Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
J ack
We toured the school and then sat with Mrs. Hadley in her office.
“We are full for the remainder of this year and next,” Mrs. Hadley said.
“So I’ve heard.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my checkbook. “I’m sure there’s a way you can let one more child into your program.” I picked up a pen from her desk, wrote out a sizable check, and handed it to her.
“This is quite a generous donation, Mr. Atlas.” She smiled.
“There’s plenty more where that came from if Elianna were to be accepted here.”
“Actually, one of the families is moving soon, and their child won’t be attending this school anymore, opening a spot for your precious little girl.”
“That’s wonderful news, Mrs. Hadley. When can Elianna start?” I asked.
“Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, the school is closed the rest of the week. So, she can start on Monday. I’m sure you’re taking her to the Thanksgiving Day parade tomorrow.” She smiled.
I shifted in my seat and glanced at Sierra.
“Of course we are.” Sierra smiled.
After our meeting, we climbed into the back of the Escalade and headed to the office.
“I have to work tomorrow, and I’m giving you the day off from the office so you can take her to the parade,” I said.
“It’s Thanksgiving, and the office isn’t open. You don’t have to work tomorrow,” she said.
“I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. I work.”
“I don’t either! And if you think I’m going to that parade, especially by myself, you’re crazy.” She shuddered.
“We’ll talk about it later,” I said as Eric pulled up to the curb.
Walking into my office, Daniel followed behind and shut the door.
“I have to say I was shocked when you weren’t in this morning,” he said.
“We had an appointment at a school for Ellie.”
“So, you are keeping her?” His brow arched.
“I don’t have a choice. Her mother took off. What else am I supposed to do?”
“I’m proud of you, Jack.”
“Stop it, Daniel.” I sighed. “Are you going to the parade tomorrow?”
“We go every year. You know that. Why?”
“Just wondering.”
“You’re seriously not—” he chuckled.
“No. No way in hell.”
“Well, it is Thanksgiving, and you should do something with your daughter. And your assistant.” He grinned.
“And you should leave my office and get to work.” A smirk crossed my lips.
After Daniel left my office, I called Sierra in.
“Yes?”
“I need the plans for the Oakwood Property.”
“I have them at my desk. Let me grab them.”
“Sierra, wait. What is Ellie doing?”
“Playing a game on her iPad.”
“Okay. Get me those plans.”
I watched as she left my office and thought about our conversation last night. Being left at boarding school didn’t compare to what she had been through. As hard as I didn’t want to admit it and tried to stop it, I was falling head over heels for her.
Picking up my office phone, I called down to the payroll department.
“This is Heather.”
“Heather, it’s Mr. Atlas. I need you to stop taking the money Sierra Knight owes me out of her check, effective immediately.”
“Will do, Mr. Atlas.”
“Thank you.”
“Here are the plans.” Sierra set them on my desk. “Also, you have three nanny interviews scheduled for this afternoon.”
“Okay. Thanks for letting me know.”
Later that afternoon, after Sierra and I interviewed the last candidate for the nanny position, I threw my pen across my desk.
“I liked Yasmin,” she said.
“The second interviewee?” I asked.
“Yeah. She seemed really nice and organized,” Sierra said.
“I didn’t like any of them.”
“Why not?” Her brows furrowed.
“I don’t know. I just didn’t.”
“Okay.” She sighed, standing up from the couch. “I’ll call the agency and have them send over some more candidates.”
“Don’t bother. I’m thinking I should hold off until after the holidays. She’ll be in preschool all day starting on Monday. You can leave work early to pick her up and take her home. I think between the two of us, we can handle it.”
She stood and narrowed her eyes at me.
“Are you asking me to stay at your place through the holidays?”
“Yeah. I guess I am.” I smiled. “Will that be a problem?”
“No. Not at all. I like your place.” A beautiful smile graced her lips.
“I know you do.” I winked. “One question before you leave my office.”
“What’s your question, Mr. Atlas?”
“Have you ever cooked a turkey?”
She stared blankly at me momentarily, trying to process the question I had just asked her.
“No. Why?” Her left eye slightly narrowed.
“Then we shall go out to eat tomorrow.”
“You mean for Thanksgiving?” Her brows furrowed.
“Yes, for Thanksgiving.” I leaned back in my chair. “Unless you already have plans.”
“I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, so I don’t have plans. Why are we celebrating Thanksgiving?”
“We’re not, per se. I thought we should let Ellie enjoy a turkey dinner like the rest of the country.”
“I mean, I can try to cook a turkey if you want me to,” she said. “But it’ll most likely not be cooked enough or burnt or some shit like that.”
“No. It’s fine.” I chuckled. “We’ll go out.” I turned to my computer.
I picked up my phone and made reservations for us at The Ellington on Broadway. After work, Sierra and I climbed in the back of the Escalade with Ellie.
“Are we going to the parade tomorrow?” Ellie asked, staring at me with her blue eyes.
“No, sweetheart.” I ran my hand down the back of her head.
“Why? Uncle Daniel was telling me all about it. I want to go!” she whined.
I glanced at Sierra, sitting there biting her bottom lip.
“I want to go! I’m sick of my iPad, and I’m sick of coloring!”
“Told you she needed toys.” Sierra’s brow arched.
“Please, Daddy. Please, take me to the parade.”
“We’ll talk about it later.” I leaned over and kissed the top of her head.
After we arrived home and ate dinner, Sierra took Ellie upstairs for a bath. I poured myself a bourbon and took it over to the piano. Stretching my fingers, I placed them on the keys and began to play.
“Who taught you how to play?” Sierra walked over and leaned against the piano.
“I learned at boarding school.”
“You play beautifully.” A smile crossed her lips.
“Thanks.” I continued to play.
Ellie walked over and sat on the bench next to me. “Can you teach me how to play?”
I glanced at her and smiled. “You bet.” I stopped. “You need to get to bed if we’re getting up early to go to the parade.”
“Really?” Excitement beamed in her eyes.
“Yes. Let’s go.” I stood, picked her up, and carried her to her room.
We went downstairs after we tucked Ellie in and kissed her goodnight. I poured myself a bourbon and Sierra a glass of wine.
“Seriously? We’re going to the parade? What changed your mind?”
“I want her to be happy here.” I brought the glass to my lips. “Trust me. I don’t want to go. I hate parades.”
“So do I.” Her brow arched. “Maybe I’ll just stay here and wait for you two to come back.”
“Absolutely not. If I have to endure that damn parade, so do you. You’re not getting out of it.”
“Come on, Jack,” she whined. “It’s going to be miserable. All those people having fun. No thanks.”
“You don’t have a choice. You’re my assistant, and I’m paying you. As long as I’m in holiday hell, so are you. By the way, I stopped what you owe me from coming out of your paycheck.”
“Why?” Her brows furrowed.
“Because you’re helping me with Ellie. I think that’s repayment enough.”
“How about a little raise?” A smirk crossed her beautiful lips.
“How about I take you upstairs and thank you in other ways.” I set down my bourbon, walked over to her, took hold of her hand, and led her upstairs.