He’s impossible. I should tell him that I don’t need a babysitter to get me to Baker’s Creek. I understand that he pretty much owns me and until I can find a way to pay for my mother’s debts, her treatments, and support myself without needing this stupid job, I have to do what he says.
“Please, just this one time, do what he asked,” Frank begs. “I don’t want to have one of my guys fired because you two are having…issues.”
I could remind him that even when Henry fires them, I never let that happen. However, I don’t have time for the nonsense. There’s a lot I have to plan, and fighting over something as stupid as a car service seems childish compared to the war I’m bringing to Baker’s Creek. Henry might think what he’s doing is just fine. Well, he’s going to learn not to mess with Sophia Aragon. I plan on making sure he regrets having me close to him. I finish clearing my desk and as I leave Tabby asks, “What is going to happen to us?”
I shrug. “You might be reporting to the new interim CEO or… Who knows what Mr. Aldridge is going to do during his absence.”
When I get to the car, I call Blaire and tell her everything that’s happened. She listens until I’m done and then says, “Wait until I finish with him. No one will recognize him.”
I laugh as we hang up because if I cry, I don’t think I’ll ever stop. I never let myself cry. There’s never time, and Mom always taught me to solve my problems, not sit down and cry while feeling defeated.
Once I arrive at the penthouse where I live, I go to my closet and stare at my clothes. This is the one perk from my job that I adore. Merkel pays for my apparel. Since I’m Henry’s assistant, I have to dress for the part. Now that I’m moving to Baker’s Creek, can I dress down? Not that I mind wearing dresses, skirts, and the occasional dress slacks. My most favorite thing about the required designer clothes are the shoes. My collection is priceless.
I’m taking all of them with me, but what about the rest? Am I losing my house? I have so many questions, but I’m not in the mood to speak to him.
Sophia: Am I moving out of the penthouse?
Henry: Temporarily.
Sophia: When am I coming back?
Henry: I don’t know.
Sophia: Six months, a year…eighteen months?
Henry: You’ll probably return with me when this is over.
Sophia: Is anyone going to occupy the penthouse now that I won’t be needing it?
Henry: No, it’s your place.
Sophia: The hotel could be making money if it’s available.
Henry: I make money regardless.
Sophia: So I can just pack what I’ll be needing?
Henry: Listen, this is a temporary move, however, I recommend you bring everything you think is necessary to make you feel at home.
Sophia: My parents would make me feel at home.
Henry: I know. Please send a list of what they’ll require to come to Baker’s Creek often to visit you.
Sophia: You’re kidding, right?
Henry: No. I want to make this as painless as possible.
“Then, don’t move me. I have a family that needs me!” I shout to the empty room.
Instead of calling him to yell at him, I call Blaire who asks, “What happened to your mom? Henry mentioned she’s sick.”
“She had a stroke that caused her to have blindness and deafness on her left side,” I explain. “I was about to graduate from high school when it happened. We thought she’d recover. I mean, she’s young and even old people tend to recover, but not her.”
“So she’s been like that for twelve years?” she concludes. “Does she have any other limitations?”
“Let see, she can barely use her left arm, hand, leg, and foot. She can’t walk without a cane,” I continue telling her the ways my poor mom can barely function. “Obviously, she can’t drive. She’s depressed and can’t sleep.”
“Can she travel?”
“She’s not coming to Baker’s Creek,” I tell her, and my voice comes so forceful I apologize, “Sorry. It’s just…”
“I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now,” she says in that sensible voice of hers. “It’s valid to be frustrated, angry, even bitter for what he’s doing to you. Quit. I’ll help you.”
“No one is going to give me a job that pays for my parents insurance or provides housing. Saving money on rent allows me to pay for my parents’ bills, my mother’s debts, her therapies, and everything that my family needs,” I inform her.
The corporate credit card pays for my expenses. The chef cooks whatever meal I want when I’m at home. The benefits are endless, but days like today I don’t think is worth the trouble. Now, Henry is meddling with my parents’ lives.
“I’m delusional when I believe that someday I’m going to get rid of Henry, when truth be told, I don’t think my mom would be alive if it wasn’t for this job. Dad is her primary caregiver because I can support them.” She’s silent for several seconds then I break the silence by saying, “Please, don’t offer to fix my life because I can’t take pity when I’m angry.”
“No, I am—what do you want to do with your parents?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly because I do want them close, but they shouldn’t be moving just because of me. “Do we have the resources in Baker’s Creek for Mom?”
“Henry wants us to make sure they exist,” she says. “He told Hayes, ‘Money is not an issue.’”
“Well, let’s say that Henry makes it happen, but he’s shoving my parents into a place where they don’t know anyone. My brothers and sisters are here. The only reason he wants to bring them along is so I don’t travel often to New York.”
“Deep breaths, Blaire,” I hear Leyla in the background. “Murdering him might be the smartest option, but no one wants to listen to me.”
“Put me on speaker,” I request. “I take it you two have been talking about me.”
“Plus wondering if it’ll be best to hire a hitman or involve Vance to solve all our issues,” Leyla adds. “Stand your ground. Don’t let him bully you. He hired you to be his assistant, right?”
“Yes, and the contract says that I’m required to travel with him as he sees fit,” I disclose.
“Pierce could look at the contract and find a loophole,” she suggests. “If we get you the money to cover your debt, would you quit?”
“My parents’ expenses are too high. It wouldn’t be sustainable in the long run,” I explain. “He wants me there, I’ll comply. Also, I’ll make his life a living hell. He’ll regret having me with him. I should make him fly my entire family to Baker’s Creek. At least as often as twice a month. He wants to deal with the Aragons, I’ll show him how painful it could be.”
“That’s my girl,” Blaire says. “Why not have your parents stay with us every other month. I would need to check with your mother’s doctor, but I can monitor her from here and assemble a team to treat her. This might help her with her depression too.”
“Watching me torture my boss?”
She laughs, “No, the change of scenery, meeting new people, and looking forward to new experiences. I can make a plan that includes Henry flying your parents to Portland every other day to see a specialist.”