He began to give a drawn-out account of his various positions and the skills he’d acquired over the years. I listened patiently and nodded, my eyes almost drifting shut a few times. Everything was just fine even though he was slowly putting me into a coma, but that quickly ended.
In a melodramatic move, he got out of his seat and kneeled before me, making prolonged eye contact that made me uncomfortable. “Let me be your hands, Mr. Wellington. What you can’t do, I will do for you, and we’ll work together as one.”
He’d worded that oddly, but I could’ve gotten past it if he hadn’t spoken in a way that was all for show as if he were an actor demonstrating one of his finest moments. It was too much…and weird. When he finished, he smiled, clearly pleased with himself and his performance. “I believe we will get along very, very well.” He enunciated each word as if to prove what a great guy he was.
Nope. He wasn’t going to work out after all. He was trying too hard, and I couldn’t stand suck-ups or people who might annoy me. Maybe that was why I’d been able to tolerate Susan Dawson for so long. She didn’t try to make me like her. She just did her job.
“Are you going to hire me?” he asked, confidently.
I pursed my lips together and held back what I wanted to say. “We’ll be in touch if I think you’re a good fit.”
“Awesome.” He left in positive spirits, no doubt thinking he’d scored the position.
“Do we have to see the last person?” I asked. “I’m bored and tired and I want these people out of my house.”
“Yes,” Rupert and Susan said at the same time.
“Fine.” No point in arguing. I would just get it over with so I could take a nap after we finished. It was surprising that sitting here all day had made me this tired, but boredom had a way of putting one to sleep. I glanced at my list and saw an Emery Chase scheduled for the final interview. The name stood out since there weren’t a lot of Emerys out there, but also because it was Zac’s biological mother’s name. This was Emery Chase, not Emery Garrett, so I knew it wasn’t the same person, but I still got a strange feeling seeing the name on the list.
Rupert opened the door and called her in. She walked into the dining room, but I didn’t look at her because I was fed up and irritable.
“Thank you, for seeing us today, Miss Chase. I’m Rupert Allen.” He smiled wide and then gestured to my nurse. “This is Susan Dawson, the nurse you will be assisting if you qualify for the job. Of course, Seth Wellington is the patient here.”
Emery turned to look at me, and the moment my eyes took her in, it was as if I’d been viewing the world in black and white all day but now everything was in color…way too much of it. The woman looked to be in her early twenties, and with her punk shaved hair and overly bright makeup, she made quite the impression.
If the purple blouse wasn’t enough to wake me up, the neon yellow eyeshadow did the trick. My eyes hurt just from looking at her. I wanted to tell her to go easy on the black eyeliner, or maybe find a pair of jeans that didn’t seem like they’d come from a thrift store, but, luckily, I could censor myself when the occasion warranted it.
I glanced at Rupert and Susan to see their reactions. Rupert had a big smile on his face and Susan was looking at her like she couldn’t believe this was happening. In all my time as an entrepreneur, I’d hired all kinds of people, but most figured out that you dressed nicely for an interview. Most…but not Emery, apparently.
Before I had a chance to think about it, I blurted, “Well, we saved the best for last, didn’t we?” Enough sarcasm slipped out to freeze a polar bear, but I didn’t feel bad for saying it. My time was important to me, and this woman was obviously going to waste the next ten minutes. Maybe my brashness would scare her away so we could be done with this.
Instead of shrinking back though, she eyed me for a good three seconds with a look that said I didn’t intimidate her, and against my will, a surge of admiration sprung up. At least she wasn’t a wilting flower. She licked her lips and sat in the chair Rupert had set out, and as she did, the hole in her jeans widened even further at the knee. Unbelievable.
She didn’t have anything in her hands, and I didn’t see a purse anywhere, so I cleared my throat, smiling to myself because I was about to get rid of her in record time. “Please hand your resume to my associate, Rupert Allen. It’s a requirement if you’d like me to consider you for the position.”
She didn’t even blink. “I don’t have one, at least not that pertains to this job.”
“Then why are you here?” I asked, surprised. Did she think she could just waltz in here and I would like her enough to hire her?
She hesitated, and the confidence that had previously etched her demeanor vanished within seconds. “I…” Glancing down, she laughed lightly but her expression was pained. “This is a lot harder than I thought it would be.”
Chapter 4
Emery
Seth Wellington waited for me to finish my statement, but all the good intentions I’d had earlier vanished the moment he opened his mouth. He was a jerk and a colossal one at that. Was it even worth telling him my story?
He wasn’t the same man I remembered. Seven years ago, the Seth Wellington I met was kind and understanding, but maybe it had all been a farce so he could take my baby. The guy in front of me was sarcastic and rude, and he kept looking at me like he couldn’t wait to get rid of me.
For a second, I had a moment where I questioned everything. Perhaps I’d made a mistake and the kid I’d followed home wasn’t my son. But how many Seth Wellingtons were there in the world with a son named Zac? And if I were honest, there was no mistaking the handsome, chiseled features of the man before me. He was good-looking back then and time had not diminished his looks one bit. Not that it had any effect on me. If anything, it made me dislike him even more. I preferred men with flaws, not perfect Ken dolls who believed they were all that.
I debated standing up and leaving, but if I did, I would never know if this man treated Zac the same way he’d just treated me. Hopefully, Allie was a lot kinder.
“What is harder than you thought?” Seth asked, eyes narrowing.
I paused, not sure what to say. The best course of action would be to go along with this interview until I figured out what to do. I didn’t want the job and already knew he wouldn’t offer it to me, but I needed time to think. Maybe I could find a way to speak with Bessie again and get the low down on the family.
Mr. Wellington stared at me, waiting for an answer to his question, and when I didn’t respond right away, he let out an annoyed grunt. “Are you mute?”
My brows furrowed, and I tried not to glare at him. If he was this bad during an interview, I could only imagine what it would be like to work for him on a daily basis. Poor Zac. What kind of father did he have to put up with?
“No, I am not mute. Are you always this rude?” The words slipped out of my mouth before I had a chance to take them back. I didn’t want to get on his bad side, but I refused to let him treat me this way.
“Not always, but he has his moments,” Susan said dryly.
Seth smirked and eyed me with interest. “Thanks for that, Susan.”
I shifted and did my best to relax my shoulders. “To answer your question, this interview is a lot harder than I thought it would be.” When I’d made the statement earlier, I had meant that finding a way to share who I was and discuss Zac was harder than I’d realized, but I couldn’t bring myself to share the real reason I’d faltered.
“Take a deep breath. We’re rooting for you to succeed.” Rupert smiled, and I instantly liked him. He was a handsome guy and looked a bit older than Seth.
“Since you don’t have a resume,” Seth said, “we can’t consider you as a proper candidate. Good day, Miss Chase.” He dismissed me just like that and then glanced at Susan as if waiting for her to assist him out of his chair.
“Hold on,” Rupert said. “Let’s hear what job experience she has.”
They all three looked
at me, and I winced.
While I’d waited for this interview in the massive living room, I’d gotten up to speed on what the job entailed by talking to the others. Mr. Wellington had a car accident a month ago and needed a caregiving assistant to help his nurse. I had no professional background in the healthcare field, but I did have some life experience.
“Well, let’s see, after my grandmother had knee surgery, she stayed with us for several weeks, and I was the main person to attend to her needs.”
“What about job experience?” Rupert asked.
“Nothing in the healthcare field, I’m afraid.”
“Actually,” Susan said, “it’s not essential that the assistant have a medical background. It would be helpful but not crucial. The primary requirement is the ability to stay with Mr. Wellington and assist him with small tasks throughout the day. We need someone who is very patient.” She paused. “For example, if he requests help turning the channel on the television or looking up definitions to words on the internet, the assistant will take care of all that.” She glanced at Seth and smiled sweetly.
“Oh, that’s easy,” I said. “It’s no problem.”
Seth glared at Susan and then looked at me. “It appears you don’t have the necessary credentials for this job, but out of courtesy, I’ll allow you to answer the same questions I asked everyone else.”
Oh, how nice of him. I had the urge to put my hands around his neck and squeeze, but I controlled myself. “Thank you.”
“What skills do you have that apply to this job, and how do you think we will get along?”
We’d just covered my lack of professional experience, and I didn’t have anything more to add on that front. This was such a sinking ship. I fought back my frustration, the truth of the situation growing very clear. We’d gotten off to a bad start, and no matter what I said about who I was and my desire to become better acquainted with Zac, he would never accept me or let me near his son. He disliked me. A lot. I could tell. It was evident in the way he kept narrowing his eyes every time we looked at each other.
I had two options: make an effort to get the job or walk out and never come back. Thinking about the second option left a deep ache in my gut.
“Miss Chase, I don’t have all day,” he said in a dry tone. “Can we all just agree that you are the least qualified of all the candidates to walk through that door?”
Something in his tone set me off. Maybe I was tired of being talked down to since my previous boss had been emotionally abusive, or perhaps I just didn’t like this man. I opened my mouth to tell him off, but because I wanted to see Zac again, I quickly swallowed what I was about to say. It was at that point that I came to a decision. If there was any chance of getting this position, I had to at least try so I would have the opportunity to figure out how Seth treated his son. It wasn’t over until he kicked me out.
Forcing a smile, I sat up straighter, knowing confidence and boldness sometimes won out over being qualified as unfair as that was. I was good at reading people, and it was obvious to me that Seth liked a straight-shooter. If I displayed any sign of weakness or timidity, he wouldn’t even consider me. “Actually, I’m the perfect person for this job.”
“Why is that?” he asked.
“Because I know how to deal with difficult people, and you, Mr. Wellington, are a very difficult man. I bet you didn’t like one person who interviewed with you today.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but I pressed on. “Even so, we don’t have to like each other. Will we get along? Sure. I’ll stay out of your way when you don’t need me, and when you do, I’ll give you top effort. I may not have a lot of experience, but I value this opportunity and you can count on me to rise to the occasion.”
“I love her,” Rupert said, clapping his hands together. “She knows how to stand up to you, and that’s important in my book.”
“I adore you, Emery,” Susan said with a huge smile on her face. “I think we’ll get along just fine.”
Hope swelled in my chest. If Rupert and Susan liked me, Seth might be willing to consider their feedback.
“Not so fast. I’m the one who makes the final decision here.” Seth narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized me and then let out a breath as if tired and drained from the day’s activities. “At least you’re honest and didn’t try to pretend you’re someone you’re not. That I can respect. Too many people want to kiss up, and I hate that.”
I was not being honest about who I was, so the statement hurt my conscience, but still…I had to know if Zac was okay, and this pretense would only be for a few weeks. If Seth turned out to be a good father and Zac was happy, I’d walk away when the job was over. And just maybe…if I was able to form a better relationship with this man, he might consider allowing me to have occasional contact with Zac.
On the other hand, if my son was being mistreated… Well, I wasn’t sure what course of action I’d take, but I would cross that bridge when I came to it.
“You’re not exactly the type of person I would hire, Miss Chase, but if Rupert and Susan are eager to make this work—”
“We are,” Susan intercepted. “I’ll deal with all the healthcare issues and Emery can handle the nonsense stuff.”
“What do you mean?” Seth asked.
She pursed her lips. “I’ll attend to any health-related tasks, and she can put up with all your other demands.” She turned to Emery. “I believe you’re up for the challenge.”
Forcing a smile, I nodded. “I am.”
“Great,” Seth said like he just wanted to be done with this. “You can move in tomorrow.”
I gasped. “This is a live-in position? I didn’t realize that.”
“Yes,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”
That would give me more time to observe Zac, so I was okay with it. “No, it’s not a problem.”
“I predict that you and Seth will become the greatest of friends,” Rupert said, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Seth and I both glared at him. At least we seemed to agree on one thing. We most definitely would not become the best of friends. I was here for Zac and that was all.
***
Once I got home and told my family I got a new job and was moving into my boss’s home the next day, there was quite an uproar.
“But who will cook all the meals?” Dad asked, running a hand through his scraggly hair.
“It’s only for a few weeks and then I’ll be back. You and Mom will have to take over in the meantime.” When he gave me an unhappy look, I shrugged. “I’m twenty-two, so you had to know I would eventually move out. Think of it as a trial run so you’ll have an idea of what to expect in the future.”
He hung his head and shook it as if I were purposely making life difficult for him. A flash of anger swept through me. Neither of my parents ever showed gratitude that I did the bulk of the work at home. They were only too happy to make it seem as if those chores were mandatory and they were doing me a favor. Forget that I paid a third of the rent and a good portion of the utilities. Truthfully, I’d only stayed because I’d wanted to look out for the twins, and if it hadn’t been for them, I would have left a long time ago.
After that, Dad went next door to talk to our neighbor, and Mom headed back to her room to do whatever it was she did there. She didn’t have much to say on the matter so I wasn’t sure if she cared or not, but either way, I was doing this.
After going to the grocery store and buying enough food for the week, I showed Wynne and Finn where I kept all the lunch supplies and let them know they’d need to make their own lunches for the next few weeks. To my delight, they seemed excited they were being given this responsibility. They were definitely growing up.
I called Peyton to update her on everything as soon as I was alone in my room. I could tell she didn’t agree with what I was doing, but at this point, I didn’t need anyone’s approval. If Zac were being hurt in some way, I would never forgive myself for not investigating further. The rest of
the evening flew by as I packed what I would require for three to four weeks. Every time guilt pushed its ugly head up, I stamped it down so it wouldn’t lead to doubt. In my mind, it was easy to justify what I was doing because, ultimately, Zac’s well-being was more important than anything else. Plus, I wasn’t lying per se… I just wasn’t forthcoming about who I was.
The next day, I hauled my belongings to my car just as the sun rose over the hill. I took one last glance at my home and then made the trip to Bel Air, hoping Wynne and Finn would be okay without me. I planned on checking in with them every day by phone.
When I arrived at the Wellington’s estate, Anthony Sinclair, the gentleman who had stated he was the house manager when I had my interview, let me in and showed me to my room. It was a modest size though much bigger than what I had at my parent’s house. The beige color was boring and unimaginative, but the space had a bathroom and huge walk-in closet, so that made up for it.
“Susan Dawson is staying across the hall,” he said. “And Mr. Wellington’s bedroom is on the other side of the house.”
I wanted to ask which room Zac stayed in, but I figured that might seem strange, considering Anthony didn’t even know I’d met Zac.
“Take some time to unpack and settle in,” he said, “and then find me so I can escort you to Mr. Wellington’s suite. Susan is looking forward to having your help.”
“Thank you. When will I get the chance to meet Mrs. Wellington?” It hadn’t occurred to me until just that moment that Allie might recognize me even if Seth hadn’t. Meeting her first thing was of utmost importance so I could gauge where I stood.
Anthony appeared startled. “Mrs. Wellington? She passed away two years ago.”
My heart dropped. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I had no idea Allie…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. A wave of sadness washed over me as I pictured the beautiful blonde who had been so sweet in our first meeting. The thought of her passing away, of Zac not having the woman he considered his mother around… My knees weakened, and I had to hold on to the door frame to steady myself. No wonder Seth seemed so unhappy. He was probably still grieving the loss of his wife.
Blind Date With a Billionaire Single Dad Page 4
