Chapter 711

Not one to give up, Marico called his other girlfriends.

“Mr. Stapleton? I’m married now!”

“Dinner? I can’t get away… gently…”

“God must be blind. You’re still alive?”

…

Marico made several calls, even dialing the numbers of ex-girlfriends he’d dumped, but no one gave him the time of day. He’d finally gotten off work early, and tomorrow

was the weekend. Was he really going to waste such a beautiful evening?

Just as Marico was lamenting his fate, an unknown number called him.

“It’s me.”

A girl’s voice, very young.

Marico sighed. “Didn’t your mother teach you not to talk to strange men? That’s dangerous.”

“You’re a good man, sir.”

“Now that’s just insulting.”

He heard another giggle on the other end, and Marico couldn’t help but smile,

leaning back in his seat and relaxing.

“Are you free tonight?” Kristin asked.

“Are you asking me out?” Marico teased the little girl.

“Mhm!”

The little munchkin actually said yes. Marico chuckled. “Yeah, I’m free.”

“I’ll treat you to a movie.”

“What movie?”

“Zootopia.”

“Not interested.”

“Come on, please? It’s really good.”

“Why don’t you ask your mom to take you?”

“Mom has been filming at night these past few days. She doesn’t have time to see a movie with me.”

“And your mom is okay with you going out with me?”

“Of course she is.”

“Put your mom on the phone.”

Marico heard the pitter-patter of Kristin’s feet running into a room, followed by the sounds of Natalie washing her face and rummaging through things.

“Mommy, Mr. Stapleton wants to talk to you.”

“I don’t have time for him,” Natalie’s voice came through.

“Tell her I’ll babysit, but there has to be something in it for me.”

Kristin relayed the message verbatim, and Natalie replied, “Ask him what he wants.”

Just as Kristin was about to repeat that, Natalie must have had a second thought and snatched the phone away.

“Get rid of all that filth before you open your mouth.”

Marico burst out laughing. “See? You know me best.”

“I’m really busy these next few days. I had hired a babysitter for Kristin but she has a family emergency and needs to go home for the weekend.

you’ll watch Kristin for two days.”

“You actually trust me with her.”

“I taught Kristin how to call the police.”

“You really don’t trust me at all.”

“Just cut the crap.”

Marico couldn’t help but laugh again. “So what’s in it for me?”

“I have to get to the studio now. Get over here and pick up Kristin.”

“I…”

Before Marico could finish, she hung up on him. He scoffed. Natalie was actually willing to leave her daughter in his care Honestly, his own parents had never trusted him that much.

Well, I’m lonely and need some company anyway, he told himself as he drove to Natalie’s place. When ite arrived, he caught her just as she was rushing out the door and pulled her to a stop.

“You should know what I want.” He deliberately pinned her against the wall, his gaze fixed on her lips as he slowly leaned in.

“Pfft!” Natalie pretended to spit in his face.

Marico grunted. “Not even a little something?”

In a hurry to leave, Natalie stomped on his foot.

“That’s the ‘something’ you deserve.”

Marico grimaced in pain, and Natalie used the moment to escape into the elevator.

“Kristin has homework this weekend. Make sure she finishes it,” she called out as the elevator doors closed.

Just as Marico was standing there, speechless, Kristin opened the apartment door.