Page 4 of Suddenly Hired

“No. We’re about to order food,” Willow said.

“I’m not going,” Archie said.

Poppy sucked in a breath. “Listen, I’m sorry, but the kids have spoken. They’ll eat something here, and wait for their dad.”

Laurel rolled her eyes. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. Besides, Mr. Sterling trusted me with an assignment, and I can’t simply hand off his children like they’re a box of files to you.”

“Excuse me?” Laurel said, then looked around them, as if to make sure no one paid them any mind. “He’s my boss. I work for him.”

“Then you should know that he’s a perfectionist who sees things through,” Poppy said.

“Okay, kids, come with me,” she said, pulling Archie’s chair.

Fuck.If she left with the kids, Poppy would never see Ethan again. Worse, now he’d seen her face, and would avoid her if she tried to accost him in public. Maybe even slap her with a restraining order. The rush of adrenaline surged through her system. She stood, and placed her hand on the chair Archie sat in. Then, she said to Laurel in a low voice, “Please. The kids want to stay and eat. And I really need to talk to Mr. Sterling,” she said, hoping that her assumption that would inconvenience them be enough to buy her more time.

His assistant lifted her eyebrow. “You’re unbelievable. Fine. Can I see your driver’s license?”

“Why, am I in trouble?”

“Yes in many ways—but I want to make sure you are who you say since you’re keeping his kids hostage.”

She whipped out her wallet from her back, and handed her the driver’s license. Laurel glanced at it, her eyes scanning the information as if imprinting in her memory, then gave it back to her. “Fine,” Laurel said under her breath. “I’ll go back to the meeting, and you three can wait here. I’ll tell him to come down immediately after. Then you’ll talk to him.”

Her stomach growled, reminding her that skipping breakfast and lunch to make it on time had a price. “Thank you. Now, can we order some food on his account or something?”

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