Page 5 of Beneficial Misfortune

Rich people.

I wave to Addy as they drive away and quickly make my way to the subway, wanting to avoid lingering and giving Trevor another chance to corner me.

Chapter 3

Iexpect someone to call about Addison’s card update today, but as the day winds to an end, I worry Oliver may have forgotten. It’s not terrible if he did, but it would make more work for her brother. The office will have to call her parents and get their okay before she can be released.

Addison doesn’t have a note today, but she is giddy when the time to pack up comes. It’s the first time she’s ever gotten ready to leave with the rest of the kids, and she’s the first one in line at the door. It’s a bit strange but also reinforces my idea that she doesn’t get along well with her mother. The thought makes me sad for her. She’s such a happy little girl.

The bell rings, and I push my worries aside as I lead the children out the door. Addison stands beside me, looking around, but must not see him yet. The students rush to their parents one by one, and before long, it’s only me and Addison.

Her bottom lip pokes out a bit, and I watch as her eyes continue to scan the crowd, even as it thins.

So much for having mostly on-time pickups.

Thankfully, my skirt is long, making it easy to keep myself modest as I crouch down to Addison’s height.

“Don’t worry, Addy, he probably just got stuck in traffic. I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.”

She looks up at me, and I can see she’s upset, but as she looks out around us one last time, her whole face lights up. One second, she’s here, and the next, she’s running full speed at a man I’ve never seen before.

Holy shit.

If I thought Oliver looked like the businessman type, this guy makes him look like a kid playing dress up.

He’s tall and well-built, and while he’s definitely older than Oliver by a few years, somehow, it only makes him look better. His three-piece black suit looks like it was painted on. The sleeves flex around his arms even as he simply walks, and it’s honestly a wonder they don’t rip.

His dark, almost black hair is combed back and styled to perfection, with streaks of gray running through the short sides. Most businessmen are clean-shaven, but he has a beard—like his hair—peppered with gray as if artfully done.

Gray hair isn’t supposed to be that attractive. Most people try to cover it up, but goddamn, something about this man makes me think he would look good in a tutu.

Addison all but leaps into his arms, and he’s ready for her, easily hoisting her up in the air as her giggles fill the hall. It’s clear from the way she runs to him and his attention to her that they know and love each other, but even still, I have a job to do.

“Excuse me,” I call to him and want to smack myself when my voice comes out in a broken little whisper. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem like he heard me.

Get it together, Kat.

Clearing my throat, I try again and thank the stars when my voice comes out more normal this time.

He peels his eyes away from Addison, who’s talking a mile a minute, to look up at me and holy shit. His eyes are gorgeous.

They're blue, but not like any blue I’ve seen before. They look like ice, and with the hard set of his jaw and his appearance, they really drive home the whole fuck off vibe he has going for him.

There’s no denying he’s intimidating, but also yummy.

Shit, that’s not appropriate.

“I just need to check her pickup card to ensure you're listed,” I tell him as he walks toward me, Addison still in his arms.

His brows pinch slightly, but he nods in understanding. “Nathaniel Lawson,” he says, coming to a stop a few feet from me and sweet baby Jesus, his voice.

My eyes widen at the sound as it rolls over me like a lover's caress. Unable to do anything else, I quickly nod and turn to head back into the classroom.

I really should have brought Addison with me, but in my haste to get away, I’d not thought about it. Stealing a glance back at him, I find him and Addison still just outside the door, waiting. His eyes bore into me with such intensity that I whip back around to my desk to hide the heat that's currently taking over my face.

He just has an intense personality. It doesn’t mean anything.

But even as I search through the classroom release cards, I can feel his eyes on me.

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