Page 48 of Soft Tissue Damage
She’s not working today or tomorrow. I laid this plan out perfectly.
“It’s my day off. I want you to make that woman feel safe. It’s what you do best, Mr. Grant.”
I reach out and touch Elena’s cheek. “You’re the kindest person I know, Elena.”
She shakes her head. “I’m just glad you still trust me with your daughter.”
I press a kiss to my daughter’s head and wipe away her tears with the pad of my thumb. “Why on earth wouldn’t I?”
“Many reasons, I guess.” She’s breathless and wary, and her eyes drop to the floor.
For one reason, and I know what that is. Because she offered herself to me for a kiss, and I didn’t take it. Now she’s worried I think she’s shameful. Chaotic. A slut. I’ve been cherishing that moment, but she’s been tearing herself apart over it.
“Elena, you’re the only person now who I trust around my daughter. I can’t tell you how much it will mean to me knowing you’re here with Rosie while I’m working today.”
“I’m so relieved to hear it,” she says, hope brightening her face.
The other night, I wanted more than anything to give her the kiss she was asking so sweetly for, but it wasn’t the right time. Kissing her boyfriend’s father within an hour of finding out her boyfriend cheated on her? She would have dismissed that later as a mistake, and it would have driven her even further away from me.
The next time I kiss Elena, it’s going to be perfect. She’ll feel no confusion. Only surrender.
“Layna’s going to look after you today,” I tell Rosie, who’s stopped crying and is hanging on to the neckline of my T-shirt.
“Lay-na,” Rosie repeats. Then she smiles and chants happily, “Lay-na, Lay-na, Layna.”
Elena smiles, a beautiful genuine smile. I love how much affection there is between Elena and my daughter.
“That’s right, baby girl. Are you excited?” I kiss Rosie’s curls and smile at Elena. Daddy sure is excited. Daddy’snearly got Elena right where he wants her. There are just a few more pieces to slide into place, and then she’ll be all mine.
BreakingElena and Leon up was easy. Having her move into my house was a simple task. Terminating her work at the diner and making her entirely dependent on me? A more challenging project.
The nuts and bolts of it are easy enough once I’ve gained access to Archer Dermott’s computer records and listened to his phone calls. The difficulty is to execute the plan in such a way that doesn’t have Elena questioning why every aspect of her life has suddenly imploded in the space of a week. I don’t want her to wonder if there’s someone behind the scenes pulling strings.
Monday and Tuesday she looks after Rosie, I pay her for her time, and shower her with praise and gratitude. It makes my blood heat seeing her cheeks turn pink from pleasure. It takes all my self-control not to cup the nape of her neck and draw her to me for a kiss.
Late on Wednesday, Elena goes to the diner, and I work from home. Before she heads off, I mention that I have applications from new nannies to look through.
That afternoon, Elena puts her bag on the counter with a thump, her expression shell-shocked. Her shift wasn’t supposed to end until nine this evening, but it’s only five.
“You’re home early,” I say while chopping up carrot andapple pieces for Rosie. My daughter is in her high chair, eating buttered pasta with her fingers.
“My boss was just arrested,” Elena says, her voice filled with disbelief.
I stop chopping and stare at her. “You’re joking. Why?”
“Apparently, a gang was using the place for money laundering, and they even found drugs in the safe in his office. Can you believe it?”
“I’m shocked.”
She pushes her hands through her hair and paces up and down, describing the police swarming the diner an hour ago during the mid-afternoon lull.
I put some of the carrot and apple pieces in front of Rosie. She picks up a carrot stick with buttery fingers and smiles at me. While Elena’s back is turned, I wink at my daughter like she’s my co-conspirator.
Earlier today, I asked Rosie if she’d like Elena to be her new nanny and Daddy’s new wife, and she seemed enthusiastic about the idea. Maybe she was just excited toplay with her blocks, but I like to think it was really the prospect of a beautiful, loving mother and several new baby brothers and sisters to play with.
“And now the diner is closed,” Elena finishes. “Who knows if it’s ever going to open again. I can’t believe everything that’s been happening lately. I can’t keep up with all these disasters.”
I wipe my hands on a towel, pretending to think. “You know, Elena. I’ve been looking at nanny applications today, and I have to say, I wouldn’t trust these people within amile of my daughter. Their experience is sparse, and when I looked into their references, most of them are fake or exaggerated.” I come around the counter toward Elena. “All Rosie did this afternoon was ask for you.”
