“Where’s your resume?” I asked. She handed it over and I flipped through it while Frankie made small talk. “It says you went to college at sixteen and graduated from Julliard this year. That’s it other than your strengths and challenges.” I almost laughed but perhaps I was making a flash judgment.
“Yeah, that’s pretty much it. I graduated last year and I was hoping to find a place I could grow into and form genuine relationships in. I know I don’t come with stacks of references and experience but I’m dedicated and I already like Frankie. To be honest, Senator Freeman, I need the chance to do something responsible with myself.”
Her honesty was appreciated but I still looked at her like she had three heads. “You plan to watch my daughter full-time and you have no experience or references to back up your abilities?” My scoff slipped out even though I hadn’t meant for it to. It didn’t matter how attractive Xari was or how deep and dark brown her eyes were or how bad-as-fuck she looked in that dress, nothing could help me get past how inexperienced she was.
“Daddy, I like her. I didn’t like any of those other women. They’d never understand me.” I heard Frankie but I wasn’t listening. Navy told me her sister needed a job but I thought she’d at least have some experience.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart but she’s not going to work. I have to veto this one.”
“Oh…” Xari smiled then gave me a short nod before turning to Frankie. “It’s okay. Hopefully, I’ll see you around.”
Frankie’s face melted when Xari left. A wall erected around her in an instant. A piece of my little girl vanished behind stone and ice.
“Frankie,” I called out quietly. Her eyes lifted to mine but a part of her was still closed off. “I don’t even know if she can make a schedule. She’s a fine art major. She has no practice working with kids. She might not even know how to cook a whole meal. She’s only eight years older than you for crying out loud.”
“It’s fine, Dad. Whatever.” She shrugged her shoulders and dropped her eyes to the phone in her hand. I studied her while she scrolled.
Navy came in after a few minutes and knitted her brows together. “I’m sorry, Senator Freeman. I thought my sister would be a good fit. I know how much everyone loves her so I thought Frankie would like her too.” She offered me a polite smile but I saw the concern on her face.
“I did like her,” Frankie said without looking up from her phone. “What I like doesn’t matter though.” She stood up and walked into the hallway.
“First and last time I’m asking.” I heard Apollo’s gruff voice say to Frankie. “Wanna go on a snack run?” I didn’t hear another word, just the sound of them walking away.
“I’m sorry again, Senator Freeman,” Navy said before walking toward the door.
“Wait,” I heaved a sigh and waved my fingers at her. When she turned around and looked at me, I slid my index finger up and down the bridge of my nose. “Call her back.”
“Xari?” She quizzed, raising her brows.
“Yes.”
I watched Navy scurry out of the office and to her desk. Her sister must have gotten further than the lobby. I listened to her hushed but excited tone as she told Xari to come back. Before she hung up, I heard her beg her little sister not to act crazy. It made me wonder what kind of firecracker personality she was hiding.
I stood up when I heard hurried shuffling coming down the hall. Xari stopped in mid-motion when she reached the doorway. It had only been about ten minutes and I was marveling at how flawlessly her dress fit again.
“Have a seat,” I said, finding my words.
“I thought I wasn’t good enough without a mound of experience.” Her words were sharp and icy but I brushed them off.
“If you still want the job, I’d like to hire you.” I clasped my hands on top of the cool mahogany. I found myself trying to focus on anything besides the way the silky material molded over her tits. They were perfect, small cupfuls.
I forced the memory of how young and inexperienced she was to take control, and all was well again. It was tough not to get caught up in the outside package because she wore it well.
“I don’t know. I got a lot of experience when I walked out of here embarrassed so…”
“Do you want the job or not?” I cut her off, irritation taking over the lustful fog. There wasn’t a fog thick enough to make me ignore how immature she was. I wanted to tell her to leave again but I saw that guard forming around Frankie and opted not to. I’d give Xari a try for one month. If it didn’t work, at least I could tell Frankie we tried.
“Yes, I do,” Xari said, toning her attitude down.
“Good. I’ll have Navy give you my home address so you can get acquainted with the area. Then we’ll see how you interact with Frankie in her house. If you’re still the top pick…”
“Only pick,” she corrected with her finger in the air.
“As I said, if you’re still the top pick, you’ll sign the agreement for your living space, a standard NDA, service employee agreement, terms of service, and salary agreement. You’ll return them, signed, on your first day of work. How does that sound?”
“It sounds wonderful, Senator Freeman. Thank you.” We shook on the arrangement but I saw something playful in her eyes. “So, I have the job? You’re not going to go back on your word because you don’t want to piss Frankie off, right?”
“Something like that,” I said, folding my arms across my chest.
“Good. So you realized not hiring me at first was bullshit, right?”
“What?” I laughed.
“It was. I like Frankie and she likes me too. You were the problem.” She shrugged and looked up at me.
“You’re about to be the problem if you don’t watch your mouth.”
“You’re Frankie’s daddy. Not mine.” Her sharp attitude was enough to needle under my skin and make me question my decision-making skills. When I thought about the fireflies in Frankie’s eyes and the smile on the face when she talked to Xari, I realized why I hired someone with no experience and a cocky little mouth.
“Oh my god, you’re back?” Frankie walked through the door with a Target shopping bag hanging around her wrist. I saw the faint outline of snacks through the white plastic. “Wait, did you leave something, or did Daddy finally come to his senses and hire you?”
“I don’t know if I’d call it coming to my senses or losing my mind but I hired Miss Lucas…part two,” I said, putting my hands in my pockets. Xari’s rich espresso eyes bored into me, playing in the background of Frankie’s ecstatic squeals and laughter. She took me in slowly and I did the same to her. We were sizing each other up. We’d be living together for at least a month and I needed to get a feel for her.
“I will say this,” I said, pressing the pause button on Frankie’s happiness. “Miss Lucas is only hired after she comes to the house and gets to know our environment. Even after that, it’s only for a probationary one-month period.”
Frankie’s button nose scrunched into a wrinkle. “What does that mean?”