Page 95 of Sins of the Father

“Wh...” I pause. “Stole his heart?”

“Yeah. I don’t know anything about you, but whatever you’re doing, keep it up.”

“O-kay,” I annunciate the letters.

She laughs. “This is for you. He didn’t want a courier or anyone else to bring it. I don’t run his personal errands. Well, not that he’s ever asked me to do anything for him that wasn’t part of my job description in the past. But anyway, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Ummm, thanks. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“I should get back. He’s in a meeting, and he finally allowed me to take over some of his tasks, so if you want, I can push him out the door at five again?”

“Five?”

“Yeah. Yesterday he left at five and told me if I could keep helping him carve more hours out of his schedule, I could continue to handle the more important things.”

He left early?

And you weren’t here.

She leans in. “He also has years of vacation time he’s never taken, so if you ever want to surprise him and give him a break, here’s my card. Or, if you need anything else. I’m his right hand.”

I take the card. “Thank you.”

She winks. “Nice meeting you. Have a great day.” She gets back in the elevator, leaving me stunned, holding the envelope.

Anna calls out, “Harper, where are the diapers?”

I go into Hope’s room and get a fresh diaper and wipe. When I get to the family room, Anna points. “What is that?”

“I don’t know. Steven sent it.”

“Well, open it.”

I sit on the ground with her, and she changes Hope. I open the envelope and pull out my phone, an envelope fat with cash, a receipt showing my rent is paid through my lease, and the wedding rings and my grandmother’s earrings.

I gape at the items.

“Harper, your mouth is hanging on the floor,” Anna teases.

My insides shake. “He shouldn’t have done this.”

“I don’t know the entire story, so it’s time you spilled it, or I’m going to make my own conclusions.”

I cave and tell her what happened.

“Wow. Your man’s had a busy morning. Seems to be a little crazy about you.”

“He shouldn’t have done this,” I repeat. I turn on the phone.

“Why not?”

“It’s not right.”

She groans. “Get over yourself, Harper.”

“You wouldn’t let a man bail your ass out like this.”

“If I were in your shoes, I absolutely would. And your grandmother would roll over in her grave if anyone else ever put those diamonds in their ears. Don’t be an idiot. You have a hot stud, who’s been trending on social media for the last six days as the cat’s meow, by the way, who clearly wants to take care of you. He seems pretty nice. From what his exes are saying all over the media, he sounds like an animal in the bedroom.”

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