Wicked Billionaire - Sawyer Bennett Page 0,44

issues.”

“What kind of issues?” I ask.

Bailey merely cocks an eyebrow. “Sir… I don’t want to impede on your workday with irrelevant personal discussions about my parents’ health issues. Again, it’s with absolute regret I won’t be able to join you tonight. I’m sure I would have a lot more fun with you at The Wicked Horse than I will at my parents’ house. But this is my life… It happens quite often.”

I’m sure she doesn’t mean for me to draw this conclusion, but from the fatigue in her voice, I assume it’s a bit of a burden. “You know, you can say no to your parents. Force your dad to step up. Your mom could call if she gets bad enough to need medical treatment, so you don’t have to spend your evening losing sleep looking after her.”

No matter what happens between Bailey and me in the future, I don’t think I’ll ever forget this moment. Her expression pitying, she regards me as if I’m the one who needs to be pitied because I apparently don’t understand fundamental truths. Yet, I don’t know what those truths are, and I feel as if I’m missing something important.

But I’ll also never forget the way Bailey lets out a small sigh before heading to the chair opposite my desk. Perching on the edge, she places her iPad on her lap, clasping her hands on top of it.

She takes in a breath, lets it out, and says, “Mr. Blackwood… I certainly don’t know how you were raised, but I was brought up by two parents who sacrificed everything for me. They worked two and three jobs to provide the basics, and they weren’t pleasant jobs. Hard, backbreaking labor. My mom’s gave her bad lungs, which will kill her far too early. My dad’s gave him a bad back. It’s not just my duty as their daughter to help them… but it is also my privilege. I could no more turn my back on them—no matter how stressed or frustrated I am—than I can say no to a breath of oxygen so I can breathe. I’m surprised you need me to explain that to you.”

Her words make me straighten in my chair. I have a feeling I was just given a lesson in real life. Whether she meant me to, I feel a bit like when Leonie used to chastise me when I was being a dipshit of a kid.

I also clearly understand how far removed I am from ordinary people because of my wealth and privilege. Not only removed, but also probably suffering from an actual dysfunctionality because of the way I was raised. That realization is stark. It never mattered to me before, but it does now.

My tone is appropriately abashed. “Why don’t you take off early and go check on your mom? Come in late tomorrow if you need to since I suspect you won’t be getting a lot of sleep.”

Bailey can’t hide her shocked expression as she tries to absorb what I said. In the weeks she’s been working for me, I’ve demanded she come in early and stay late almost every single day. Not once have I given her the luxury of the opposite.

Finally, she rises, shooting me a wary look. “Thank you, Mr. Blackwood. That’s very generous.”

“But please make sure to handle the few things I asked you to do,” I reply with brisk efficiency before turning my attention to my computer.

When she says, “Of course,” I assume she starts heading for my office door.

But I think of one more thing. She’s about the cross the threshold when I say, “Ms. Robbins, if you do not have plans for tomorrow evening, I would like you to join me at the club.”

She stops, shooting a saucy grin over her shoulder. “As long as my mother is fine, I would love that.”

I hope to fuck her mom is doing well because tomorrow cannot come soon enough.

CHAPTER 16

Bailey

“Good morning, Mr. Blackwood,” I chirp when Declan walks down the hallway toward me. I station myself just outside his office door, holding his cup of coffee in one hand and my iPad in the other.

I would like to say that over the past week since we’ve started meeting at The Wicked Horse, things have remained professional during the day, but that wouldn’t be true. Declan lets his gaze run down the length of my body before giving me a crooked smile. “Good morning, Miss Robbins.”

Declan takes the coffee from my hand, and I follow