Page 21 of Undeniably Corrupt

I thank him as my phone buzzes in my palm. I chew on my lip for a moment, reading her text as I walk over to the elevator.

Mom: Is she still liking her new daycare?

Me: Actually, she’s starting a new one. I got a new job working for Vander Moore as his executive assistant.

Mom: Vander Moore? As in Georgia and Lenox Moore’s son?

Because she can’t mention Cassian. She couldn’t sayyou mean Cassian’s old best friend?She hasn’t mentioned Cass since he died.

Me: Yes. Him. I ran into him, and he offered me the job. They have a daycare here in the building where Hazel is going to start.

Actually, I dropped her off this morning before I went to my clinical, and she seemed to like it, and the teachers were kind and fun and enthusiastic. I watched her a bit on the app as I took the T over to the hospital, and she’s been smiling and playing with other kids, so I’m going to take it as a win.

Mom: Wow. I don’t know what to say.

Me: It’s a good job and will help me a lot financially.

Mom: We could help you with money.

Ice slithers through my veins.

Me: I don’t want his money, and you know that. I gotta go. I don’t want to be late. It’s my first day in the new job. Love you.

Mom: Love you too.

I climb onto the elevator and blow out long, even breaths as I shove any useless emotion about my parents aside. It doesn’thelp, and no good will come of it. Instead I focus on the asshole waiting for me. I don’t want to see Vander. Unless I can strangle him.

The elevator doors part on the sixteenth floor, and Champagne is right here to greet me. “For the record, I didn’t know what he did. I wasn’t part of that. But whatever he did to get you to say yes, I’m glad.”

Obviously, I said yes. There was no way I could say no, and after filling out ten thousand forms and practically signing a blood oath, here I am. It’s Monday after my hospital clinical, and I’m angry, annoyed, and hateful. And holding onto those because I know how to work with them. Vander may have hired me, but that doesn’t mean I have to be nice to him or even grateful.

“I hope you know I’d never have brought you here if I knew he got you fired. He just seems to know me too well. I saw him talking to you last week from outside the café when I came looking for him, and he rarely talks to people, so I thought… I don’t know. I thought maybe he’d like you and it would be a good fit. That’s all. I swear.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you saying that. And not knowing what he was up to. He seems to know how to get everyone right at their sticky spot so no blame.”

“I replaced his coffee with decaf, and considering he drinks more caffeine than any human I’ve ever met, he’s been feeling the difference.”

I snicker. “That’s diabolical. Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

“Something tells me we’ll be fast friends. I’m glad you’re here. Let me show you where you’ll be working. He was very clear that you have an office. You look beautiful, by the way. I love your dress.”

“Thank you!”

I preen a bit at that as we walk down the hall, the same as we did the last time I was here, only now I’m not dressed like a college kid in old sneakers and jeans. I had to go out over the weekend and buy some professional-looking clothes since I had none. I actually did quite well at the second-hand store, but still, the shopping trip put yet another hole in my wallet, and payday here isn’t for another two weeks.

Part of me feels like I caved. Like I handed over a piece of my soul to the man whose motives I’m not entirely clear on. But at the same time, what he’s offering me is too good to pass up. It’s resurrection. It’s freedom. It’s hope. It’s the future. Not just for me, but for Hazel too.

Still, other than the responsibilities of my job, I plan to stay as far away from Vander Moore as possible.

“Here we are.” Champagne opens the door to an office that has a large, dark wood desk with two monitors, a laptop, an iPad, and an iPhone sitting on top of it. That’s all fine. It’s the other laptop on top of the round table along with a wall that’s entirely comprised of children’s toys, books, and puzzles that has me curious.

“Um.”

“He said between school and your hours here, there might be times when your daughter has to come up to the office and hang out while you finish up since the daycare closes at six.”

My jaw might be on the floor.

“So he had you get all of this for Hazel?”