"Grandma!" The moment the car stops she jumps out of her seat and opens door then runs to her grandmother.
We stopped at the mall and waited a few minutes before another black SUV appeared and the same woman from the GG came out.
I step out and look at the two share a moment. Noelle is chattering animatedly with her grandmother, who smiles throughout it all.
Unlike the last time I saw her, she's radiating. With no offence meant, she looks older than she's supposed to.
At the Grey Gala, she was quiet, dull and paid no attention to anything. I assumdd it was because of her husband's scene, but with this little girl in her arms she's totallt different.
Face is glowing and a full smile on her face, she approaches me. "Mrs Grey." I acknowledge.
She frowns and eyes me up and down, I gulp when her familiar brown eyes glare at me.
Now I know where he gets it from.
"Rosaleigh, Mr–"
"Xander's assistant, I know. Now if you'll excuse us." She walks around me and enters the car.
My eyes widen slightly, well damn.
"Don't mind her, she hates everyone who isn't related to her." Aaron consoles.
"He'll be taking you wherever you need to be, have a good day Miss Clarkson." He bids me a goodbye before getting into fhe driver's side.
I wave bye to Noelle as they drive away.
*~*~*~*
The rest of the day, I spend doing what I can. With Nic not here, I had to handle most meetings and I will say dealing with snobby, arrogant men every thirty minutes is f*cking annoying.
I will admit at least they focused but I didn't miss the looks that asked why was I there alone, like I couldn't do the job right.
Talk about sexist.
*~*~*~*
"... you've been avoiding a lot of questions Mr Grey and yes we've read the newspapers about yours and Killigan's 'peace treaty' or what you would prefer to call it but we all still wonder.
Why would Killigan say such, intoxicated or not. No one makes such up, especially about you." I can feel the glare my boss is throwing my way.
After he came back to work I might've convinced him to take a few interviews for publicity but the hosts might be taking advantage of the opportunity. I know I would.
This is the third one of the week and the same question has been asked and he gives the same answer, "As you've said, you've read the newspapers, you know the answer to your question."
He looks at the host waiting for the next question, "Your father crashed your Gala and was once again escorted out. Has he not accepted that you've taken over without his will?"
I almost want to face palm myself, shaking my head I take a sip of my water. It's like giving a herd of Gazelles to a pride of Lions as a gift and they decide to sing Kumbaya.
The host clears his throat and shuffles his que cards, I snicker. "In the last six months you haven't been spotted with any model and the public is wondering if you've settled or are planning on settling?" He asks instead.
For some reason, I find myself wondering the same. I actually take the time to lean forward and wait for his answer, like I said it's like giving a herd of Gazelles to a pride of Lions as a gift and they decide to sing Kumbaya.
In the other two interviews, this question wasn't asked along with any other serious question. But it's all been nothing but useless information.
This is the first and last chance they get to interview the Xander Grey, and they waste it.
"No, my focus is on my daughter and my business. Nothing and no one else is worth the time." For a second I think he's sole focus is on me.
I sit back in my seat with a sullen feeling inside me, it bothers me that his answer bothered me for some reason.
I don't focus on the interview forbthe next fifteen minutes, the same questions were asked anyway.
Noelle's mother?
Net worth?
Another try of the father news, I was so deep in my thoughts that I hadn't noticed that they were done.
"Señorita."
My head snaps up to see my boss staring down at me, "Well?" I stand on my feet, grab my handbag and we walk side by side to the car.
As soon as we're in, he goes on his phone. "Is it ready?" Mumbling comes from the other side, "I'm on my way."
"Nic and I have an unexpected trip to San Juan, I won't be gone for more than a week." He announces, my heart stops for a minute.
"You?" I ask, he nods.
"It's nothing that might include you, but while I'm gone you'll be handling everything for the next week. You'll find everything you'll need in the third drawer to the right of my desk." He continues, I nod.
"I can handle that." I state, well mumble mostly to myself. I give him a confident smile, but I'm nervous.
Almost everyone Mr Grey works with is a pompous jacka*s that are perverts, in the last few days I was lucky enough to have them all pay attention to me.
He seriously wakes up to only fall asleep again, this time in San Juan. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I'm not going back but, a week?
"You've worked with me for six months and you're worried about a week? Rosaleigh, if you think that you can't handle a business for more than a week you have to be either incredibly incredulous or stupid and it's the former.
You have nothing to worry about, and that means a lot coming from me." He reassures, I can't help but gape at him.
Did he just indirectly compliment me on my work? Let alone compliment me alone?
"You'll do alright, I'm trusting you to not burn my business down. If you have any questions, just call? Okay?" His fingers tuck a stand of hair behind my ear andhe palms my cheek.
I can tell by the look in his eyes that he's not aware of what he's doing and by my reaction, I'm not either.
I raise my hand and place it over his and rub my cheek against his cheek, I don't hate the feeling it comes with at the same time I don't like it.
It feels wrong, yet right, yet wrong, yet so f*cking right.
Now I'm more aware of everything, the feeling of his calloused hand against my skin. The bumps of his veins on his hand, the slow circles of his thumb on my cheek.
My heart beating rapidly against my chest, but it's at the same time beating so slowly like time has been slown down to make this moment last.
The car comes to a steady halt, "Sir, we've arrived." Aaron says, I look out the window to see a plane a few feet away from us.
As I turn to look back at my boss, he's already leaning down. I don't know if I expected him to kiss me but I know I wanted to groan in protest when his lips landed at the corner of mine.
F*ck my life.
"Take care of my baby for me." Before I can comprehend what he just said, he's already outside striding to the plane where Nic is waving crazily.
I quickly step out, "What the f*ck is that supposed to mean?!" I yell after him, but he ignores me and continues his walk.
"Miss Clarkson, my instructions were to take you home to collect what you need then you'll be spending the rest of the week by his house." Aaron says, I sigh and wave bye to Nic then enter the car.
We take the drive to my apartment, just as I step out of the car Julio is walking out of the door. We meet halfway and share a hug, "Hey." I greet, he smiles.
Like literally smiles, not a pull of his lips a genuine smile. My heart warms, "Rosie, you're early."
I shrug, "I have to go back soon, I won't be here for the whole week though." I tell him, his smile falls slightly.
"House sitting, Grey is out town." I explain, he nods.
"Will you be free tomorrow?" He asks, I want to let him down because I honestly don't think I'll have any free time.
"Breakfast?" I offer, he smiles and nods.
"Nine a.m. Poke Bar." We share one last hug then part.
I head inside and see Julia cleaning up in the kitchen. "Did you forget som–" she stops her sentence when her eyes fall on me.
"You're back early." She says, I laugh.
"I have to go back to work, but I'll be house sitting for the boss. So I figured I'll pack Lucia and I's things." I fill her in trekking up the stairs.
"You don't have to take her with you, we're more than happy to take care of her." I take out a small suitcase and pack a lot of clothes for Lucia then the same for me.
"My sister, my responsibility."
"Don't quote Bellamy Blake for me." She scolds making me laugh.
"Really, I'm bringing her with me. I didn't fight for her so I could throw the responsibility onto you." I zip up the last of the bags.
"You've been so busy lately but when you come back, I'm locking you in a room and we're catching up." She frowns, making me frown.
"I haven't been that busy." I defend, she folds her arms and raises an eyebrow.
"When was the last time you came home anytime before seven? You work overtime almost every day."
She's right you know.
Okay maybe I have but the notification at the end of the month makes it worth it, and I'll admit it's nice to work for Mr Grey sometimes.
Of course.
"Fine, and you'll be happy to know that Julio and I will be going out for breakfast tomorrow." Nothing could've been brighter than her face right now.
Thankful to have changed the subject, I move to the bathroom and pack our toiletries. When I head back, she's gone.
Shrugging, I lift the bags and heave them downstairs.
"Julia I'm leaving!" I yell by the door, I hear a faint 'bye' then shut the door.
Aaron is immediately by my side and takes the bags from me. "Thanks." I mumble.
When I've entered the car, I take out my phone and text Grey.
I'm bringing my baby sis with, can't leave her alone.
~R
I place my phone away and instead decide to get lost in my thoughts and landscapes of LA.