Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 60131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
“In that case, she’s also a liar.”
“I hate you, Uncle Brooks.” Her voice cracked. “I really hate you.” She rushed out of the room.
I watched her disappear in disbelief.
Olivia had never spoken to me in that way before. Sure, she’d been upset with me about small things here and there, and I’d been frustrated with her as well, but hate?
Never.
I leaned back and waited for her to return and apologize.
Preferably before the twins wake up…
Several minutes passed, and the only movement in this room was from William rolling over to face Charlotte.
“I hate you, Uncle Brooks.” Her words continued to play in a loop, and as much as I wanted to deny it, they hurt like hell.
Deciding to be the bigger person, I walked down the hall to her bedroom and knocked on the door.
“Olivia?” I asked. “Olivia, we need to talk.”
“Go away.”
“After we talk,” I said. “Can I come in?”
She didn’t answer.
“I’m coming in,” I said, pushing the door open.
I headed for my usual seat, but it wasn’t there. None of the decor I was used to seeing was.
Gone were the airy skies and custom air balloons that an artist charged me thousands of dollars to create. The walls were now painted in a stunning coral-pink sunset, accented by white and purple iron butterflies and cloud-shaped bookshelves.
Her white sleigh bed had been replaced with an elegant grey tufted king, and the teddy bear collection was nowhere to be found.
Only more butterflies.
The more I looked around, the more I realized that this better reflected her personality.
When the hell did all this happen?
“Olivia?” I sat on the edge of her bed. “Olivia, turn around and talk to me.”
She rolled over with teary eyes.
“Why do you hate me?” I asked.
“Because you took away Harlow,” she said. “She was starting to become my friend.”
“You can make better friends,” I said. “I could’ve sworn you didn’t like her anyway.”
“I was just holding out because I didn’t think she’d last.” She sniffled. “I really liked her, and the twins did, too.”
“The twins are still learning that crayons don’t belong in their mouths. They don’t know much of anything.”
“They don’t cry when you leave for work like they did with the other nannies.” She didn’t laugh at my joke. “They listen to every page of Daddy Loves Me when she reads it. They never did that with anyone else; they don’t even make it the whole way through when you read.”
“I’m sorry that you’re upset, Olivia, but I did what was best.”
“For us or for you?”
We’ve officially spent too much time together.
“You might like your new nanny more,” I offered. “That seems to be the pattern lately with each nanny lasting longer than the one before, right?”
She turned away and pulled a blanket over her head.
“Get out of my room, Uncle Brooks. I would like to be left alone.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I mean every word I say.” She sounded just like me. “Should I say them in French for you to better understand?”
TWENTY-EIGHT
HARLOW
“So, you’d rather take out a loan at a crazy high interest rate than go back to a freakin’ billionaire and get the money he owes you?” Sasha glared at me via video chat.
“I’m not taking anything from that asshole ever again. He’s given me enough shit.”
“You know, you’ve done some incredibly stupid things since I’ve known you, but this takes the number one spot.”
“He fired me for taking her to a play, Sasha!” I still couldn’t believe it. “A play! You should’ve seen the way he peeled off the money. He made me feel like I was disposable.”
Her expression softened, and she sighed.
“Okay, I get it. Do you want me to pick it up for you, then?” she asked. “You can’t afford to miss a savings deposit for your bakery. That’s what really matters, remember?”
“I know.” I nodded. “Would you really do that for me?”
“Of course.” She smiled. “I’ll get it first thing tomorrow, and I’ll see you at a much-deserved happy hour.”
“I’ll be there early.” I ended the call.
Even though I didn’t owe him anything, it didn’t feel right to take my anger out on Olivia. I pulled out a gift I’d bought her and searched for an envelope.
As I was sealing it, my doorbell sounded.
“Coming!”
I opened the door and found myself face to face with Mr. Dawson.
My brain short-circuited at the sight of him in a black V-neck T-shirt and grey sweatpants.
“Good evening, Miss Hawthorne,” he said, his voice deep.
I didn’t answer.
“You left something behind at my house.”
He held out an envelope, but I didn’t move to take it.
“Do you have a minute?” he asked.
“I’m in the middle of job searching, so not really.” I paused. “Then again, is there a code word that billionaire overlords use in the descriptions, so I can make sure my next boss isn’t an asshole?”
He had the audacity to smile.