Chapter Eleven

Chantal didn’t have much time. After his therapy session, Sunny slid into the seat and looked around the office. Alexis sat nearby and offered him a reassuring smile.

“Thank you, Miss Chantal. My leg feels better.” He clutched the jar of lotion on his lap as he stretched out his sore thigh. The amputation was just above the knee and Chantal hated seeing those blisters from the prosthetic rub. He needed a better artificial limb.

He needed everything she hoped she could give him. His worn clothes looked gray and hung off his thin frame. A bruised cheek spoke of a rough life on the streets. He mentioned recently finding accommodation in a hostel, but worried about his sister’s safety.

“You look tired, Sunny. How many hours do you work?”

He shrugged a thin shoulder. “Too many. I won’t go back to that orphanage. They tried to take my sister away—split us up. I can provide—I’m planning to send Roshani to school next year.”

“Good. How about this year?”

Sunny frowned.

“We’re looking for a caretaker for the clinic—someone to learn from the ground up. We’re including accommodation—we have living quarters at the back.”

“Okay…” Sunny shook his head in confusion.

“Sunny, I’m offering you the job. But there are conditions.”

He straightened his back, looking wary.

“Your sister will go to school. You will attend online classes. You will only see to the clinic’s needs once your classes and homework are complete.”

“I… I have no idea about computers.” His eyes darted about the room.

“That’s okay. Alexis will teach you and we’ll send you on a course.”

“How much?” Sunny’s chin jutted forward and Chantal’s heart broke. He expected a low-ball offer—a similar salary to the pitiful hundred dollars he currently earned.

“Two thousand dollars to start.”

His eyes widened. “Per year?”

“Per month. Two thousand per month.”

Paling beneath Chantal’s gaze, Sunny looked shellshocked.

“Yes.” Alexis smiled. “As long as you attend classes. I help with the running of the center and will teach you everything you need to know.”

“I know nothing about being a… a caretaker.”

“That’s okay. I’m confident in your abilities. Say yes.”

“Ah. Yes, Doctor…Okay. Yes.” He licked his lips and sat back.  

Chantal pointed to a calendar. “Call me Chantal, and you’ll start next week. In the meantime, I’d like you to fetch your sister and get settled in your new rooms. I’ll leave a welcome package on the bed.”

That package would include new clothes for the pair. A new laptop for Sunny and shoes and toiletries. The fridge in the center’s kitchen was fully stocked.

“Who… who are the men walking around?” He looked back at the door nervously. “I can’t accept the job if they could hurt Roshani.”

Bless him—he’d sacrifice the job to shield his sister.

“They are here to protect me. There are bad people trying to hurt me.”

“I’ll protect you!” Sunny stood and stuck out his chest. “They’ll fight me first.”

Chantal smiled at his voracity. “That’s not your job, honey. Your job is to learn and grow and help your sister. And to take care of the closed clinic when we are away and helping patients. Can you do that?”

“Yes. I will never rest.”

   Both women laughed, and Chantal corrected him. “You will definitely rest. This isn’t a sweat shop. You never have to work those hours again. Come, Alexis will show you around and give you a key.”

Chantal walked with them out into the hall and introduced Sunny to the other staff as they headed to the connecting accommodation. His eyes sparkled with excitement and she wanted to hug the kid. She glanced at her watch—only fifteen minutes until her date.

“Chantal. A word?” Gage approached from behind and she excused herself and joined him down the passage.

“Yes, I know—we’re leaving.”

“Fuck the date. I wanna know why you hired someone without consulting your teams.”

“Excuse me? Listen, buddy. I don’t need your attitude—I have my own!”

“Which may need an adjustment. You never said you were hiring the teenager. We haven’t performed a background check—for all I know, he’s a card-carrying mercenary. You’ve just provided the perfect opening.”

Her temper flared. “And you’re an ass! I’ll hire whoever I want and if you don’t like it, there’s the door.”

“Agent Hendrix has a point.” Wyatt joined the discussion. “We’re not saying you can’t hire him—but we need a heads up.”

“I got the go-ahead from the charity. I’m not kicking that kid back to the streets.”

Wyatt raised his hands. “We’re not saying that, it’s just—”

“You’re all pushing the wrong buttons today. Get your boulder asses out of the way.”

Gage followed her to the changing room and Chantal turned to glare. “What?”

“Your soft heart could get you killed.”

His quiet words got on her last nerve. “Take a hike. Thanks to all your complaining, I’m late.”