Page 17 of Dearest Protector
I was a fixer.
I’d fix this situation, eventually.
Ariel would find herself and her self-worth, no matter what it took to get her there.
She snorted adorably. “You know what I did before this job and who my boss was in that position. I’m desperate for any job right now. Do you really think I can afford to be picky? Honestly, it sounds amazing to me, Ben. I’ll be able to save money, maybe take some classes to educate myself if I have time.”
“I’d really like to help you monetize your art and photography, Ariel,” I reminded her. “If it’s as good as Katie says, you might want to think about making that your next career.”
Ariel fidgeted as she answered, “It really is just a hobby, Ben. Don’t get me wrong, I love creating those images. It’s the only thing I’ve been passionate about except for dancing, and I’ve been taking pictures almost as long. But how does a person make a living off taking pictures and digitally manipulating them into something else?”
She’d be surprised by how many people with actual talent did exactly that. “You wouldn’t have the following you do on your work if it wasn’t something special. Let me help, Ariel. I do have the business skills.”
She laughed nervously. “You own and manage Blackwood Technologies. I can’t exactly ask for a business consult from a man like you.”
Fuck!She obviously didn’t realize that she could ask me foranything, and I’d make it happen for her.
Apparently, she’d all but forgotten the comments I’d made the night before when I became frustrated about her situation.
There were positives and negatives about the fact that she’d disregarded some of the things I’d said when I was still pissed off about the way Leland Brock had treated her.
I’d all but told her that I was attracted to her, but she’d obviously ignored those not-so-subtle hints.
Hell, maybe it was an advantage that we could start all over again now that I’d pulled my shit together.
“You don’t have to ask. I’m offering to help,” I said firmly. “And I’m not taking no for an answer. I’d like to see your portfolios as soon as possible.”
I totally trusted my stepsister’s judgment. If Katie said Ariel’s work was phenomenal, it was. Truthfully, maybe all I wanted was the chance to see it for myself. Maybe I was curious to see what I could discover about Ariel through her artwork. She certainly wasn’t very forthcoming about herself.
“Work first,” she insisted. “Ben, this position will make a huge difference for me. My job is to make my boss happy.”
Hell, I was already ecstatic that she’d agreed to take the position, but I was going to have to tread carefully. Ihadto put a lid on my own needs and focus solely on what Ariel needed from me right now. That meant no more losing control like I had last night.Ever.I’d barely resisted slamming Leland Brock’s head into the cement for every single bad thing he’d ever done to Ariel before I’d had him removed from the property. “I’ll help you move to your new place. It’s Sunday. I’m not planning on going into the office. If you get packed, I’ll help you move everything over this afternoon.”
The sooner I got her out of this place the better.
“No,” she said emphatically. “I’m supposed to be makingyourlife easier, Ben. You don’t need to help me move.”
I dug into the pocket of my jeans, and held out the key to the condo. “This will help. The address is on the keychain.”
I wasn’t about to let her lug all of her things to her new condo alone, but we’d talk about that…later. After she got her stuff packed up.
She shot me a dubious look as she took the key. “You carry the key to that condo around with you?”
I grinned. “Let’s just say I was hopeful that you’d accept the position. I could use the help.”
“I don’t even know how to thank you, except to do a good job and to help you out as much as possible,” Ariel said breathlessly.
Hell, she was already helping me out.
I’d know exactly where she was and what she was doing most of the time, and I’d be reassured that she was safe, healthy, and not being abused by an asshole.
Maybe if I was able to help her, the thoughts of how we’d last met wouldn’t haunted my fucking dreams anymore.
Maybe I wouldn’t want to beat myself in the head because I’d been so damn stupid after that.
Maybe, for the first time in a long time, my guilt wouldn’t eat me alive every time I thought about her.
“You don’t have to thank me, Ariel,” I said huskily.