Eligible Ex-husband - Marie Johnston Page 0,57

weighing his words down. “You were honest with me, but you weren’t straightforward. If I fuck up again, you gotta tell me. Flat out tell me.”

My nod is shaky. Honest, but not straightforward. I think of all the times I commented on his long hours, his absences, how he should’ve made the preschool graduation program since it was in the evening and not during the day when he’s with clients.

Then I think of his responses. He can’t pick his client’s time zones. It’s the cost of growing. He can’t waste the money Liam left for him. Working from home is too disruptive.

And I left it. I kept leaving it as his final word until I left him.

“Okay,” I say roughly. “I’ll be straightforward.”

His nod is the final boardroom deal one. We have the final terms of our arrangement.

Chapter 17

Simon

Helena is across from my desk, her expression solemn as she updates me on the replies to the information we sent out yesterday. For the most part, we’re in the clear. Our clients continue to trust us and Mr. Waterson is a prick. But we knew that.

She pushes a lock of hair behind her ear. I’ve never seen her less than put together, but she’s downright haggard today. Her hair isn’t in its normal twist, bun, or clip and there are circles under her eyes.

It’s hard going to work the morning after the Fourth. Last night was probably a late one for her too. It gets dark well after ten p.m. this time of year, creating an early morning after enjoying a night of fireworks. She’s probably just tired.

She checks her notes. “Tomorrow, I’ll upload the job opening and start looking for larger spaces. How many personnel should I make sure it can accommodate?”

Right. My company is growing. It was a big deal to take on Helena and Charlie, and a temporary mollification for my father who thought I should have an entire building to myself with our last name fifteen feet tall and a fleet of financial advisors at my command.

He’ll be delighted to hear I’m expanding. Getting real office staff instead of contracting minor duties. Only he’ll disguise it as critiques and criticisms and couch it in comments about how this should’ve happened years ago—without my brother’s money.

But I’m not expanding for him. I’m doing it for me. And partly for Helena who looks thrashed and like a three-day weekend was half what she needed. I guess it was since she worked part of it.

“Let’s start with a space that can accommodate four employees for now and we’ll see what we find.”

She bobs her head and checks her Apple Watch. “The first of your interviews will be here shortly.”

Shit. I forgot those were today. “How many?”

“Three, but the news station is first, so be prepared for a camera.”

Before I can dwell on how awkwardly crappy it’ll be to field questions about my personal life, there’s a commotion in the main area where Helena’s office is.

“Girls, keep your voices down,” Natalie hisses. “They could be on the phone.”

Helena’s expression lightens when the girls press their face to the plexiglass windows flanking my door, their rainbow shirts and pink leggings instantly brightening the office. She waves them in without asking me first. “No worries. We’re just reviewing the week ahead.”

Natalie pulls the door open. The girls trample in, their arms full of containers. “Sorry. I just wanted to quickly drop off some leftover goodies from yesterday. I didn’t mean to intrude.” She flashes Helena a rueful smile. “I should’ve known better.”

Maddy drops a plastic container on the floor. Celery and carrot sticks rattle inside. She picks it up and shakes it some more. “It’s only the vegetables.”

Helena laughs. “They can take a lot.”

This Helena is one I’ve never seen before. Perhaps it was the tension between me and Natalie that subdued her so much before.

Natalie unloads a jug of lemonade into the fridge and sets a bin of Nana’s cookies on the counter. She pushes her hair off her face and smiles sheepishly at me. I drink in the sight of her—sunglasses tucked into wild curls and bare legs. Not unlike the day we met walking between campus buildings. I saw her and had to get to know her.

It was hard leaving a quiet house after such a fun day yesterday. Everyone was asleep while sun streamed through the windows. I wanted to stay and make a fun breakfast, the kind with Mickey Mouse pancakes, sprinkles, and whipped cream, but I had