Sterling #4
They got seated on the massive sofa in the living room and I waited on someone to say something.
I had all of my information sent over electronically, including my certification and resume so I waited for the grilling to get started.
I’d sat down on the armchair across from them and kept an inviting smile on my face.
“Listen, I’m sure you understand this situation is unique. Your employer has stated you have no issues signing an NDA?”
I nodded because that was just standard for the families we worked with.
“None. I’ve already signed one with the agency that determines you all can sue me should I reveal anything that Mr.—?
” I waited for him to fill in the gaps of his name and I could see his agent’s brow furrow and she glanced his way.
“You didn’t introduce yourself?” Her tone was one that showed she definitely played the big sister role because she was looking at him with disgust only someone he respected could give.
“I normally don’t have to.” He looked bashful and completely embarrassed for his faux pas.
“Aldrich, please do not treat this girl like a groupie. This agency was the only one I vetted before my mother moved down here to help me out. You’ve already said you don’t want Ms. Sonya to uproot her life to come to Texas.
That leaves you figuring this out with her the best way that you can.
So, please introduce yourself like you have some damn sense. ”
She sat back and folded her arms, waiting on him to do what she demanded.
I wanted to laugh so badly because she really didn’t give him a chance to boss up.
I knew right then I was gonna really like Billy.
She was the lady I wished I had in my circle growing up.
Even though she was giving him hell it came from a place of love and even her chastisement was gentle.
He sighed as if she were annoying him before he gave me what I guess was supposed to be a smile. “I’m Aldrich Dinero. I play for the Desperados. I told you I am a professional athlete. My child’s mother passed away in a car accident—”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.” That explained his needing to have a caregiver for her so early. If she was a NICU warrior that also meant she might have complications.
“Why?” His brows furrowed and Billy’s head dropped into her hand as if she was defeated.
“Why what?” I glanced between the two of them like I’d missed something important.
“Why are you sorry? You didn’t know the bitch and neither did I.”
“Dinero!” Billy’s eyes were wide as though she were trying to get him to act right but he sat next to her defiantly unbothered by what he’d said.
My face must have shown how horrified I was at his words because he took a deep breath and seemed to regroup before he spoke again. “Anyway, I have camp coming up, I don’t know a lot about raising kids so I need someone who will be here full time. I’m going to pull my weight with what I can—”
I held up my hand to interrupt because I just wanted to know the man’s name not a full rundown of his stats and history.
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.
I’m not judging. I offered condolences because I was unaware of the precarious nature of this situation.
I won’t reference it again.” My professionalism had to kick in because there was no other way that we could move and I could work for someone who seemed so heartless about what happened to the mother of his child.
My radar for sussing out who was a piece of shit in the room had to be broken.
He definitely didn’t give off narcissist-psychopath vibes.
Billy glared at him for a moment longer before she turned to me. The annoyance melted off her features and she tried to muster a smile. “It’s not your fault. We saw you have a background in nursing.”
I nodded again looking around for some sign of life in this house. “Yes, is the baby medically fragile?”
“No, she just needed to stay in the NICU to ensure everything with her was well given how she entered the world.”
A vague answer, but I was truly starting to get concerned about what I was signing up for.
“I’m assuming that you need someone with a medical background to ensure she’s not suffering any ill-effects?”
“The baby is fine. No issues. He’s probably a hypochondriac though.”
Mr. Dinero leaned forward and waved his hand in the air between where Billy and I were sitting. “I’m sitting right here.”
“Yep, with your mouth shut not saying anything so I have to do the talking for you, apparently.” She checked him as eloquently and lovingly as I could imagine and my respect for her instantly deepened. She really didn’t take any gruff from him despite her being his agent.
To his credit his features softened and he took another deep breath like he realized how he was acting was fucked up.
He ran a broad, veiny hand over the mass of curls that sat atop his head before he looked at me and spoke up.
“My fault. I’m not trying to have you think I’m a fuck nigga.
I’m just…new to this.” Again, not a lot said but the words felt weighted as hell.
“It’s okay. I know a lot of first-time fathers have the mothers to lean on but your case is unique.
I’ll walk you through whatever you think you need to know and we can go from there if you select me.
” I didn’t want him to think I was judging him.
I mean I kinda was but that wasn’t for him to know.
If anything, it only made me want the job more because this kid was going to have a lot of challenges in front of him or her.
“That’s pretty much a done deal, sweetheart.” He leaned back against the sofa but seemed to be detached from what was going on around him.
I’d seen parents who didn’t really care about their children, but this wasn’t that.
I’d grown up with a mother who wanted to ensure I was receiving the best care possible as long as she wasn’t the one who had to provide it.
It wasn’t a deep, maternal love. She simply wanted to ensure she was getting her money’s worth and that the future product, namely me, could compete with my peers on every level.
At least in that she succeeded. My mother wanted a trophy daughter whose accomplishments couldn’t be challenged, but that didn’t seem to be his aim.
Despite being present physically, he looked withdrawn, almost guarded and I wondered if it was even his idea to have a nanny.
I took him in again, but longer this time.
He had a mop of curly, deep chocolate brown hair on his head.
The kind that was probably naturally highlighted from how much time he spent in the sun.
He looked like an athlete with shoulders that were broad enough to carry a couch and a neck that was thick and muscular.
He stood around six feet tall and while I didn’t have to crane my neck to look at him at five-six; he was still taller than me by a lot.
Objectively, he was incredibly handsome with the clearest bronze skin I had ever seen and teeth that were natural but were almost fake looking they were so nice.
Self-consciously, I tucked a strand of hair behind my head that had escaped the braid I was wearing.
His eyes watched the movement and I was trying to stay calm.
I’d come dressed in slacks and a button-down silk shirt since I knew the baby wasn’t out of the hospital yet.
This was more formal than I would normally wear but I didn’t want them to think I didn’t take this position seriously just because of the additional education I had.
“Well, since you’ve given her your stamp of approval I guess you don’t need me.” Billy didn’t give either of us a chance to answer before she stood up. Mr. Dinero did the same but then she waved him back down.
“I can appreciate your wanting to be chivalrous but y’all have things to get ironed out. Ms. Williamson—”
“Please call me Sterling.”
She nodded her head with a smile. “Sterling. This is a good man so you don’t have to be worried about your safety with him.
But if he ever does anything that you think is out of bounds, call me and I will fuck him up myself, do you hear me?
” The look on her face was so serious I wondered if she had beaten his ass before.
“Billy!” He was smiling for the first time and damn he needed to go back to sulking cause his smile was too damn dangerous.
“Negro, she is a single woman in a whole different state living with a man and his baby. She needs to know that she has community around her that will rise against your ass. I don’t give a fuck if your image is tanked if you do something wrong to this girl.
” She pointed to me as she glared at him daring him to refute any of the sense she’d just made.
“You know I wouldn’t do anything like that.” He almost looked hurt at the accusation and the air felt immediately heavier.
Billy’s head tilted softly, like she acknowledged that he was a good man. “I know that, but she doesn’t. Any woman needs to know that things are going to be okay when she starts out on something. Am I right, Sterling?”
“You’re right. But, Mr. Dinero—”
“Call me Money.”
I shook my head because there was no way in the world I was going to get that familiar with a client. My cousin would fire my ass himself. “That won’t be happening.”
“You can’t call me Mr. Dinero every day. I wouldn’t be able to function with that kind of formality so just call me Money.”
My head shook again and I hated to be stubborn but I wasn’t about to lower my standards. Especially with him looking like he did. “No, thank you.”