“Please don’t let Mr. Carmichael hear you say it like that,” she murmurs. “He’ll lose his mind. Anika wasn’t always this way.”
There’s something in her tone that makes me pause, but she moves on before I can ask.
“It’s shared custody,” she continues. “Sebastian’s usually here Monday through Thursday, though it can change. We have a nanny, Alga, so he won’t fall under your responsibilities. But if she’s off sick, you may need to step in until Ray arranges cover.”
“Okay . . . that sounds fine.”
“I should have mentioned it sooner,” she adds, apologetic. “There’s just so much to go through. I’ll leave you my number in case you need advice once I’m gone.”
“That would be amazing,” I say, letting out a small breath. “I have a feeling I’m going to mess up more than once.”
Catherine smiles knowingly. “It happens. Just . . . try not to let Ray see it.”
I huff a quiet laugh. “Does he get nicer over time?”
Her smile falters, and my stomach drops. I wince slightly as her eyes flick past me.
He’s behind me, I can sense him.Shit.
Catherine offers me an encouraging smile, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Wynter.” My name lands like a warning. “A word.” Dread fills my stomach.
He leads me to the private elevator.
I’ve only ever used it to get to and from the penthouse, but this time he presses a different button. The doors slide open on the floor below, revealing a spacious office.
He gestures me forward, guiding me across the room until I’m standing in front of his desk. The view behind it stretches across London’s skyline, all glass and steel and endless grey. I don’t know how he gets any work done with a view like this.
“Sit,” he orders.
I lower myself into a plush purple chair, perching on the edge as he takes his seat behind the desk.
“Did you look over the paperwork?”
“I gave it to Catherine,” I say quickly. “All signed.”
He nods once. “Anika wants me to take you home later to pick up more of your things.”
My stomach drops. The image of him standing outside my crumbling apartment block flashes into my mind, and heat creeps up my neck.
I shake my head, forcing a polite smile. “That’s okay, I can manage.”
“Anika insisted,” he says. “Three o’clock.” It’s not a question.
I nod, already planning how to avoid the worst of the embarrassment.
“I trust Catherine filled you in on Sebastian?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” His expression hardens slightly. “Under no circumstance do you let his father into the building. Not even if Anika tells you to.”
I blink. “Okay.”
“I handle collections and drop-offs, so it shouldn’t be an issue,” he continues. “But if he shows up, you turn him away.”
I nod again.
