“Well, thanks for your advice on this stock, Jane,” Carter said, temporarily breaking my thoughts. “I'll let you know what happens with it.”
“You're welcome,” I managed to say before biting my lip again.
Carter clenched his jaw but then turned away, bringing his attention back to the computer. I went back to my office in a daze.
This is crazy, I thought, taking a seat behind my desk. But I feel the same way about Carter as I did about those stocks last week. It's like I just know. Sure it's not logical, but everything in me is telling me now. Carter is going to give me a baby. I'm going to have a child from my billionaire boss.
“I think this job just got a little more interesting,” I whispered, as I sat down and went back to work.
Chapter 6
It was only Wednesday, but for some reason, I felt like celebrating. I grabbed the bottle of Cabernet that my mom had sent me a few weeks before and poured myself a glass. Then I sat down in my overstuffed couch, kicking my feet up onto the coffee table.
Things were really coming together for me. My job was going infinitely better than I could have ever hoped for. My apartment was finally decorated and unpacked. I had made a few friends at work. I had a lot to be grateful for.
“Here's to things working out,” I said to myself, holding my glass in the air.
Nobody was there to do the cheers with me, but I didn't care. I was far too happy to be brought down by that fact. I let out a long breath, letting myself sink deep into the cushions.
My phone rang in my pocket and I pulled it out to see an incoming call from my mom. It was her ritual to call me just about every day and I wondered if she'd ever let me grow up. I answered of course, though.
“Hey, Mom,” I said, loosely holding the phone against my ear.
“Hey, Janie,” she replied. “How have you been? You haven't answered your phone in a couple of days. I was worried about you.”
“I've been just fine,” I said. “How are you?”
“Everything is the same in Iowa,” she said, with a sigh. “Your father is still working non-stop and I'm here at the house, bored out of my mind. How's your job, honey? You haven't told me anything about it. You're still in accounting, right?”
“Actually, no.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, in her typical worried tone.
“I got promoted.” I lifted myself out of the cushions and sat on the edge of the seat.
“You've haven't even been there for a month.” Mom sounded suspicious in her response.
“I know, it's crazy,” I replied. “The boss of this company just took a liking to me. I did some good work on my first day and next thing I know, I'm working directly for the CEO.”
“You don't find that a little strange?” Mom asked. “I mean, don't you think it's odd?”
I rolled my eyes. “Mom, can't you just be proud of me? I've worked my butt off to set up my own life out here in New York and now you're criticizing my success.”
“I'm sorry, Honey,” she said. “I am proud of you. Your father and I are both proud of you. I'm just surprised to hear that you've already been promoted. What is your current role working for the CEO? What kind of work?”
“Well,” I said, with a dramatic pause afterward. “You, and especially Dad, will be happy to hear that I'm reviewing some of the company's stocks. I basically look over all of the investments and make sure everything is congruent.”
“You're kidding me,” Mom said, now sounding excited instead of suspicious. “Your father is going to flip when he hears that. You know, I never told you this but your dad always talked about wishing you'd work in the stock market like he does. He was happy when you started working for the Winthrow firm as an accountant but I can't wait to see his face when I tell him about your new job.”
I smiled wide. I flashed back to the memories of watching my dad circle stocks in the newspaper every morning. Just thinking of it brought back a wave of nostalgia.
“I guess I owe some of my skill to him,” I said, with a chuckle. “I'm still learning, but so far, I've done pretty well I think. I've made the company quite a bit of money so far.”
“That's so great, baby,” Mom said. “How about your dad and I call you a little later tonight when he gets home? I think you should tell him yourself.”
“Sounds good,” I said, before taking another sip of my wine.
“Okay, Jane. I'll talk to you then. Love you,” she said.