Damaged Billionaire Daddy Bear - Leela Ash Page 0,14

a waiting Rolls Royce with tinted windows, his jeans clinging to his muscular thighs as he went.

Of course, he drove a Rolls, Jessica thought, rolling her eyes. What else was new? He was rich, handsome and arrogant as all get out. The more things she learned about him, the more she disliked him. He was obviously the sort of man who thought he could get anything he wanted just because he had money to throw around. He hadn’t thought twice about trying to humiliate her, just because she had made a passing comment about the snobbery she sensed in the place.

“He’s arrogant, insufferable and despicable,” she declared as she stalked toward the daycare center. She just wanted to be with her kids for the rest of the evening and unwind. Exotic Rescue was proving to be a bit more challenging than she had expected. There was so much to do, see and learn. And at least one obnoxious man to avoid.

“Daddy, who was that lady?” Carla piped up, her face alive with curiosity.

“No one important, honey,” he said dismissively. “Just someone…lost.”

But even as he said the words, he felt his entire being constrict in denial. Something about Jessica Harris disturbed him every time he met her. She was far from lost; heck she looked as though she belonged. Even that first day, clad in an awkward suit, she should have stood out like a sore thumb. Instead, she had managed to look beautiful, sophisticated and chic, and she had effortlessly cast everyone else in a shade.

Feline, his daughter’s pet cat, clambered onto her mistress’ lap as the Rolls Royce pulled away. Distractedly, Theodore leaned over to pet the sleek, spoiled cat, but it hissed and dodged his hand.

Carla chuckled, hugging her cat to her chest, “Feline doesn’t like you, Dad. She wants me all to herself. Besides, she is still upset you didn’t let her have extra treats this morning.”

He chuckled, “Lord save me from angry females.”

Chapter 6

“Tell me again why you had to come up with this foolhardy idea,” Jessica whispered furiously, glaring at Maria Henley.

The elderly woman adjusted her matronly frame on her seat as she returned a cool-eyed stare at Jessica. “We routinely reassign exchange professionals, Ms. Harris. It’s how we can ensure that you get the full benefit of the Exotic Rescue experience. Surely, you didn’t think you would be seated behind a desk every day, did ya?”

Framed like that, saying to the question would make her sound like some lazy Daisy and the look in Mrs. Henley’s eyes behind her glasses said she knew that. Jessica glared.

“I don’t have a problem with getting my hands dirty—”

Mrs. Henley chose that exact moment to sweep her from head to toe, giving her flowery sundress and flat sandals a speaking look.

“I am more than happy to work,” Jessica continued undeterred. “I would just prefer not to be assigned to Mr. Cooper.”

Maria’s eyebrow cocked up, “And why is that? Mr. Cooper knows everything there is to know about this here rescue and all the animals in it. If you are wanting to really learn and grow, you could do much worse than him.”

Jessica grumbled under her breath, “I prefer to do much worse than him.”

“What was that?” Maria demanded with a gimlet-eyed glare.

Jessica wisely shook her head, “Nothing. Just, um, humming to myself. Uh, where do I begin?”

Two seconds with the other woman had shown her that Mrs. Henley positively doted on Theodore with an almost maternal possessiveness. If she kept up her reluctance to work with him, it was sure to rub the other woman up the wrong way and that wouldn’t do at all.

Mrs. Henley was all smiles as she handed Jessica a small notebook and shooed her in the direction of Theodore’s office.

Jessica gave his secretary, Anita, a small nod of greeting and then she breezed past into his office. Theodore looked up, his face wiped clean of all expression but calm professional interest.

“How may I help you?”

“I have been assigned to work with you this week,” she told him. She gestured uncomfortably toward the door she had just come through. “Maria seems to think…” she trailed off, unable to add anything else.

Something like anger glinted in his eyes but it was there for a mere nanosecond before it was quickly masked.

“Of course, Ms. Harris. Please take a seat,” he said, indicating the three chairs arranged in front of his massive desk.

Jessica sank warily into it. She was fast learning that Theodore Cooper was a man