Page 15 of Ruining Hattie

HATTIE

T elling my parents went pretty much how I thought it would—they were shocked, and after that wore off, they inundated me with questions, then they listed their concerns. After I had appeased their minds a bit, they were finally supportive.

It didn’t make saying goodbye to them at the airport any easier, though.

I was a blubbering mess, as was my mom. My dad tried to be stoic, but I saw the tears in his eyes.

Being so far away from them will be the hardest part, but I have to remind myself that they’re part of why I’m doing this—though they don’t know that.

I conveniently left that part out when I explained all my reasons for wanting to take this job.

I knew they’d be adamant about not uprooting the little life I had in Wisconsin to pay their bills.

The flight was uneventful, and I was shocked when I checked in to find that Bastion had put me in first class. I’ve only been on a plane a handful of times, and never in first class.

By the time the plane lands, the sadness has worn off, but anxiety has taken its place.

What if this is a big mistake? What if I hate it here? What if I’m not good at the job? What if I’m homesick?

I push away all those thoughts as I wait for my luggage to be spit out onto the baggage carousel. I’ve made the decision already, and I’m here. There’s no point in being negative about it unless I know for sure there’s a reason. I need to take things as they come.

The first of my pieces of luggage approaches, and I step forward to grab it, but when I lean down to reach for it, another hand beats me to it. It takes me a second to react and look from the hand to the owner’s face, and when I do, a jolt of… something rushes through me.

“Bastion. You’re here?”

He grins and sets down the large bag. “You don’t pack light, do you?” He winks.

Jeez, that wink makes my stomach all fuzzy and bubbly.

“I thought you were sending someone to pick me up?” I ask.

“I pushed aside my work for the day so that I could be here to help you get settled.”

His words probably shouldn’t make me all giddy since he’s now my boss, but I can’t help but smile. “Thank you.”

He inclines his head toward the baggage carousel. “How many more?”

I cringe. “Two more bags.” When he shakes his head, I add, “I’m moving across the country. That’s a lot of personal belongings to pack up.”

“I’m just messing with you. Just point them out when they come by, and I’ll grab them.”

I do as he says, and within five minutes, he’s rolling two suitcases to my one out of the airport.

“I grabbed us a driver since I wasn’t sure how much luggage you’d have and couldn’t be sure it would fit in my car.” Bastion directs us down the concrete walkway toward a large black SUV with blacked-out windows. “You get in, and I’ll help the driver with the luggage.”

“Thank you.” I slip into the back seat of the air-conditioned vehicle and relax into the buttery soft leather.

There aren’t many jobs where your boss flies you out via first class, then personally picks you up at the airport and helps with your luggage. But it all fits with the person Bastion has shown me he is. Taylor’s crazy. He’s not a sex trafficker.

I’m excited to see my new apartment and thankful that I don’t have to go through the process of searching for something affordable in a new city, where I don’t know what area offers what.

Bastion joins me in the back seat, and a minute later, we’re pulling away from the curb. We don’t talk about anything in particular as we make our way toward downtown, but Bastion points out different landmarks and tells me about them.

“How long have you lived here?”

He gives my question some thought. I like the way he always takes a moment before answering. “Almost a decade. I bounced around a lot as a kid, so when I started my business, I knew I wanted a home base. I liked Seattle, so this became it.” He shrugs.

“Why did you move around so much?”

Shadows darken his eyes. “That’s a long story we don’t have time for because we’re almost there.”

I thought maybe he was an Army brat, but something tells me it’s more than that, so I let the topic drop. I’m not going to pester him when he’s offered me so much with the job and the apartment. “That must be why you’re so good at meeting new people. You must’ve had to do it a lot growing up.”

“Is that your way of calling me charming?” He accepts my shift of subject and lightens the mood.

“I wasn’t, but that doesn’t mean that’s not the case.”

His eyes dance with mirth. “This is it.”

Before he can say anything more, his phone vibrates, and he pulls it out of the holder in the door. After a quick glance at the screen, he answers.

“Hey, how are you?” There’s a brief pause before he says, “Good. Ariana, can I call you back in a bit? I’m in the middle of something.”

A female voice on the other end says something, and he laughs and ends the call.

Something about the way he laughs—in such a comfortable way, as though he’s done it a thousand times before with this Ariana—twists my insides. There was a carefree and light note to it that I’ve never heard him use with me.

Who is she? A girlfriend? A wife? The idea makes bile race up my throat. I’ve never asked if he’s married, though he doesn’t wear a ring. Maybe it was someone who works for him. It is Monday afternoon after all. His business doesn’t stop just because he’s helping me.

The better question is, why do I even care?

He’s been a little flirty with me at times, but he never outright said anything to make me think he’s interested in me.

Do I even want him to be? Now that he’s going to be my boss, it’s an especially bad idea, never mind the age gap and how clearly different we are.

“Hattie.”

I blink and look over at Bastion.

He tilts his head and studies me. “Where were you just now?”

I shake my head. “Nowhere. Sorry, this is all a little overwhelming. Did you say something?”

“I asked if you’re ready to go inside.” He motions to the window behind me.

It’s then I realize that we’ve turned into a parking garage under a tall condo building.

“I’m confused. This isn’t the place you showed me on your phone.” I turn to look at Bastion as the driver parks the car near an elevator in the underground garage. The place that Bastion showed me was a triplex, and I was meant to be staying on the top floor.

He cringes. “Sorry, I forgot to tell you. There was an issue with the roof, and it leaked into your unit. I’m going to have it repaired, but the damage was extensive. I had to improvise.”

“Oh no, that’s too bad. I’m sorry you have to deal with that. Am I going to be able to afford this place?”

This building is way fancier than the other one he showed me. It was nice, but from what I saw on the outside, this one screams money. A quick glance out the window confirms it. There’s barely any dust on the asphalt, and the brass elevator door gleams.

“Well, I think so. It’s free.” He grins.

I shake my head, confused. “How is that possible?”

With one hand on the door handle, he pushes open the door. “You’ll be living with me.”

Then he exits the back seat and slams the door closed.

I’m sorry. What?

I so wasn’t prepared for this.