Page 31 of His Long-Lost Baby

“Sounds good,” he says into the phone. “Talk soon.”

He hangs up and nods at me. “We have a meeting in about an hour that you’ll need to prepare for. I’ll email you the details, but it’s with the client so I need you to make sure everything is perfect.”

I nod, already mentally preparing myself for the task. “Got it. Anything else?”

He shakes his head. “No, that’s all. You can go ahead and get started on that. And Billie?” He pauses, his voice low and commanding. “I need you to be on your A-game today.”

I swallow, feeling a shiver run down my spine. “Of course, James. I always am.”

He nods once more, and I go to take a seat across from him, but suddenly my phone starts ringing. It’s Quinn’s school.

I freeze and stare at the phone in my hand. It’s not even two, and school isn’t out for another hour and a half. Which means they’re only calling because something is wrong.

Immediately, anxiety takes hold. A dozen different scary situations flash through my head, even as I tell myself it’s probably nothing.

“Sorry, I need to take this,” I say. I’m not asking James, I’m telling him.

Hurrying out of his office, I walk swiftly down the hall. It’s not until I’m out of his earshot that I answer the phone.

“Hello, this is Billie,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “Is everything okay?”

“Hi, Billie. It’s Danielle Fields, the school nurse.” There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “I’m afraid Quinn has a fever, and she needs to be picked up.”

I stop walking and chew on my lip. Chelsea is in her college classes until three. And Monica isn’t available today.

Which means that I need to go.

James is gonna freak, but at this point I don’t even care. I just need to get to my little girl.

“Thank you,” I tell the nurse. “I’m leaving work right now.”

I rush back to James’s office, my heart pounding in my chest. When I enter, he looks up at me, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Taking personal calls now?”

I ignore him and start gathering my things.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice softer now.

Cool. So because I didn’t respond to his being an asshole, he’s trying on the nice-guy act.

I couldn’t care less about his switching masks. Not at a time like this.

“I need to leave.” I straighten up and face him. “Sorry, but it’s an emergency.”

James stands, his hands slamming down on his desk. “Are you kidding me, Billie? We have this meeting in an hour. This could be a huge deal for the company. You can’t just leave like this.”

“I have to go take care of my daughter,” I say, my voice firm. “I’m sorry, James, but this is more important.”

I didn’t plan on ever telling him about Quinn, but there it is: out there in the open.

I have to take care of the daughter you abandoned,I silently add.

He stares at me for a long moment, and I can see the anger in his eyes. But then, just as suddenly, it dissipates. “I didn’t know you have a daughter.”

I purse my lips. “Would that have changed your mind about hiring me?”

He pauses. “Legally, I can’t—”