Page 19 of Daddy's Little Worker
“Here’s a straw. You just drink some, and I’ll hold the cup. Why don’t we get you in the employee break room?” Trent suggested. “You're done with work and should be heading home.”
She had been on her way to the employee room when she got dizzy and needed a second to regain her composure. That was when she found herself leaning against the wall, eyes closed and ready to fall asleep.
“I know,” she mumbled against the straw. “I was just about to leave.”
Frankie didn’t know if Dominic was taking her home or if someone else was on shift was. It was something she needed to ask, but hadn’t found the courage to yet.
“Let's get you sitting so you can take a couple of seconds to regain your balance and then I can help you get where you need to be,” Trent offered kindly, wrapping his arm around her waist.
“I just need help getting to the room. I’ll take a couple of minutes, but I should be good after that. I think I just stood up too fast,” she tried to explain.
But she hadn’t been sitting when she got dizzy. She had been walking, which he wasn’t going to find out. Trent then would tell Noah, and she didn’t want that. Not on her first day. She wanted to make sure everything went smoothly. Noah didn’t have to worry about anything.
“Are you sure?” Trent gave her a worried look as he helped her sit down.
“Yes, I’m sure. I just need a couple of minutes to come round, then I’ll be brand new. Sorry about that,” she apologized.
“No need. I’m just glad I was there and you didn’t fall and hurt yourself.” He smiled and held out the cup. “If you need anything, you call out and I’ll be here.”
She nodded and took the cup, holding it close to her so he didn’t see any of the shaking, if there was any. She wanted not to care, but she did.
“Remember, if you need anything, you call out and I’ll come. No matter how big or small it is.” Trent gave her a pointed look.
“Promise.” She gave him a wobbly thumbs up.
Trent exited the room, leaving her alone. She quickly placed the water on the bench and took a deep breath. Everything was going to be okay. She just needed to sit here for a couple of minutes, and then she would be like nothing ever happened.
But as Frankie sat there, the exhaustion weighed down on her. The security of knowing nothing would happen to her here was making her even sleepier. Taking a nap wouldn’t hurt. Closing her eyes for a couple of minutes wasn’t going to kill her, right?
Frankie looked around the room, checking that no one was around. It wasn’t going to kill her, and there was no rule that she couldn’t close her eyes when she was off the clock. With that, she closed her eyes for a couple of minutes.
CHAPTER 9
NOAH
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Come in,” Noah called out and sighed.
Today was Frankie’s first day, and he hadn’t gotten a lot of work done. He was worried she might need something and ask him for help, but she didn’t. Maybe she knew what she was doing, or maybe she’d asked Trent who was closer to her.
It didn’t sit well with him. He wanted to be the person she came to when she needed something. He wanted to be her person.
His eyes widened a fraction before he schooled his features as Monty walked in. She smiled, but he could see the worry across her face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“She’s not a homeless person, I know that since they wouldn’t be able to get in, but I’m worried. I walked in and nothing happened. I said hi and nothing happened again.” Monty was rambling.
“Take a deep breath and slowly let it out.” Noah found himself saying. “Now, tell me what happened.”
“There is someone asleep in the employee room. I tried to wake her up, but she didn’t move at all. I tried talking to her and making noise so I didn’t startle her, but nothing happened. She’s not dead since I saw her chest rise and fall, but she isn’t waking up,” Monty rushed out. “Trent and John were busy, and I don’t know the other owners as well and didn’t want to bother them.”
Worry churned in his stomach. It couldn’t be her, could it?
“Do you know who it is?” he asked as he stood up. “Walk with me.”
They made their way out of his office and toward the employee room.Please don’t be her.
