Page 10 of Miss Trust

Chance

In any other employment situation, I would’ve sent Malik to speak with Tory about the job, or another of my many capable hiring managers. But I found myself refusing to delegate this. Sure, I could argue I was attending to it myself because of the personal connection and my search for redemption, but the truth was it had more to do with the opportunity to see her again.

I raised my hand to knock on her door, ready with my pitch, but I stopped before my hand connected with the wood. Her kid was probably sleeping. I took out my phone instead and texted her.

Tory opened the door, appearing fresh from the shower and way too tempting for comfort. I was a man used to women who went to extremes trying to impress me, using makeup, clothes, and anything else they thought would be appealing. Yet this woman, with her wet hair piled atop her head and dressed in a worn sweatshirt and leggings, was sexy without effort. She obviously didn’t give a shit what I thought about her. It was both amusing and refreshing.

Her eyes traveled down the length of my suit before she opened the door to let me come in.

I needed to put myself back on even ground, so I opened with, “I’ve come from work, so I’ll need to make this quick.” The sooner I got out of here, the better.

She sighed and walked into her small kitchen where she grabbed a cup of water. “In that case, I don’t know why we didn’t do this over the phone. What is the job?”

“I need an assistant to manage my new house in Malibu.”

Her brow arched. “What would I do?”

“I’m planning to remodel both the main house and the pool house, so you’d make appointments and meet with designers and contractors. You’d need to move in there.”

Her eyes went wide. “Live in your house? Why?”

I didn’t think she’d appreciate my saying her apartment was a dump and the area was unsafe. These were circumstances she was already aware of, and would obviously change if she had the power to do so.

“You’d live in the house because commuting up to Malibu each day would be impossible, not to mention impractical. Designers and contractors don’t always keep predictable hours, and they’d be working on the weekends too.”

“My childcare is here, and I’d planned to keep working some shifts at the club.”

This was the other part of the plan. Ensure she didn’t have to work nights on the pole. “I’ll be paying you a fair salary, so you won’t need the club. As for childcare, I’ve asked a woman who helped raise both Reid and me to help. Mona is a former elementary school teacher who loves kids.”

“I’d have to interview her. See if Penelope likes her.”

“Of course. I’d expect nothing else.” In contrast, my own mother wouldn’t have bothered to meet with the help. But I had no doubt Mona would pass with flying colors.

Tory glanced around her apartment as if assessing the logistics of having to move.

“I’ll take care of the movers. They’ll pack you up, and you can choose what you want to keep with you and what would go in storage. For the latter, you can use the garage at the property to put your things.”

I’d laid my plan out perfectly, leaving no room for arguments while taking care for her pride. I sought to appeal to her logical side and avoid tipping the deal into the realm of charity.

“How long will the position last?”

“I imagine it would be at least a year before the house remodel is complete. Once it does finish, there will be more properties. Or if you prefer, we could talk about a position someplace else within my companies.”

“You seemed to have thought of everything.”

“But?” It was written all over her face.

“But I have a few concerns to discuss.”

I wasn’t used to having to negotiate, but I found myself enjoying it. “Of course. What are they?”

“When they start Penelope’s treatment again, we will most likely be in the hospital. Last time it was for a month.”

“This position is as flexible as you’d need it to be. It’ll take me awhile to line up the designers and contractors anyway.” I was in no hurry to begin the remodel and could allow Tory to ease into it.

“But that means an entire month without working.”

“Think of it as an advance on salary and medical coverage.” I could see she was wavering. “Your daughter’s appointment is with Dr. Young at Children’s Hospital next Thursday morning at ten a.m.”