His Personal Assistant

62. | Father-Figure

"So," Sierra and Mandy slide up beside my desk, grins on their faces. "How was Paris?"

"The trip got pushed to over the summer..." I stare at them oddly with an unsure smile.

They slump. "Damn." Mandy mumbles.

"It's good to have you back, though." Sierra smiles at me.

"It's good to be back." I smile. "Where's Lindsey?"

"She's still in Arizona." Mandy answers.

My brows furrow. Arizona? "What's she doing in Arizona?"

"Soundcircus had a concert out there, so they had to stay longer." Sierra explains simply, and I nod.

"Ladies." We all look up, finding Ben walking over.

"Mr. Simpson." Mandy and Sierra incline their heads with a polite smile before walking to their desks.

"Rhys isn't in yet, if you'd like to come back and check in." I state, reorganizing my desk.

"Uh..." He laughs curtly, rubbing his jaw. "Actually, I'm here to talk to you." I look up confused. What could he want to talk to me about? "Your mother and I, we're married." I nod. "And technically, you'd be my stepdaughter."

Where is he going with this? Seeming to see the question in my eyes, he continues, "I never, in any way shape or form, want to replace your dad, but... if you'll let me, I'd...I'd like to be somewhat of a father-figure to you." He smiles unsurely at me. "And I obviously don't have any kids, so..."

"I'm your only hope." I nod in understanding, finishing his sentence.

"Yeah." He stuffs his hands into the pockets of his slacks.

I smile. "I'd love that." He looks up at me. "You make my mom happy. And, even if I was harsh on her, I still love her. I mean, she's...she's still my mom."

"She loves you, you know." He admits. "Before we got married, all she could think about was you. Granted, she loved your dad, but she made peace with the fact that she'd never see him again. He was her first love, but...she moved on." I stare at the new information. I've always wondered how my mother could move on from my dad, after everything. "You were her only hope."

The corners of my lip quirks up slightly. "She seems to really love you. I can see it in her eyes."

"Right back at you." We both share a smile and a laugh. "Melissa, she... She talked about you all the time. It awed me. She never mentioned your name, but it was as if she could talk about you for forever." He smiles and looks to his feet. "You're the reason I wanted a kid."

"So why don't you have any?" My brows furrow.

"Melissa couldn't get pregnant. I offered adoption, but...she said it felt like it'd fail you. Plus, she didn't want to drag an innocent kid into our lifestyle."

"Well...I wish she had at least written to me or tried to contact me at some point." I state, turning to my desk.

"She wanted to. It was all she ever talked about. But my father denied her, and we eventually realized that the best way to keep you safe was to stay separate."

"And look at us now." I joke, and he laughs.

"Naomi! You're back." Mason walks to me, wrapping his arms around me.

"Shouldn't I say the same about you? Considering we both got laid off?" We pull away.

He points a finger. "Yes, but I came back early." I roll my eyes. "So did you work on the fundraiser?"

"Made a whole bulletin board."

"Backup plan?"

"Backup to the backup plan." I grin. "Oh, and I called and booked that penthouse for the fundraiser."

"What fundraiser?" Ben speaks up. I completely forgot he was still here.

"We're raising money for local foundations. Half of the profit is going to them." I explain.

"Hm." He has a look of interest. "Might have to check it out. When is it?"

"Next Monday." Mason answers. I nod. "New years."

"You'll have to give me some info on that." I nod with a smile. "I'll see you, Naomi." I wave after him as he walks to the elevator.

***

Rhys had left a couple hundred dollars on the counter this morning to go shopping with, leaving a note saying he was gonna be late. Which is what he said yesterday.

I wonder what he's been doing.

I carry my bags of groceries, pausing when I see my aunt standing on my porch. "Jenna?" She spins to me, eyes wide. She didn't expect to see me. "What are you doing?"

"I was given a key, but it doesn't work." I walk up my porch steps and set my bag of food down. "Rhys gave it to me."

I take it, scanning it. I flip it over, snorting. "This isn't a key to my house. It's the key to a house."

"Wh—" She takes the key back, reading the neighborhood and house number on one of the sides of the key. "Why would he give me a key to a house?"

I let a smile slip. "Because this is my house." I shrug. "And even if we went to court, you weren't winning it." I pick my groceries up. "Go check out your new house, Jenna. No need to waste it on sulking." Then I step inside my house.

***

A/N: Only one or two chapters left heheheheh