I shot a look at my potential employer that screamedI TOLD YOU SO. He just shook his head and took a step back, opening up the door.
“Now that you’re here to give her peace of mind, can we please stop putting my business out for my neighbors?”
“Hush up, Money. Nobody can even see your front door from the street. Smart move, by the way. Let’s get business taken care of. You don’t have long before you’re going to need to get her from the hospital. The last thing we want to do is impede your ability to get her or live life. That’s where Sterling comes in, right?”
She was slipping off her shoes and speaking as if she were right at home in his house. I knew they didn’t have that kind of relationship because despite her Black not cracking; she carried herself like she was older than him. Add that to the large wedding set on her left finger that had to total close to twelve carats, she struck me as more of his sister.
I’d followed behind them, keeping my shoes on and trying not to pay attention to his home. It was nice, but had a bachelor air to it. I could tell when someone had new money because they either did too much trying to fit in or clung too closely to their past taste to prove they hadn’t changed. This man was the latter. He had leather furniture in his formal living room and a TV that was probably taller than me over his fireplace. I understood trying to find your style when you were out on your own. I’d decorated my house to suit what I thought were my tastes but it turned out to be a mini replica of my childhood home. It wasn’t until my mother came over and approved of everything I’d done that I realized nothing in it had been to my taste. I’d selected everything with her in my head telling me what was right and wrong. I wanted to rip everything out and start all over again when I was done with this contract. The rest of the house seemed to echo with emptiness. It was like the only furniture he had was the couch and the TV. He was either house poor or hadn’t bothered to put anything in here. Even if he’d just moved in, surely he had furniture from his last place.
Maybe this is his first season. He looks very young.
They got seated on the massive sofa in the living room and I waited on someone to say something. I had all of my information sent over electronically, including my certification and resume so I waited for the grilling to get started. I’d sat down on the armchair across from them and kept an inviting smile on my face.
“Listen, I’m sure you understand this situation is unique. Your employer has stated you have no issues signing an NDA?”
I nodded because that was just standard for the families we worked with. “None. I’ve already signed one with the agency that determines you all can sue me should I reveal anything that Mr.—?” I waited for him to fill in the gaps of his name and I could see his agent’s brow furrow and she glanced his way.
“You didn’t introduce yourself?” Her tone was one that showed she definitely played the big sister role because she was looking at him with disgust only someone he respected could give.
“I normally don’t have to.” He looked bashful and completely embarrassed for his faux pas.
“Aldrich, please do not treat this girl like a groupie. This agency was the only one I vetted before my mother moved down here to help me out. You’ve already said you don’t want Ms. Sonya to uproot her life to come to Texas. That leaves you figuring this out with her the best way that you can. So, please introduce yourself like you have some damn sense.”
She sat back and folded her arms, waiting on him to do what she demanded. I wanted to laugh so badly because she really didn’t give him a chance to boss up. I knew right then I was gonna really like Billy. She was the lady I wished I had in my circle growing up. Even though she was giving him hell it came from a place of love and even her chastisement was gentle.
He sighed as if she were annoying him before he gave me what I guess was supposed to be a smile. “I’m Aldrich Dinero. I play for theDesperados. I told you I am a professional athlete. My child’s mother passed away in a car accident—”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.” That explained his needing to have a caregiver for her so early. If she was a NICU warrior that also meant she might have complications.
“Why?” His brows furrowed and Billy’s head dropped into her hand as if she was defeated.
“Why what?” I glanced between the two of them like I’d missed something important.
“Why are you sorry? You didn’t know the bitch and neither did I.”
“Dinero!” Billy’s eyes were wide as though she were trying to get him to act right but he sat next to her defiantly unbothered by what he’d said.
My face must have shown how horrified I was at his words because he took a deep breath and seemed to regroup before he spoke again. “Anyway, I have camp coming up, I don’t know a lot about raising kids so I need someone who will be here full time. I’m going to pull my weight with what I can—”
I held up my hand to interrupt because I just wanted to know the man’s name not a full rundown of his stats and history. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me. I’m not judging. I offered condolences because I was unaware of the precarious nature of this situation. I won’t reference it again.” My professionalism had to kick in because there was no other way that we could move and I could work for someone who seemed so heartless about what happened to the mother of his child. My radar for sussing out who was a piece of shit in the room had to be broken. He definitely didn’t give off narcissist-psychopath vibes.
Billy glared at him for a moment longer before she turned to me. The annoyance melted off her features and she triedto muster a smile. “It’s not your fault. We saw you have a background in nursing.”
I nodded again looking around for some sign of life in this house. “Yes, is the baby medically fragile?”
“No, she just needed to stay in the NICU to ensure everything with her was well given how she entered the world.”
A vague answer, but I was truly starting to get concerned about what I was signing up for.
“I’m assuming that you need someone with a medical background to ensure she’s not suffering any ill-effects?”
“The baby is fine. No issues. He’s probably a hypochondriac though.”
Mr. Dinero leaned forward and waved his hand in the air between where Billy and I were sitting. “I’m sitting right here.”
“Yep, with your mouth shut not saying anything so I have to do the talking for you, apparently.” She checked him as eloquently and lovingly as I could imagine and my respect for her instantly deepened. She really didn’t take any gruff from him despite her being his agent.
To his credit his features softened and he took another deep breath like he realized how he was acting was fucked up. He ran a broad, veiny hand over the mass of curls that sat atop his head before he looked at me and spoke up. “My fault. I’m not trying to have you think I’m a fuck nigga. I’m just…new to this.” Again, not a lot said but the words felt weighted as hell.
