Page 68 of The Sacrifice
“I’ll take Hadley home so you can talk in private. I don’t want to intrude.” She wipes her hands on her jeans, and anger surges through me. No one gets to make Mia feel inferior.
Spencer steps onto the elevator and holds his hand in front of the sensor, keeping it open. When I don’t make a move to follow him, he arches an eyebrow. “Well?”
“Come with me to Spencer’s office.” I grab her shoulder. “There’s nothing he’s going to say that isn’t your business also.” She nods and follows me onto the elevator.
We’re silent as we ascend to his floor and down the hallway to his office. When we step inside, Spencer snaps the door shut. I hand Hadley to Mia and rest my hands on my hips.
“Listen, I’m not trying to be a dick.” He unbuttons his suit coat as he walks across the floor and stands behind his desk, “I work for you, so you can fire me at any time.”
“Yes, I can.” My jaw flexes.
“In most instances, I wouldn’t care who you’re screwing, but I’m a father now and I take children’s custody situations seriously. This is your child and her future happiness we’re talking about.”
“I understand that. I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her future.”
“I’m not implying that you are.”
“You appear to be.”
“I’m not saying this to be rude or insulting. But like in divorce proceedings, a child custody suit is the same.” He pulls out his chair and motions for us to have a seat. “Go ahead and sit down, we might as well be comfortable, and this will ensure there’s a large piece of furniture between us.”
“I’m okay.” Mia remains standing at the door as she shifts from one foot to the other.
I walk over to her and cup her cheek. Her eyes are wild, as if she’s ready to bolt. “There’s no reason to be upset. Everything is fine.” I stroke my thumb along her flesh. “Okay?”
“Okay.” Her bottom lip trembles, and I ache to pull them both into my arms and hold them tight. Hadley whimpers in her arms as Mia bounces her up and down on her hip.
If they both cry, I’m kicking his ass.
“Now, let’s sit down and talk about this like adults.”
A slow smile curves up both her cheeks. “You’ve really taken to this mature, adult role, haven’t you?”
I wink. “I grew up when you weren’t looking.” I brush my lips along her cheek. “I love you. He’s just doing his job.”
She licks her lips and bites the bottom one. “I know that, but he’s got a lot of legal knowledge. What if what he says is something we don’t want to hear, but he’s right?”
“He’s a guy who puts his pants on one leg at a time.” I spin on my heel. “Let’s hear what he has to say before we fire him.”
Once we’re settled across from him, Spencer lays his forearms on the desk. “This is a serious relationship?”
“Yes.” I dare him to imply anything less.
“And you’re fine with me saying whatever needs to be said in front of her?”
Mia kisses Hadley’s cheek and bounces her up and down to keep the threatening tears at bay.
“Within reason. If you make either of my girls upset or insult either of them, I can’t make any guarantees to whether your teeth will remain in your mouth.”
“My wife and kids like my teeth.”
“I’m sure they do.”
He inhales. “In these cases, it is generally better if the petitioning party remains above reproach. That means no sex, no dating, no relationships, and no negative comments on social media. No nothing until the court case is resolved. You can’t risk your child’s future on fleeting emotions or physical desires. You have a child, and she must come first.”
Mia’s hand grips the chair arm, digging into the black leather. “He’s right. You can’t do anything to hurt your chances of getting full custody of Hadley. This is her future we’re talking about. And Roxanne’s already threatening to take her.”
“No.” My stomach cramps until it feels like a foreign creature will burst out of it.