Page 1 of Daddy’s Accidental Little Worker

CHAPTER ONE

Bianca

“Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked for the third time since bringing me my water, and I felt annoyance build in me while I looked up at him with a forced smile.

“I suppose I am,” I finally decided, happy to get the waiter off my back.

Zane was supposed to meet me an hour ago for dinner, but he still had yet to show. I kept checking my phone to see if he had responded to the long list of messages I sent him, asking him where he was, but my phone was more silent than it had been in years. I wasn’t surprised at all and thought that he was just too busy. Thanks to Bernice leaving the company, I found myself drowning in work with no way out. Zane swept in to my rescue and offered to buy the company off me, promising me that, once we were married, it would benefit us both. Now that he owned the company, he was dealing with all the work, and I was finally able to enjoy some well earned free time.

“I’ll take the steak dinner with the baked potato and the caesar salad on the side, hold the dressing,” I stated as I stared back down at the menu. “For my appetizer, I’ll take the breaded mushrooms and the mozzarella sticks. Leave a dessert menu when you bring out the food, please…” The waiter looked relieved as he took down my order and started off towards the kitchen while I looked back down at my phone.

Zane should have been here by now… The more I thought about it, the more I got a sinking feeling that I just couldn’t shake. Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t start dating their sibling’s cheating ex, even if the ex had cheated on them with their sibling, but I thought Zane was different. Thankfully, after Bernice left the company after finding out Zane was cheating on her with me, I decided to hide certain assets from him so that, if I decided to leave him, I would be financially stable just like Bernice had been when she left the company.

I had wondered for the longest time about Bernice and how she was doing. After all, we hadn’t spoken since that day, but, after seeing her picture on the bus bench next to Skye and Stephanie’s photos, I knew she was still doing what she loved. Regret filled me as I thought back to how I hurt my sister. She had always been there for me, and I always treated her like dirt. What I wouldn’t give to go back in time and do it all over again, but, this time, I would do it right and not hurt Bernice. The sound of my phone’s ringtone startled me, and I looked down. Of course, it was Zane. Taking a deep breath, I answered the phone.

“Hello?” I asked as soon as the phone connected. The sound of music blaring and people laughing wafted from the phone, and I had to turn down the volume so that I didn’t bother the other customers. Above it all, Zane shouted at me.

“Hey, I got all your messages,” he called out, barely audible over the music. “What do you want?” Anger rose in me as I rolled my eyes.

“Did you forget that we were supposed to have dinner in order to celebrate you taking over the company?” I asked, my heart sinking in disappointment as I realized my gut had been right.

“So, about that,” he droned on before biting the bullet. “I sold the company to a close friend of mine, and I’m using the money to move to New York.” My jaw dropped as I shook my head in disbelief.

“And where was my input in all this?” I asked. He sounded eager to get off the phone, and I knew it was over before he even said the words.

“Why would you care?” he asked, sounding carefree. “It’s not like we’re married or anything.” I glanced down at the engagement ring on my left hand.

“You’re right,” I agreed, my pride rising in my chest as I held my head a little higher. “Oh, before you move to New York, you should come pick up that ring you gave me.” His words made the anger inside me rise as he spoke.

“Naw, you keep it,” he told me. “After all, it was a parting gift. Kind of a thanks for the sex and sorry you’re too old to be a Little.” Something inside me broke as I dropped the phone to the table, my heart pounding as if it was trying to escape my chest.

So, that’s what all this was about… My twenty-third birthday was around the corner, and Zane decided to move on to the next pretty Little. Whoever that ended up being, I hoped he treated her better than he had treated Bernice and I. I picked up the phone and forced a smile.

“Well, I better get going,” I retorted, my voice broken and hurt. “I have a lot of work I need to do.” Before he could even respond, I disconnected the call and put the phone face down on the bright red table cloth.

Well, this was just great… He bought my company only to sell it to the highest bidder and left me before I knew what hit me. What amazed me about it all is that his actions didn’t surprise me at all. Once a cheater, always a cheater. I may have messed around with Bernice’s Daddies before, but Zane was the first one I had ever had a committed relationship with. As the waiter brought out my appetizers, I smiled and remembered I still had all the cash Zane gave me to pay for a hotel room that we were supposed to share that night.

“You mind bringing me a glass of red moscato?” I asked before the waiter disappeared into the kitchen once again. “Actually, scratch that and make it a bottle of the wine.”

CHAPTER TWO

Lance

“Special occasion, sir?” the waiter asked as I entered the restaurant. I shrugged off my jacket and smiled politely.

“You know it, Barry,” I told him. “I just bought Darling Realty.” His eyes widened as he stared at me.

“Wait, are you the one who was supposed to meet Bianca Darling for dinner?” he asked, and I frowned in confusion.

Bianca Darling was here? Even though she was no longer the owner of Darling Realty, I had wanted to meet with her and see if she would be interested in becoming an investor and owning a share in the company. Her sister, Bernice, and she had both made Darling Realty the best company in the city, which said a lot, especially after my brother, Derek bought their rival company from his Little. Seeing the expectant look on Barry’s face, I smiled, a plan forming in my head.

“Yes, I am,” I lied, hoping he would buy it. “Is she still here?” Barry nodded and motioned towards the dining room.

“She’s right this way,” he informed me as he led me into the dining room. “Please forgive us. She waited an hour, and she just got her appetizers.” Part of me wanted to learn more about this strange behavior, but I knew it would blow my cover.

“That’s quite alright,” I told him as I followed him towards her table. “It’s my fault for being so late.” That’s when I saw her.

Bianca Darling was sitting alone at a table for two with a plate of appetizers, which were completely untouched, a bottle of 1965 red moscato, and an empty wine glass. Even though her facial expression was stony and professional, I could tell right away that something was off. I never had the breaded mushrooms, but I had heard from everyone who had that they were beyond compare, especially when paired with the steak dinner. As soon as we arrived, I smiled at her.