Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 60131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
“Let’s hope so.” He sighed. “I’ll be back at lunch with the updated attendance numbers. Oh, and can you please respond to that hiring agency email, please? They’re convinced your million-dollar donation is fake.”
“Tell them that it isn’t.”
“I did, and so did Denise, but they refuse to cash it until they hear directly from you. Something about ‘due diligence’ and ‘personal integrity.’”
“Should I have wired it to their bank account?”
“They probably aren’t used to huge, random donations.” He walked to the door. “Check your email.”
FORTY-ONE
PIERCE
Subject: Donation Clarification + Placement Services
Good morning Mr. Dawson,
I hope this email finds you well.
I wanted to personally THANK YOU for giving us such a generous $1M donation, but…I think you might have us confused with another organization.
My team and I were assessing all our placements, and we never secured a full-time nanny for you.
We’ll gladly keep it, but we felt it would be dishonest not to mention our side of things.
Sincerely,
Lisa Wharton
Subject: Re: Donation Clarification + Placement Services
Miss Wharton,
I used your services for several nanny interviews.
I never requested another because one of the last nannies was such a great fit.
She’s become a part of my family.
You can keep the donation. I’m very appreciative of your services.
That said, given how long Miss Hawthorne has lasted, I’d like to finally switch from paying her in cash to handling things via direct deposit. (I’ve also set aside the taxes and fees per your agency’s rules.)
Thank you.
Best,
Pierce Dawson
Subject: Re: Re: Donation Clarification + Placement Services
Mr. Dawson,
We don’t have a nanny employed by that last name. Is that a code name she uses with you and your children?
The last official nanny we have on file for your family is Natalie Sutherland, who was employed for eight days.
How long have you been paying this ‘Miss Hawthorne’ via cash? She should’ve been moved to the direct deposit system after she lasted two weeks, per our standard policy, remember?
[.image] [.image] [.pdf]
Lisa Wharton
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Donation Clarification + Placement Services
Perhaps your system has encountered an error somehow.
Miss Hawthorne has just left for lunch with my kids.
I’m attaching her picture.
Yes, I’ve been paying in cash. Is it possible to handle setting up direct deposit today?
Best,
Pierce Dawson
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Donation Clarification + Placement Services
Mr. Dawson,
Please call me immediately.
That woman is not (and has never been) an employee with our agency.
Lisa Wharton
FORTY-TWO
PIERCE
Miss Wharton paced my office with teary eyes, her face as white as a ghost’s.
“I promise you, Mr. Dawson,” she said for the umpteenth time, “I had no idea this was happening. I was simply doing my due diligence and keeping a high level of ‘character integrity’ for the agency like you said when you sent us the donation.”
I clenched my jaw.
I hadn’t said a word for fifteen minutes; I was far too shell-shocked to process all of Harlow’s deceit.
She’d been lying to me and my kids from day one.
“How exactly did she get into your system to begin with?” I asked. “I don’t understand how she got this far if she never used your agency.”
“She did, briefly…” she said. “I got I.T. to do some extensive checking and they said she was supposed to be placed in our fine dining category, since she was a pastry chef.”
“She’s a professional chef?”
“She was working in a Michelin-starred restaurant when she applied with us.”
My blood boiled.
Here I was, thinking I was encouraging someone with a natural baking talent and passion.
She’d never once mentioned that she was a professional, and every time we walked past an acclaimed restaurant, she’d say, “Wow. I wonder what working in that commercial kitchen is like.”
“Mr. Dawson, I swear—”
“Hold that thought,” I interrupted. “Just to be clear, Harlow Hawthorne has zero experience nannying, has none of the certifications I demanded from your agency, and she was never qualified to work for me?”
“That is correct, sir.” She pulled a crinkled sheet from her pocket and set it on my desk. “I’m certain you’ll want to use that soon.”
I picked it up. “A phone number?”
“It’s the law firm that handles issues for my agency.” She wiped her face. “I’ve been around long enough to know when legal action is about to be taken.”
“In that case, you’re absolutely wrong, Miss Wharton.” I set down the paper. “I only want to know if you can have a replacement nanny for me by tomorrow morning.”
“Absolutely, sir.”
FORTY-THREE
HARLOW
Are we still on for dinner tonight?
I’m here early, but I haven’t heard from you all day…
We’re still on.
I’ll be there shortly.
Ifolded a napkin in my lap as the server filled my glass.
Excited about our date night, I adjusted the straps on my pink Prada dress, hoping Pierce would peel it off me once we left.
He sat across from me, his expression unreadable.
“How was your day? I asked.
“It was nice until a certain point.” He signaled for the waiter.
“Yes, Mr. Dawson?”
“I’ll have a shot of your best whiskey,” he said. “Neat.”