Chapter 7
944 Words
"Good job baby girl," Chaol praises when he scans the newly alphabetized folders along the
shelf.
The only reason this is an impressive feat in my opinion is because there were almost 2,500
folders.
Seriously, time to burn a few.
My boss places a light kiss on my forehead before walking behind his desk and pulling a few
things out of his drawer.
"Why don't you take a break and draw me a picture?"
I smile widely and pull the three sheets of paper and utensil box out of his hands.
Even though he had a desk for me placed a few feet away from his, I opt to sit on the floor
between the two.
I lay on my stomach and make sure my dress covers my bottom, before opening the box. Pencils,
markers, and crayons of every color meet my eyes.
I'm even more excited to find out they're all unused.
Most people would pull out the colors, but I grab a pencil.
Back in the day (says the seventeen year old) I used to win the awards for the state art champion
in school.
Pencil sketches were what I was best at and I wanted to make a good, clear picture of the man
who's been so kind to me.
I start with the shape of my boss's face, making sure to accentuate the angles. It takes a good
twenty minutes for me to even begin shading.
I glance between Chaol and the sketch several times, hoping to include very detail apart from the
hair. You would think hair is the easiest thing to draw, but no. Not for me anyway.
As work on the contours around his cheek bones, my pencil slips a bit in surprise when the door
opens.
I don't bother looking to see who it is, rather choosing to scowl and erase my mistake.
I drown out the voices of the men behind me speaking to Chaol and focus entirely on finishing
my art.
Fixing the shading, I work on the final details. Turning my pencil over, I swipe the eraser
carefully along the places where the sun hits through his glass walled office.
I scan my work once before deciding it's satisfactory before smiling widely.
I hop up from the ground and shove the paper into Chaol's sight line while bouncing
uncontrollably.
"Done! It's you!"
My boss stops talking mid sentence and his eyes look like there going to pop out of his head.
He snatches the paper in both hands before standing quickly and staring in disbelief.
I wait for ten seconds. Twenty. Thirty. Fourty, before he finally meets my eyes and stumbles out
a sentance.
"W- I- Ellie! This is amazing baby!"
He gives it one more long stare before placing it on his desk and reaching for me.
I giggle as he lifts me up and I'm balancing on his hips yet again.
"We need to get you more serious art supplies," he says planting a kiss on my forehead.
"Whoa!"
The sound from behind us startles me, but Chaol turns sideways so that we can both see the man
who spoke.
I'm surprised to see not one, but three men. All are dressed in variously expensive and styled
suits, but there is one I recognize.
Michael.
He looks to be the one who spoke as he holds my drawing in his hands with the other two men
leaning over his shoulders.
"Damn girl, you have skill," he compliments.
The men behind him nod and murmur in agreement.
Chaol sits back in his chair with me propped up on his lap. He keeps a secure arm around me and
his friend puts the drawing back on his desk.
"Ellie this is Jordan, Carlile, and you already met Michael."
He says the last part with distaste and I can tell by the lack of eye contact and cowering from his
friend that he's glaring harshly.
"You'll be seeing alot of them and you all her. She just moved in," he informs them.
Jordan looks taken aback for a moment.
"She moved in? Is she your girlfriend? Man, she doesn't look any older than 19 and your 30!"
I emit a shocked gasp and can't keep my body from stiffening.
Chaol is 30? I thought of him as a daddy when he is literally old enough to be my actual daddy?!
"Shut up!"
The growl from the man behind me doesn't make me stiffen any less.
"She-"
He sighs heavily and turns me sideways on his lap so I can see his face.
"She's not my girlfriend, but I hope that when she turns eighteen soon, she will consider it."
This is news to me.
Is this why he hired me? It can't be. He's making me work my way up in the business, so I rule
that out.
I meet his prodding stare with uncertain eyes and let my thoughts run wild.
He has been nothing but kind to me. I haven't agreed to be with him and he's already taking care
of me. I love being around him, but it is illegal right now. When I turn 18 his reputation might be
in jeopardy due to the 9 year age Gap, but it sounds like he thinks its worth it.
With the final argument of why not, I make my decision.
To shy to agree with all the new people in the room, I answer in a way I know Chaol will
understand.
I bring my hand up to his chest and lean over to snuggle my nose into his neck.
My decision is yes, if I can wait that long at least.
- Writer
