Page 21 of The Brigadier
“Yes, Amanda?” I was exasperated enough that I moved to the edge of my desk and sat down. I don’t think any aspect of my business had exhausted me so much.
“I know you’re having a difficult time finding someone and I wish I could stay a little longer, but I accepted another position. But I do have as suggestion, even for the short term.”
“I’ll listen to any suggestions at this point.” I folded my arms, trying to figure out what she might suggest.
“There’s a facility not too far from here. Hear me out. It’s a beautiful place. I checked it out and brought you a couple brochures. Their website is on them so you can take a better look at what they offer but they have specialized doctors, their facility more like a beautiful live-in school in the rolling hills. Lots of nature. A lake. Streams. They do all kinds of activities. He could have his own room. Round the clock care.”
While there was no reason for me to become angry with her, her heart in the right place, I bristled nonetheless.
She walked closer, the poor girl immediately realizing she’d struck a chord. As she handed me the pamphlets, it was all I could do not to snap them from her hand.
“I appreciate the suggestion. At this point, I’m just not certain what I’m going to do.”
“I understand, sir. It was a thought. He’s a very bright child, just in need of the right touch, I think.”
I believed her and the ache in my heart made the heaviness and the guilt feel overwhelming at times. I’d tried to find his mother, but she’d disappeared somewhere in Europe, which meant she’d wanted to be impossible to find. My baby boy deserved the best of everything and I was determined to give it to him.
Damn it.
“I completely agree with you, Amanda. I’ll take a look.”
“Okay, sir.”
As soon as she walked out of the room, I flipped through the glossy brochure, my stomach immediately in knots. She wasn’t fabricating that the facility looked amazing, but looks could easily be deceiving and I fucking refused to send my boy away. He was much better off with me.
After she’d left, I rose to my feet, immediately tossing the glossies. I headed to the window, trying to figure out what the fuck I was going to do.
The sharp ring of my phone made me laugh. I’d been very deep in thought. Seeing Vadim’s number, I sighed. He knew what I was doing today. But when in need, Vadim called. “What do you need?”
“Wow. Hello to you too. I take it the search isn’t going well,” Vadim said, more amused than anything.
“Not at all. I hate fucking hiring people.”
He laughed. “I was trying to think of anyone I knew but I know you won’t trust just anyone. Look, why don’t you take some time with Damien. The shitstorm we’re going to face can wait.”
“I might need to take a couple extra days when Amanda’s gone. It’s so damn frustrating. She suggested a school. Locking my kid away? I can’t see it.”
“And I wouldn’t expect you to. You need to think outside of the box to find the right person.”
“Meaning what?” I was so damn exhausted my eyes hurt.
“Meaning my grandmother taught me, when you stop looking, the right person will come along but, in this case, perhaps you’relooking too conventionally. As in you really just need to find someone who loves kids, has enormous patience, and who can make anything fun. That could be a college girl or a former teacher. You just never know.”
He was right. “I’ll see if I can expand my horizons. Any news on the shipment?”
“Believe it or not, I didn’t call for business purposes. However, since you asked, it’s still on track, no oddities while being delivered to the port. Still, my gut tells me something is brewing.”
“Yeah, I get it. You need to keep soldiers crawling the streets, searching bars and restaurants where loose lips sink ships.”
“I think you’re right. The guys have been more like bulls in china shops,” Vadim admitted. “Just do me a favor and check with your connections in Brighton Beach.”
“Will do.” Whenever I could dig myself out of a hole.
After we both ended the call, I threw my head back and groaned. Maybe he was right in that fate would intervene. All I could do was laugh at this point.
If I didn’t, I would get very angry.
And bad shit happened when I became enraged.