She smiles, but it doesn’t meet her eyes. “You do too.”
8
SLOANE
I’m shaking as I help Elio into his puffer jacket, gloves, and scarf. I think I’ve blown it. It’s quite possible I’m about to be fired, and I wouldn’t blame Cristian if he does. I’m ashamed Elio was witness to that. I should have bitten my tongue and not retaliated, but no one gets to insult my mother and get away with it. “Are you okay, my little prince?” I ask, brushing hair back off his face.
“I’m awesome.” He flashes me a toothy grin, and I’m reminded of how forgiving children are. “This is the best day ever! I love my daddy so, so much.” His eyes sparkle with blatant joy and love for his father, and memories of similar outings with my mom resurrect in my mind, which only adds to my pain and current anxiety.
Panic swirls in my gut as I zip Elio’s jacket up and move on to his feet. Mom is dead if I lose this job, and I’m as good as dead too if that happens. Sweat rolls down my back, and it’s an effort to keep a smile on my face as Elio regales me with tales of previous bike rides and basketball games while I help him into his boots.
“Ready, bud?” Cristian says from behind me, and my spine automatically stiffens. I finish lacing his boots and straighten up.
“We’re ready, ready, ready!” Elio squeals, jumping up and down.
The resilience of kids is remarkable. “Could I just talk to you for a second?” I ask in a hushed voice, forcing my gaze to hold Cristian’s.
He stares at me for a few beats before slowly nodding. “Grab your coat while I take Elio to Umberto and Clint. They can bring the bikes around the front of the building.”
I nod and take a step forward. “Sloane.” Elio grips my hand, and I look down at him. “You’re not going to leave me too, are you?”
Oh my god. I crouch down in front of him and kiss his soft cheek. “I hope not,” I quietly say, not wanting to lie to the child.
“Sloane will see you downstairs in a few minutes,” Cristian says.
“Okay.” He smiles a happy smile, showcasing the gap in his lower teeth.
Cristian clutches his hand and nods at me. I walk toward the hallway leading to the bedrooms.
“Hurry up!” Elio shouts after me. “You don’t want to be Slowpoke Sloane again!”
I smile despite my fear, wiggling my fingers at him as I back up out of the room.
I’m on autopilot as I head to my bedroom and into the walk-in closet. My measly clothes barely fill one-fifth of the available space, and it’s as pathetic as I am. I pull my black woolen coat off the hanger and switch out my sneakers for boots. As I walk back to the kitchen, I’m devising all kinds of reasons in my head to present to Cristian not to fire me. Yet when I’m confronted with his stern figure, all my calculated composure evaporates, and I burst out crying.
I stand before my new boss like a wet noodle, hugging my arms around my body as tears stream down my face. “I’m so sorry, Cristian,” I say over sobs. “That should never have happened. I hate that it upset Elio.”
“Hey, hey.” Cristian walks toward me, hesitating for a second before he gently pulls me into his arms. “Don’t cry, Sloane.”
“Please don’t fire me.” I beseech him with my eyes, and I’m not opposed to begging on my hands and knees. “If I’d known Elio was there, I swear I wouldn’t have snapped back at her. It’s not an excuse, but she’d been winding me up all morning. Nothing I did was right, and then she insulted my mother, and…” A sob rips from my mouth, and I can do nothing to stop the meltdown. It’s been a long time coming, and while now is not the time to fall apart, I can’t halt it.
“Sloane. Shush.” Cristian presses my head to his chest and runs his hand up and down my back. “Calm down, sweetheart. You’re shaking all over.”
“I can’t lose this job. I need it so badly.”
“I know you do.”
I go rigid in his arms. Surely, that doesn’t mean…
“I know about your mother and the debts,” he adds in a soothing voice. “I’m so sorry you lost her like that, and I can’t begin to imagine how hard it’s been to grieve and lose your home and have all these financial commitments hanging over your head.”
Whoever Pablo hired to create my fake identity and backstory has really done a stellar job. “You must think I’m pathetic,” I mumble against his chest, snuggling in closer. I feel safe in his arms, and I need to cling to that right now. Cristian smells so good, and he’s so warm and solid and strong. I might be imagining it, but his arms seem to hold me tighter.
“I think you’re a young woman who’s had far too much to deal with, and you’re doing the best you can.”
I peer up at him, instantly ensnared by his mesmerizing emerald eyes. I haven’t known the man long, but he has a way of looking at me that is wholly intense and all-consuming. I could easily get addicted to the way it makes me feel. “I promise I will always put Elio first, and nothing like that will happen again. Please don’t fire me, Cristian. Give me a second chance, and you won’t regret it.”
“I’m not firing you, Sloane.”
