Echols Enterprises' got up from h

e to go home, Mr. Echols..." h

"I'm afraid this is the cruel faith of a CEO, Paul: the fi

lking towards the

's your wife? She has already had

ng with relief. "The doctor said the surgery was a success an

d with satisfaction. "There's no place like h

or everything you've done for my Li

d this company, and you never missed a day... It was the least I could do. I

Paul added. "Mr. Echols, I saw your car parked in front of the building, but I d

ght off. I'll be doing my own driving tonight... I need

oo, Mr.

ss. Forty minutes later, he pulled up in front of the three-car garage and shut off the car. Blake grabbed his bri

aid to the elderly m

the butler replied in

ything a

ris is waiting fo

s waiting," Blake said smiling. "That's a

l, Sir. G

, sparkling chandelier overhead, and cream-colored walls, and

m was every little girl's dream. The walls were cotton-candy pink, the carpet white and.

ad two chairs around it. The furniture was white and small. A small canopy bed covered with the sam

d. "You're finally h

fcase on the floor, just inside the door. "I've missed you,

his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. Iris curled her chubby han

l... and I go

ftly. "I'm sorry, baby gi

gown to reveal a scra

ee

d how did

bik

l of Iris's brown ha

off your

tle girl

ng fast or sl

kay now... See? Could you

e. She was little, but

and then you need to close

Iris on

Go pick

ed a book. She brought it back to Bl

e said, pointing at

ke s

ight... A

say what it was. When Blake was finished, he placed the book on the bedside table, stood with Ir

you, bab

too, Daddy,"

ad and brushed his li

eyes now.

fter switching on a nightlight, he headed toward the door and

e upon Alma putting she

lly down for the night,

etly. "How did Iris f

closet and turn

d over. I took her inside and cleaned her up. The gardener filled

checked his watch. "I

s,

of the night off," he i

Mr. Blake,"

evenings behind his desk with his mind on the work in front of him

ink, he sat down at his des

d bar. Above the noise of the crowd, she could hear the jukebox. It was

, Nicola reached for a handful of peanuts from th

laimed, appearing suddenly with a

the seat acro

"I haven't been waiting long. So,

Nicola a pe

ai

... 'Today's

ied, then took a sip of her drink and set the glass down. "Listen here... My boss is looking for a

all

, re

ke as a boss?"

leaned

things done his way and doesn't k

arched a

impossible

d. "I've been working for him for

gri

ooking at

grinne

more ab

s to her lips and took

he has a four-year-old daughter named Iris. She is his weakness. He answers to the li

er mother?" N

k against the s

drag Iris into the middle of it all. Mr. Echols wasn't having it. I don't know exactly what happened, but Iris end

ide," Nicola said. "When do

, at nine

icola m

ols Enterprises' is

id. "I met you there t

nxious to find someone," Daphne explained. "His housekeeper is looking after Iris right now,

he last nanny?" Nic

ne sh

. You'll have

thought about Blake Echols and the me

me, I defin