Page 65 of Offside Devil

“Just for future reference, pizza is his usual cheat day meal. I order it from his favorite delivery place. I could send you the information, but I know what he likes. It’s probably just easier for me to do it.”

“Okaaay.” If Zane was a fire hydrant, Hanna would be lifting her leg to mark her territory. Does she think I’m trying to take over her job? Because I could never. Spreadsheets are my mortal enemy. “Yeah, that’s fine. Whenever he wants pizza, you’ve got dibs.”

Hanna spins around and unzips the garment bag. She smooths her hands down the true blue suit like she wishes Zane were already inside of it. I nearly ask if she needs a minute alone. This looks intimate.

“Zane has an event coming up and needed his suit dry cleaned. Do you want me to take it to his room?” she asks, eyeing me suspiciously over her shoulder. “I don’t want you to wrinkle it.”

I fight back a grimace. “I think I can manage.”

“Are you sure? Formalwear requires a delicate touch and Zane is very particular.”

Oh, this is bitch speak. I’m fluent. What she’s actually saying is, You’re low-brow trash. Do they even have suits in whichever trailer park you crawled out of?

Zane’s assistant doesn’t like me. Looking back on all of the clipped, efficient emails, I now read her professionalism for what it really was: utter disdain.

“Zane hasn’t complained so far. I’ll handle it from here.”

Her top lip curls and I brace myself for what she’s going to say… when Aiden pads into the kitchen.

He’s still wearing his Hulk pajamas. The second he sees Hanna, he shoves his thumb in his mouth.

Hanna turns her attention to him. “You’re a little big to be sucking your thumb, aren’t you? I thought you were four. Are you four?”

Aiden doesn’t answer. He just shifts further behind the island, his eyes darting down to the floor.

“People will think you’re a baby if you keep doing that,” she sing-songs, delivering the insult like it’s praise.

“He only does it when he’s around someone he doesn’t know. Or when someone makes him uncomfortable,” I bite out.

I shouldn’t say anything, but I can’t help it. Aiden is just starting to open up to people and now, this pompous woman marches in here and makes fun of him?

Fuck.

That.

She smiles, but it’s more like a predator flashing their canines. “Zane is paying you to take care of his son, not stunt his development. If you keep treating him like a baby, he’ll act like one.”

“And if you keep treating me like your employee, I’m going to expect a paycheck. So pay up or fuck off.”

Hanna’s face turns as red as her hair. Her eyes narrow and I know, as she leaves, I do not have a friend in her.

As soon as the door closes, I kneel down in front of Aiden. “You are not a baby, buddy. That lady was just a grouch.”

“I don’t like her,” he whispers, popping his thumb out of his mouth.

“Can I tell you a secret?” I whisper back, kissing his chubby cheek. “I don’t like her, either.”

By the time I get Aiden into a bath overflowing with bubbles, he’s forgotten all about Hanna’s drop in.

But I haven’t.

Zane should know someone he pays is comfortable talking to his son like that. I know he wouldn’t stand for it.

I finish cleaning up the breakfast dishes and throwing out any evidence of the pizza Hanna sent last night. All future deliveries from her will be thoroughly examined for spit and/or love potions. It’s weirdly satisfying to slam the trash can lid closed.

I’m just coming out of the bathroom from checking on Aiden when the front door opens and Zane strides into the entryway.

At least, I think it’s Zane. It’s hard to tell because my eyes are incapable of moving any higher than his defined, glistening pectorals.

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