Page 58 of Unwrapping Romance

“We’ll talk about it later,” I said as Eric pulled up to the curb.

Walking into my office, Daniel followed behind and shut the door.

“I have to say I was shocked when you weren’t in this morning,” he said.

“We had an appointment at a school for Ellie.”

“So, you are keeping her?” His brow arched.

“I don’t have a choice. Her mother took off. What else am I supposed to do?”

“I’m proud of you, Jack.”

“Stop it, Daniel.” I sighed. “Are you going to the parade tomorrow?”

“We go every year. You know that. Why?”

“Just wondering.”

“You’re seriously not—” he chuckled.

“No. No way in hell.”

“Well, it is Thanksgiving, and you should do something with your daughter. And your assistant.” He grinned.

“And you should leave my office and get to work.” A smirk crossed my lips.

After Daniel left my office, I called Sierra in.

“Yes?”

“I need the plans for the Oakwood Property.”

“I have them at my desk. Let me grab them.”

“Sierra, wait. What is Ellie doing?”

“Playing a game on her iPad.”

“Okay. Get me those plans.”

I watched as she left my office and thought about our conversation last night. Being left at boarding school didn’t compare to what she had been through. As hard as I didn’t want to admit it and tried to stop it, I was falling head over heels for her.

Picking up my office phone, I called down to the payroll department.

“This is Heather.”

“Heather, it’s Mr. Atlas. I need you to stop taking the money Sierra Knight owes me out of her check, effective immediately.”

“Will do, Mr. Atlas.”

“Thank you.”

“Here are the plans.” Sierra set them on my desk. “Also, you have three nanny interviews scheduled for this afternoon.”

“Okay. Thanks for letting me know.”

Later that afternoon, after Sierra and I interviewed the last candidate for the nanny position, I threw my pen across my desk.

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