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“You do know that much, so start there. But don’t turn it into fucking Disneyland. Expense everything to my personal account. I don’t want to blur the lines.”
“Yes, sir. No Cinderella or Snow White.”
“Or that one where that girl sings that annoying ‘Let It Go’ song.”
“Oh, you mean Frozen.” Jared puffed up in his seat, proud he knew something I didn’t.
“See? You’re going to be a natural at this. I expect everything done by five o’clock.” I leaned back in my chair as a look of horror flashed across his face. I tried to suppress my grin, but it was no use. “That would be tomorrow at five. A compatible nursery can’t be built in a day.”
24
Maggie
I sat at the kitchen table holding Esmé in my armsP, feeding her a bottle. I wasn’t sure if she took baby food yet. Some kids did at this age, but her mother didn’t leave a clue. There wasn’t even a record from a pediatrician about important things like shots or allergies. The only thing we knew for certain was the brand of formula Esmé drank.
I’d love to give this Coco person a piece of my mind and maybe my flat palm across her face. Slap some reality into her, even though I’d never hit a person in my life and the only insects I sent to their maker were spiders. But who left a child with nothing more than a bag of diapers and wipes? Try as I might, my mind couldn’t wrap around what this woman did to an innocent child. Not to mention, Lucas. He had a big dose of reality that wore pink and didn’t have teeth.
We had baby essentials delivered yesterday morning. Extra bottles and formula, a mound of diapers, and clothes to last a few days. The pile of baby supplies was scattered all over the kitchen island, counters, tables, and spilled into the living room, which was saying a lot in this cavernous bachelor pad.
The best part of the day was watching Lucas build the bizarre crib. It resembled a space pod for alien spawns, but it was the only thing I could order for an overnight delivery. He cursed and mumbled through Operation Build a Crib until it was in one piece. I was pretty sure he’d never put together anything from IKEA. He’d never make it past the first step.
I placed a cloth diaper, part of the haul from yesterday, over my shoulder. I didn’t want to get my T-shirt dirty in case Esmé spit up when I burped her. It was the last clean shirt I’d brought with me. It had No Drama Llama in white on the front with a Llama wearing glasses and holding up a hoof to form a finger-like peace sign. The T-shirt color matched my eyes. Add a pair of torn-up, ridden-hard skinny jeans, and no one would guess I was a billionaire’s nanny. I couldn’t wait to greet the doorman downstairs in this outfit. Nothing like adding some spice to the building.
I heard footsteps coming down the hallway before Lucas and a man, who had to be his assistant, came into view. Lucas held his head high, his eyes of blue steel boring into me. I’d never seen this side of Lucas, the billionaire titan in pure business mode. He was nothing like Herb, but I wouldn’t complain about it either.
Strength radiated from him, along with how divinely he wore his suit. His tall, muscular body was built for the look. It made him stand out against all the suited men in Manhattan. He resembled a Wall Street Viking with his disheveled, dirty blond sex hair.
“Your daddy is dreamy,” I whispered in Esmé’s ear as I tried to burp her on my shoulder. She cooed back as if she already knew.
“Ms. Talbot,” Lucas said as he and the man stopped in front of me.
I narrowed my eyes at Lucas, wondering why he was being so formal. I thought we’d moved past this. Then he winked at me so fast, I wasn’t sure if it even happened. But I didn’t miss the slight uptick at the corner of his mouth. I guess I needed to play along.
“This is Jared Johnston, my PA. He will coordinate the transformation of the former service room into an appropriate nursery.”
“Good morning, Ms. Talbot.” Jared stretched a hand out to me, but I had the baby on my shoulder. I didn’t have a hand free, so he stuffed his hand back into his pants pocket and cleared his throat. Awkward.
“You can call her Maggie,” Lucas said before I could return Jared’s greeting.
Lucas either let formalities slide for his hired help or he was letting his jerk flag fly today. Probably both. I rolled my eyes at him. He responded by raising a brow. Whatever.
“Yes, sir,” Jared replied, sounding like he had a stick lodged where the sun didn’t shine.
