Chapter One
The office is quiet today. Then again, it’s Monday morning and most people are either stuck in L.A. traffic, grabbing their lattes or just plain running late. Usually I enjoy the moment of solitude, but today things are different because when my boss, Jagger Kale, arrives this morning, I’m turning in my notice.
I pretend like I’m concentrating on my emails as I scroll through the short list I already answered last night. I jot down a to-do list of things I have to do before moving to Chicago and my gaze veers to the picture of Jade on my desk. The one personal item I brought after I felt secure enough to tell my boss I had a child. I shouldn’t have worried so much. Jagger didn’t care, as long as I did what I was supposed to and didn’t call in sick all the time he was cool.
I smile and greet my co-workers who are staggering in with the Monday morning gloom on their face.
My cell phone dings and as I flip it around I secretly hope it’s not Jagger telling me he’s not coming in today. I’m not trying to be selfish, but I need to get this over with. All weekend, I’ve tried to decipher whether he’ll be mad or happy or indifferent to my departure.
The elevator door dings and I straighten my back, posed like the good employee in waiting. Another throng of co-workers empty out into the office but no Jagger. My eyes flick to the clock. It’s not unheard of him to be an hour late, especially since Quinn reappeared in his life. My shoulders slump and I drink some of the Starbucks coffee I let myself enjoy this morning as a treat for making a big girl decision.
“Am I paying you to sip coffee?” Jagger strides by my desk, inserting the key into his office door.
His hair is damp at the ends, his suit as always wrinkle free. He bears no smile on his handsome face. All signs point to it being a normal morning except for his damp hair which means if I’m lucky, he got lucky this morning.
I stand, grabbing the extra cup of coffee off my desk and take out the plastic stopper before following him into his office.
“I grabbed you one on the way in.”
He stands at the side of the desk, takes out his laptop, his eyes flickering to mine after he’s completed the usual steps to his morning routine.
“Why do I deserve such royal treatment?” He looks at me skeptically.
What’s that saying? You can’t shit a bullshitter?
My hands press on the edge of his mahogany desk. “I get you coffee plenty.”
A deep chuckle comes out of him. “Sure, when you told me about Jade, when you needed that week off to go to Chicago last month and the morning after you called in sick because you had a fever.” He uses air quotes around the word fever to imply that I was lying.
“It was one hundred and four and people always get sick after they’ve been on planes,” I argue.
The first smile I’ve seen this morning tilts his lips up. “Wouldn’t know. I fly private.”
I roll my eyes. Typical Jagger.
“So?” he asks, sitting down in his chair sipping the coffee I got him. He nods to the empty chair across from him. “What is it?”
I sit, my leg shaking, my foot tapping.
“Spit it out, Victoria.” He raises both eyebrows.
He won’t be so cocky once the words leave my mouth.
“I have to turn in my notice.” My voice has never sounded so small and less like me. This job, with Jagger as my boss was on the con list of leaving, as much as I hate to admit it. Jagger isn’t the easiest to work for, but I’ve grown used to our banter and underneath the façade he’s actually a decent guy.
His entire body stills and somehow that’s scarier to me than if he had popped up out of the chair in shock. He sets the coffee down in front of him on the desk, his forearms resting on the edge and his hands clasped together so tightly his knuckles are white. “What?” he says in a quiet voice.
I nod.
“I don’t think I heard correctly,” and coming from his lips it sounds more like a threat than a statement.
So, he’s chosen the asshole approach. I shouldn’t be surprised. His fiancé, Quinn, has made him a little nicer, but that snarky arrogant jerk is still alive and well.
“My mom…remember how I had to go to Chicago?”
He picks up his coffee again. “Yeah, the last time you brought me in coffee. That one was flavored. You should’ve gone the flavored route this time, too, if you were dumping this on my lap.”
“Well—”
“And added a muffin.”
“You don’t eat pastries.” I cross my arms in front of me.
“Right about now I want to sit in front of a plate of donuts.”
I sink back in the chair. “My mom’s sick, Jagger,” I let the words spill out. I didn’t want it to come to this. I wanted to give him the gist of my situation and leave.
“Sick?” He picks up his coffee, stands from his desk and heads to the couches. “Are you going to join me?” he asks.
I quickly stand and head over, sitting on the chair adjacent to him.
“I went to Chicago because they were running some tests. The diagnosis came in. She has MS.”
“MS?” The wrinkles in his forehead tell me he doesn’t understand the abbreviation.
“Multiple Sclerosis.”
He nods in understanding. “I don’t know much about it, but wouldn’t the warm weather of Los Angeles make it better?” One side of his mouth ticks up.
Always the negotiator.
“Not when she has to leave her entire life, all she’s ever known…her friends and family.”
“You’re her daughter. You should be the most important thing to her. Not to mention you should trump all others—you have the grandchild.”
I purse my lips. “She won’t leave, and I don’t expect her too. Her entire life is still there.”
“And your life is here.” He crosses his leg, resting it on his ankle. “Surely, your ex has something to say about this.”
I shrug.
“You haven’t told the bastard yet?” He dips his head down to catch my eyes.
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
“You’re quitting your job before you tell your ex, knowing he could fight it and you might never leave L.A?”
“Oh, I’m leaving,” I say with determination.
“Without Jade?” he asks.
My head shoots up and I lock gazes with him. “Never.”
“So, next time you bring me coffee it’ll be because you need help burying the body?” he asks, eyebrow quirked.
Jagger, Jagger, Jagger.
“Pete will understand.” I wave that topic off. “That has nothing to do with this. I’m transferring the credits I have from school and applying to another school there. My mom needs me, and I have to go. It will be good for Jade to be closer to her grandma.”
“I need you.” He leans forward in his seat. “I’ll double your salary.”
I shake my head. “I can’t stay.”
“Hey, you loved Quinn’s place, remember? She’s selling it. I’ll buy it for you and Jade.”
I shake my head again, with a chuckle this time.
“Great neighborhood. I’m sure it probably has good schools, but can you really complain when it’s free?”