“I trust you, Jess.”
The words hit me right in the feelings.
I smile, hope blooming in my chest, as Logan presses the button and makes the call.
While Mackie puts Jeremy on hold, an idea pops into my head.
“Can I take her with me?” I ask.
The question comes out light, easy, like it’s nothing more than a practical staffing decision.
Like it isn’t going to matter.
I say it with such confidence, so sure of myself, so relieved to have something positive to focus on, that I don’t realize that this simple, harmless request is about to change my life and not for the better.
Part II
Chapter Fifteen
Jess
“Mackie,” I call when I see her passing my office.
She pokes her head in. “Yes, Mrs. West?” she says with a little smirk.
I narrow my eyes at her, she’s lucky she’s good at her job.
I point to the folder sitting on my desk. “Can you have these sent downstairs?”
Hesitantly, she steps inside and picks it up. “I’ll send them right away.”
She lingers by the door instead of leaving.
“What?” I ask.
“It’s just… uh…” She shifts her weight. “Mr. West and Arnon left for the day.”
“Left?” I repeat. “It’s three-thirty.”
I grab my phone, scrolling for a message in case I missed something.
Nothing.
Well, not nothing. I have messages. Just none from Logan or his pesky new assistant. Sorry, manager.
“When did they leave?” I ask.
Mackie glances over her shoulder, then quietly closes my office door.
“Mr. West brought the kids to daycare,” she says, lowering her voice, “then left with Arnon. Ron saw them on his coffee run.”
I clench my jaw.
“And why wasn’t I told?”
She opens her mouth, then pauses.
“I’m not yelling,” I say quickly.
