“None. Of. Your. Business.” She enunciated each word like I was particularly slow. “I don’t owe you an explanation for my personal life, Mr. Valdez. You pay me to work with Lily, and that’s where your authority ends.”
She pushed past me toward the street, moving fast enough that her bag swung against her hip. I watched her go, torn between irritation and something uncomfortably close to concern.
My driver appeared at my elbow. “Sir? We should leave soon if we want to make your flight.”
“Right.”
I got in the car and settled into the back seat before pulling out my laptop to review notes for tomorrow’s meetings. The car moved into traffic while I read the same paragraph three times without absorbing a single word.
Sarah’s face kept replacing the text on my screen—her expression in that moment before she’d known I was there. The fear had been visceral and raw, and whatever she was dealing with wasn’t small or manageable.
I closed my laptop and looked out the window at the city passing by. None of this was my concern. Sarah Tinsley’s problems were her own. I employed her to help Lily, nothing more, and whatever personal crisis she was navigating had nothing to do with me or my daughter.
But I couldn’t stop seeing the panic in her eyes.
The car merged onto the highway while Boston waited ahead with its meetings and investors and business decisions that actually mattered. I had real problems to focus on, legitimate concerns that deserved my attention.
I opened my laptop again and forced myself to read, to focus, to stop thinking about Sarah Tinsley and whatever she was hiding.
It didn’t work.
CHAPTER 8
Sarah
The penthouse feltdifferent without Hector’s presence—like someone had opened all the windows and let air back into the place. I could breathe easier knowing those dark eyes weren’t tracking my every move.
My days blurred together. Mornings meant scouring job sites for anything that paid more than minimum wage and didn’t require certifications I didn’t have yet. The options were depressing at best, insulting at worst. Most afternoons I spent with Lily, and evenings disappeared into conversations that drained whatever energy I had left.
Colin called on Wednesday while I was heating up instant ramen for the third night in a row.
“So I was thinking,” Colin said when I answered, “Spring break is coming up in two weeks. I could fly back for a bit, spend some time in the city. We haven’t seen each other in months.”
My stomach dropped. “That’s a terrible idea.”
“Wow, thanks. Love you too.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” I stirred my instant ramen harder, scrambling for a convincing excuse. “It’s just, flights are expensive right now. You should save that money.”
“I’ve been picking up extra hours at the library. I can afford it.”
“But you shouldn’t have to spend it on flights. What about that summer program you wanted to apply for? The one in Edinburgh?”
“That’s not until August, and I have plenty of time to save for it.” His voice carried confusion now, maybe a little hurt. “Sarah, I want to come home. I miss you. Is that such a bad thing?”
“Of course not.” Guilt twisted in my chest. “I just think you should use your break to travel around Europe or something. When are you going to get another chance to see Paris or Amsterdam? You’re already over there.”
“I can see Paris anytime. I want to see my sister.” He paused. “Unless you don’t want me there? Are you mad at me about something?”
“No! God, no. I’m not mad.” I set down my fork and pressed a hand to my forehead. “I just think it’s impractical. The flight alone is like six hundred dollars.”
“I don’t care about practical. I care about seeing you.” His voice got quieter. “You’ve been weird lately. Calling all the time but not really saying anything. And now you’re trying to convince me not to visit? What’s going on?”
“Nothing’s going on. I’m fine, and you should stay in London and enjoy your break. Don’t waste time coming back here.”
“Waste time?” Now he sounded hurt for real. “Is that what you think spending time with me is? A waste?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
