Page 30 of Rich and Rotten

“You leave too many lights on. As long as I get my favorite hug, I can go back to my room.”

I snuggled her one last time before she headed back down the hall to her bedroom. Glancing at the time again, I quickly packed my things, knowing I wouldn’t have time to return to Greenwich if I forgot something.

“Dammit…you’re not even that heavy,” I muttered, struggling down the stairs with my carry-on luggage.

That familiar smell consumed me as I sensed a presence behind me.

“I got you.”

Because I had been struggling since the top of the spiraled stairs, I allowed his hand to brush past me and grab the suitcase. I hurried down the remaining steps while he lifted my suitcase as if it were as light as doll furniture.

“Thanks. You can leave it at the front for the driver.” I paused and turned around. “Unless you’re the driver today.”

He watched as I stood with my hand on my wide hip and took him in. He was wearing a gray Nike sweatsuit, and my eyes were having a hard time trying to avoid looking at his print. It was like he was deliberately teasing me by wearing sweats to work.

“Nah, everything checked out with your original driver, so he’s back.”

I squinted my eyes at him. Ralph had always been trustworthy and reliable since the day he started working for the Sterling family. Although my father was the one who hired him, he had always been like family.

“Did anyone even suspect Ralph of anything?”

He snorted. “Ralph needed the day off, and I filled in for him. What can I say––I’m always looking to help out anybody who needs it.”

“Are sweats suitable work attire?” I replied sharply, making sure my tone sounded judgmental with each word.

He finally set the suitcase down. “I thought I’d come by and check on how things are going with Emilio.”

“Well, Emilio runs a tight ship with his team, and he wouldn’t approve of sweatpants. Why would you need to check in on your bos—”

“Good morning, boss. You didn’t tell me you were coming by this morning.”

Emilio extended his hand, and I watched as the two dapped each other.

“I was in the area and figured I would escort Mrs. Sterling to the city…keep some of you here.”

“Good look. Let me know if you need anything.”

I glanced between Emilio and Nazir. They paid me no mind as they continued their conversation. Instead of standing there with my foot in my mouth, I turned and went to the kitchen to fill my water bottle and grab some snacks. The drive to the city was only about an hour, so I planned to get some work done and snack on rice crackers during the ride. As I filled my water bottle, I heard those flat feet splatting across the marble floor.

“Mom!”

She often switched between calling me mom or mommy. I preferred mommy because that meant she was still my little button and not growing up on me.

“Yes, baby?”

I peered from the kitchen as Nazir looked at her.

“How are you doing? It’s nice to meet you, again.” Nazir was entirely focused on our daughter––a daughter he didn’t know he had.

“Good morning, sir.”

He chuckled. “My name is Nazir, but you can call me Naz.”

I heard Nazira gasp, and I quickly jerked my head back inside the kitchen, resting it on the fridge. Since he had been around, we had only called her Zira. Now he was about to find out just how much we shared together.

“My name is Nazira! Mommy, did you hear his name?”

I swallowed the lump threatening to jump out of my throat and looked nervously back out.