably at his uncle.”

“What are the other factors?”

Of course he’d have to ask that. I respond as safely as possible. “Well, for starters, I’m as single as they come.” I laugh. “The judge at the last hearing thinks Axel’s in need of a strong male role model to guide him. I don’t disagree, but—” I shrug. “I obviously can’t give him that. Then there’s the reality that this is the first good-paying job I’ve had in years.” At my admittance, Christian’s brow furrows.

“Anyway,” I press on, needing to get this over with before I talk myself out of a job. “His uncle...He’s got money, he’s married, and...well, the lawyer is afraid the judge will think he’s a more stable choice for a guardian.”

Christian’s expression grows pensive as he gives me a slow nod. “I take it this uncle of his is on Axel’s mom’s side?”

"Yeah," I say, running a hand through my hair. “He’s her half-brother. They weren’t even close. He lives in California, and as far as I know, has never made it out here to visit.” The entire time I knew Denise, she never mentioned Marcus. I wish he’d forget all about us, like she so easily did him.

“So that’s it,” I say with a shuddery breath. “That’s the whole sad truth of it. I was just crying because he got in trouble with the school again and...it all feels hopeless. I don’t know what more I can do to convince him that he needs to stay out of trouble. Clearly, I can’t do anything else to convince the courts.”

“So...” Christian says, dragging out the o. “Would having a stable male role model help your case, you think? Like if you were married? Same as his uncle?”

It’s impossible to hold back my scoffing laugh. “The lawyer’s exact words were I don’t suppose you’ve got a secret husband hiding around somewhere, do you ? As if I could produce a man out of thin air.”

Christian bursts into laughter. I watch, startled, as belly laughs roll out of him like I told the funniest joke he’s ever heard. Wait. Are his eyes watering ? I back away and wrap my arms around myself, unsettled by his reaction.

Is he mocking me? Making fun of my life?

“I don’t get it,” I say. “What’s so funny?”

He straightens and wipes his thumbs under his eyes as he straightens his glasses. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t laughing at you. Just...” He shakes his head. “I honestly can’t believe we’re having this conversation right now.”

He most definitely is laughing at me.

I want to run and hide, as is usual when life gets uncomfortable or I get hurt, but for whatever reason, my feet are glued to the floor of the supply room.

Christian’s amusement dies down as he meets my eyes, though a hint of laughter still lifts his lips. “It seems you and I are in need of the same thing.”

I cock an eyebrow. “You mean you need a rich husband too?”

His smile grows a little, hiking up higher on one side. “Not a husband. I need a...” He releases a long breath. “A wife.”