Page 283 of Billionaire Temptations

“But it is, Emily. As long as this is affecting him, it’s affecting you.” She reached across the table and placed her hand on mine. “Please. I know it’s asking a lot, but we want our son back. His father and I have found our way back to each other, and we want our family to be whole again.”

Wow. She really knew how to pull at the heartstrings. There was no way Jackson would listen to me, but it was worth a shot for Gwen's sake.

“We’re having dinner tonight. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you.” She squeezed my hand.

After Jacksonand I had a wonderful dinner at Daniel, we headed back to my place for the night since the last two nights were spent at his. As we walked through the door, I took off my heels and carried them to the bedroom while Jackson followed behind and took off his suitcoat.

“Have you, by any chance, talked to your mom?” I asked.

“No. Why?”

“Just wondering if you maybe settled things with them yet.”

“If I had, I would have told you.”

I walked into the bathroom and grabbed a washcloth, and poured some makeup remover on it.

“Why are you bringing up my parents?”

“Your mom came into the shop today. She asked how you were doing.”

“Did she come in to shop or specifically to see you?”

“To see me.”

“Interesting.” He walked into the bathroom.

“She asked me to talk to you since we have this weird relationship thing going on.”

“Did she say ‘weird’?” He stood with his arms folded as I finished removing my makeup.

“Yes.” I smiled at him through the mirror.

“Well, I’m just going to stop you right there.” His tone was harsh. “I’m not interested in hearing what you have to say because, frankly, Emily, it’s none of your business, and my mother should not have come to you.”

I was in the middle of rinsing my face, and I froze over the sink. Hearing those words come from his mouth, anger and hurt crept up inside me. I grabbed a towel and dried my face.

“Why do you have to be so rude?” The words just fell out of my mouth.

“How am I being rude?” he asked as I walked past him.

“Telling me that it’s none of my business. This whole thing with your parents is affecting you, which in turn affects me.”

“Why the hell would it affect you? It has nothing to do with you. How I feel about the situation is nobody’s business but mine.”

I turned and looked at him as an expression of shock stumbled across my face.

“Who are you, and what have you done with Jackson?” I cocked my head.

“I’m here. This is me.” He held out his hands and spoke with a cocky attitude.

A showdown was emerging, and I knew it wouldn’t end well. I refused to let him get away with speaking to me that way.

“You know what, Jackson?” I walked over to him and pushed my finger into his chest. “You have everything you want out of life. You have two parents who love you, a successful business, more money than you know what to do with, and this fucked up relationship thing we’re in. You have it all, and you take so much for granted that it makes me sick! You’re so consumed about how you feel that you don’t give a damn to stop and think about other people’s feelings.”

He inhaled a sharp breath as his nostrils flared. I had just pushed his anger level to the limit, and he was about to explode.

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