Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 138526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“Ooooh, she’s got bite, I like it.” Pax continues grinning at me and I try not to wet my panties.
“Since when do you run errands for my wife?” Mr. C asks firmly, looking frustrated.
“Since always.” I look away as his stern gaze bores into me. I quickly add a quiet, “I don’t mind, of course. I’m always happy to help.”
I sound like such a brownnoser, but the truth is that the busier I am, the happier I am.
Mr. Conti stares at me for a moment longer and then looks at Pax and then back at me. “We’ll continue this conversation later. Get back to work.”
“Yes, sir,” I mutter and glare right back at him before stomping away. Annoyed that he has dismissed me like a child. “You’re welcome, by the way. For lunch.”
I hear the wheels of his chair drag as he stands and his hands slap on the table. “I pay you to do your job, I don’t have to be grateful every time you do something!”
I feel my composure snap, turning back to him because his foul mood with me as of late has been seriously grating on me. “Are you kidding me right now? Do you know what day it is?”
With blazing eyes, he opens his mouth to answer but then checks the expensive smart watch on his wrist and mutters a curse.
“Exactly, it’s Saturday, my day off.” My hands ball into fists at my side. “I brought you both an early lunch because I knew you wouldn’t eat otherwise and your wife has been screaming down the phone at me all morning because you aren’t answering your phone and you didn’t take Maria to the zoo like you promised. So… guess who’s taking your daughter to the zoo after this so that you can finish doing what you’re doing and so she’ll stop crying and so your wife will stop screaming at me?” I tighten my bun and raise my chin. “You can discipline me all you want on your time, Mr. Conti, but don’t berate me on mine. I’ll let your wife know you’re still alive.”
With that, I turn on my heel, feeling exhilarated and alive. I have never spoken to him like that before, but he has been a massive asshole for the past few weeks. Constantly speaking to me like I’m nothing but dirt on the bottom of his shoe.
We usually work so well together but not lately. He’s just such a grouch. And truth be told, the way Mrs. Conti speaks to me and has me constantly doing shit for her that takes me well out of the way, that’s been getting to me too.
They treat me like their slave and they never smile at me anymore.
It used to be that the job was enough for me. It used to make me so happy but now I dread coming into work. Well… apart from to see Pax of course.
I drive to their house in the suburbs, a fifty-minute drive, to pick up a very excited Maria.
We go to the zoo, another long drive, and I hold her hand while we walk around each exhibit, checking out the giraffes and the lions who are sleeping as always. They never move when I come, lazy cats.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and Maria’s face falls when I check it.
“It’s your father,” I explain, putting the phone to my ear while still holding her hand. “Yes, Mr. Conti?”
“Where are you?”
“At the zoo.”
He sighs as though aggravated. “Where at the zoo?”
“The lions.”
“Stay there.”
“But——”
“Stay. There.”
I look at Maria’s curious eyes. “Daddy’s coming, I think, so we’ve got to wait right here for him.”
“YAY!” she cheers, jumping up and down, almost spilling the drink in her hand.
I take it from her after stuffing my phone back into my bag and look around us. It’s busy today and so warm a day even for October but I don’t mind heat. People often ask me how I don’t melt in the clothes I wear but they’re baggy so I don’t particularly feel it as much as they’d think and everywhere I go there’s air-conditioning. Besides, when Mr. Conti gets here, it’ll be downright frosty.
“Daddy!” Maria yells happily after a couple of minutes waiting and she races into the thickening crowds.
“Maria,” I shout, following her. “I know you want to see your dad but please don’t take off like…” He scoops her up into his arms without incident and I feel silly for telling her off, especially in front of him. Some parents get so weird about it but he doesn’t seem to mind. “…that.” I wet my lips and give him a flat look when he offers me a smile.
I might be meek and non-confrontational, but that doesn’t mean I’ll roll over whenever somebody offers me a bit of kindness. Especially when I’m not being paid, and they’ve made it clear they only value me because I’m paid.