Page 128 of Bang

"Not," he said.

I searched his face. "But where do we go from here?"

"That's up to you," he said. "You're smart. You'll figure it out."

Me. Not us.In my whole life, I'd never been so irritated by a compliment. "I can't be too smart," I said. "Or I would've seen it the same as you."

Looking almost bored now, he said, "Seen what?"

"That it was a bad idea.Youknow." I lowered my voice. "For us to sleep together." A bitter scoff escaped my lips. "You told me. And I guess I should've listened, huh?"

His jaw clenched. "Yeah. You should've."

His words felt like a slap. "So you're saying this ismyfault?"

"No. It's mine," he said. "I take full responsibility."

It was a decent sentiment. And yet, his cold businesslike approach was making me just a little bit crazy.

And besides, we all knew it took two to tango.

I muttered, "Well, I'm sure the shareholders will be delighted."

"I don't have shareholders."

"I know," I said. "I was being sarcastic."

"Iwasn't," he said. "I answer to no one." He gave me a hard look. "And maybe you should remember that."

I crossed my arms. "Maybe I will."

Once again, he looked down to his paperwork. He picked up a random document and frowned. "Now, if we're done, I've got stuff to do."

I stood there in front of his desk, staring as he set aside the first document and picked up another.

Part of me wanted to lunge for his paperwork and scatter it to the floor. And then, assuming I had his full attention, I could tell him exactly what I thought of his icy demeanor.

His words from the other night haunted my thoughts."If I could love anyone, it would be you."

Whatwasthat, anyway?

Just a line? Maybe an easy way to give me the brush-off?

He'd also claimed tolikeme. But that couldn't be true. Because if you truly like someone, you don't sit there shuffling through paperwork while they stand in front of you like…well, an employee, actually.

I froze.Oh.That's exactly what I was – his employee.

The Help.

But of course, Ididhave a choice in the matter. I mean, I could walk off right now and let him replace me with nanny number-eighty-seven, or whatever it was. By now, he probably had several agencies on speed dial.

But Willow –she'dbe the one who'd suffer.

Over the last few months, I'd seen her really blossom under the love and stability I'd been trying to provide.

And what if I left now?

It was only two weeks until Christmas, and we'd made all sorts of plans – to bake Christmas cookies with Arden, to put up a giant Christmas tree, and to decorate the house for the first time ever – at least according to Willow.