I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Heard all that before.”
The elevator doors opened, and I stormed off. I didn’t even wait for my father. I didn’t want to deal with his intolerable bullshit a second longer. So, when we got to the front doors, I paused.
“Have Mom call me when you get home, okay?” I asked.
Dad turned to face me. “So, what happened to escorting me home?”
I shrugged. “I have a job. I can’t just drop that job whenever you do something dumb. That’s Mom’s problem now. Call her if you need anything.”
He scoffed. “Your mother’s just as air-headed as the day I—”
Wyatt’s voice sounded behind me. “Having troubles finding the way out?”
I jumped at the intrusion and whipped around to find him perched against my desk with his arms crossed over his chest.
And his eyes drilled into my father.
“Sir?”
Dad growled beneath his breath. “This is a family issue, thanks.”
I hissed at him. “Are you insane? That’s my boss.”
Dad shot me a look. “If you only knew what I know.”
What the hell does that mean?
A man came through the front doors donning an impeccable black suit. “Mr. Lancaster?”
I furrowed my brow as Dad turned around. “And who the hell are you?”
The man stuck out his hand. “You can call me, Mr. Deleeay, sir. I’m employed with the company as a driver.”
My father shook the man’s hand curtly. “Great. Nice to meet ya.”
“I’m here to take you home.”
I peeked back over at Wyatt and found him grinning at the scene unfolding.
“No, thanks. Got my own car,” Dad said.
I paused. “Actually, we’ll take you up on that offer.”
Dad’s eyes found mine quickly. “Seriously, I don’t need a damn driver. Just like I don’t need someone escorting me home.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “Like you also didn’t need a nap to sleep things off? Because I’m sure that’s what you told Wyatt.”
And his growing chuckle behind me told me that I was right.
“Look, Mr. Lancaster,” Wyatt said as he walked over to us, “all I want to do is make this as painless as possible. There are a lot of things that need to get done today, and distractions always drag us behind.”
Dad scoffed. “Of course, you and your selfish family would find my family to be an inconvenience.”
I gasped. “Dad!”
Wyatt nodded, but I saw his jaw clench. “At any rate, if you go outside, you’ll see Mr. Deleeay standing beside a very comfortable Town Car. Just climb into the back seat and enjoy the ride home. I’m sure there’s even some sparkling water in there for you to enjoy.”
Dad snickered. “I’m not an idiot. I’m sure I can find some guy standing by some car out there.”
Wyatt nodded. “Well, everyone is prone to doing stupid things every once in a while. Just want to make sure we don’t make the same mistake twice in one day.”
I could have sworn my jaw was swinging against the floor. Watching these two men go toe to toe with one another frightened me in ways I didn’t think possible. My father and my boss stared at one another as they both tried to tug me in different directions. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but I did know one thing. Seeing Wyatt come to my defense did nothing for my growing crush on him.
I found my boss powerful and intimidating. But, there was clearly a soft side to him with how he treated my father earlier in the day. I mean, letting him sleep off some drunken stupor right here in a shared workspace? That took some serious empathy.
However, empathy wasn’t currently etched across his face. If I read him correctly, frustration was written on his face.
“Dad?” I asked.
He turned to face me. “Yes, princess?”
I cherished the nickname. “You really need to go, okay? It’s important to me.”
His face softened. “All right, then I’ll leave. But, don’t you let someone like him push you around. If you need anything at all, I’m only a phone call away.”
I kissed his cheek softly. “I know, Daddy. Thank you.”
Wyatt drew in a deep breath. “And I’ll make sure to it that the car you drove here gets home safely this evening. I’ll have Mr. Deleeay drive it himself after Miss Bella clocks out.”
Dad nodded curtly. “Great. Thanks.”
After practically shoving my father out the front door, I let out the breath I had been holding. I leaned against the black doorway and closed my eyes, allowing myself just a second of peace and quiet. What a tumultuous first day I’d had, and it was only two in the afternoon.
“When you’re finished,” Wyatt said as he turned around, “come to my office. We need to talk.”
I didn’t turn to face him, but I watched his reflection fall away in the glass doors that slowly closed my father out of this place. I watched him walk down the hallway, not even peeking over his shoulder as he stepped onto the elevator. I swallowed hard as a knot formed in my stomach. He had just told me that my job was intact, right?
So, what did we need to speak about?
Probably nothing good.
I stole a few more moments to myself before I rushed over to my ringing phone. I had a few calls waiting for me, and I used my booklet to transfer them to the right offices before I disconnected my headset. I punched the button that turned on my automatic voice message box to answer any call that came in while I was away, then I headed for the elevator.
I ventured toward my boss’s sprawling office to talk about whatever the hell it was he wanted to chew me out for.
Who knows, maybe this is a good thing.
I wrung my hands as I ascended back to the top of the building for the umpteenth time that day. I had a feeling I’d be spending more of my time up here anyway than down there, and I found my eyes gravitating toward the empty desk in the lobby right as I stepped off the elevator. I hadn’t noticed it before, but after my father’s outburst, I found myself salivating over it.
If I were up here, not only would I see Wyatt more, but it would be harder for my father to navigate this place and find me.
Then again, if he can’t find me, he’d just kick up a stink until I did.
“Come on in, Miss Bella.”
His voice wafted just beyond the door as I raised my fist to knock against it. I paused and closed my eyes, giving myself one more second to settle my swirling stomach. Then, I eased the door open and slipped into his office.
“Close the door,” he said.
And when I felt it shut behind me, Wyatt’s eyes snapped to mine.
6
Wyatt
I held her gaze as I ushered her to sit in front of my desk. Then, I fluffed out my suit coat and perched on the edge of it. I watched as her thick hips swayed with every step she took. The way her wisps of unstrapped hair fluttered effortlessly around her face drew my eyes to her freckles. Every time she blushed, they grew darker. Every time she wrinkled that cute little nose of hers, they danced. And every time she smiled, they ignited with life.
I found myself wanting to kiss every single one of them.