Page 19 of Almost Paradise

I pick up my phone and stare at the pictures my private eye took of him on Friday. He’s playing with a little girl and is pushing her on a swing. He’s absolutely perfect, and I love him so much already.

I do worry about how he’ll take the news. He already has a father figure, and I know Ray Nash is a decent man. Nia talked about him with me when we were together.

You were never together. You both were just scratching an itch.

I will go to my grave not believing that. From the moment we met, we had something.

Then

“Dad, are you for real?” I let out a belly laugh. “I’m not going to human resources. I’ve worked here before and HR should come tome.” I wave him off, but he doesn’t seem amused.

“You’re going. There are over one hundred new people starting today. You will spend the next three hours at new hire orientation.”

“That’s ridiculous, not to mention a waste of time. Time I could be working.” He shakes his head and gets a look in his eyes. I know what’s coming. He’s about to lecture me on the responsibilities of being a Paradise. His main rule is that we do not get preferential treatment because of our last name.

I tune him out while he gives the familiar speech, but now I know there is no way I’m going to get out of this. I have to go to a presentation that includes a tour of the building and its different departments. I know this company and this building like the back of my hand. I could give a tour blindfold. There’s no way anyone in HR knows this company and its history better than I do, but I’ll do as my dad says. He’s the boss. Not only that, I also respect him. Besides, he says he won’t let me log in until I come back.

I bid him farewell and go find the elevator. I’m already ten minutes late, and by the time I make it to the third floor, I must jog to the HR offices.

There’s a middle-aged Asian man sitting behind the reception desk. From the look of fear and awe in his eyes, he knows who I am. There were also several emails in the past few weeks announcing my start date. I wanted to take the summer off and start in September, but Dad gave me a start date of July fourteenth.

“I’m Dan,” he says, extending his hand to me. I give him a firm shake and a head nod. “The presentation has already started. Just go through those double doors.” He points down the hall, and after saying goodbye, I walk away.

The room is full, and the older man talking in front of the group stalls when he sees me. Yup. He knows who I am too. I look away, hoping he’ll continue so that no one will turn to look at me. Thankfully, he does just that. Since the room is full and there are no seats available, I lean against the wall and prepare myself to be bored to death. I hope I don’t fall asleep, keel over, and make a fool of myself and my family’s company.

The first speaker is as dry as unbuttered toast, but I manage to keep my eyes open. After about twenty minutes, he announces he’s going to pass the mic to someone by the name of Nia Nash, who will go over the different benefits packages of Paradise Construction.

I know all about that too. There’s no need for me to be here, but Dad insists that employees with the last name Paradise act like every other employee. I prepare myself for another half hour of torture when I see a small figure stand and take the makeshift stage. She looks nervous as he passes her a microphone. All I can see from here is her profile, so I stand straighter and stare ahead, suddenly interested in this presentation.

She clears her throat and faces forward. I imagine this is what an out-of-body experience would be like. I’ve never seen a more beautiful creature in my life. She’s perfection. From here, I can see her clear brown skin. Her skin looks soft like rose petals. Her big brown eyes are surrounded by long and thick eyelashes. Her hair is short, a layered bob with the longest pieces barely touching her ears, and she has it parted in the middle. She looks young, but I know everyone who works in HR has at least a four-year college degree. Some even have a Master's.

She takes a deep breath and smiles. I know in that moment, my world will never be the same. She looks around the room, and even from more than fifty feet away, I know she sees me. Our eyes lock and the room goes deathly quiet. She has full, kissable lips. She’s in a lavender pantsuit, and I find that I like it. It makes her stand out. She’s in a small little package, and even with the high heels she’s wearing, I know she’s not very tall.

“Good morning,” she says. I take one step forward before I stop myself. She’s talking to the entire room, not just me. “I’m Nia Nash, and I’ll be discussing the good stuff with you this morning. We’re going to talk about vacation days, health plans, and the many other benefits that Paradise offers. Trust me, there are tons of them.” The room claps, and so do I. “Please hold all questions until the end.”

I listen to every word as if it’s all brand-new information. Several times during her presentation, she puts a piece of hair behind her ear, but it’s so short, it won’t stay. She’s a great presenter, unlike her dry predecessor. She’s funny and engaging. She mispronounced a word at one point and laughed so hard at herself, she snorted. When she laughs her nose scrunches, and it’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.

She takes questions at the end, but I’m too awestruck to raise my hand. Besides, I don’t want to draw attention to myself.

The next speaker does things a little differently. He eyes me from the back of the room, and from the nervous glean in his eyes, I know he’s going to out me.

“You new hires are very lucky. You have the honor of starting on the same day as Mr. Drake Paradise.” He points to me in the back, and I try not to look annoyed. Nia’s head whips around and our eyes lock again. I think understanding dawns and she looks away. I can hear her clear her throat from here. “Mr. Paradise, since you missed the first few minutes, please let me introduce the HR team again.”

Now that sounds promising. As he introduces himself, I walk to the front of the room and shake his hand. She’s the last person to be introduced. I’m told she’s the HR manager. I stop breathing when I finally get to touch her. I wrap my large hand around her small one. I look down and force myself not to kiss the back of her hand, but I can feel a wave of electricity practically course through my body.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Paradise.” I don’t speak. I’m too lost in her eyes to talk. I squeeze her hand, and I swear I hear her whimper. She feels it too, but when she squeezes my hand back, I’m certain of it.

Chapter 14

Nia

The bitter cold doesn’t affect me like it normally does. An arctic blast of wind smacks me in the face, whipping my hair around and blocking my vision of the quiet street. I’ve been standing on the porch for the past ten minutes. Carter’s been staring out the window for the past nine and a half.

I don’t know if he’s excited or nervous. When I told him I had a friend coming over to meet him, he shrugged and barely showed any interest. He’s met my friends before, but he doesn’t know this is different. At least he didn’t at first. My plan was to bring it up again and explain why this friend would be different, but that’s not what happened,

“Why are you saying your friend, Auntie Nia? Isn’t this person Carter’s father?” Mason drops the news, and the entire house goes quiet.

“I have a daddy?” Carter whispers in awe.

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