“I’m mentoring a kid for Maddox.”
“That’s wonderful…isn’t it?” Mom turns off the burner.
“If he doesn’t rob me or try to take over the company, it might be.”
Dad chuckles. “So, you’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Kinda. I shrug.
Hope hops into the room. “I’m ready, Nonno. Wait until you see this place. The food is amazing.” She runs over to her nonno and threads her arm through his. “You can have my first cup of coffee.”
The fact that Dad can hold back a groan of fear is only slightly surprising. He’ll probably even choke it down with a smile. It’s not that Hope can’t cook when she sets her mind to it. It’s just that she rarely sets her mind to cooking with as spoiled as we’ve made her…I’ve made her. But how can I not spoil my baby girl?
“Let me get a picture.” Mom runs up with her camera, and we follow Hope to the door.
It’s like her first day of school, except Mila isn’t here crying and begging to go to school with Hope. That was a long year for Mom and my sister. Will this be a long one for me?
***
It’s not often that I get grumpy. My family is healthy and happy…and there aren’t any mafia wars happening at the moment. But pulling the door open to face Everett Jaymes definitely makes me irritable. “Come.” I turn and walk away. He can follow me or walk away. That’ll tell me about his character.
For a tall kid, he’s a bit on the skinny side. Is that just his age, or is it a sign of his time on the streets? Either way, it can be fixed. My mom and Nonna both know how to keep us fed, and the kid can start working out here and at the gym on Willow Street.
That is if he’s everything Maddox says he is.
“You’re not dressed like a butler.”
He’s not timid around adults. That’s a good sign. “Nope.” A high school t-shirt and a pair of sweats wouldn’t be the traditional outfit of any paid employee. Though comfort is a priority at my company. Only upper management even wears a suit, and they usually only do it for big meetings.
“Which either makes you security—”
As big as I am, that’s a fair assumption.
“—or you’re Vincenti’s kid.”
Also true, but not in the way he means. I stop inside Dad’s office. Everett hasn’t reached a level of trust to enter my office. He might never reach that level, considering my office is a few rooms down from my daughter’s bedroom, and just the idea of him anywhere near it makes me want to kill him. The sheer intimidation factor of Dad’s desk is the reason it’s the perfect spot for this meeting. “Sit.”
“So, what’s it like to work for your dad?”
“Terrifying.” The truth of that statement won’t be explained today or ever.
“What? Maddox said the internship was arranged. I knew this was a waste of time. Some billionaire tech mogul isn’t going to hire a kid off the street and mentor him.” Everett moves to get up.
“Stay.”
“I’m not a dog.”
But you’re just as irritating as an untrained one. “There are three rules.”
“Don’t do rules.”
“Then leave if you’re too afraid to even try.”
“I’m not afraid.” He puffs up.
Oh yes, you are. And you’re going to be terrified by the time you walk out of this room. “Then do you want to hear the rules?”
“Fine, tell me.” Everett folds his arms across his scrawny chest.
