Chapter 21: QUIN

Twenty-One

QUIN

8 days ago, I walked into Mr. Hollingsworth's office to ask for Plan B. I didn't have the best lie prepared, but it was the best one I could think of on such short notice. I was so focused on my lie that I wasn't thinking about any other possible lies.

Every fiber of my being was entirely fixated on hiding my secrets from Tanner.

I never thought he might have more secrets than the ones I already know about. I should have known better. I thought this man was just a run-of-the-mill business man at best with the occasional dabbling in less-than-legal activities. Nothing as bad as murder.

That is… until he hugged me.

Until I smelled him.

The scent that I only catch when he has me pressed into his chest draws me back to the incident with the intruder in my bedroom and how he smelled when he pressed up against me and slid his cock all the way inside me while sucking on my neck and whispering the filthies phrases imaginable into my ear until I came.

Tanner smells like the intruder. I don't want to consider the unthinkable but eight days ago, I started to take notes.

Reasons Tanner could be the intruder – a document of Tanner's suspicious activities.

But eight days go by and nothing happens. Tanner seems moodier than usual and more withdrawn, but I have no more incidents with the intruder and Tanner acting withdrawn isn't exactly out of the ordinary.

The light of my life is honestly, Avery. Since our chat in his office, Tanner takes her walking, so I'm barely allowed to leave the house anymore. It's not an official rule but with cameras everywhere and Tanner's generally controlling behavior, I don't even dare to try. I can tell he's watching me because every time I wander into a room close to the front door, he suddenly appears.

I just tell myself that it's better than being in federal prison which is where I would be if anyone found out I killed my adopted brother. This prison has delicious food, unlimited television, and a beautiful view of the landscape. Tanner doesn't have neighbors for a quarter mile on either side, so his plot of land is beautiful, isolated, and entirely under his control.

Doesn't it make sense that the intruder could only be him, then?

For eight days, avoiding Tanner was pretty easy outside of situations related to Avery. Then, he calls me to his office after lunch and considering our last office conversation – I'm scared out of my mind.

I put Avery down for her nap and the one day I need her to stay up and throw tantrums over Cocomelon, she immediately falls asleep. Since Mr. Hollingsworth has the camera trained on Avery's bedroom, I can't waste another thirty minutes in here without him noticing. The best I can do is waste an extra ten minutes tidying the place up before I walk to his office.

Each step is so damn heavy, it's like I'm wearing platform boots instead of socks. The door of Tanner's office looks even more cold and uninviting than usual. Maybe that's just my projection of his feelings and attitude. I knock, although he obviously knows I'm outside because he invites me in when my hand barely grazes the door.

Tanner doesn't seem like he's in a bad mood, but he doesn't exactly seem happy either. Just serious. And handsome. I try not to make it obvious that I'm breathing deeply to see if I can inhale that identifying scent from earlier. I just smell whiskey. Way too much whiskey for this hour.

"I've known something for a while that I ought to tell you," he says. "Sit."

He has a chair for me this time, which is a lot more comfortable than standing in the middle of Tanner's office having a cry session, I suppose. He doesn't take his eyes off me as I sit down and when I'm seated, he still stares.

"I'm not Avery's father," he says. Then he stares at me and waits for a response. I don't know what he expects me to say. The baby certainly looks like his...

"I'm her brother," he says.

Okay. Is that why he's been so weird the past eight days?

He sighs and drinks some more whiskey from the bottle. When he sets it down, his face seems even more red than before. Not just from drunkenness.

"Given the news, we should renegotiate your contract."

"If she's your sister then–

"My father is dead," he replies. "My mother can't know about this."

We make pointed eye contact and he doesn't have to say more for me to understand. His father stepped out on his mom and had another kid. Maybe even more. Damn.

"Okay. What does that mean?"

"It means Avery stays here until I sort out a better custody agreement."

My heart drops into my stomach. He's going to get rid of her. I knew theoretically I couldn't spend the rest of my life with Avery. She's not mine. I logically know that. But when you bond with a kid like that, the love never really goes away. Especially an innocent sweetheart like Avery. All we've had for the past few weeks is each other.

It's not like either of us could rely on Tanner…

I try to ask innocently, "Are there better options?"

There's a flash of frustration which quickly falls away.

"Not right now. She stays here with you. But given the change in circumstances, I need to update your contract."

"What about her mother?"

Tanner turns red. "She's a Nazi whore."

Okay. That sounds a little extreme. I'm guessing he doesn't want to tell me the truth because that can't possibly be the exact truth. When I keep staring at him, Tanner just looks impatient.

"So," he says. "Are you ready for our new contract?"

I nod. For Avery, obviously. Since the first night, the intruder hasn't come back, so I tell myself that won't be a problem anymore. And anyway, I have my suspicions about the intruder.

I just need to find a way to trap him…

Oblivious to my plans, Tanner slides a stack of papers across his desk. Clearly, he's known about this updated contract for a long time.

"What are the new conditions? Can you summarize?"

"Everythings highlighted," he says calmly.

My eyes scan the highlighted sections for changes.

Terms of Employment

Quin Nash agrees to provide childcare services for Tanner Hollingsworth's sister, Avery Hollingsworth henceforth known as AVERY for the duration of the next 39 weeks.

The first change hits me immediately, highlighted in orange. He wants to give our contract a definitive end in 39 weeks. Okay. I find the specificity strange, but notice nothing particularly unusual about it. All the tasks pertaining to Avery remain the same, which doesn't surprise me. The confidentiality agreement remains the same, not like that has been relevant.

This contract will be terminated at the end of the 39 week period unless Quin Nash produces a positive pregnancy test, in which case, she will remain in Tanner Hollingsworth's custody until he can assure the child's parentage.

What. The. Fuck.

"Tanner. Why did you put this section in?"

His glare strikes me as unnecessarily fierce.

"You confessed to running around getting fucked by strangers," he says harshly. "I have enough problems. Trust me, this is for your own good."

I want to argue with him, but I'm the one who came up with that stupid lie to try to get my hands on Plan B. My period isn't due for a little bit, so maybe I'll be just fine.

Right. I'll get my period and be completely fine, making this part of the contract unimportant enough that it doesn't matter if I sign or not. At this point… I can't leave Avery.

"It seems a little controlling."

"You don't have to sign it," he says. "I would happily let you go to get fucked by another stranger if that's what you want."

This is the second time my boss has used the word ‘fuck' like that in front of me and I know he's drunk off his ass but damn… I give him a disapproving look and that gives Tanner enough motivation to stifle whatever rude comment might have popped out of his mouth next.

"I'll sign it," I say softly, putting my signature down for Avery's sake only. Tanner slowly sips more whiskey as he watches me sign the document. Once I'm done he exhales with relief and sets the whiskey bottle down.

"Good," he says. "I have to go out of town for a funeral tomorrow. My aunt will be here at 9 a.m. sharp and she'll be here with you until I get back."

"A funeral?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Tanner says gruffly. "I'll see you before I leave."

He gazes pointedly at the door to his office. Message received.

"Great," I respond, desperately trying to hold together my professionalism. "I'll have Avery ready in time to say goodbye."