Chapter 15
Mary announced my eleven o’clock appointment while I was caught up in proposals for upcoming projects.
They’d been flying in fast and furious now that we had the award winning Ms. Gritti on staff. Good thing I’d let Gavin talk me into giving her a contract or who knows who’d be trying to scout her right out from under me?
“Send her in.” I put work aside for now and sat back as the door opened and Mary led a middle aged woman into the room.
I looked her over as she approached. More so than a person’s credentials I can tell a lot by their appearance, the look in their eyes.
I relaxed once she was settled in the chair in front of me and got right down to it. The more we spoke the more sure I was that this was the right thing.
There was a knock at the door ten minutes later and Gia walked in. She gave my guest a strange look before looking back at me as she entered the room.
“I’m here!”
“Have a seat. This is Alice Pierce.” I introduced her to the older woman and told her the reason for her being here.
“Excuse me? What did you say?”
“I said I’m hiring her to be Amber’s nurse-sitter. That agency you’re using isn’t the best.” I looked at her sternly, daring her to object in the presence of a stranger.
“That will be all Ms. Pierce, I’ll have my assistant call you later with the particulars. We’ll start with a two week probation period and see if you’re the right fit, then we’ll go from there.”
She thanked me and got up to take her leave. The door was barely closed when Gia jumped up from her chair in a snit.
“This is the limit, you’ve really gone too far this time. What do you mean by hiring someone to watch my child?”
“Our trip’s coming up soon. Were you really going to be comfortable leaving Amber in the care of that person you’ve hired?” I kept my tone even and rational.
“That’s not the point, you should’ve asked me before taking a step like this. Now that poor woman’s going to be expecting a job that she’s not going to get.”
“And why won’t she?” You’ve heard her credentials, her references read like a who’s who of the elite world.”
“Exactly, what would she be doing in my rinky dink apartment on the other side of town?”
“I’m paying her enough that that shouldn’t matter. Besides, I was thinking it might be best if Amber stayed at my place while we’re gone.”
Her mouth fell open and she paced back and forth in front of my desk, muttering under her breath. I’m guessing that was her way of letting off steam.
“No! You cannot do this, this is not your place.”
“I say it is. This job is very important, how can I trust you to do your job if your mind is back here on your sick child?”
She paced and thought and I knew as much sense as it made, she’d reject it because the offer came from me. Is there any wonder I turn into a raving lunatic around her?
“I still don’t think this is a good idea. And what do you mean you’re hiring her? It’s obvious I can’t afford…”
“I will take care of it until we square things with the insurance company. Like I said, this is about the company and your performance. I don’t think anything more needs to be said.”
If she had something in her hand she’d have thrown it at my head. Instead she stormed out but had the good grace not to slam the door.
My idiot brother showed up five minutes later breathing like a herniated dragon. “What did you do to Giavanna?”
“I wasn’t aware that I’d done anything to her. What seems to be the problem?” He was another one I had to treat like a cornered animal where she was concerned.
He gets so touchous when it comes to her that had it not been for his long standing engagement I would’ve been suspicious.
“She’s spitting mad and the only one around here who can do that to her is you.”
“Stay out of it Gavin, this doesn’t concern you.” He left the same way he came and I went back to work. I don’t see what the big deal is. Everything I’ve done for her so far makes sense.
For the next couple of days she gave me the cold shoulder, which I of course ignored. I kept dropping into her office unannounced, crowding her, invading her space.
I used every opportunity to touch her in some way, which seemed to aggravate the hell out of her even though her nipples would harden under her blouse and the pulse in her throat would gallop.
“Did Ms. Pierce show up this morning?” I picked up a colored scale of the new hotel off her desk and studied it as I awaited her answer.
“Yes!” Oh, so today was short one word answers day?
“That’s good. Did Amber like her?”
“Yes, she’s very good with children.”
I bet it burned a hole in her tongue to say that. “Good then, my efforts weren’t wasted. We leave in two weeks, now my mind will be at peace.”
“I’ll have Mary give you the new itinerary later today.” I left her office and went down the hall to mine pleased that at least I’d got my way in this.
I knew she wouldn’t agree to her daughter staying at my place and chose not to fight her on it, they’ll be time enough for that later. Or maybe I should look for a house with a backyard.
Amber should have a place to run and play once she’s better. I put aside the latest reports and instead booted up my computer to look at real estate. No matter what she says, a mansion in the hills was better than that place she now lived in.
A few days went by and I’d been too caught up in work to go see her. Our weekly meeting was coming up tomorrow so I’ll see her then, but I missed her like crazy.
I knew from office gossip that Amber was doing much better and Alice was working wonders with the little angel.
Gia was also more at ease from what I hear, knowing that there was a qualified person taking care of her child when she wasn’t there.
She wouldn’t dare voice those things to me though, because I’m the ogre that was trying to make her life easier. Damn infuriating woman.
I stayed late at the office and noticed that Gavin too was still here. I didn’t want to see him since I was pissed at him.
She avoids me but is always in his presence like they’re bosom buddies or some shit. He knows it fucks with my head, so the little shit just eats it up and rubs it in.
It started to rain around seven thirty when it was already dark outside and I decided to call it a night.
I’d sent Stanley home earlier because he had a sick kid at home and I didn’t know how long I was going to be here.
I left my office, keys in hand thinking of what I should have for dinner and almost walked into her. “What are you doing here so late?”
“I had some things to take care of.” She opened her umbrella and walked through the exit. The rain was just a slight drizzle but I didn’t want her walking through it.
And I for damn sure didn’t want her turning up in that neighborhood of hers alone this time of night. “I’ll give you a ride home, it’s late.”
“No thanks, I’ll take the bus.”
“Hey Gia, you need a lift?” Gavin came through the doors behind us. When she readily accepted his offer I saw red.
I watched him seat her in his car and almost lost it at the sight of his hand on her back as he helped her in.
As soon as he closed the door and walked around to the other side I moved forward and pulled the door open.
“Get out of the car.”
“Dude, calm down.” He glared at me over the roof of the car.
“Stay out of this. I told you to get out.” I looked down at her bent head.
“I’m not leaving her here alone with you in this mood.”
“What’s it to you?” I pulled her out of the car and dragged her over to mine, which was parked one spot over.
After seating her roughly and warning her of what would happen if she moved, I walked around to the other side and got in.
I turned the car on swiftly and peeled out of the parking lot leaving my brother in my rearview.
“Don’t do that shit again. Don’t get in another man’s car in front of me after rejecting me. Next time I won’t spare you.”
“When will you get it into your head that what I do or don’t do has nothing to do with you?”
“And when will you get it into yours that it absolutely does?”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
She did that huffing shit and I chose to ignore her as I wended my way through the streets in the opposite direction from her home.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I want to spend more time with you. You’ve been busy all week and ignoring me.”
“I was working, for you I might add.”
“Doesn’t matter. I hate being around you that long and not being able to touch you.” Shit makes me nuts.
“I need to get home, I have a child to look after remember?”
“She’s with the sitter, she’s fine.”
“All the same I want to go home.”
“No!”
“Why are you so unreasonable?” I chose not to answer because her words made no sense.
I drove down to the waterfront; I was suddenly starving. Sparring with her usually whets all my appetites; my dick was as hard a spike.
I pulled into the parking lot of one of the city’s best seafood restaurants on the pier. “What are we doing here? I’m not hungry.”
“You didn’t eat lunch, let’s go.”
“How do you know…?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I helped her out of the car and took her hand, leading her into the restaurant.
We found a nice secluded corner near the back that overlooked the water as she looked around. No doubt due to her profession she picks apart every building she enters.
The waiter came over and offered us menus and glasses of water before walking away again. “What are you in the mood for, what do you feel like having?” I perused my own menu while she left hers sitting on the table untouched.
“Very well, why don’t I order for you.” I did just that, ordering us both the same seafood pasta but I forewent the wine and any other beverage choosing instead to drink sparkling water.
The rain was now a steady drizzle and I wouldn’t take the risk of imbibing while I knew I had to drive her home.
She picked at the food when it came because I threatened to force feed her if she didn’t eat. I watched to make sure she ate enough.
I kept the conversation light, only bringing up the project and her child, the two things she cared most about.
“Have you decided what to do about Amber while we’re gone?”
“Ms. Pierce has agreed to stay over.” Every damn word was like pulling teeth.
“I’m guessing you won’t accept my offer for them to stay at my place.”
“No, please don’t insist, it’s not necessary.”
“Very well, as long as you’re comfortable with the arrangements I’m fine. Do you want coffee? Dessert?”
“No, I’m full, thank you.” I reached across the table for her hand and held on tight when she tried to pull it away.
“You look tired still, I don’t like seeing those dark circles under your eyes.” I ran my thumb beneath her eye gently, felt the warmth of her cheek beneath my palm.
For the barest of seconds it looked like she would turn her cheek into my palm, but at the last second she caught herself and pulled back. Damn!
“Okay then, if you’ve had enough I’ll take you home.” I called for the check and paid before leading her out the door with my hand protectively in the small of her back.
I seated her and belted her into the passenger seat before walking around to take the wheel. I reached for her hand and held it as I drove her home.
I walked her up to her building and was pleased to see that my threats had worked. The elevator had been fixed and was working like new.
If she knew I’d called the landlord and threatened him she’d have my ass. No matter how she reacts I will always do what’s best for her.