Page 5 of The Hitman
“Soo, I hope it’s okay that your guy downstairs let me up here.” She releases my hand to hook her thumb toward the elevator. “I told him I was perfectly capable of riding in an elevator without an escort.”
My posture sharpens.
Anyone who enters the penthouse is retina scanned, patted down, and escorted up by a guard. No excuses, no exceptions—no matter how beautiful those exceptions may be.
A lapse in security like that is cause for immediate termination, but if anything, she just helped me eliminate a threat in my own home.
“Not a problem,” I say, smiling tightly. No sense in upsetting her by announcing he’ll be replaced before she even leaves this building. “Let me show you to my office.”
Her heels tap behind me as she follows me through my wing of the penthouse.
“Wow, this place is huge.” Her neck cranes as she takes in the artwork suspended in gilded frames along the walls, the sleek black and gold marble floors, and the soft hum of recessed lighting that bathes everything in a warm glow.
“It does the job.”
Her head cocks at that, but the truth is, I don’t get attached to places very easily—or to people, for that matter. Unfortunately, as a contract killer, I’ve learned that both are expendable.
“I didn’t mean to cause a fuss with Leo earlier, or question your parenting, if that’s even what you’re doing here. I can understand if you need to garnish my wages forever to replace the vase. If I get the job, that is.” She pauses for a breath, and I can’t help being charmed by her flaming cheeks. “Look, can we start over? I really don’t want to get off on the wrong foot, and I feel like I’ve already screwed this whole thing up.”
“I’ll buy another vase, it’s not a problem.” I motion for her to enter my office, and she dutifully steps inside. “Besides, Leo can be… a lot.”
Though that’s not entirely fair. With my sister recovering from her injuries, what he really needs is a father figure. Except, I’ve never had a wife or children, and in my line of work, it’d be a grave mistake to desire either.
Callie moves to close the door behind her, but I stop her with a stern, “Leave it open.”
Brows lifting, she makes her way back to me. “You’re awfully bossy, Mr. Knight.”
I pause before sitting. My name, said in that chastising tone, both irks and humors me.
Maybe she’ll be a good fit after all…
She sits across from me, crossing her legs demurely, despite her aura of mischief. The soft scratching of her tights hits my ears, and suddenly, my collar feels too tight.
“I prefer things orderly,” I say, struggling to keep my attention off her long, tempting legs.
She looks around my mostly empty office, wrinkling her nose in playful disgust. “You don’t say?”
She has no idea who she’s talking to. I’ve snapped necks for less than a comment about my taste in décor. But oddly, I like it.
“Are you here for the job or to critique my style?”
“Both.”
My groin tightens at that cheeky little grin. I don’t recognize this version of myself, the one keeping score every time she smiles.
I gather the contract I’ve drawn up for her and slide the papers across the table between us. “We’ll see about that.”
“What do you do in this fancy office, anyway?”
“I’m a day trader.” The lie slips off my tongue effortlessly. “But I have an office downtown where I do a lot of my business, so I’ll be gone most days.”
“That’s why you need a nanny,” she says, eyeing the paperwork without picking it up.
“Correct. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I’ve decided to remove Leo from public school for the rest of the year and have him complete his education from home.”
Initially, I wanted to keep his world as normal as possible. I thought being with me and keeping him in school might give him a sense of stability after his mom’s accident, but that’s no longer an option. Not with what we’re up against.
“What circumstances?” she blurts before gently adding, “Never mind. It’s none of my business.”
