Page 57 of Crying Shame
We clearly had different memories. I should not have told her how long I’d waited for her. I took her hands. “Will he be upset if he finds out? I’d say he was adjusting pretty well.”
She stood, and her face went white. “No, he’ll probably want us to get married. He won’t understand we’re friends with benefits.”
“I didn't agree to casual.”
“I can’t offer more.”
My heart pounded harder. I grabbed my pants. “Glad he wants us to stay as we are.”
I rocked and intended to remind her that I wanted more for us, but she turned on her heels. “I’m going to my room to shower. Meet you downstairs.”
Without another word, she slipped out of my room.
I massaged my forehead, as Clarissa and I needed to discuss what we were to each other, but we weren’t on the same page. It seemed I needed to prove to her I was more than a booty call.
I headed to my bathroom and hoped the shower would clear my head. I needed a plan of action.
We'd take Sam to school, and I’d see if she was ready to start working with me and get payroll started. I put on a dress shirt and shorts as no one besides Clarissa and the staff would see below my belt—as long as we let Sam hop out of the limo and didn't walk him into school.
After I finished dressing, I realized Clarissa and Sam were still in their rooms. I headed downstairs and ordered breakfast and tea. I intended to read the news, but my phone rang. I smiled as I realized the call wasn’t work related. “Charlie, what’s going on?”
“I gave my two weeks’ notice.”
Finally. He would find something he could do that didn't involve following other people’s schedules. “Good. Do you have a plan, or are you just taking time off?”
“No idea. I’m moving into my penthouse in Manhattan and probably going to work with Warren and Kir.”
I nodded as the staff brought in breakfast trays to set up. “Sounds good for you.”
“So bring your family down soon to visit.”
My heart stilled. Clarissa wasn’t on that page. I wasn’t even sure I was. My stomach twisted as I remembered her words this morning. I closed my eyes and said, “It’s not that set in stone.”
“I don’t know what that means, but if there is something you need help with concerning Clarissa and whatever happened to her, just call any of us.”
Charlie had no idea why Clarissa hadn’t clued me in on what her life had been like. She was still stalling. Maybe it had something to do with Hunter, but I assumed the reason went deeper. Either way, I was tempted to run a background check on him, but I wasn’t even sure of his last name. Clarissa never spoke of him. I sat up straighter. “Right now, just let Clarissa set the pace and don’t make assumptions.”
“Fine, fine. Talk to you later,” Charlie said.
I’d spoken the truth. Whatever happened with us, Clarissa would set the schedule. She needed love and support and to feel safe. Hopefully, by showing her I was dependable, she’d see I wasn’t the same stupid kid who had once hurt her. I’d ask her so many questions that hopefully she would open up to me. It was the only plan I had.
24
Elon
We dropped Sam off at school, and I had human resources set up Clarissa on the payroll as she’d been insistent that staying home and doing nothing wasn’t an option. I texted my brothers Kir and Warren to set up a trust fund for her. She would have no need to fear where her next dollar was coming from ever again. I wouldn't tell her about it until the time was right, though.
I needed her near me so I could figure out how to get past her defenses and to get her to commit to our family. For now, we came home from leaving Sam and school, and she spoke to personnel to ensure she'd done all the paperwork.
I stayed on my side of the desk and read emails, talked to some of my doctors who needed a second set of eyes on plans, and spoke to my father’s investment team that was setting up my business as a nationwide provider of women’s health. I also funded Clarissa's trust with twenty-five million dollars.
Every state had slightly different rules, but if Clarissa lived off three percent of the investments alone, she’d have enough for everyday things.
I was finishing an email when Clarissa broke our silence. “So your payroll department is thorough. That took half a day.”
Almost half a day. It was eleven o'clock, but I wouldn't argue semantics. I sat back and poured us both tea from my carafe. “I’m glad you’re almost finished with onboarding.”
“Me too.” She smelled the tea and smiled.
