The Chauffeur

Episode 8

I slept in the guest room. I didn't want to be anywhere near that ungrateful jack ass. And when I woke up, I showered and got dressed in the guest bathroom before making my daughter some breakfast.

I fixed my daughter's plate, giving her a little bit of everything. One pancake, two strips of turkey bacon, and some scrambled eggs. I turned away from the stove and set the plate down in front of her.

"Thank you, mommy."

"You're welcome, bunny." I leaned in and kissed the top of her head. "Eat up. We have to leave in thirty minutes."

Harvey's son, our new driver, should be arriving in half an hour. I'm hoping that in Harvey's absence, his son won't f**k everything up. I'm not expecting him to be perfect like his father, but to be decent. At least.

I made myself a plate, in no mood for a sugary treat this morning. For the first time ever. I did make myself some coffee, though. I can't afford to spare a day when it comes to my coffee.

"Do we have a new driver?" Everly asked.

I wish it didn't have to be this way. But it is. And as much as I hate it, we're going to have to just deal with it.

"Yeah," I replied with a nod before bringing my mug up to my lips and taking a sip. "Daddy hired him. He's Harvey's son."

Based on the frown on her face, she wasn't too happy about our new replacement.

"Oh," was all she said, poking the sharp end of her fork into her eggs and sticking it in her mouth.

It didn't matter that it was Harvey's son. It wasn't Harvey.

God, I really hope he's not an asshole. I don't have time for a driver with an attitude. A Chauffeur without manners is like Queen Elizabeth II without her Corgi's. They come as a packaged deal.

I had to look away to keep from my rolling my eyes when Sam walked in. He was dressed in a suit, per usual. It was black this time.

I heard him set something down. His work bag. Then I heard the coffee pot. He'd made himself a cup.

"Is this new driver nice like grandpa Harvey, daddy?"

"I told you to stop calling him that. He's not your grandpa."

I gripped my mug tighter.

No arguing in front of Everly.

"And it doesn't matter if this guy is nice or not. His job is to be your chauffeur. Nothing more. Do you understand?

I looked between Sam and our daughter. She nodded slowly, the expression on her face a sad one.

"Good." Sam circled the island and leaned down to kiss her temple and give her shoulder a squeeze. "Have a good day at school. I love you, bunny."

"I love you, too," she whispered, the both of us watching him leave as he said nothing to me. Like I were a ghost burdening his home.

I scoffed. Not an "I love you, too, Celeste." Or even a "I'm sorry about what I said." Nothing. Like I expected. Unless I nag it out of him, he's not going to say or do s**t.

No longer in the mood for coffee, I dumped the rest of the contents down the sink. I've never done that before. But, there's a first time for everything. I watched the dark brown liquid disappear down the drain before leaving the mug in the sink.

I sighed. "Come on, Ev. This new guy should be here soon."

Why don't I know his name?

If Harvey had told me, I don't remember it. And I didn't bother asking Sam after he insulted me.

Everly shoved the last bit of bacon in her mouth before hopping down from the counter. I took her plate and put it in the sink while she ran off to put her shoes on.

"Mommy," I heard from within the foyer. "He's here!"

Already?

I checked the time on my phone. He's twenty minutes earlier than expected. Even Harvey wasn't ever early. He usually showed up at exactly the time he said he would.

I slipped my phone back in the back pocket of my dark blue jeans and joined Everly in the foyer. She finished tying her right shoe before standing to her feet and pointing out the window. "He's really pretty, mommy."

"Is he now?" I questioned, not really caring to check. I was too focused on making sure my daughter had everything she needed. Including her lunch, which I made before cooking breakfast.

I zipped up her backpack, holding it up for her as she slipped an arm through each loop. She held on to the straps, and I opened the front door, making sure to close and lock it.

I froze, having finally tore my gaze from my daughter to see the man she claimed was "pretty." My heart quickened, my throat suddenly dry as I held a pair of stormy gray eyes.

"Joder(f**k)."

"Ouuuu," Everly sang. "You said a bad word, mommy."

I ripped my gaze from the pair of gray eyes staring back at me to look at my daughter. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

I totally meant to. It was pretty damn fitting.

My attention drifted back to the tall man leaned against the Rolls Royce. He was easily one of the most beautiful men I had ever seen. He was dressed in a traditional black and white suit, the material tailored to fit him perfectly.

I always thought Sam looked good in suits. But this man- this man was breaktaking.

He had Jett black hair that he had pulled back into a messy bun of wavy loose curls. I eyed his hat, which he had resting on the roof of the car. Two stubborn strands hung down and over his cheeks, which he attempted and failed to brush out of his face with an inked hand.

My eyes trail over his face. He was so rugged and manly, yet he could easily pass as a model trying to sell Calvin Klein underwear.

Shit, I'd buy them.

His lips were plump and pink. And his jaw was chiseled, stubble covering his chin and upper lip. It was clear from how neat he appeared that he took pride in his hygiene.

I brought my gaze down further. More ink peeked out from his collar. He also had his ears pierced. Black studs. Somehow, the piercings made him appear that much more manlier.

"Hi!"

The sound of my daughter's high-pitched voice snapped me out of whatever trance I was in.

Harvey's son looked down at her, a hand still stuffed in his pocket as he nodded in acknowledgment.

"You look like the guy on the romance books my mommy sometimes reads."

Oh, good God.

"Everly!" I scolded, my cheeks turning a deep shade of red as I rushed over to pull her away. I covered her mouth with my hand, a nervous laugh escaping me. I could feel her little fingers trying to pry my hand away. But to no avail. "Please ignore that. She doesn't know what she's talking about."

Harvey's son looked at me.

I lost my breath. I just couldn't believe Harvey created such a fine specimen. Well, actually, I take that back. I can see the resemblance. They looked so much alike. Though he had dark luscious hair, way less wrinkles, and was nearly a foot taller.

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and I internally shooed them away.

Go away, butterflies. I'm married.

I was the first to break eye contact. My neck was starting to hurt from all the straining, and I was getting a little hot under his heated gaze.

I'm married. I'm married. I'm married.

I removed my hand from my daughter's mouth, only for her to blurt out a question. Thankfully, it wasn't anything embarrassing and a question I was also curious to know the answer to.

"I'm Everly," she said with a beaming smile. "What's your name?"

For someone who wasn't happy about a new Chauffeur, she sure was feeling social.

"Rade," he answered, his voice gruff.

Did I catch a hint of some kind of accent? Harvey has an accent, but he was also born in Greece. Though he's spent his entire life here in America and Rade's accent sounds slightly different from Harvey's.

I tried not to laugh as I stared at him in shock. "Like the stuff you spray cockroaches with?"

"No," he stated firmly. Then he turned away from me to open up the door to the backseat.

O-kay.

Not much of a talker, I see.

Or one that knows what a joke is.

Harvey wasn't much of a talker either, but at least he knew how to hold a conversation. All these one word answers are underwhelming.

He stepped out of the way, his hand on the door handle as he waited for me and Everly to get in.

Once we were in, he slammed the door closed, grabbed his hat, and walked around the front of the car to get back in the driver's seat.

"Do you know where to go?" I asked, wanting to make sure he knew how to get to the school. And if he even knew that's where we were headed. I had no idea how much Sam had told him.

His stormy eyes flicker to me. He's staring at me through the rearview mirror, his gaze intense. He doesn't say anything as he slips the hat on and takes the car out of park.

He definitely heard me. So why isn't he responding? At least give me a head nod or something.

"Can you turn on the radio, please?" Everly asks him.

I watch him click a button. Music from our playlist blares through the speakers.

Okay. So he definitely heard me. He just has selective hearing.

Great.