9. Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
Cole
The sun glares through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office, but I barely notice. The view of downtown Los Angeles is wasted on me today. My desk is immaculate, save for my laptop and a neatly stacked pile of paperwork waiting for my attention. Yet, I haven’t managed to focus on any of it.
I lean back in my chair, my hands clasped behind my head as I stare at the ceiling. My mind refuses to cooperate, dragging me back to last night.
Her hands in my hair, her lips on mine, the way her breath hitched when I pulled her closer. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was fire, and it consumed me.
Until it didn’t.
She stopped me so abruptly that it felt like hitting a brick wall. One moment, she was in my arms, soft and pliable, and the next, she was gone.
I rub my hands over my face, frustration boiling just beneath the surface. What the hell was I thinking?
Letting my lust take over, with her, of all people. Annie Fox. Robbie’s nanny. The one person in his life who actually makes him light up .
I slam my palm against the desk, the sound sharp in the quiet office.
It wasn’t just stupid. It was reckless.
I’m her boss. She lives in my house. She’s not some stranger I can walk away from and never see again.
And then there’s Robbie.
If she quits over this—and she has every right to—how do I explain that to him? Sorry, kid, but I scared off the one person you actually like because I couldn’t keep my hands to myself?
My stomach twists, the guilt settling deeper.
I can’t figure out what went wrong. Things were escalating quickly, sure, but we were both into it. She didn’t say anything, didn’t push me away until—
Until what?
I replay the moment in my head, trying to piece it together. The way she pulled back, the look in her eyes—nervous, almost panicked.
It wasn’t rejection. It was something else.
A sudden thought hits me, and my chest tightens.
Her hesitation, her nerves…
The thought had occurred to me for a moment last night, but I’d brushed it away so quickly.
Is it possible that she’s…
What if she’s a virgin?
The idea stops me cold. It would explain the way she froze, the way she bolted without an explanation.
The knot in my stomach tightens. If that’s true, then I’m an even bigger ass than I thought. I can’t imagine what she must think of me now.
I push out of my chair, pacing the length of my office. The polished wood floors creak softly under my weight, the only sound in the silent room.
I catch a glimpse of the shelf across from my desk. It’s lined with awards, photos from movie premieres, and other reminders of my so-called success.
Robin’s photo isn’t there.
It’s not anywhere in this office.
I don’t keep pictures of her at work, but I can see her face so clearly in my mind. Her soft smile, her hazel eyes, the way she used to tease me about taking myself too seriously.
What would she think of me now?
Not because of the sex part—I’ve dated other women since she died, though I was riddled with guilt when I first started.
No, I mean the specific circumstances. Letting my personal life bleed in to Robbie’s. Jeopardizing his happiness because I couldn’t control myself.
Taking advantage of my position as boss, though that wasn’t what I intended to do. That’s still what happened, however unintentional.
She’d be disappointed.
I can almost hear her voice, gentle but firm. You’re better than this, Cole.
But am I?
I’ve been short-tempered, distracted, buried in work. I haven’t spent enough time with Robbie, and I’ve driven away caregiver after caregiver with my impossible expectations.
And now? Now, I’ve gone and done something completely impulsive with the one person who’s actually good for Robbie.
What the hell is wrong with me?
A knock at the door pulls me out of my spiraling thoughts.
“Come in,” I say, my voice rough.
Virginia steps in, her heels clicking against the floor. She’s balancing a stack of documents in one hand and her tablet in the other. Her dark hair is pulled back into its usual severe bun, and her tailored suit is as immaculate as ever.
“Good morning,” she says briskly, setting the stack on my desk. “These need your signature by noon.”
I nod, dropping back into my chair.
She doesn’t leave. Instead, she studies me with a sharp, assessing gaze, her arms crossed.
“Everything all right?” she asks, her tone casual but her expression anything but.
I grab a pen and flip open the first folder, avoiding her eyes. “Fine.”
“Really?”
I glance up, meeting her skeptical look. Virginia doesn’t miss much, and today is no exception.
“I said I’m fine,” I snap, more harshly than I intend.
Her eyebrows lift, but she doesn’t push. Instead, she picks up her tablet and starts tapping at the screen. “All right. I’ll be back in an hour for the rest of these.”
The door clicks shut, and the silence settles in again.
I sigh, leaning back in my chair and running a hand through my hair. Virginia’s right—I’m distracted. And it’s not just because of Annie.
I glance around the office, taking in the pristine surfaces, the carefully arranged awards, the impersonal decor. It’s efficient, cold, and exactly what I thought I wanted.
But now it feels... empty.
I think about Annie again, about her wide eyes and the way she looked at me last night, like she didn’t know whether to run or stay .
I haven’t gotten a call or a resignation letter yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one shows up.
And if it does? That’ll be on me.
I stare out the window, the city sprawling below. I’ve made mistakes before, plenty of them. But this? This can’t happen again.
Not with Annie. Not with anyone who matters to Robbie.
I need to make sure she knows that nothing like that will ever happen again.