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I could hear doors banging shut in the stairwell, some floors above, when he spoke in a soft voice. “I just want to find my mom.”
15
SEAN
Ifinally reached the damn lobby, panting and hoping my assistant had had the sense to stop Lucas. I didn’t see the security guard anywhere, so I raced around the lobby, calling loudly for Lucas for a good three minutes. I even searched under the receptionist’s desk and behind the extremely large potted plants before I finally heard someone chuckling.
Chloe and Lucas were sitting on the lobby’s beige leather couch.
How had I missed that?
I strode over, trying to not seem desperate as I saw my son sitting calmly next to Chloe.
“Well, there you are, Lucas,” I said. “And you, Chloe, are clearly incompetent at your job,” I said, striding toward them. I’d almost lost Lucas, and I was furious at this woman.
She had sat there for a full five minutes while I ran around the lobby, searching desperately for my son. There was something missing in her brain, and I knew for sure I didn’t want her working for me. Forget the alternate job I’d found for her. She wasn’t fit to work at Tassater Inc.
I took hold of Lucas, my hands on either side of his arms, as I tried to help him up, but he shook me off and sat back down.
“Are you okay?” I demanded of him.
He turned away, his mouth in a stubborn line.
“He’s fine,” Chloe said, but I shifted my anger on her.
“He’s not fine,” I snapped. “You don’t know the first thing about my son. He hates being told what to do.”
I leaned into her, enunciating each word with precision. “Do you mean to tell me you’ve been sitting here and sniggering while I’ve been looking for my son under the receptionist’s desk?”
She couldn’t resist a smile at that. Her eyes slid sideways to the pots behind me. “And even while you looked under the potted plants too,” she muttered, barely concealing a grin.
She must have noticed my anger because she forced herself to focus. “Your son needs more than what you’re giving him.”
“He has his toys,” I said, pointing to the bag that Anne had brought with her. She had hung back, looking mortified, while I lost my temper with Chloe.
“He doesn’t need more toys! Toys are a miserable substitute for something Lucas needs more desperately. A parent’s time and attention.Yourtime and attention.Yourlove.”
“Lucas doesn’t want my company. He’s told me so himself.”
“Well, he’s obviously not comfortable enough to tell you the truth. You’re always working.”
“Let me remind you that you’ve only been working with me for a day.”
“But I’ve seen your schedule. You work too much!”
“I will not discuss this anymore with you.”
“Well, I’ve only just begun, and I’m not going to stop.”
I froze. I wasn’t used to hearing anyone speak to me this way.
I took a single menacing step toward Chloe.
“Chloe, listen to me, and listen to me carefully,” I said, my voice low but savage. “Your job ends now. You will not work for me for one minute longer.”
I broke off when I noticed something odd. Chloe didn’t seem to care about what I was saying, but even more strangely, Lucas had a grin on his face.
I stepped back and surveyed that grin.