“Don’t,” I say weakly, following her gaze to the sleek black town car that’s pulled up outside.
Cliff opens the rear door, then there he is—Sullivan Beaufort, looking every inch the cold and callous billionaire that I now know him to be.
He’s in a charcoal-gray three-piece suit today, and he’s wearing his permanent scowl. He fastens his jacket and nods at Cliff. For a moment, he pauses. And a pathetic part of me waits to see if he’ll look this way. If there’ll be a flash of regret on his face or guilt. Something that indicates he knows I’m not a thief like he’s making out.
But then he turns, leaning into the backseat.
Seeing him sends bile rushing up to my throat. But it’s the sight of Molly that forces a quiet cross between a gasp and a sob from my lips.
She’s wearing a bunny onesie. It’s cream and fluffy. A tiny part of me wonders if she chose it because of me. Because when we were in the grocery store the other evening she pointed to a picture of a rabbit on a cereal box and said ‘Bumper’. As if to answer my question, Molly reaches out with her tiny hand and points to the front window of Caffeine Couture. But with a single swift shake of his head, Sullivanstrides away with her in his arms without even a glance my way.
My throat thickens and I drop my gaze to the counter and grab a cloth, scrubbing the gleaming surface hard enough to make my fingers bleed. I’m stupid for getting attached so quickly. Looking after Molly was a job. I was just an employee. But damn it, I’m going to miss that sweet little smile and those dark curls so much.
“He’s a grade A jerk,” Ashley spits.
“I can’t say I disagree,” I mumble as we get back to work.
We’re nearing the end of the morning rush when a head of ice-blonde hair with a voice as cold to match approaches the counter.
“Latte, double-shot, and..?” I ask, waiting for her to give me the second order for her own drink.
Cara’s glossy lips curl into a condescending smile. “Oh, that’s such good service that you remember his order, like you actually know him. But I’m not getting Mr. Beaufort’s coffee from here. He told me this place was strictly off-limits from now on.” She gazes around at the candy pink walls, scrunching her nose up in distaste. “He said he can no longerstomach it. Seems it wasn’t to his liking, after all.”
I fight to maintain a professional expression, aware of the line of people behind her. “Something for yourself, then?” I ask politely, swallowing past the lump in my throat.
Can no longer stomach it? What a rude ass.The coffee here is amazing, and everyone knows it. Ashley’s built up an incredible reputation. His problem isn’t with the coffee. It’s with me.
Cara purses her lips and flicks her eyes up to the menu board behind my head. “I guess I’ll take aCappuccino.”
I ring it up for her, then Ashley steps up close behind me as Cara moves along to the waiting area.
“I’ll switch. You make the witch’s brew for her. And if you feel the need to spit in it, I won’t say a word.”
She arches a suggestive brow at me, and I smirk. As tempting as the idea is, I’d never do a thing like that. My father always says when people are jerks to you, they’re the problem, not you. And that they’re probably unhappy about something in their life. Using that logic, Sullivan must be downright miserable.
I make Cara’s drink and use a stencil to put Caffeine Couture’s logo on it. My lips quirk as I picture putting a dick on Sullivan’s one, like Ashley suggested, if she’d ordered one for him.
“How cute.” Cara sneers, as I slide the takeaway cup to her across the counter.
“Thanks.” I smile brightly and check no one is in earshot. “I don’t have any stuck-up Bitch stencils, so I went with this one.”
She stares at me in shock and her glossy lips drop open. “Excuse me?”
“Enjoy your drink.” I keep my smile painted on as she scoffs and looks me up and down like I’m something she stepped in.
It’s petty and unlike me. But after the shit I’ve been dealt over the past twelve hours, I had to say something. And it feels good to wipe that smug look off her face. It’s not like I’ll be seeing her now that I’m no longer watching Molly. She and I both know she only came in here to gloat. She won’t be coming back.
Cara huffs, spinning on her designer heels and clicking over the floor toward the door. She glances back at me, pausing for effect, then holds her hand out andopens her manicured fingers in a flourish, letting the untouched drink drop into the trash can.
15
SULLIVAN
“What’s made you so pissed?”
“What makes you think I’m pissed?”
Rafe’s rich brown eyes glimmer through the phone’s screen, and he lets out a deep chuckle. He holds his hands out, his palms facing up as he leans back in the chair in his office. “Fair enough, if you don’t want to talk about it.”
