new assistant. One who handles just my personal affairs. It will be good for her to practice. She’s never done anything like this before.”
“You hired someone untrained? You? Landry Astor, hired someone to help in your personal life, untrained?” he asks.
Clearing my throat, I look around the room, sweat trickling on my forehead. “I did,” I admit. “She is just out of college, she needs experience,” I halfway lie.
I do not need rumors and speculation to begin, not when I’ve done nothing except imagine Tennessee’s lips on my body. No, I do not need Susan poking around, wondering why I hired Tennessee as my personal assistant and not simply an intern, when I know without a doubt that she believes there is someone else. The last thing I need is to scare poor Tennessee with false allegations.
If there are going to be any allegations at all, I want them to at least be founded.
Ending the call with Lawrence and his speculations, I call Tennessee into my office and give her instructions on how to check my calendar and where to make the reservations for later in the week, preferably Thursday if I have an opening.
Chapter Eight
TENNEESSEE
I practically run toward the childcare center when Landry says that I can officially leave for the day. It doesn’t take me long to pack up my things and take off toward the elevators. Pushing the main floor button, I shift from side to side as the elevator begins to make its descent.
The car stops on the fourth floor and I inwardly groan as the doors open and a few more people pile in front of me. I’m practically vibrating with excitement to see Holden. It’s only been a few hours since I popped in to see him at lunch, but it’s felt like a lifetime.
“How was your first day?” a smooth, deep voice asks from next to me.
Tilting my head back, I turn and look into his eyes. They look so much like his father’s it’s almost disturbing. Except where Landry’s gaze is full of knowledge and experiences, Laurent’s gaze is only full of lust, desire, and pure cockiness.
“It was good,” I reply.
He doesn’t say anything else right away. There is a lull before the elevator stops and more people walk in, forcing me to move backward, and one step closer to Laurent.
“Go to dinner with me to celebrate your first day,” he rasps.
I shake my head once. I remember the way that Bethie was looking up at him this morning. But it’s not just that, I don’t like him. Not at all. He’s not my type, and I have a feeling Holden would be nothing but an annoyance and hindrance to a man like him.
“No thanks, Laurent.”
“I’ll wear you down,” he chuckles as soon as the elevator dings and the doors to the mail floor open.
I don’t correct him by saying that he won’t. Instead, I just shuffle out of the space like everyone else. My feet move quickly, almost in a sprint as I make my way toward my destination. There is a line forming of people picking up their children and I can’t help but shift from side to side as I wait for my turn.
When I reach the front, I go through the process of signing Holden out, showing my identification, signing the sign-out sheet, and gathering his things. I’m full to bursting with anxiousness and excitement to have him back with me again.
Eight hours, even with the lunch visit, is just too long away from him. When I walk into the parent waiting room, I watch as each child is hand-delivered to their waiting parent before another is brought out.
My ID in hand, I am waiting and ready for my little boy. It doesn’t take too long for the door to open and he appears. I can’t stop my lips from turning up into a huge smile. He sees me and his eyes widen, then his little feet start moving faster, tugging the staff member behind him.
She laughs as they approach. “I’m sure I don’t even have to ask if you’re his mother, but I do need to see some identification.”
Laughing softly, I lift my hand, showing her my ID. She smiles with a nod as her eyes scan the card, my face, then she looks at the card again, then my face before she shifts Holden into my hands.
“Have a great evening, Tennessee,” she calls out.
Holden takes my hand, but I have zero chill. Bending slightly, I squat