Her Escape

Chapter 7

Drunk

"You and I knew strange corners of life." – F. Scott Fitzgerald

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"What are you doing after work?" Chase asked from behind me. Although it took some getting used to, I finally stopped jumping whenever he would just randomly stop and talk to me while my back was turned. I had busied myself with restocking the paper towels throughout the gym, oblivious to the fact that he was back already. He had a tendency to disappear without bothering to tell anyone where he went.

"Going home," I replied hesitantly, turning around to face him.

"I need a favor." He sighed, his gaze focused on the ground.

"Okay?" My eyebrows arched up in confusion as I waited for him to explain, "Care to elaborate?"

"Olivia's babysitter bailed last minute, and I need someone to watch her." His piercing green eyes came back up to meet mine. "I'll pay you, of course."

"I don't know," I replied, chewing on my bottom lip. Don't get me wrong, I liked Oliva and I enjoyed spending time with her – she reminded me a lot of myself when I was her age, only happier – but I felt like I would be crossing a line if I were to agree to this. Chase was my boss, I should be keeping my interactions with him to strictly outside of work. 

"Please?" He asked again, scratching the back of his neck. His eyes pleaded with mine, and he looked defeated – nothing like the usual cocky asshole I'm used to seeing on a daily basis.

"Fine." I sighed in defeat. He's lucky I like Olivia, I thought.

Chase continued to study my face for a moment longer before nodding, "Thank you." I expected him to give me more information – like until what time he expected me to babysit and what Olivia's schedule was like. But instead, he just turned on his heel and left – leaving me to stand there as I watched his back retreat.

............

"Are you ready, Olivia?" I asked, turning the lock on the front door and switching the sign from Open to Closed.

Olivia nodded and jumped off the stool she was sitting on, waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. Grabbing my purse from where I kept it tucked under the reception desk, I extended my hand and Olivia placed her small hand in mine. "Lead the way."

Someone, left without so much as a goodbye around 7 PM, leaving me alone to man the gym with Scarlett and watch Olivia. What was so fucking important he had to leave like that, beat me.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Olivia asked, skipping up the stairs.

"Sure." I smiled down at her. There was something about being a child, perhaps it was the ability to be so carefree, that I envied.

"I'm glad Victoria couldn't come tonight." She flashed me a toothy grin before whispering, "I like you more."

"I'm sure Victoria is a very nice girl." I laughed, chewing on the inside of my cheek to suppress my amusement. This little girl was too smart for her own good.

Olivia scrunched up her face in response, shaking her head. "She's weird. All she does is sit on the couch and play on her phone. She never wants to do anything with me."

I frowned. "Did you tell your brother?"

"No, he'll just think I'm lying again."

"Now why would he think that?"