When I spotted her passing, wearing skinny jeans and a dark green top, I hopped from my desk and practically ran into the hallway. She turned when she heard me coming, and something like a smile crossed her face.
“Dr. Foster,” she said, nodding to me.
“Brad,” I reminded.
“Brad.”
“Cassie, I was wondering if you might go out with me tonight.”
God, could I really have sounded any more like a middle schooler?
The embarrassing moments really were beginning to pile up.
* * *
CASSIE
Working with Camilla had been wonderful, a breath of fresh air after all the crazed events from the day before. She was inquisitive, curious, and smarter than she should be for being only six. But weirdly, she reminded me of myself. I’d loved science ever since I was a kid too, and I wanted to learn everything I could.
My mother didn’t understand me, not that she ever did, but she especially hadn’t understood my love of science.
“What about fashion design or art?” she’d asked me many times, reminding me often how my college classes would be full of boys, and nerdy ones too.
“So what?” I remembered asking her, and she had said, “Nerdy guys are only good for the money.”
At that point in my life, she was on boyfriend number ten since I could remember. I stopped keeping count after that, and I thanked God every day that I hadn’t turned out like my mom. But that was what was scaring me about the situation with Brad. I knew he was rich. I’d googled him a few times.
Harvard grad, owner of about five prominent science magazines and journals, as well as two other labs. Billionaire to the extreme. I often trusted my instincts about who I was attracted to, but this time, I was worried I was turning into my mother the older I got. Was I drawn to him just because of the money?
It didn’t feel like I was, but I needed to be hyper-vigilant about avoiding becoming Sandy Williams, or else I knew it would come over me like a thief in the night. I’d wake up and be a Sandy Williams clone.
A little extreme.
After Camilla left, I stayed working a little bit longer until people started leaving. “You sticking around?” Stevie asked, coming to stand next to me.
“Yeah, just for a bit. Got some things to finish up.”
I didn’t look up at her but kept writing things in my notebook.
“You know, you can just tell him that you’re not his babysitter. I can’t believe he’s asking you to do it.”
Glancing up at her, I saw her concern. “Nah, it’s okay. She doesn’t come in often, and she’s really pretty smart. I feel kind of like a mentor.”
“All right, well, I just don’t want the doc to think he can take advantage of you.”
I would so let him.
Stevie looked concerned. “You feeling better today? What happened in his office?”
“Oh, it was nothing. Just the usual discussions. Yeah, I’m feeling better, thanks.”
“Good. So, you didn’t give him another lecture?” She laughed.
“Not really. Too tired to. Although, it was tempting.” I smiled.
I had absolutely zero interest in Stevie knowing about what happened, even though she’d start shrieking and clapping excitedly, wanting all details. But I was embarrassed, and I needed to figure out what it meant before I revealed it to anyone. I also didn’t want to go into the whole thing about Jason.
“Well, I’ll catch you tomorrow. Got a hot date tonight.”