Page 6

“Sorry, what?” I miss Jett’s last words, distracted by Eliana’s exaggerated gestures. She’s wildly gesticulating and mouthing things to me. She doesn’t like my boss, and what she hates even more is that I can’t often say “no” to him.
“I’m going to a concert that day,” I say, making out my friend’s message.
“You are?” His brows push together. “With whom?”
“The Mayflies,” I blurt out.
“Withwhom?”
“What?” I don’t understand the question.
“So, you can’t babysit his daughter or work extra hours, no matter how tempting he makes it for you,” Eliana hisses directly in my ear.
Jett’s face turns somber. “Hey, look, then don't worry about it. I'll tell Brooke you had other plans—”
“No! Don't do that. Donotdo that.” I can't, Iwon'tlet Brooke down. I’d hate to disappoint the motherless, sweet, and cute Brooke who deserves to have a wonderful birthday.
Especially if she's becoming aware that she’s probably the only one in her class who doesn't have a mother. My own loss, so raw and so recent, makes my heart bleed for that child.
“But you have plans. A concert, no less,” Jett says.
“I'll make it in time for the concert. You don’t have to worry about that, and you’re arriving in the morning,” I remind him. I hope he’ll be at the party on time. I told him that it was the day of Brooke’s party when I booked the flights, and reiterated that he was cutting it close landing the same day. He told me he had an important meeting that morning, one he couldn't possibly miss. He assured me that he would be back on time.
“I am,weare. I'll be at the party on time.” He stares at me. Even though he's looking at me through a phone, I feel as if he's right here. In my kitchen. Standing close by. Sometimes his gaze is so intense, my breath hitches in my throat.
Eliana jabs her finger at me. “What if you’re late for The Mayflies?” she hisses.
I won’t be, I mouth back.
“Is he deaf? You're busy,” Eliana says, loud enough so that Jett will hear. “We have tickets! What can’t he understand?”
“I already told him that,” I say, accidentally speaking that into the phone.
“Told me what?” Jett’s bright blue eyes settle on me.
“Can you check on my egg?” I whisper to my friend, desperate to get her off my back.
“It's burned to a crisp,” Eliana mutters, before disappearing.
“Sorry. That was my roommate.” I have a sneaky feeling that Jett’s heard most of that. Eliana doesn't hide her contempt for him, and she’s pissed off that I still work there. I’ve been trying to leave.
Trying.
But so far, it’s not going to plan.
It’s in moments like this, when I see Jett with his girlfriend in the background, that I wish I'd never walked into this man’s life. It’s sheer torture being in the office, being around him. Ordering gifts for his lovers, booking plane tickets, making reservations for tables at the top restaurants, the best hotels, for him and someone else.
“I’ll pay you five hundred dollars for the trouble,” Jett says.
I choke in surprise. Five hundred dollars? Neon dollar signs flash before my eyes. That’s almost half my rent. Eliana is at my ear again, hissing, “Don't fall for it. He always does this.”
“No. I won't take any money for coming to Brooke's birthday party.”
“But I feel like I've guilt-tripped you into coming,” he says, “It’s just that Brooke wanted me to ask you, and I promised her I would. Please take the payment, Cari. This is a weekend, and you deserve your time off. You shouldn’t be at my beck and call on your free time.”
His words send a shiver down my spine. “I’m not at your beck and call, Mr. Knight.”
He raises an eyebrow, as if he's not sure why I've reverted to calling him Mr. Knight. This is also a new thing, ever since my mom died and Jett was there for me. We shared a moment. He was at my mother's bedside when the monitor flatlined and he held me in my time of need. When I was all alone.