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“Here,” he said quietly. “Use a coaster.” Does he recognize me? Is he just being polite and pretending he doesn’t?
“Yes, Sir,” I replied, watching him closely as he tensed and took a seat across from me. “Will I be interviewing with both of you today?”
I took a sip and set it on a coaster as he watched me with piercing eyes. “No, there will be no interview,” Sterling started, but Charles interrupted him quickly.
“Yes, there will be. If you have a-a problem with that, Son, you can leave. You’re not putting me in a home.”
I blushed, busying myself with my coffee again while they glared at each other. I could see this was a family matter and my presence felt awkward. “Thank you, Charles. Sterling, I promise your father would be in good hands.”
“Call me Charlie. And don’t listen to him, this isn’t his decision.”
“The hell it’s not,” Sterling snapped. “But fine, hire the creature too hungover to even match her damned shoes. This is really who you want looking after you?”
Charlie smiled, which took me by surprise. “Yes. She’s exactly who I’ve been looking for.”
Horror washed over me as I looked down and saw he wasn’t exaggerating. I’d come to the interview with two different shoes on and had the nerve to hope they’d take me seriously?
I truly was a creature.
“I know how this must look. But I promise you won’t regret this, Charlie. I was rushing and didn’t realize, but I’m usually much more organized.”
His smile only widened despite the look of contempt on his son’s face. “Excellent. Then I’ll be in touch when the results of your background check come in, I just need a few m-more details from you first.”
“Deal.” I couldn’t help but return the sentiment. Charlie was warm, something I hadn’t felt from someone in a long time, and I couldn’t wait to see where this went... even if his son had a giant stick up his ass.
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Sterling
THE MOMENT SHE SHUTthe door behind her, I rounded on my father. “Are you punishing me for something? I’m doing what you asked, so why won’t you listen to me? She’s no good.”
“How so, Sterling? Give me one reason she isn’t a good fit that isn’t superficial? I happened to like her shoes.”
“It’s not about the damned shoes,” I muttered. “I saw her last night at Fitz’s. Drunk off her ass, throwing herself at Caffrey fucking Brannigan of all people. I think she went home with him. Is that really what you want? Someone like her being responsible for you? I can’t be here all the time, and Oliver is worthless, so you need someone responsible. She’s not it.”
“So you’re judging her for being at a bar while you were at a bar? Presumably to drink and be promiscuous as well? I thought I raised you better than to be a hypocrite, Son.” My father fixed his glasses and stared down at the creature’s paperwork. “She’s more than qualified to look after me. I don’t require much.”
I couldn’t exactly explain to my father that I chose my partners from much different establishments, so there wasn’t anything I could do to defend myself — especially since Zeppelin Bryce was gorgeous with her icy blonde hair and perfect, teasing lips. “Just... let me find a nice retirement home for you. Anywhere you want, you know money isn’t an issue.”
“I want to be in my home. Mine. The one I built with your mother.” My father stood, looking as bullheaded as ever. “Seeing as that’s not possible... I want you to call that girl and hire her. Right now. I don’t want her stressing over this job o-or finding a different one. Call her.”
Every instinct in my body told me this was a terrible idea, but this was ultimately his decision. I knew from the determination on his face that it was futile to insist on completing the background check first, but I promised myself in that moment that if she’d ever gotten so much as a parking ticket, she’d be out. “As you wish.” I pulled out my phone and entered her number into my contacts under ‘The Creature’, then called.
She answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
Her cheerful tone grated on my nerves. “Zeppelin Bryce? Sterling Bishop. It appears I’ve been overruled, so... you start tomorrow. Bring your things with you, you’ll need to be here all day and I can’t have you running off to pack. Can you handle that much?”
“I can handle more than that, Mr. Bishop. I don’t have much anyway, so I’ll be there in the morning. Would Charlie like me to bring him some coffee?”
“Decaf only; he’s not allowed to have caffeine anymore. Two sugars, since that’s the one fucking thing I can’t get him to budge on. Be here at six, Miss Bryce. And try to make sure your shoes match this time, hm?”
I hung up and sighed as I watched the smug expression on my father’s face. “When this blows up in our faces, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I have a feeling we’ll be reflecting on this decision one day, Sterling. Just not for the reasons you think.”
I was always a bit of a sore loser, and this was no exception. “We’ll see about that. For now, come on. I’ll help you up the stairs for a bath before I bring Carl in and head to work. One of us has to make the money to pay for your newest little pet.”
The reminder of our ridiculous husky Carl seemed to snap my father out of it. “I-I forgot to tell her about Carl. What if she’s allergic?”
“Yeah right,” I said quietly, taking his arm to guide him toward the stairs. “When are we ever that lucky?”
