Last on the List (Wait With Me #5)(35)

Adding All-Out Properties to my portfolio will make my multimillionaire status a thing of the past. This will be a game changer for my company.

I press the assistant number on my phone. “Marcia, can you please follow up with Jenson Hunsberger’s assistant and let him know that I emailed him again about the quarterly tax reports for last year? We have asked for it three times already, and our lawyer is growing impatient.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you.” I sigh and sit back in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“And sir, did you decide on bringing a plus-one for the Rainbow Project Gala in Denver? The event is in four weeks, and they need your headcount.”

I exhale heavily. I’ve been avoiding this RSVP because I don’t particularly want to bring a date, but Jenson Hunsberger will be at my table with his wife. I’ve learned from attending enough of these events that it’s much easier to talk business when the partners have someone else to visit with. And Jenson and I will surely have a lot of business to discuss with the impending merger.

Maybe I can bring Henley over from Aspen for the night. I met her years ago when I was selling one of my properties there. She was a broker for a couple who was interested in buying my place. That deal never panned out, but the deal for Henley and me to be fuck buddies when I’m in town ended up okay. She’d be good at an event like this.

“You can put me down for a plus-one,” I reply to Marcia crisply. “And will you call Bettina about having my tux dry-cleaned?”

“Yes, sir.”

I pull out my phone and shoot a quick text to Henley. She responds almost immediately, confirming she is available and would love to come. Good. That’s sorted. Now if only I can get Jenson to follow through with the fucking documents I still need. If I don’t have them before this gala, I will certainly be cornering him at that party to make it happen.

The ache of an oncoming headache hits me, so I reach into my drawer for some Excedrin. I never felt this stressed when I was working from home a couple of weeks ago. Probably because I had a lot to distract my thoughts every day.

Namely, the hot nanny.

I glance back at my phone to see if I have any texts from Cassandra. Last week she would periodically send me photos of her and Everly’s day. She’d keep me posted on what they were up to and cute things Everly would say. On Wednesday she asked me to text Bettina to pick up more fruit because she thought Everly was constipated. Then she texted me two hours later…

Cassandra: Abort fruit gathering mission. Everly has made a deposit at the porcelain bank! Turns out she’s rich! Poop emoji. Poop emoji. Poop emoji.

I was equal parts horrified, amused, and appreciative. I’ve never had this much communication about Everly’s day-to-day life with Jessica. She and Kailey do their thing when they have Everly, and I guess I do mine. But having Cassandra’s regular text messages pinging me throughout the day made me feel connected to them, even from my office. And it sure as hell took away from the stress of my workday.

Now I’ve gone all morning without a peep from her and I have no one to blame but my fucking self.

I check my phone to read the last messages I exchanged with Cassandra.

Me: I’m sorry about last night.

Cassandra: I know, Max.

Me: Are you okay?

Cassandra: Why wouldn’t I be?

Me: Because of what happened between us. Because of what I did.

Cassandra: Relax, Max. I’m not a sexual harassment case you need to worry about. I was a consenting party.

Me: I understand that, but I would also understand if you wanted to quit.

Cassandra: Do you want me to quit?

Me: No…Everly loves you.

Cassandra: The feeling is mutual, so you’re going to have to fire me if you want me to leave.

Me: That won’t be happening. I don’t want to lose you.

Cassandra never replied to that last message, and I spent every minute of today wishing I could unsend that last fucking text. It was too much. “Don’t want to lose her?” My God, I sound like a creep.

She probably thinks I still want her.

And regrettably, I do.

I freaked out Friday night when I realized I attacked her like a starving psychopath…as her boss. Nanny or not, that’s not the way to get into a woman’s bed. She would be well within her right to file a sexual harassment charge against me. I deserve it.

But whether I want her or not is irrelevant. She is Everly’s nanny. We need to stay professional.

My phone beeps before Marcia’s voice echoes through the speaker, “Mr. Fletcher?”

“Yes?”

“You have a surprise visitor out here. Can I send them back?”

“Who is it?” I ask, my brow furrowed.

Everly’s voice whispers so loudly, I can hear it clear as day. “Don’t tell him, Marcia. It has to be a surprise.”

I hear Marcia laugh and then say, “It’s a surprise, sir.”

“Send them in.” I sit back, my heart full because I’m excited to see my kid. Unfortunately, my stomach is in knots because I’m also about to see Cassandra for the first time since Friday night.

“Tis I!” Everly peals as she bursts through my office door. She dead sprints through my expansive space and around my large mahogany desk to throw herself into my arms.

“What a surprise!” I exclaim, my hand cupping the back of her head and noticing she has two bubble braids in today. I pull her away from me to get a look at her as she sits on my lap. Her long legs dangle to the side in a way that makes me sad because she’s growing up way too fast. She beams at me. “We brought you a picnic lunch!”