“It’s—” I paused to gather my words.
Honestly, he’s a weird motherfucker, and he makes me uncomfortable as hell!
My conversation with Daisy and Nori came to mind, as well as all the little incidents that made me side-eye Todd over the past couple of weeks—namely, him answering my phone and questioning my whereabouts on my day off.
He’s giving me narcissist vibes with a hint of gaslighting, and I’m not sticking around to prove my theory.
“What are you saying, Kiyah?” he asked with an inquisitive tilt of the head. Although he whispered, his words came out tight and agitated, ringing the alarm bell in my head. I slowly backed out of the bedroom.
“I think with everything going on with my family right now, that I won’t be able to focus on Pete. I still don’t have news on Daisy’s condition, and my grandfather is on hospice and can go any day. I’m sorry, but I can’t do this job.”
“You’re resigning?” he questioned, following me out of the bedroom. I stumbled over a light-up train car set we had neglected to pick up, but caught myself on one of the living room armchairs.
The nice-guy smile Todd sported earlier, full of concern and well wishes for my family, had long disappeared. It melted off his face like someone held a torch to a wax figure—oozing into something dark and malevolent.
Don’t show your opponent fear. Remain calm, and they’ll be more fearful of you.
I stopped backing away and rolled my suitcase to the side. I locked my eyes on him and stood my ground, preparing to fight if I had to. He stopped in his tracks and assessed my posture.
“I’m resigning effective immediately,” I said firmly, clenching my fists at my side.
He sighed heavily before dropping into the armchair. “That’s disappointing to hear, Kiyah. I thought we had something.”
See… this is the weird shit I’m talking about. The fuck you mean we had something? You know what? I don’t even want to know.
“Good luck finding another nanny for Pete,” I said, reaching for my suitcase again. I’d barely had my fingers around thehandle when he bolted from the chair. “Don’t come any closer!” I warned, holding out a finger as if it had the power to stop him.
He laughed hauntingly, like a madman possessed by evil.
“Are you afraid of me?”
“Never that,” I lied.
I was afraid of him. He had power, wealth, influence, and a security team that could rival a platoon-sized army. One call and twenty of those motherfuckers would show up with weapons drawn.
“Good… good,” he replied with a nod and a disbelieving smirk. “Well, you’re free to go.”
The suite door opened and closed, sending the hairs on the back of my neck on end.
“Is there a problem, sir?” Desi asked.
“No, not at all. Kiyah feels that she doesn’t want to be part of the team any longer and is resigning effective immediately,” Todd explained.
“I see. We will be sad to see you go, Ms. Baker, especially Pete.”
“I’m sure he will get over it. I’ll call to arrange for my belongings to be picked up. Take care,” I said before racing out of the suite. I punched the elevator call button and ignored how my airways tightened from crippling anxiety. My gaze stayed locked on the hotel suite door down the hall, out of suspicion that they’d follow me. The elevator doors barely slid open when I forced myself into the car and pressed the button for the first floor. My heart was still in my throat as the car descended, but the text message I received brought the slightest hint of relief.
Grant:Daisy is out of surgery and in the ICU. When your flight lands, let me know, and I’ll pick you up from the airport.
* * *
It didn’t take me long to spot him in the small sea of weary travelers, anticipating lovers, and excited family members. He was a lighthouse in the middle of a raging storm, beckoning me to safety, and it took all that I had not to run to him at breakneck speed. I had to remind myself that the dynamic of our relationship had changed, and it was best that I keep my distance from him because I didn’t know how to be a sister to him, not when we spent half our lives pining after each other.
He began anxiously shifting when we locked eyes, and I had to wonder if he felt the same debilitating insecurity I felt.
“How is she?” I asked, praying he ignored the slight warble in my voice.
“Already awake and bossing everyone around.”