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“I like your hair,” Archie said, stepping toward Poppy.
“Thank you,” Poppy said, touching the bouncing waves, and flashing him a smile. “I’m sorry for barging in, but I’ve been trying to get hold of you for months, and I’m not backing away now. Mr. Sterling, I have the perfect marketing opportunity for you. I’m an up-and-coming podcaster, and—”
He waved her off, impatience getting under his skin. Was she seriously cold calling him on the most important day of his career? “Contact Marketing.”
“I’ve tried, for a couple months.”
Not my problem,he wanted to say. He glanced at his son, who still seemed entranced by the stranger. “How did you get in here?”
“I, hmm, accidentally spilled coffee on your assistant and she rushed to the restroom to clean up. So I thought, hey why not be time conscious and take advantage of this opportunity? I promise I’ll be quick. And even if I take a long time, it’ll sound like a breeze to you.”
More like a thunderstorm.He shook his head. Who the hell was this person? “Accidentally?”
She tossed her hair to the side. “It was iced coffee, in my defense. I apologized profusely,” she said, gesturing with her hands. “Anyway, please listen—”
“Get out,” he said, pointing at the door. Out of all the things he didn’t need today, dealing with this woman was definitely one of them. How did she get past security in the lobby? He narrowed his eyes at her. She probably had a way to get things done.
“Jeez, Dad, kicking her out isn’t very nice,” his daughter said, choosing a bad time to be polite. A part of him knew Willow only intervened because she’d sensed he didn’t want to waste his time with Poppy.
“Neither is soliciting without permission.”
“You always tell us we should listen more,” Archie said. “And be polite.”
“See? Listen to these adorable kids. They’re the future, right?” Poppy chimed in, smiling like he’d given her the go-ahead. “Once I tell you my idea, I guarantee you’ll change your mind.”
Jesus.“Listen, door-to-door person, I give you—”
“Ethan,” said the voice belonging to the one person he wanted more time before he had to meet. Branson Kyle. The man walked into his office, his icy gaze taking in his children and the red-haired woman. “Am I interrupting you?”
Fuck.Ethan fell into the smooth talker role again, feeling his features soften, willing the frustration away from his expression. “Not at all, Mr. Kyle. I was expecting to meet you soon, and—”
“I prefer to surprise and show up earlier sometimes. To see what you’ve all been up to,” he said. “I see your children are still a lively presence in the office,” he said, with a tone of sarcasm. “I thought the last screw-up had taught you a lesson.”
Fuck.He had to take the kids out of sight as soon as possible, otherwise the cranky old fool would assume that Ethan’s life was still drowned in personal chaos. He needed the bonus money at the end of this project—the only way to finally recover control over his life again, and bury the past once and for all. Of course he’d miss the company perks, including the company driver, five-star vacations and help with the children’s snooty school tuition. They’d invested in him. But he could no longer lack control of his own life. His children needed him, and with his own firm, he’d set his own hours. He’d spend more time with his kids, and once this opening was over, he’d need no more nannies. “Not at all. They came in to say hello,” Ethan blurted. “The nanny showed up, but they’re on their way out.”
Willow and Archie exchanged a look, but didn’t say anything.
The annoying, pushy woman didn’t either, and thankfully she’d been quiet at the right time. He didn’t need Branson to know that his life was still messy, that the reason why he’d dropped a few balls in the past months still existed.
If he didn’t turn things around, he’d be toast.
He wouldn’t be able to open his own firm, and he’d still live in the crazy loop of disappointment his life had become. He’d get to spend even less time with his kids, much less enjoy them. Then again, when was the last time he enjoyed anything? He’d been an endless pit of resentment and guilt.
“Dad, I’m hungry,” Archie said.
“I’ll take the kids to the cafeteria downstairs,” Poppy said. “C’mon kiddos.”
He walked up closer to her, and whispered in her ear, “Don’t let them out of your sight. My assistant Laurel will take them from you when she’s back.”
“Deal.”
He hoped he knew what he was doing… because he’d just trusted a complete stranger.
“Who are you?” the boy asked, the moment they sat at a round table in the overpriced café. Well, she imagined it was overpriced—maybe it wasn’t, and all those expensive things made sense if you had the money.
But Poppy needed to pitch her idea and make a deal with the kids’ father. With her cousin Kira no longer living with them, she and Billie needed to pay their bills. Hell, Kira had done enough for her. Now, it was high time for Poppy to get her podcast off the ground, with a cross promotion with the exciting new entertainment multiplex. But how did a little nobody from a small town in Texas make a big splash in the Big Apple? Or even a little splash? At this point, she’d settle for ripples.
Poppy squared her shoulders. Toughen up. What she lacked in money and connections, she compensated with strong will and an attitude that hopefully wouldn’t land her in jail today. She hadn’t broken any law, right? Sure, she’d lied to the security guard, flirted with the front desk clerk, then spilled coffee on the assistant—how else would she get her out of her way so she could finally have access to the man who wouldn’t give her the time of day otherwise? “I’m Poppy.”
