Page 43 of The Boss and the Adoption Mess

I head to the kitchen and start cooking. Probably the only sensible thing I’ll do tonight.

Until…

"Okay, see you soon," I say—but Kim has already hung up. A smile flits across my lips. Maybe the evening won’t be so dull after all.

I call Steven. He told me in detail what happened after the job interview, and I think I understand why she acted the way she did. She needs the money. Urgently. I just don’t know what for yet. Surely she doesn’t have debts… does she?

"Hey. Kim will be here soon," I say after he picks up.

"She really accepted the job?" he marvels.

"It’s just a trial week, but I think she’ll stick around."

"Not bad. But will you finally tell me what happened between you two?"

I stay silent.

"You had sex, huh?" He laughs suggestively.

I breathe deeply. He laughs louder. I shake my head.

"No."

"Oh." Steven stops laughing. "Hmm. So, you hit on her, but she rejected you?"

"No." But he’s getting close.

"You hit on her and she rejected you?"

"I’m not telling. If she ends up working for me after the trial week, it’d be weird. You understand?"

"Then it’s definitely something sexual. Did she work at the Millionaires and Gentlemen’s Club before?"

"I shouldn’t have told you about that." He still hasn’t received an invitation to this day.

"If I were you, I’d be there every night letting myself be pampered." He sighs.

"It’s not a brothel. It’s just full of rich businessmen. Nothing more."

"And hot women. You said so yourself."

"Yes. They serve drinks. They’re not there to fulfill anyone’s sexual desires." I’ve told him this before, but he doesn’t believe me. Fair enough. I have to admit I’ve gone through quite a few of them myself.

"Then they could have been guys instead… but no—you said teach one’s prettier than the last."

"Anyway. She’s coming soon. Thomas is picking her up. I’ll show Kim the room where she can sleep. I’m assuming my sister will bring Rosie back soon. I’ve already texted that I’ll be at the mansion until the end of the week, but she hasn’t responded."

"Good thing you were at your apartment Monday morning. Imagine if she’d brought Rosie there and you didn’t know."

"Especially since she had that cereal. That could’ve ended badly…"

I can’t have that in the house anymore.

"But the cocoa is really delicious. I wouldn’t have thought oat milk and sweetener could taste that good."

"True. I’ll look up some more recipes and cook with Rosie—semolina pudding with pureed raspberries. Or pancakes. You can often replace sugar. I’ll still give her insulin, but not as much. You can do a lot with the right diet."

"So brave, the little one. When you’re healthy, you sometimes forget how lucky you are."