“Between my father, sister, and myself, Molly doesn’t spend that much time here. But when she does, I like her to…” He presses his lips together, his eyes following Molly as she picks a teddy up from on top of a beanbag and starts talking to it.
“You like her to have her own space to play.” I smile at him, a pang of sympathy tugging at my chest. He’s clearly torn about having to bring her here sometimes when work gets in the way. He might be a billionaire, but I know a father’s guilt when I see it.
“I used to go to work with my father a lot as a kid. I loved it,” I tell him. “It helped me to appreciate how hard he worked for both of us.”
“Both of you?”
I nod, my breath catching at how intense his eyes are when they’re laser-focused on me.
“Yeah, just us. My mother passed away when I was a kid.”
“I’m sorry,” he says in a tone one degree warmer than his sub-zero business-like one.
“Thanks.” I gaze around the room. “So you want me to play with Molly in here, and you’ll be in there?” I gesture to the giant corner office that has a direct line of sight into this room. It’s obviously been set up specifically like this so he can see inside from his office without obstruction. “It’s like a fish tank. Will I find diamonds in this one like the one downstairs?”
Nerves make me laugh, but it withers as he remains silent.
“With your attention on my daughter, even if there were, I don’t expect you’ll have time to notice.”
“No, of course not,” I agree.
His eyes narrow as he stares at me like I’m a bug under a microscope. “Arabella gave you a glowing recommendation,” he says slowly, like he’s failing to understand his own words.
“She did?” I can’t help the surprise in my voice. His PA is lovely, and I enjoy chatting with her when she comes in for their coffee. But it’s always during the morning rush, so we barely exchange more than a few words before she’s gone again.
“Shouldn’t she have?” he rasps.
The intensity of his scrutiny steps up a level, making my stomach twist. “No, no, of course. That’s really nice of her, and I love kids. Molly and I will have fun while you make your call. And I’ve never so much has had a parking ticket. Lawabiding citizen right here.” I tap the center of my rib cage and the ID rattles against my shirt.
I swallow as he stares at me.
“Molly?” he calls, his eyes trained on mine. “Daddy will be back soon, okay? Tate’s going to stay with you.”
“Okay,” a little voice calls back.
“Give your details to Cara and she’ll wire five hundred dollars to your account before you leave.”
“Five hundred? For twenty minutes?” I gape at him. That’s enough to get a couple of weeks’ worth of the good groceries for Dad and me.
His brows flatten “Of course… this was short notice. I’ll tell Cara one thousand. Now, please, excuse me.”
He walks to the door before calling back to Molly. “See you in a while, Sweetheart.”
Then he closes it, leaving us inside.
7
SULLIVAN
“We’re already on it.Fabienne won’t know what hit them.”
“Mm.” I grunt, pacing back and forth behind my desk as Jones, the guy who heads Beaufort Diamonds legal team reels off a list of infractions he’s going to hit them with over the desk phone speaker.
I stop and brace both hands on top of my desk just as Molly giggles at something Tate says to her. Tate’s laughing too as she glances up and sees me watching her. Her smile falters and she looks away, her attention returning to Molly as I continue staring at her.
“Just a small glitch, don’t worry,” Jones continues as I lean over my desk like if I only move an inch closer I’ll be able to hear whatever it is that’s so funny it has my daughter gripping her sides in stitches as she laughs.
I love that laugh. Ilivefor that laugh.
