Chapter 29

Renee’s POV

“Earth to Renee,” Bella snaps her fingers at me to get my attention.

“What?” I hear myself ask as I pull myself back to the present moment. Bella doesn’t answer, she just rolls her eyes at me.

I’m supposed to be shipping out our prototype designs, but I can’t stop thinking about my encounter with Eric last night at the ice cream shop.

It was a side of him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen before though. Although to be fair, no one has ever kidnapped my daughter before. Despite that, he was sweet. It was almost as if I was getting a taste of how our life could have been.

I package up the prototype and slap on the address and move onto the next, I have to put him out of my mind for now.

When Bella and I finish packaging up our designs, I excuse myself to go fill up my water bottle.

I keep my head down until I reach the fountain, and then suddenly stop when I look up. Eric is getting a drink of water. Why is he here?

He has a sink and fridge in office. I look up and down the hallway when I see Mia hovering around the corner, her eyes like daggers. I hold up my hands in defense to silently signal that I mean no harm.

Eric straightens himself up and I go stiff, suddenly unsure of how to act.

He clears his throat and gives me a slight nod, “Renee,” he greets. I give a small smile in return, and remain glued to where I’m standing.

He walks past me keeping his head high and walks towards the direction his office. It’s possible there’s a plumbing issue with his sink.

When he is out of sight, Mia takes his place. She stands before me, usually she’s shorter than I am but the heels she’s wearing puts her at my level.

“What are you doing?” I look at her like she’s crazy.

“Filling my water,” I tell her and shake my water bottle to prove that it’s empty.

Mia narrows her eyes at me. “We have a deal, you’re supposed to leave Eric alone,” I scoff.

“Did not see what just happened? Eric was already here when I came to fill my water,” I tell her as I turn around to fill up my water so I can get back to work.

“Well, why didn’t he just get water in his office?” I guess he doesn’t have a plumbing issue then.

“I don’t know, “I tell Mia exasperated.

“Just watch yourself,” Mia warns.

“You got it,” I tell her over my shoulder as I walked back to my work area.

I wish I could write that off as a weird blip, but I also saw Eric moseying about in the designers lunchroom and roaming the hallways. It’s weird. It’s like he’s trying to keep tabs on me, and it’s making me paranoid.

With as much as I am seeing him, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised when I’m called into his office, but I am.

I take my time walking and try to study my nerves. Mia’s threat echoes in my head. Watch yourself. Normally I wouldn’t take her threat seriously, but Eric has been throughout the office popping up everywhere that I am and Mia is not too far off his trail.

It’s like Eric is my shadow and Mia is his.

Maybe Mia told him the truth and now I am going to get fired and he’s about to serve me custody papers. I try to assuage my nerves, telling myself back would be ridiculous.

Mia doesn’t want Eric to know that Debbie is his daughter any more than I do.

By the time I reach Eric’s office doors, my hands are slick with sweat. I pushed the doors open. The first thing I do is bring eyes over to his sink, looks perfectly fine to me.

The second thing I noticed is that Mia is not here.

“Please take a seat Renee,” Eric gestures to the chair across his desk and I am taken aback by how business formal his tone is.

I almost want to come right now and ask him if he’s been following me around the workplace. But I don’t, something about his business-like demeanor tells me now isn’t a good time to accuse him of stalking. Not that it worked out so well last time either.

I pull out the chair and Eric studies me as I do, the nerves making me grow more uncomfortable. “Is something wrong?” I ask partly in defense, partly of concern.

Eric taps his fingertips together. “That depends,” Eric says “Is a mistake of one million dollars wrong?”

I look at him and frown, I have no idea what he’s talking about.

Eric and slaps a file down on the desk motioning towards it for me to pick it up. I cautiously lean forward, keeping my eyes trained on him and grab the folder.

I slipped through it and immediately recognize what it is. It’s an order for clothes in our latest Fall line that I had just shipped out the other day. The person who ordered it is one of our biggest clients.

“What is this?” I ask slowly.

“Can you tell me what they ordered?” Eric asks, but I have a feeling he already knows the answer. I amuse him anyway.

“An auburn silk scarf, a faux cheetah print fur coat, leather black pants, a Tiffany-blue fitted blouse, and black strap up boots,” I remember the design specifically because it’s one of our more flashy ones of the line.

Eric nods in agreement. “So, can you tell me why Mr. Arrington received a navy sports dress with a pair of white raised tennis shoes?”

“I-”, I can’t finish that sentence. I know that order. That was for another client who owns a gym.

The realization dawns on me that I must have switched the orders. The thought of someone at a gym wearing a fur coat almost makes me laugh, but I disguise my chuckle as a cough knowing that laughing right now would certainly cost me my job if this mistake hasn’t already.

I could blame Eric. I could tell him he has been the reason for my distractions, but that wouldn’t go over well. At all. Besides, Eric doesn’t wait for me to muster up an excuse.

“I had to lie and say that outfit was a gift for Mrs. Arrington. Luckily, the dress was her right size.” Eric practically yells. “Still your mistake is going to cost us one-million to fix,”

My mouth goes dry. I start to think that maybe he will deduct the amount from my paycheck until this mistake is paid off, which means I’ll never have enough money to pay back for Debbie’s surgery, let alone save up enough money to move.

“Eric, I am so sorry, “I apologize as his employee because at least I can acknowledge when I’ve made a mistake.

“That’s great,” Eric says. I suddenly feel bitter about my apology. “Fortunately, I have a solution to ensure we have no more mistakes” I remain quiet and wait as he deals out my punishment.

Eric’s lips curl into a mischievous smile. “We are going to share an office,” Eric says he’s being generous.

I start. “I don’t think that is necessary,” Eric holds up a hand to quiet me.

“Oh, I do.” He interjects. “I’ll be watching over your work, closely, for quality purposes.” Like you’ve been doing in the office already, I want to say, but bite my tongue.

Maybe I should be offended that he believes I need to be baby sat but I did just cost him a million dollars- not that he can’t afford it. That’s pocket change to him.

Though, I think the real reason Eric wants to keep me close by is not because of a work error I made, I think he’s on to me. Or, maybe, just maybe, Eric likes me. He tends to be possessive of things he likes.

“Fine,” I tell him like I’m not bothered by it. If it’s one thing I’ve learned about Eric it’s that he can’t tolerate apathy. It’s his biggest turn off so if that’s what it takes then so be it.