Page 65 of The Billionaire's One-Night Stand Nanny
“Uh, sure.” Now he definitely thought I was a nut. A nut and chocolate biscotti.Fucking hell.
“And bring your last reports, the ones we went over the other day. You’ll present them.”
“Oh?” he said, brightening. “Okay. Yes. Sure thing, Mr. Walker.”
“It’s Ryan,” I said, turning back to my spreadsheets.
I was gettingMr. Walkerenough at home.
* * *
I was fully caffeinated and but not feeling any less sorry for myself by the time I sat through George’s reports at the exec meeting. He was just out of business school, young and fresh. I’d been him once, with a brand-new diploma hung in a tiny office. A fiancée, then a wife, then a baby.
Then an ex-wife and a preschooler.
The circle of life.
I stared unseeing at the biscotti as the CEO wrapped up the meeting, chuckling at a stupid joke the CTO made, giving last directions to the Director of HR and even throwing a couple words of praise to George, whose presentation really had gone well. He’d go home and tell his fiancé the CEO had said he was a genius. Good for him.
“Walker, my office?” he said as I stood to leave. I looked up to see the CEO smiling at me jovially. My stomach sank. There could only be one meaning behind that look.
I followed him to his office, already anticipating what he was going to say.
“That new hire did a great job today, Walker,” he said, settling behind his desk. I sat back in a leather chair across the mahogany desktop. “You coached him, I assume?”
I shook my head. “Some. But he’s bright. Eager. A quick study; he’ll go far.”
“Like you,” the CEO said with a nod. He folded his hands on his desk, leaning toward me. “You’re bright, too. You know what you’re here for.”
I did.
“So?” he asked.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose with my thumb and index finger. “I don’t know. Like I told you before…” I said. “I don’t think I’m ready–”
“Well, get ready,” the CEO said, sitting back himself. “I’m retiring. End of the year.”
“Oh,” I said. “Congratulations.”
“Don’t sound so excited,” he chuckled. “I know all you numbers guys love nothing more than a color-coded spreadsheet, but I for one want to improve my golf game for a while.Par, birdie, eagle; those are the only numbers I’ll be concerning myself with.” He grinned, and I managed a smile in response. “I want your ass in this chair, Walker.”
It was an honor.
Itwas.
More money, more prestige. More power.
But…
I thought of the longer hours. The managerial duties, the people-pleasing and the stockholders. The dinners and events at which my presence would be required, the networking and schmoozing that I loathed…
“You’re young, but you’rea quick study, too, I’d say,” he added.
…the empty house I would return to as Maddie started staying after school for orchestra practice, or going out with friends, or even just holing up in her room by herself, preferring to do her own thing rather than hang out and do puzzles with her boring dad. Dinner for one, and my lonely bedroom afterwards.
“I’ll consider it,” I said at last.
“Good man,” he said. “Just say the word, and it’s yours. But… end of the year, Walker.” He tapped one finger on the desktop. “I can’t wait around on you forever, not when the golf course is calling.”
