Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Waving at the employees as she walked to her office, Ivy was glad to see everyone greeted her warmly this time. Virginia and Beatriz had erased Mr. Harris’s attempts to turn her into the reason for everyone’s additional hours. After opening her file cabinet, Ivy pulled one folder out and turned to leave.
The door was in sight when Mr. Harris appeared next to her. He stopped her with a firm hand on her arm. “I thought you were out for two weeks for your… injury?”
Ivy bristled at his implication that she hadn’t been hurt. “I am. No electronics for two weeks. I wanted to practice with data on paper, so I came to get a sample to work with.”
“What’s that?” Mr. Harris held his hand out for the folder.
“Oh, just some data about bank usage in different age ranges. Lots of numbers and statistics,” Ivy answered, flipping through the pages. “It’s an excellent test to see if my mind can handle pulling this information together.”
He continued to extend his hand for the folder. Reluctantly, she handed the packet of papers to him. Ivy held her breath as he scanned several pages. “This is extensive data for simply bank usage,” he observed when he looked back at Ivy.
“Definitely. I know Nations Bank has closed several branches around the state to lower staffing needs and replaced them with ATMs and phone support services. Looking at this data helps us know whether that would be a good move for us as well,” she improvised, fighting the fogginess of her brain to satisfy his questions.
To her delight, he looked pleased and handed the folder back to her. “I’m intrigued by your conclusions. Let’s meet next week and you can share your findings.”
“Definitely, sir. If you’ll excuse me, my head is throbbing again.”
“Of course. Get yourself back to normal for next week,” he directed as he turned to walk away.
Ivy walked as fast as her head would allow to the door. She waved at Virginia as she approached, but didn’t stop to chat. Her five minutes were almost up, and Steele wouldn’t hesitate to follow her. As she reached the door, it opened.
“I’m here. Sorry. I had to stop and talk.” Ivy stepped outside and wrapped her hand under Steele’s arm for stability. “Let’s get to the car.”
A few minutes later, she rested her head against the car seat and willed her thoughts to stop spinning around in her mind. Ivy closed her eyes to block out the bright sun and struggled to pull herself together. It was vital for her to hold it together at the next meeting. When Steele linked his fingers with hers, she clung to him, feeding on his strength.
“Mr. Harris isn’t going to the meeting?” Steele observed, and she realized he must have seen the bank president when Steele opened the door.
“No. Not this meeting.”
Steele started the car and drove toward the main bank branch. The board president had requested to meet there. Ivy had only walked inside the impressive institution a few times. It gave off such a vibe of old-world security and tradition that she couldn’t imagine anything bad happening there.
“Who are you meeting with, Little girl?”
“Can I just tell you everything when this is over?” she asked, not opening her eyes.
“I don’t like this, Ivy. I can’t protect you once you’re out of my view.”
“I’ll be fine. Hopefully, I get this fixed now and it will all be over.” She squeezed his hand before adding, “Thank you, Daddy, for being here to support me and understanding that there are some things I have to do on my own.”
“My mind can understand everything, but my heart is telling me to turn around and head back to the compound to keep you safe.”
“Soon,” she promised, opening her eyes to look over at him. “All I want is to be there now, too. We never talked about how we’ll handle this when I’m healthy again.”
“I know you will have time at the bank, but when you’re off the clock, you’re with me. At all times, you are my Little girl even when you have to be professional,” he answered, simplifying everything.
“Are we going to keep living together?” she asked.
“Of course. We’ll decide whether we want to be at the compound or at your house.”
“Where do you want to be?”
“With you,” he answered honestly as he pulled into the parking lot of the massive building.
Ivy stared at the massively built biker whose fierce outside hid a tender but completely stern Daddy inside. “I just want to be with you, too, Daddy.”
“Then we work everything else out.”
After backing the car into a parking spot with a wide view of the building and the entrance, Steele turned off the engine. As Ivy reached for the door release, he covered her thigh with one powerful hand, tethering her in place. “What floor are you going to, Ivy?”