Eligible Ex-husband - Marie Johnston Page 0,76

peers at me. “Didn’t you know?”

“He hasn’t mentioned anything.” Charlie and I barely cross paths. Our interaction is mostly through messages.

“I thought I should resign in time for you to replace me before he leaves.”

“No, I understand. I’m sad to see you go. You’re good at what you do.” I just wish she would’ve talked to me.

And then what would’ve changed? I would’ve worked more and my home life would’ve suffered.

The weight of her decision lifts from her shoulders and she’s back to confident professional. “Do you want me to comb through the applicants and see if there’s one who’d be a good fit for this position?”

That means I have to train them. Looks like moving my office is put on hold. “No, I’ll wait on that, but you can start writing up a job description for your position.”

We transition to normal beginning of the day business talk and I try to concentrate on more than wondering what the fuck I’m going to do.

I manage to be mentally present for all my clients, but the day stretches longer than I want. I send Helena home after a normal workday. Her last two weeks with me don’t need to be miserable.

They might be bad for me.

The later I work, the clearer it is: I need an executive assistant and I need one fast.

I know of one.

No, she wouldn’t go for it. We’ve been there before.

But we’ve been there and it really worked—for years.

I close down everything and shuffle my papers into a pile, then lock up the office. I breeze home, thinking about how I’ll approach Natalie with my suggestion. It’s got to be a plan that works for us both. After last night, it’s my priority.

I rush home and get there in time for bedtime. The girls give me hugs and then rush upstairs for storytime.

Natalie lingers behind. “How’d it go?”

I lift a shoulder. “As well as it could’ve. I’ll be there for storytime and we can talk after that.”

The girls con us both into reading a book they’ve each picked out for us. Four books later, Natalie and I emerge from their bedroom.

She floats down the stairs and goes right for the dishwasher. There’s a full load inside and a pile of dishes by the sink. I jump in to help unload.

“What did Helena say?” She sounds tired. With both Abby and Maddy, her first trimesters were ridden with fatigue and stomach issues. This one seems to be no different.

“She’s burned out. Everything you warned me about.”

She nods, but doesn’t throw around an I told you so. “I hope she finds a good fit. Did she give longer than a two-week notice?”

“No.” After seeing how determined she was to be done, I think I’m lucky to get that much time. I take a deep breath. Time to go for it. “So, we were going to hire an assistant for her, but now that she’s done, it’s a higher priority to get a new executive assistant.”

“Makes sense.” She stacks plates and I get the cups and glasses.

I go for the hook, hoping like hell she’ll be receptive. Because if she’s not, I have no idea what I’ll do. There’s only one me and I’d need to clone myself a few times to do everything I want to.

“So, I was thinking that since you’re starting a business similar to what I’m looking for, I can hire you.”

She stills, a pile of plates in her hands. “As an assistant? But you need to hire one full time anyway.”

She’s cautious, but it’s not a no. I can work with not a no. “Right. I can do that, but if you work as my executive assistant for a while, it’d give me time to hire one properly.”

The plates get set down. She presses her fingers to her forehead. “I’d be your executive assistant?”

“Yes.” I tighten my grip around the girls’ red plastic Lego cups. Please. This would solve so many issues for me.

She levels me with a steady gaze. “No.”

Natalie

“No?” Confusion clogs Simon’s dark gaze. He really thought I’d do it.

Anger mounts with old resentments trailing not far behind. Did he think I’d jump up and down, clap my hands together, and rejoice that I got my first client? No. Just, no. “I know how this ends.”

“I only need a little help. It’d be temporary.”

I plant my hands on my hips, trying not to take out the brunt of my irritation on him. My hormones are on a roller coaster ride, I’m tired, and