Chapter 8 #2
Our meals arrived. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until the plate was before me. It had been a busy morning packed with meetings and obligations, and I’d barely stopped to breathe.
After I’d inhaled a good portion of my meal, I glanced up to find Sloan watching me curiously.
“Sorry.” I used my napkin to wipe my mouth. “I guess I was hungry.” I laughed.
“It’s okay, but we’re not in any rush. I know we work in a fast-paced environment, but we all need to slow down sometimes.” When I gave her a pointed look, she added, “I know. I know. I need to be better about taking my own advice.”
I knew she was right, but I also knew—like Sloan—that it was easier said than done.
I was a single mom. It was all on me. I often ate my food on the run, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually sat down for a meal at a nice restaurant with only adults for company for something that wasn’t related to work.
“Actually, that’s a big reason why I asked you to join me for lunch today. I know I’ve been putting off making decisions about my maternity leave, but I think I’ve been in denial.”
I could understand that. I’d had similar feelings after my dad’s diagnosis. Denial. Anger. Disbelief. Heartbreak. I was still grappling with it.
“With my due date approaching, we need to put some things in place,” she said.
Finally.
I let out a small exhale of relief. Living in limbo while waiting for Sloan to tell me how she wanted to handle her maternity leave had been weighing on me. At least now, hopefully, we’d be able to make a plan and move forward for the four months that she’d be gone.
I folded my napkin in my lap. I’d anticipated this, and I’d wondered how she’d want to approach it. “Let me know how I can help.”
“Thank you. I appreciate you more than you know.”
I tucked my hair behind my ear, wishing the curls would stay put. “I know you do.” But it was always nice to hear it.
“I know you just moved here and you have a lot on your plate, but the annual Huxley Family Foundation gala is coming up. Since I’m not allowed to travel, I was hoping you’d go in my place. You’d travel on the private jet with my family, and you’d get a clothing allowance.”
“How long would I be gone?” I asked, thinking about Kai and how he often struggled when I traveled for work.
Fortunately, it wasn’t often that I had to go on overnight trips. But to say the last one hadn’t gone well would be an understatement.
“Leave Friday. Back Sunday.”
Two nights. Okay.
A quick review of my calendar confirmed that Craig was supposed to visit around that time. Maybe he could stay with Kai while I went to New York. If not, well, I’d cross that bridge when I got there.
“That shouldn’t be an issue,” I said, trying to infuse my voice with a confidence I didn’t feel.
“Great.” Sloan flashed me a relieved smile. “Thank you so much, Halle. It really puts my mind at ease, knowing you’ll be there.”
“Of course,” I said, grateful I could help. “Apart from serving as your representative, is there anything else I can do?”
“The foundation is doing this whole bachelorx auction. So maybe check in with Kendall to see if she needs anything.”
I arched my brow. “Bachelorx auction?”
She laughed. “They wanted to try something new. Jasper’s participating.”
Of course he is.
I shouldn’t have been surprised, and yet her words felt like a punch to the gut. I had no right to feel jealous. No claim over Jasper, and yet… I felt like a fool.
I’d lost count of the times he’d looked at me, flirted with me, over the past two weeks. And the entire time, he’d been planning to auction himself off to other women. It was yet one more reminder of why I needed to maintain my distance.
“Good. That’s one thing taken care of.” Somehow, though, she didn’t look all that relieved. “And now for an even bigger ask.”
I was used to juggling a lot, and she was my friend. She’d given me an opportunity when most people had slammed the door in my face. Lack of relevant experience. Too big a gap in my résumé. “Tell me what you need while you’re out, and I’ll handle everything.”
“I know you will.” She rolled her lips between her teeth in a rare moment of hesitation. “Which is why I want to name you as acting SVP in my absence.”
“You…” I blinked a few times. “What?”
“While I’m out, I want to put you in charge,” Sloan said.
“Me?” I swallowed hard. She was putting me in charge? “But I’m not…”
She shook her head. “Don’t say you’re not qualified. You are more than qualified. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I trust you to do what’s best for the company. And the board is in agreement.”
“Wow.” I blinked a few times, stunned. “I don’t know what to say.”
Yes, it would be more responsibility, but it was also an amazing opportunity. When I’d taken a break to stay at home with Kai, I could’ve never dreamed I’d be given a chance like this.
“Say yes.” She grinned. “You’ll get a temporary pay increase as well.”
“That’s very generous.” I was already thinking of what I could do with the extra money. I could put some of it away in savings. I could hire in-home help for my dad. I could…
She leaned forward—well, as much as she could with her stomach in the way. “It’s what you deserve. And between us, it would be a huge relief to know that you’d be there to keep an eye on Jasper.”
I paused with my fork midway to my mouth. Jasper.
Hearing his name was like being doused with a bucket of ice water. Because this opportunity would require me to work even more closely with him. If I were the SVP—even temporarily—spending time with him would be unavoidable. It would be a requirement of my job.
Fuck!
Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Sloan said, “No. No. No. Not—” She held up a hand.
“I didn’t mean to make it sound like he needed a babysitter.
I just know that he likes and respects you, and I worry he doesn’t have the support he needs, especially with Graham in France and me out on maternity leave. ”
I tilted my head back in understanding, because what could I say?
I couldn’t say no. Sloan needed me. But I wasn’t sure—in good conscience—that I could say yes either.
“You’ve been there for me, and I can only hope that you’ll be a friend to him too,” she added.
I didn’t know if I could commit to being Jasper’s friend. Not after…well, not after everything we’d shared. I’d put space between us for a reason, and now Sloan was asking me to close that gap.
If she only knew…
“Would it require much travel?” I asked, thinking of Kai. He was still adjusting to living in a new city. I couldn’t leave him in the care of a stranger, no matter what their qualifications were as a nanny.
I didn’t want to mention that to Sloan, especially since I’d just agreed to go to New York for a weekend.
I’d never want her to question my commitment to the job or my ability to perform my responsibilities.
Being away from Kai wasn’t ideal, but he was a little older now.
And besides, Craig would be there with him.
I really hoped I wasn’t putting too much faith in my ex. History told me that I couldn’t count on him, but he’d been different since the move. More involved. More proactive, even if it was from afar.
“It shouldn’t,” Sloan said. “Jasper has a few trips planned since we knew I’d be unavailable. And if something else comes up, we can always see if Graham could handle it.”
“Who would do my job?” I asked, my wheels spinning.
“We could temporarily promote someone from within the company, or we could hire a temp.”
I scrunched up my face. “I’m not sure I’d want a temp, based on Jasper’s experience.”
She laughed. “Oh, please. Jasper selects them based on attractiveness not competence.”
It was an offhand comment, and she probably meant it in jest. But my stomach churned, my lunch threatening to reemerge. That wasn’t really true, was it?
Based on the fact that he wanted to rehire Darla, I had my doubts. She might be an attractive woman in her sixties, but I knew Jasper had no romantic interest in her. Maybe I was just believing what I wanted to believe. Or maybe Jasper’s family didn’t know him as well as they thought they did.
“We will find someone.” Sloan patted my hand, perhaps misinterpreting my horrified expression. “I don’t expect you to manage your job plus mine all on your own. That wouldn’t be good for you or the company.”
Or Kai.
That said, I wasn’t really in a position to turn it down. The extra income could help offset the cost of my dad’s care but also give me more wiggle room with our finances. More options when it came to buying a home.
I nodded. “I appreciate your faith in me, but I also have to consider what’s best for Kai.”
I wanted to give her offer careful consideration. I wanted to make sure it was something I could actually commit to. Something I could manage to the level of excellence Sloan expected. The level I expected of myself.
“Of course.” Sloan placed a hand over her stomach. “I get that. Think it over. We still have a little time before my maternity leave.”
“Thank you,” I said, though I didn’t want to leave her hanging.
If I wasn’t going to take the role, she’d need to find someone else—and fast. But I knew Sloan, and she wouldn’t have offered it to me unless she thought I could handle it.
Could I handle it?
I had reservations. Not just about the responsibility but about what it would mean for Kai and me. My life was already hectic. I worried that accepting the position would mean time with my son would be even more limited.
Perhaps most concerning of all, though, was the fact that the role would require me to work even more closely with Jasper. I was already struggling to keep our relationship professional, and the last thing I wanted was to spend more time with him.
Liar.
Okay. Rephrase that. The last thing I should be doing was spending more time with Jasper.