Chapter 26

Autumn

The past few days had been amazing with Emmett and me getting sneakier than ever. I knew that soon, I’d have to let Pen in on what was going on and hopefully be able to show a little more affection toward him in her presence.

I was in my office, looking forward to the weekend ahead, when my father walked in. My heart sank. I held my breath, hoping he wasn’t going to ask me to work the weekend like he usually did on Fridays, but thankfully, that wasn’t his intention.

He stood right inside the door and held it open a crack. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m going to be taking tomorrow off to go visit my friend Sam from college.”

“That’s wonderful, Dad. I hope you have a good time.”

“Yeah, I think I will. We’ve talked about getting together for a while now, and his wife offered to make me the pie your mother used to make. She gave her the recipe.”

I smiled. “That sounds lovely. I’m just gathering Emmett’s paperwork.”

“I can’t wait to start working with him. He’s an exceptional young man, that one, and he really made something of himself in the military. I hope he can straighten that brother of his out.”

“I hope so too. If anyone can, it’s him. He talks like Paul really wants to change. Oh, and thanks for not bringing up the mailbox issue. I think it would have only embarrassed him.” Just knowing that my father approved of Emmett made all the difference in the world, and it solidified my belief that I was supposed to have been with Emmett all along.

“I figured you’d be getting out of here early today.”

“No, I’m going to be a little late,” I said. “The manager of the Helix project had to schedule a later meeting than normal.”

“Well, I won’t keep you. Have a good weekend.” Dad opened the door and stopped before leaving. “Do you need me to get Penelope?”

“No, Emmett is picking her up.” I looked up and smiled, and as Dad turned to leave, he stopped and talked to someone, the voice sending chills up my spine.

Jason shook my father’s hand, and Dad left us alone, not knowing how long it had been since the two of us had spoken even a few words to one another. He walked in like the cat who ate the canary, smiling like a fool until he shut the door behind him.

“What the hell are you doing here, Jason? I asked you not to come to my place of business.” I stood from my desk and walked around to show him out.

He held up his hand defensively and stood in front of the door so I couldn’t open it. “I needed to see you right away, Princess.” He had started calling me that, the same as my father, and I’d always hated it coming from his mouth. It was like sandpaper rasping against my brain.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Why? Your girl dumped you? You need money? I’m not in the business of helping you, and until you make an effort to see your daughter, I have nothing to say to you.”

“I’ve been staying away because it’s not easy, Princess. I miss you. I want us to work things out.”

I barked out a laugh. “Oh? Did that little girlfriend of yours put a dent in your truck or something? You know, I saw her driving it around town the other day. I guess she found someone else with a bigger one?”

“That wasn’t my girlfriend. She was just a friend, and she meant nothing to me, Princess.” His sexy, dark eyes had at one time captivated me, but not anymore. I’d never met anyone so dishonest, and I tried really hard not to lose my temper or let him get to me. I didn’t want him to have that kind of power over me anymore.

“You know, I really don’t give a shit, Jason. I divorced you, remember? We have no relationship.”

“That needs to change. I want us to see each other again and try to be a family for Penny.”

“Penelope is the only one who needs you, not me.”

He stepped closer, and I took a few steps back.

“Come on, Princess. It’s me. You loved me once; you can do it again. I know we could have a better life, the three of us.” He moved forward again, and I backed against my desk. His arms came around me and rested on my shoulders. “You know you miss me. You miss what I can do for you.”

He ran his finger across my cheek and then touched my lips. I snapped my teeth, biting down on him so hard he jerked back. “Motherfucker!” he cursed.

“Don’t put your fucking hands on me, Jason. I don’t need anything you’ve got to give. For your information, I’m seeing Emmett now.”

“Emmett Burke? My old bestie, Emmett? Are you kidding? He’s back in town?” He narrowed his eyes as I nodded.

“Yeah, he’s back in town, and we’ve seen each other on a romantic level.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Please, that guy has always been after a piece from you. He knows you’re rich and he’s looking for a handout probably.”

“No, that’s you.”

“If you think you can just bring men in and out of Penelope’s life, you’re out of your mind. I’ll never let that happen. So, you better not have him over with my daughter.”

“Or what?” I asked. “You have no say over who I bring into our daughter’s life, and for your information, he’s already living in my guesthouse until he gets his own place.”

“Oh, I see how it is. You have your man around so you can fuck him. Easy access?”

“You’ve always been jealous of him, haven’t you? Because people like him, and no one likes you anymore. He’s made something of himself, too, where you haven’t amounted to shit. And what really pisses you off is the fact that you know he’s a good man, and he could be better for Pen than you ever could.”

Jason’s expression darkened. “He can’t replace me. Pen needs me in her life. Not some loser who can’t even stay in touch with his friends. He took off and never looked back. Some stand up friend he was. He’ll leave you, too. And when he does, don’t worry Princess, you can come cry on my shoulder. I’ll throw you some dick when he breaks your heart.”

“Get the fuck out of my office.” My voice was full of grit as I said the words. He smiled as if knowing he was getting under my skin.

He turned and walked to the door. “I mean it, Princess. I don’t want him alone with Penelope. You barely know him anymore.”

He was ridiculous, and I knew that if there was anyone I could trust alone with Pen, it was Emmett. Jason’s jealousy was so transparent it was pathetic. “He’s the same man he’s always been: a better one than you. If it weren’t for our daughter, I’d wish I married him instead of you.”

“He’ll leave you. You know why. For the same reason I left you, Autumn. Because you’re just like your old man. You’re cold and unloving, and you put work above everything else. That’s why I had to cheat on you. You were so busy trying to impress your daddy that you didn’t even know how to be a wife. I needed something warm, not some cold, icy bitch to curl up to at night.”

Even though I was done with him, his words cut deep. I’d spent a lot of time trying to make sure that the bills were paid and that we had a nicer place to live because he was already cheating. He could fool himself into thinking he had no other choice, but I had tried to give him everything, and he was the one who’d abused it.

“Tell yourself whatever you need to,” I said.

“I came back here to throw you a bone, but that’s off the table now.”

“I’ll survive.”

“I’ll be seeing my daughter. And don’t think you can keep her from me. I haven’t been around because of work, but now that it’s all lined out, I’ll just come pick up Penny for my visits.”

“Good. It’s about time.” It would make Pen happy if he did, and I could put up with him to make her happy. “Don’t forget you have Wednesdays, too.” He’d never bothered to take that day with her.

“Oh, I see. Now you’re going to push her on me so you and Emmett can have more alone time together? Does Pen know you’re with him?”

“No, she doesn’t. We’re easing her into the situation, but it’s not going to be long now, Jason. But we’re handling it. And as for our alone time, it’s just that: our alone time. I’m not your wife, and I’m entitled to happiness, too.”

“You’re selfish, just like your father. You always have been.” He looked me up and down as he walked back to the door and stopped.

“You need to leave.” I turned and went back to my desk, though I was shaking all over.

“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” He pulled the door open and then walked out, slamming it as if there was no one else in the building but us.

I was so embarrassed that he’d showed up to the office, and I knew I would have to tell Emmett what was happening because I had a feeling he was going to show up to take Pen for a visit, and I didn’t want there to be any trouble.

I was so shaken that I got up and walked over to lock my door so no one else could come into my office. I leaned against it with my face in my hands and cried.

Why he had to be such an asshole was beyond me. I’d done all I could for our daughter and for him, and yes, I might have buried myself in my work when I could, but it was only to be away from him and not our daughter. It was to escape the fact that the only man I had ever been with was not happy with me and was more interested in sticking his cock in every girl he met.

He’d spent a lot of time with Pen when she was little, helping me through the long hours, but he hadn’t been a saint even then. I knew he was texting other women and going to see them after I’d come home and go to sleep, and I’d just let it go, not wanting things to be terrible at home for our daughter. Just like my mother had all those years, I’d grinned and pretended it wasn’t happening.

I let the tears flow while I was alone, knowing that I couldn’t let them show at home with Emmett or Pen. Emmett would go back on his promise not to do anything to or about Jason, and I knew Pen had seen me cry enough during the last year of my marriage to her father to last a lifetime.

After about twenty minutes of standing against the door and wiping my eyes, I pushed away from it and went to sit at my desk. I tried to regain my composure and vowed never to let that asshole make me cry again, even if the tears were for my desire to kill him, rather than any sadness over losing him, which had faded long before I had.

I looked at the time and knew that my meeting was still a good half hour away. Hopefully, my red-ringed eyes would be back to normal, and no one would notice when I finally called it a day. The last thing I wanted was for my crying to get back to my father.