Page 31 of Tempted

Correcting this woman was out of the question, so she said,“I would never dream of going against Mr. Meade’s wishes and it was on the tip of my tongue to tell Chelsea she had to run it by her father first.”

“And if Jasmine says it’s okay, I don’t have a problem with it. I think she has a good handle of the situation,” Mr. Meade smiled in Jasmine’s direction, totally throwing her for a loop. “And by the way, Madison, her name is Jasmine.”

His response threw her for a loop but it didn’t mean anything. She wouldn’t be caught off guard by a few kind words after he’d shown his true colors.

Madison threw a look of pure venom in Jasmine’s direction but she immediately schooled her features to a more amicable expression. “You know best, Victor.” She smiled at him running her finger down his sleeve suggestively, and then she returned her attention back to Jasmine. “I meant no offense dear, it’s just that you people have such colorful names, I must have misheard it when someone said it.”

The fists resting in Jasmine’s laps tightened until she thought her tendons would snap. But answered as graciously as the situation allowed. “My people do have a rich cultural heritage, thank you for mentioning it.” As much as it pained Jasmine to pretend Madison’s words had been a compliment, her tactic seemed to hit the mark.

The other woman’s mouth twisted in a half sneer and her eyes narrowed to ice blue slits. Before redirecting her attention to Victor once again, monopolizing him.

Mrs. Meade shot Jasmine a sympathetic look, and the chatter around the table returned to normal. After dessert when the coffee was brought out, Chelsea announced she had to go to the bathroom. Jasmine decided to go with her.

Chelsea was in one of the stalls while Jasmine washed her hands when Madison strode in as if she owned the place. She walked over to the empty sink next to Jasmine’s and dug into her purse to pull out a tube of lipstick. “It was nice of Victor to include you in the family dinner.”

Jasmine smiled noncommittally, turning off the faucet and grabbing one of the paper towels from the dispenser.

Madison would not be ignored however. “You know, I didn’t think Victor should hire someone so inexperienced, but you seem to handle the children beautifully although I do think you coddle them a little too much. I also noticed that Chelsea has developed an unhealthy attachment to you.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Jasmine had difficulty keeping her voice calm and even.

“She seems to defer to you way more than she should. For one being in such a precarious position as yourself, I’d think you’d be a little more careful. After all, if Victor were to take a wife, she might prefer to take on the responsibility of the children herself, or perhaps go with someone with a bit more experience. Where did you say you worked before taking this job?”

It was obvious Madison was implying and Jasmine wasn’t going to take the bait, nor was it anyone’s business beside Mr. Meade’s.

“I didn’t,” Jasmine replied, relieved to see Chelsea coming out of her stall and walking toward them. “Let’s wash your hands honey and get out of here.”

Jasmine didn’t miss the uneasy glance Chelsea shot in Madison’s direction. “Ok.”

“I really don’t see why she needed someone to come in here with her. She’s a big girl. You’re going to make the girl thinks she’s incapable of doing things for herself. It’s no wonder she’s so slow if people are constantly doing everything for her.”

Jasmine could take anything this woman had to say about her, but she wouldn’t tolerate her talking about the children especially with Chelsea standing right there! “Chelsea, sweetheart, wait for me outside the bathroom door and don’t go anywhere okay?” She waited for the door to close behind the little girl before facing the hateful woman. “First of all, it’s not up to you to determine how I handle the children. If Mr. Meade has a problem with it then I would expect he’d tell me himself, and another thing what kind of person are you to put down a little girl?Chelsea is bright, sweet young lady and has a big heart.If you think insulting his children will get the man, you’re not as smart as you pretend to be.”

A deep shade of red colored Madison’s face from her neck, to the roots of her hair which desperately needed a touch up. “You bl-black bitch! Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to? One word from me and Victor will send you packing back to the ghetto. You think you’re so clever just because you can put two sentences together without sounding like the trash you are.” The blonde’s face contorted to an ugly demonic like mask, all traces of her beauty gone.

Jasmine shook her head. As satisfying as it would be to punch Madison in the throat, she wasn’t worth it. Rolling her eyes, Jasmine turned to leave.

“Don’t walk away from me, bitch!” Madison called out to her.

Just as Jasmine was walking out, she ran into Mrs. Meade. “What’s going on? Why is Madison screaming like a banshee?”

“Ask her,” Jasmine muttered before grabbing Chelsea by the hand. This dinner was every bit the disaster she thought it would be and then some.

* * *

“I mean it, Victor, I want her fired. She said some horrible things to me, and I can’t believe you’d allow such a level of disrespect from a mere servant, or is that how you run your household?”

Victor had had enough. From the moment Jasmine and Chelsea had returned from the restroom at the restaurant, he immediately knew something was wrong. Though Jasmine had already been close-mouth during most of the meal, she looked absolutely pissed. Chelsea looked like she was near tears and Madison was practically breathing fire. His mother didn’t look too happy either.

It seemed the only one willing to contribute to the conversation was himself and Tyler so Victor decided to call their evening to a close. The minute they got home, Adam made a beeline for his room, Chelsea uncharacteristically asked to go to bed early and Jasmine went with her. Madison demanded to speak with him, but not before his mother asked for a private word. What she’d revealed had pissed him off.

“Madison, if anyone is going to leave this house tonight, it will be you. My mother heard some of the things you said to Jasmine and it’s unacceptable.

Her mouth fell open and then she sneered in a most unbecoming manner. He should have realized sooner thatMadison was so self-centered and vicious but now he realized she acted one way around him but a different way around others. “You’re choosing her over me? That nig—”

“Madison, I’d advise you not to finish that sentence. Now get out of my damn house.”

Her face crumpled and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Victor, you can’t do this to me. We’ve been friends for a long time. She said some awful things to me when I offered her a little friendly advice about the children. I think she’s jealous because she wants you for herself.”

---