Page 27 of Daddy's Little Worker
“What exactly is it you’re worried about?” Oliver asked.
“Everything?” Noah asked. “I just said if something dangerous happened around her apartment, I would be packing her belongings and moving her into one of my apartments. I promised her I would even let her pay rent if that happened.”
That was another thing he wanted to take back, but he couldn’t. He told her he would, and he wasn’t going to back out of his promise now. No matter how much it hurt him.
“Her health?” Oliver suggested. “Did you talk about that at all?”
“No, we didn’t.” Noah sighed. “Not in that way. I asked her if there was anything we needed to know. She hesitated. I know she lied, but I didn’t push her. She seemed really nervous and exhausted.”
He was slacking on everything when it came to Frankie. With every employee, he made sure they knew their health was the most important thing. He wanted everyone to be healthy and able to do their jobs to the best ability.
“I would call her in for that conversation. That may be your way into getting her to move.” Oliver shrugged. “Just something to think about.”
“Why are you telling me this? You’ve never worried about an employee like this, never wanted to talk to me like this,” Noah pointed out. “What are you trying to do?”
“You’ve never taken an interest in anyone. So many women flaunt themselves in front of you and you ignore them, yet you take one look at Frankie and have already claimed her,” Oliver observed. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to her anyway. That isn’t a good part of town. I would be moving her as fast as I could so she isn’t in any danger. Poor girl looks absolutely exhausted this morning, she clearly isn’t getting good sleep.”
“She’s here?” Noah asked.
“Yes, she was downstairs talking to Dominic.”
Noah looked at his clock. She still had thirty minutes to get to the building to work. What was she doing here already?
“I’ll have that conversation about her health right now.” Noah got up from his seat. “She’s in trouble.”
Oliver whistled as he walked out of the room. Frankie’s bottom was his now. Did he not tell her several times not to come in until ten?
“Frankie.” Noah raised his voice.
Her eyes went wide as she stared at him. Good. He wanted her to realize what she had done wrong.
“Mr. Noah,” she squeaked. “Hi. Can I help you with anything?”
Dominic’s expression was full of amusement as he looked between them. He walked away before Noah could get right in front of her.
“Just Noah,” he reminded her. “Do you know what time it is?”
She pulled out her old phone and winced. “Nine thirty,” she mumbled.
“Nine thirty. And what time did I tell you to come in?” he asked.
She looked up at him. “Ten, but I thought I would come a little earlier to start on things. Not much earlier. I’ve already been up for hours doing chores at my apartment.”
He could see the bags under her eyes, and he didn’t like that. He wanted her to be the best version of herself. She couldn’t do that when she was exhausted and working a lot.
“Did you not sleep in?” he asked.
Frankie looked away and wrapped her arms around her stomach. He did not like that one bit. What was going on there that she wasn’t getting good sleep?
“I wake up early,” she whispered. “I’ve always woken up early. I can’t stop my body from waking up.”
He wondered if her body wouldn’t let her because she didn’t feel safe. She was flat out at the club, the noise not waking her up.
“Come to my office with me.” He held his hand open. “Let’s talk in private.”
Frankie hesitated as she stared at his palm. Was she nervous, scared?
“It’s okay. We’re going to talk, and you will get a punishment for disobeying my orders,” Noah told her.
