Innocent Getaway (Innocence #2)(16)
I was a workaholic already and didn’t have a social life outside of work. When I did find myself out for the evening, women were just attracted to the suit and the money. Women made things messy and complicated, and I didn’t need either in my life. Debra and I both had the same motivation and drive, and neither of us had time for love. Our arrangement was the perfect, until Debra suddenly passed away, leaving me to pick up all the pieces of their family. A family that wasn’t even really mine.
“She’ll be here tomorrow. She’s packing up the rest of her stuff from the boarding school today. She graduated last weekend,” Jim says, shaking me from my thoughts.
“I’m just supposed to take in a girl I’ve never met and let her live with me?” I snap, still agitated and taking it out on Jim. What the f*ck do I know about raising a young girl, or even making a home for one? I knew nothing about family.
“The girl does have a trust fund.”
“It’s not about the money. Can’t she just stay at the boarding school? She turns eighteen in a week. Legally she won’t need a guardian after that, and I’m sure she can find her own place before she starts college in the fall. She’s going to college right?”
I bring up tomorrow's schedule. Fucking hell, I have a dinner meeting I can’t miss with one of the firm's biggest clients.
“I’m not sure of her plans for college, but as for the next week she’s solely your responsibility. Do with her what you wish.”
My cock jerks at his offhand comment. Do with her what you wish. As if she’s mine.
Apparently I need to get laid. I’m getting hard at the idea of owning some young thing that doesn't know what to do with a dick. I rub my eyes and try to think of the last time I had sex.
Debra and I might have been married, but we never shared more than a quick embrace for public events. All I’ve had to get me off over the years is my hand. While we were married, the last thing I needed was some scandal about how our nuptials were a sham or that I was cheating. After her father passed, we talked about getting a divorce, but we never got around to it with our busy schedules.
We never planned for anything in the event of something happening to either of us, and now I’m a widower...and apparently a stepfather.
Well, I guess I’m a stepfather for the next week or so. I can handle her for a week. I can keep busy while she stays in the condo. I’m never there anyway, and how hard can it really be? I’ll look into helping her find a condo to stay at until it’s time for her to start college. I bet there are probably a few units available in my building, and it’s the least I can do. Her mother and I may have not been close, but we did help each other out when needed.
“Fine, I’ll leave a key for her at the front desk for when she arrives, and I’ll have one of the rooms set up for her. Is there anything else I should know? Any problems?”
“I don’t think she’ll give you any problems. Her academic records are spotless with no mention of bad behavior. She volunteered at the library, and it seems that’s where she spent most of her time, from what little info I could gather on her. Hell, I was shocked when I found out Debra had a kid, she never talked about anything but work. But she seems like a good kid. I don’t think she’ll be much of a burden.”
I nod my head in agreement. I knew Debra for years, lived with her, and often forgot she had a daughter. It wasn't until Jim was going over and settling Debra’s estate that we remembered her. It’s probably why she missed the funeral. I don’t think she knew about it.
“Well, I guess that’s settles it.” There’s no point to fighting the issue and look like a f*cking *. How hard could it be to live with a seventeen-year-old girl for a few weeks?
That next evening….
The house line rings, and I know it’s the doorman calling. They’re the only ones with the number. Thank f*ck she’s here before I need to head out for my business dinner. I at least want to show her the place before I have to go, but I thought the doorman would just give her the key. I don’t know the girl, but I don’t want her to be alone when she’s here for the first time. I can make some kind of effort, but I thought she would’ve been here hours ago.
“Frank,” I say, knowing it’s him. He was at the lobby desk when I got home, and he informed me she still hadn’t picked up the key.
“Good evening, Mr. Archer. A Ms. Sullivan is here to see you.” Well shit, I might have welcomed this if Debra’s daughter wasn’t going to be here any minute. Holly Sullivan is the daughter of one of the firm’s biggest clients and was well aware that my marriage was one of convenience. On multiple occasions she let me know she’d love to be in my bed.
I’d toyed with the idea years ago. She was hot and exotic looking with long dark hair and even longer legs. But I always decided against it. Now that I was single, coupled with not feeling a woman's body against mine in years, I was beginning to rethink things. She’d be discreet and the goal is mutual—sex.
“Please send Ms. Sullivan up,” I tell Frank before hanging up, grabbing my suit jacket off the back off my chair, and powering off my computer. I figured Holly would be meeting me at the dinner with her father, but I guess there was a change of plans.
Looking in the mirror, I adjust my tie. Maybe Holly and I could go back to her place after dinner. Fuck, I don’t have any condoms, but I bet she does. Holly is walking sex and just what I need. Maybe I could f*ck some of the stress out of my system.