Etching Our Way (Broken Tracks 1)

Amelia has been a godsend these last few years. I didn’t have a clue what to do with a newborn baby at first—especially not on my own. It was like I was learning everything all over again, and although my mom was there for us as much as she could be, I didn’t really want her around. Not only did she have her own life to live, but all she was, was a reminder—a reminder I didn’t want or need.

When Mom suggested getting a live-in nanny to take some of the stress off me, I hated the idea, shutting her down right away. The whole idea was absurd, there’s no way Natalia would have had a live-in nanny and I needed to do what she would have done.

It was a couple of months before she mentioned it again, and by that time I was so tired trying to deal with a newborn and a three-year-old, while trying to be CEO of the company; I had no choice but to look for someone to help me out.

The most important thing was for history not to repeat itself. When I was growing up, my own nanny practically raised me, she and Edward that is. That wasn’t how I wanted it to be for my children, I wanted to be there as much as I could.

I eventually searched for a nanny, knowing that it had to be the right fit for all of us.

That’s when I found Amelia; she had no experience with children apart from babysitting, but the way that Izzie would calm when she was in her arms was enough to seal the deal for me.

She was jumpy at times, but all that mattered was how she was with the kids. She only watches them until I come home from work, or the odd night when I have to attend a function. She occasionally helps out in the morning too and it works well for all of us. Especially as she lives in the pool house; not only does she have her own space, she’s still close enough to not have to commute each day.

“Of course.” She smiles. “You know how much I love watching them.”

“Thanks,” I say, clearing my throat and turning around. “You guys ready?” I ask, moving my attention to Clay and Izzie as I rinse my cup out with water and drop it into the sink before taking a couple of backward steps toward the door.

Izzie shoves one last forkful of eggs into her mouth before nodding her head.

“Yep,” Clay answers, slipping off the stool with Izzie following behind him.

“Have a good day!” Amelia shouts as we all file out of the house and into the waiting car that Edward is driving.

It’s not a long drive to the kids’ school, but the whole way Izzie introduces us to all of the new songs that she’s been learning, making Clay puff out his cheeks and shake his head, which in turn only makes Izzie sing louder with a bigger smile on her face.

I sigh sadly once they’re both out of the car and safely inside the light brown, stoned building that is their private school; it’s too quiet in here without them.

“Traffic looks good today, should have you in the city by nine,” Edward tells me, pulling out of the school parking lot along with the many other Bentleys and town cars. It’s a prestigious school, one I pay handsomely for them to attend, but it’s the best around and they deserve the very best of everything.

I nod and grunt back, not wanting to make any conversation as I unlock my cell and catch up on the emails that have been sent during the night and early morning.

I get into a rhythm of checking and replying, while trying to take a few calls in between, and before I know it, we’re in the city.

Edward stops the car in front of the tall office building—it’s one giant tower made of windows, the frames a polished silver color. It’s sleek and modern, and stands out amongst all the other buildings. The giant letters that spell out “CARTER ENTERPRISES” sit above the entrance in a darker matte silver.

I push out of the car before Edward has the chance to get out himself and open the door for me. He always tries to do it even though I’ve told him time and time again that he doesn’t need to, but he still tries to whenever he can.

“I’ll be working late tonight, be here at six thirty, please, Edward.”

“Okay.” He nods just before I close the car door.

My cell pings several times before I finish the ten steps to the front of the building but I ignore them all and look around the lobby area for my assistant, knowing that she’ll be there waiting for me with several more messages and a rundown of how my day is going to play out.

I feel the atmosphere around me change, the chatter quieting down as everyone’s gaze snaps down to the floor as they see me scanning the area. The long white desk that takes up most of the left-hand side wall seats four people behind it, all busily talking into headsets or dealing with the waiting visitors.

The whole building is owned by Carter Enterprises. The lower levels house the engineers who make all of the software that we sell and own. Then as it moves up the levels you have the advertising department and sales department. We even have a store on one floor; it’s in the BETA stage right now, but I’m liking the idea of it more and more as we watch it go from strength to strength.

The top floors are reserved for offices, mainly heads of the different departments. That’s where mine sits. As the CEO, I have the entire top floor that houses my large office, prototype corner and a large meeting room. I’m sure the board are already there for our weekly meeting, waiting to hear more about the BETA store.

I tilt my head stiffly, greeting Catiya as she walks up to me and I listen intently to the rundown of my day, making noises in the back of my throat so that she knows that I’m listening.

I jab the button for the elevator and tap my foot impatiently as we wait for the doors to open.

Catiya reeling off my day has me dreading it more and more. Meeting with the board, conference call with the UK and Japanese office, and a meeting with a potential client.

“Your… your mother called, she wants to know when you’re next free to visit with the children.” Catiya’s bright blue eyes lift to mine apprehensively as she pushes some of her almost white hair behind her ear.

“Goddamnit.” I let my head fall back, ignoring what she said and spin on the spot, narrowing my eyes as I stare out of the windows that line the front of the building.