Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
I was getting a lot of strange stares from my coworkers—my soon-to-be ex-coworkers—when I walked into the bank Monday morning, late, with the cutest three-year-old boy dressed in shorts.
I really needed to talk to Miles about getting this little man some pants.
I didn’t see any in his drawers when I got him ready.
The autumn days and nights could get downright cold here.
It could even snow. But then again, it was Colorado, so there could be days where it was warm enough to swim outside. You just never knew.
Today was the perfect day, though-sunny, light jacket weather, and I was quitting.
Yep, I wasn’t even giving two weeks’ notice.
It was the first rebellious thing I had done in years, and it felt oh so good.
Almost as good as that spring break trip to Florida where I inherited the tiny heart tattoo on my butt.
Well, maybe. Miles gave me a hefty signing bonus for starting right away and the balance in my bank account did make me feel pretty euphoric.
I headed straight for my cubicle and set Henry on my desk while I filled my bag with the few personal items I’d kept there. The framed picture of Chloe and me doing our best duck faces was really all I cared about. Henry took the picture from me and pointed to Chloe. “I love Co-ee.”
Chloe was already in love with him too. He was seriously adorable.
He cried yesterday when we left. And this morning when I showed up early to start my duties as his nanny, he was all smiles and full of hugs and kisses.
His uncle, on the other hand, was relieved to finally get some time to write.
I had to say I was happy to give it to him. I needed that book.
“Do you want to hold the picture for me?” I asked Henry.
He hugged it to his chest.
I had just placed my stash of protein bars in my bag when overly shiny Stephen appeared in my cubicle.
His comb-over this morning looked more like a swirly Q plastered to his forehead with gel.
I pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t bust out laughing.
I was so going to snap a picture of it and send it to my friends.
Stephen smacked his lips, making a sound that made me want to wretch. “You’re late,” he said with way too much satisfaction. “And,” his beady eyes landed on Henry, “this isn’t bring-your-child-to-work day.”
The idiot didn’t even realize Henry wasn’t mine, though I would claim him in a heartbeat, especially after he pointed at Stephen and said, “You have a tail on your head.”
There was no holding back my laugh. Henry joined in and giggled too, repeating to me, “He has a tail on his head.” He was right. It did look like a rat tail.
Stephen turned so red he almost looked purple. He ran his hand over his hair, which only made it worse. He had used so much gel it made his hair stick straight up. While he tried to smooth his hair down, he spluttered, “I’m going to have to write you up for this.”
“You do that. I quit.” Wow, did that feel amazing to say.
Stephen’s jaw dropped. “Is this some sort of practical joke?”
I picked up Henry and gave him a squeeze. “Looks like the joke’s on you. You may have to do some actual work until you can find my replacement. Good luck with that.” I grabbed my bag and strode right past Stephen. “By the way, you have spinach in your teeth . . . again.”
He covered his mouth with his hand and muttered, “I hope you don’t expect a good reference.”
I laughed as I walked away. “Believe me, I would have never asked you for one. In your last email, you spelled absences abscesses. And no, I won’t be ‘comming’ to the training meeting. You might want to invest in a spell checker.” How he graduated from college I had no idea.
“For that, you’re fired,” he yelled.
I waved to him from behind while two of the other personal bankers stood, envious, and silently clapped for me. We all hated him. I bowed as best I could with Henry in my arms.
After I was done grandstanding, I kissed Henry’s head.
“Let’s go say goodbye to Evelyn.” She was the one person I would miss.
We hopped on the elevator and Henry insisted on pushing the button for the second floor.
I never quite understood why kids loved to push the elevator’s buttons, but Chloe had as well.
She’d had a meltdown when she was four at the doctor’s office because I accidentally forgot and did it myself.
After her exorcist event, I never touched another button until she was ten.
In Evelyn fashion, she was all smiles when I got off the elevator holding my new charge. Evelyn grinned wider when she recognized Henry. “Is this who I think it is?”
“I’m Henry,” he was quick to answer in his adorable accent, leaving no doubt who he was.
Evelyn came around her desk in a happy tizzy. “Please tell me you and the debonair Brit are dating? I had a feeling about you two.”
With a shake of my head I dashed her hopes. “Sorry, but,” I paused for dramatic effect, “I’m his new nanny and personal assistant.”
She playfully smacked my arm. “You’re kidding me.”
“No. I just told Stephen I quit.”
She placed her hand across her heart. “Oh, I would have loved to see that.” She wrapped her arms around me and Henry. “I knew there were better doors for you to open. But I’m going to miss you, sweetie.” She kissed my cheek. I was sure she left a red lip stain. She loved her lipstick.
“I’m going to miss you too. I wanted to make sure I came to say goodbye, and,” I reached into my bag, “I wanted to give you this.” I held out a framed sketch I had drawn a while back of the sunflower fields near the bank that she loved to comment on.
I was going to give it to her on her birthday next month, but this seemed like a good time.
She took it and tears immediately welled up in her eyes. She pulled me to her. “You are a talented, sweet woman. Thank you, dear.”
“You’re welcome,” she had me choking up. “I’m going to miss you.”
She patted Henry’s cheeks and then mine. “You will be missed, but I’m happy for you. You deserve better than this place has treated you. I do hope the handsome Brit will realize what a gem he’s getting.”
“Not sure I qualify, but so far so good.” The money was amazing, and did I mention he gave me a luxury SUV to drive?
I was sure it was his sister’s, but he said as long as I worked for him, it was mine to drive.
He probably didn’t want me carting around his nephew in my eyesore that now sat in his garage.
“Oh, honey, you are a rare find. Make sure he treats you as such.”
“He has to be better than the wicked boss I had here.”
She nudged me with her elbow. “If you’re lucky, he’ll be a tad wicked.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not going to be like that between us.” I had signed a contract guaranteeing it. No need to mention that, though.
“I wouldn’t be too sure. I saw the way he looked at you.”
I had noticed too. “Well, I better get going. I need to get Chloe registered for school in Carrington Cove.” She was home with my mom now who was helping me pack.
The plan was to move what little furniture I had into my parents’ garage since the guesthouse was fully furnished.
It was going to be like living in Pottery Barn.
I would need to keep reminding Chloe and myself it wasn’t going to last, so not to get used to it.
Evelyn tilted her head. “You had to see he was attracted to you.” She wouldn’t let it go.
“It’s strictly business, I promise you.” Addendum A in the contract clearly stated it. To avoid impropriety or scandal, there will be no romantic involvement between the two parties for the period outlined in section two. Both parties willingly agree to these terms . . . Blah, blah, blah.
“Let me know how that works out for you. Strictly business,” she laughed to herself. “I give you two months before you start getting down to business.”
“Evelyn.” I blushed.
“Mark my words, honey.” She gave me one more pat. “Keep in touch.”
“I will.”
Henry waved bye-bye and we headed downstairs to turn in my ID badge and walk out for the final time.
As soon as we got off the elevator, we were approached by the harried Vice President, Mr. Stanley.
Otherwise known as Mr. He-wouldn’t-know-a-good-employee-if-she-bit-him-in-the-butt.
I was honestly surprised to see him so out of sorts.
Normally he strutted around in his designer suits trying to look as distinguished as possible.
He was one of those men who loved mentioning how many times a week he played racquetball and that he only ate whole foods.
I would give it to him—you wouldn’t know he was well into his fifties except his hair was more silver now than brown.
“Aspen,” Mr. Stanley said, relieved. “I’m glad I caught you. Can we speak for a moment?” He eyed Henry carefully.
“What about?” I was playing it cool.
He cleared his throat. “I just heard the unfortunate news that you’ve decided to leave. I hate to lose such a valuable employee.”
Valuable? I wanted to laugh, but all I could do was stare at him blankly.
He tugged on his collar. “Why don’t we talk in my office about your career goals and what it would take for you to stay.”
Henry was starting to fidget, so I set him down and took his hand.
The wonderful way his hand felt in mine gave me all the courage I needed.
“Mr. Stanley, you never appreciated how valuable I was to this organization, and sadly, neither did I. But now that I do, I see I’m worth more than this place. ”
Mr. Stanley stared, dumbfounded.
“Here’s my badge. Have fun with Stephen.” I turned with the biggest smile on my face and never looked back.