Page 15 of Tempted

“Of course, but if you’ve come to demand an apology then you have it.I forgot about letting you use the shower, and probably should have left the minute you opened the bathroom door.”

She shook her head. “You don’t owe me an apology. I was careless for leaving the towel on your bed. I didn’t meant to give you a peep show. Anyway, that’s not what I was here to talk to you about.”

Victor shrugged. “Fair enough. If you’re not here to talk about that, then what are you here for?”

She narrowed her eyes and shot him an expectant look. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Victor frowned. “No, but I’m sure you’ll enlighten me.”

“Today is Friday.”

Again, he couldn’t figure what she was trying to get at. “I’m aware of that. What’s your point?”

She exhaled with a huff, and her eyes squinted to narrow slits. “Today was Tyler’s presentation. You promised to be there.”

Shit! He knew he’d forgotten something. Why hadn’t he put it in his planner like he did most important meetings? He brought the heel of his palm to his forehead. “I’m sorry. It completely slipped my mind, but I’m sure he’ll get over it. I’ll take him out for ice cream or buy him something he wants.”

Jasmine raised a brow. “And what will you do the next time you conveniently forget one of his events?”

“Pardon me?” Was she chastising him?

“He doesn’t want you to buy him things as much as he wants your time.”

“I said I forgot. I should have put it in my planner but it slipped my mind.”

“So your children don’t even rate a note in your planner? I’m sorry, Mr. Meade, but I think Tyler will need more than a trinket to make this up to him.”

Victor already felt like shit for going back on his promise. He didn’t need Jasmine making him feel even worse. “I think you’re overstepping your bounds. You’re in a precarious position as it is with this trial period. If you’d like to make it through I suggest you learn your place.”

“I know my place. Do you know yours?” she challenged, not backing down.

That was it. She was out of here. He stood up with the full intention of firing her ass. “Now wait just a minute—”

“No, you wait!” Jasmine charged toward the desk, stopping a couple feet away from him. Victor wascertain if the desk wasn’t separating them, she’d be right under his nose. “You weren’t here when Tyler was bawling his eyes out because you didn’t rank him high enough to even notate in your precious planner.”

All the anger building within him, quickly drained away. “Tyler was crying? He never cries.”

“Why wouldn’t he? He’s only eight years old, much too young to process why his father can’t be bothered with him. I went to his presentation, and he did a fine job by the way. Incidentally, you were the only parent not there. If you want to fire me, then fine, but I will say this, if you don’t start paying attention to your children, you’re going to lose a chance at getting to know two very wonderful people. You may not be close with your oldest son—”

Anger tore through him. How dare she mention Adam? “You know nothing about the situation.”

“I know enough. Did you think your kids wouldn’t say anything to me? How Adam doesn’t like to come home because he hates you?” As if realizing she’d gone too far, she took a step backward as contrition entered her previously stormy gaze. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

Victor collapsed in his seat. What could he say in his defense when every bit of it was true? His problems with Adam were something that plagued his mind constantly. He didn’t need her to remind him, but she was right. His son didn’t want anything to do with him. “No, you shouldn’t have said it, but you weren’t wrong,” he said with a heavy sigh.

“I’m sure he cares. The only thing I know of it is from what I hear from Tyler and Chelsea. I promise I wasn’t fishing, it was just something brought up in conversation.”

“It doesn’t matter. I guess you’ve made up your mind about what a lousy father I am, and maybe you’re right. Have a seat Jasmine.”

Her shoulders slumped as she gnawed her bottom lip. “You’re going to fire me now, aren’t you?” she asked in a small voice.

A smile curved his lips. “You’re not losing all that fire so easily are you?”

“Should I be worried?”

“You might, but please, sit.”

Jasmine took a seat on the recliner at the corner of his office.

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