“I’ll keep your wishes in mind, but I have to do what’s right for the company...”
Nicco raked a hand through his hair. It wasn’t his fault his former assistant, Gracie O’Conner, had developed feelings for him and caused a scene at the company barbecue. Three days later Gracie quit, and when word had got back to company headquarters about the incident his father, Arturo, had reamed him out in English and Italian.
His thoughts slid back to the past. Nicco loved everything about women—their strength, their femininity, the way they smelled and looked and moved. But they were also the most cunning, calculating people on the face of the planet. One night, after too many glasses of Cristal, he’d slept with Gracie. The next morning he’d apologized and made it clear that they could never be more than friends, but like all of the other women in his past she’d foolishly thought she could change him. When that didn’t work, she threatened to sue him for sexual harassment. To keep her quiet, and their family name out of the tabloids, his father had quietly paid her off.
The muscles in his jaw tightened. Every time he thought about how Gracie had screwed him over, he burned inside. Why did women view him as their meal ticket?
He didn’t want to rock the boat or piss off Mrs. Reddick, but he wasn’t sold on having a male executive assistant. He needed someone strong and assertive who spoke her mind. Someone like... A light went off in his head. “I want Ms. Brooks.”
Mrs. Reddick gasped. “Excuse me?”
“I want Ms. Brooks to be my new executive assistant.”
“But she applied for the account manager job.”
“I know, but since you’re not hiring her for the position, I’d like her to work for me,” he said, keeping his tone casual, despite his growing excitement. “Not only does Ms. Brooks have marketing training, she also has extensive experience working with start-up companies, and I bet she has great ideas on how to trim costs without sacrificing value and quality.”
Mrs. Reddick pursed her thin lips. “I’ve been an HR director for more than three decades,” she reminded him. “My gut instinct is that Ms. Brooks isn’t the right fit for this company.”
Nicco dismissed her words with a shake of his head. For some unexplainable reason, he wanted to help the out-of-work single mom. Other women like Gracie enjoyed living off men, but Jariah was independent and charitable, and he admired her ambition. After reading her curriculum vitae, he felt that she’d be a great addition to the Morretti Inc. family. He didn’t care what Mrs. Reddick thought. He was hiring Jariah, and that was that. “With all due respect, Mrs. Reddick, I’m quite capable of hiring my own executive assistant.”
“Ms. Brooks is a university graduate, with years of experience working in finance,” she said matter-of-factly. “Being an EA is beneath her. She won’t take the position.”
“She will.” Nicco adjusted his tie and flashed a broad grin. “Because I’m going to make Ms. Brooks an offer she can’t refuse.”
“Mom, can Dad come over for dinner?”
Absolutely not! Jariah thought, opening the fridge and taking out the Tupperware container filled with last night’s leftovers. The less time she spent with her ex the better, so inviting Wesley over to break bread after another stressful day of job interviews was definitely out of the question. “Not tonight, baby.”
“But I haven’t seen Daddy since my birthday party.”
Hearing the anguish in her daughter’s voice made her heart ache, but Jariah couldn’t tell Ava the real reason her father wasn’t coming around anymore. He was still trying to get back at her for breaking up with him, but the only person he was hurting was their daughter. “Your dad is busy at work, but he’s always thinking about you, Ava, even when you’re apart.”
Ava sat at the kitchen table, playing with her stuffed animals, and when she poked out her bottom lip she looked just like her father. “I miss Daddy so much,” she said. “He buys me ice cream and games and always tells me funny stories...”
Like most children, Ava adored her father and could go on for hours about how wonderful he was. Jariah wasn’t in the mood to talk about Wesley, but she let her baby girl talk, and resisted the urge to change the subject. Her ex was a decent father who spoiled their daughter silly, but he was a terrible boyfriend and a selfish lover. Considering how inept he was in the bedroom, it’s a miracle we ever got pregnant.
Jariah’s gaze drifted to the window above the sink. Birds chirped in the trees, girls played jump rope in the streets and the neighborhood watchdog, Mr. Regula, stood in his driveway, buffing his Cadillac to a shine. Aventura was a safe, caring community, filled with hardworking people, and Jariah enjoyed living in such a diverse, multi-cultural neighborhood.
“Mom, can we go to Chuck E. Cheese’s tomorrow?” Ava asked, glancing up from her toys.
Jariah popped the leftovers in the microwave and set the timer for two minutes. “You have day camp tomorrow, remember?”
“I hate summer camp. It’s boring and the kids are mean.”
“Still not getting along with the other girls, huh?”
Her lips twisted into a scowl. “Laquinta called me a boo-boo head and pulled my braids.”
“La who?”
When Ava giggled, her pigtails tumbled around her pretty, plump face.
“It doesn’t matter what anyone says. You’re beautiful.”
“Just like you, right, Mama?”
“That’s right, and don’t you forget it.” Jariah walked over to the table, cupped her daughter’s chin and kissed the tip of her nose. “Put your toys away. It’s time for dinner.”
“Are we having pizza? I hope so. I just love cheese pizza.”
“I’ll make you pizza this weekend, but tonight we’re having veggie casserole.”
“Again? But we had that yesterday.”
Overlooking her daughter’s disappointment, Jariah opened the stove and heaved the casserole dish onto the counter.
“When I’m at Dad’s house he lets me eat whatever I want,” Ava announced. Marching over to the pantry, she tugged open the door and rummaged around inside. “I don’t want leftovers. I want Froot Loops and chocolate chip cookies.”
“Ava, cut it out. You’re going to eat what I made for dinner and that’s final.”
“Why?” she demanded, her voice a shrill shout. “Why can’t I eat what I want?”
“Because eating junk food will give you a tummy ache, and I don’t want you to get sick.”
“You always say no. You never give me what I want.”
Feeling her temperature rise, Jariah cautioned herself to remain calm. Instead of scolding Ava for acting like a spoiled brat, she picked up the stuffed animals scattered on the table, and handed them to her daughter. “These need to go back to your room.”
“I hate it here,” Ava shouted. “I wish I lived with Daddy!”
Of course you do, Jariah thought sourly. Your dad gives you whatever you want, and there are no rules at his house. It’s one big party over there! Releasing a deep sigh, she fought back the tears of frustration that threatened to break free. Ava’s words hurt, made her question whether or not she was a good mother. Before self-pity could set in, Jariah shook off her thoughts and regarded her strong-willed daughter. “You can sit down at the table and eat dinner with me, or you can go to your room. It’s your choice.”
Ava stood there for a minute, her big, brown eyes narrowed