Chapter 7 Seven

Justin stood by the large window in his study, a pleased smile forming on his lips as he gently tapped his finger against the rim of his wine glass. His sharp eyes remained fixed on the driveway, anticipating the arrival of Dagnus, the detective Liam had hired to keep track of Amy's movements.

From what Justin had learned so far, Roman had met with his lawyer to file for divorce couples of days ago.

He took a sip of his wine, then walked over to his desk, where a contract folder lay open. He double-checked the contents, ensuring everything was in order. Soon enough, the sound of a car pulling into the garage reached his ears. He straightened his posture and closed the folder before making his way out of the study. As he descended the stairs, his gaze landed on the petite figure that walked in with Dagnus.

She was nothing like the bold and confident woman he had seen before. Her once neatly styled hair was disheveled, her clothes wrinkled and stained with dirt. But what struck him the most were her eyes puffy and red, evidence of constant wiping of tears.

Had the divorce weakened her this much? His gaze flickered to the crumpled papers she clutched tightly in her trembling hands. It wasn't hard to guess what they were.

Amy, on the other hand, barely noticed his presence as her eyes roamed the lavish interior of his house. For a brief moment, she was distracted, admiring the elegant decor. The grand chandelier, the intricate designs on the walls, the marble floors-all of it screamed wealth and class, making her feel even smaller.

But reality hit her fast when she saw Justin descending the stairs. She immediately dropped her gaze, her body stiffening. Justin smirked at her reaction but quickly masked it.

He then shook hands with Dagnus, the two exchanging a curt nod. Dagnus had seen everything, the way Amy had spent the night outside the gate, how she had begged and knocked until exhaustion took over.

"Good job," Justin said to him before the detective turned to leave. Then he shifted his gaze to Amy.

"Mrs. Miller?" He called.

Amy hesitated before raising her head. Her gray eyes, wide and filled with uncertainty, met his, and for a brief moment, Justin found himself drawn in. There was something about her-so fragile, so lost. He cleared his throat, pushing the thought away before it lingered too long.

"Please, have a seat," he offered.

Amy nodded, cautiously stepping forward and settling onto the couch. He seemed nice enough, much different from the cold and calculating businessman she had expected. She settled onto the couch, feeling a slight sense of ease despite her circumstances.

"Would you like something to eat or drink?" Justin asked, his tone light, but Amy immediately shook her head.

"I'm fine..." Her stomach betrayed her at that moment, releasing a loud growl. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she instinctively hugged her arms around her midsection.

Justin chuckled, though his amusement didn't reach his eyes. "Lying doesn't suit you," he remarked.

That bastard really rubbed his lying traits on her. Amy lowered her gaze, feeling small under his scrutiny.

"I'm not much of a cook, but I can make you a sandwich," he added, already heading toward the kitchen.

Amy's eyes widened at the offer. "M-Mr. Harrison, I..."

"Justin," he corrected without looking back.

She pressed her lips together, shaking her head. "I can't. It feels... too big for me."

He didn't push further, knowing better than to overwhelm her. A few minutes later, he returned with a simple sandwich and placed it in front of her.

"Eat."

Amy hesitated for only a second before hunger took over. She grabbed the sandwich and devoured it without a care for how she looked. Justin, meanwhile, observed her. She wasn't trying to impress him. She was just being herself.

And for some reason, he found that more intriguing than anything else. He had thought she was just bold and confident, but now he realized that she was unguarded, completely unaware of how vulnerable she appeared in front of him.

Once she done, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and looked up.

"Thank you very much, sir," she muttered sincerely after drinking some water. She then picked up the dishes to wash them, the least she could do since he had been the one to prepare it but Justin stopped her.

"After we're done, you can do whatever you want, definitely not just washing the dishes," he said smoothly.

Amy didn't realize how his words gave her silent permission, as if she already belonged here. She simply nodded and returned to her seat.

"Now that you're full, let's talk business."

Justin slid a folder across the table toward her. Amy straightened, suddenly aware of her situation.

"Your husband said you're idle, so I wanted to offer you a job." he doesn't want to use the word jobless.

Amy flinched at the word 'husband.' Her fingers brushed over the folder hesitantly. "Roman said that?"

He nodded, which wasn't entirely true. He got to know this through her file Liam provided.

Amy's lips pressed into a thin line as she flipped open the folder. Her eyes scanned the documents until they landed on the job title.

"A nanny?" she murmured, blinking in surprise.

Justin nodded.

She had no idea he had a child. Amy glanced around. The house seemed too quiet, no toys, no signs of a child's presence.

"If you're looking for her, she's at school right now." Justin answered her unspoken question. She looked back at him before continue reading the documents.

Her brows furrowed when she reached a particular section.

"I have to live here?" she asked, snapping her head up.

Justin chuckled again. In just a short span, she had revealed too many expressions-curiosity, shock, hesitation, and now, something close to nervousness.

"Do you have a problem with that, Amy?" he asked, deliberately saying her name, just to see if she would react again.

She swallowed, her fingers tightening around the papers. She had nowhere else to go. She couldn't afford to be picky.

"No." she brushed off how he called her name, doesn't want weird thoughts creeping her head.

Justin didn't miss the slight hesitation in her voice, but he let it slide.

She continued reading until she reached another part of the contract. "It says I have to be with the child twenty-four-seven."

Justin nodded.

"How old is she?"

"Four," he answered simply.

Something inside her twisted painfully. Four. Her baby would have been the same age if... if she hadn't lost her. She gripped the papers tightly, trying to suppress the emotions bubbling within her.

Justin's sharp eyes flickered to the divorce papers she had unknowingly placed on the table. His guess was right.

"When are you going to process that?" he asked, his tone casual but firm.

Amy, who had been lost in thought, blinked at him in confusion. Process what? Her gaze followed his, and it was only then that she noticed where he was looking straight at the divorce papers lying open on the table.

She gulped before reaching for the papers, her fingers trembling slightly as she clutched them to her chest.

"Soon," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, but Justin didn't look convinced.

"Good. I don't want you emotionally distracted while taking care of my niece."

"Your niece?" Amy raised a brow.

"Abigail is the daughter of my late twin sister."

Amy's heart ached knowing about this. "I'm so sorry for your loss," she whispered.

"It's fine." He smiled slightly at her sincerity.

She looked back down at the contract, trying to focus. She wanted to question Justin about Roman's promotion. But as the words formed in her mind, she let them go. She couldn't help that jerk.

God had blessed her already; she didn't need him. All she wanted was roof under her head, and she had gotten it already.

With a quiet exhale, she turned her focus back to the contract, her eyes skimming the details until her eyes widened at the salary amount.

"Fifty thousand dollars?!" she blurted, her head snapping up in disbelief.

Justin smirked. "And there are additional incentives if you do your job well."

She gaped at him. This was too good to be true. A place to stay. A stable job. A salary that could change her life.

Meanwhile, Justin leaned back, his expression unreadable. She had no idea she was messing with his head right now. The way her gray eyes lit up at the offer, it was undoubtedly pure. And that only fueled his resolve.

That sloth had made her cry. Had left her outside all night, helpless and abandoned. His jaw tightened as he pulled out his phone, typing a quick message to Liam.

"Prepare Mr. Miller's termination letter."