Page 120 of Embracing the Change

I raised my brows. “Didn’t you just hear me say you’d be with us longer than Felice?”

“Mister Jamie doesn’t have a housekeeper.”

“No, and so you know, I’ll be redecorating his brownstone, and when that’s done, we’ll be moving there. Allegra and Darryn will take over the apartment.”

She seemed concerned at the same time perplexed. “Will I work with Allegra and Darryn?”

“If you want to, however, that would be for the three of you to decide,” I answered. “Though, I’d prefer you go with me. There’s no apartment for you in Jamie’s space, so he’s hiring a broker for you to work with to find one close to the brownstone so your commute isn’t unpleasant. Obviously, as it is here, I’ll be paying for your accommodation. The only change is that you won’t be living with me, or, that is to say, us. Oh, and you’ll get a raise, since you’ll be taking care of both of us, and not just me.”

For a second, she did nothing.

Then she started my way, so I had to set my cup and saucer aside and accept her hug, which I returned.

It didn’t last long before she stepped out of my arms.

“I want to come with you,” she confirmed verbally what her hug had already communicated.

“I’m glad.” And I very much was.

She looked down to my coffee cup. “Are you done with that?”

I nodded.

She whisked it away.

And we were back to normal.

I went to the menu and approved it, before I reminded her, “I’m in committee meetings all day.”

“I remember.”

“I’ll be home around four.”

“Okay.”

“Have a good day, Alyona.”

“You too, Miss Nora.”

I walked out and found Heiress eschewing her cat bed to sleep on Jamie’s pillow (I understood her decision).

I gave her a scratch. She gave me some purrs.

Then I grabbed my bag and went out to face the day.

Wednesday afternoon, Dru and I stood in the foyer of Jamie’s brownstone.

As mentioned, she was a sweet young woman who I liked very much, but I could tell, right then, she was uncomfortable, and I was concerned she didn’t want to be there, but she was doing it for her dad.

The only way I could help her with that was to get on with it.

“To start, let’s do a bottom to top, dear,” I suggested.

She licked her lips and nodded.

Yes, uncomfortable, and maybe nervous.

We then toured every inch of Jamie’s home, the one Rosalind Oakley created for her family, and left with them.

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