Page 18 of Blurry Little Lines
“I haven’t hooked up with Priscilla in about eight months, half pint.” Slowly, she blinks, keeping her jaw firm. The turn of her head shoots me with a death glare. Oh, shit.
“Standing in the office of a billion-dollar marketer is not the place for a childhood nickname,” Kelsie says through gritted teeth. She glances past me, scared, because God forbid someone hears her being addressed informally.
“Damn,Office Kelsieis feisty,” I say, poking the bear because sometimes I can be an annoying dick, but she knows that.
“Office Kelsiehas work to be done.” Her expression remains as sharp as her sass.
“You didn’t care about work when I first arrived.” I lean against the door with a sly grin, picturing her arms tied behind the chair as I shut her sassy mouth up with my cock.
Control your fucking self, Max.
“You’re right.” She sits straighter and squares her tiny shoulders. “How careless and irresponsible of me. Two words I refuse to keep in my vocabulary.”
“Oh, believe me, I know your view on acting responsible.” Which is why she graduated top of the class in high schoolanduniversity. She really takes advantage of her type-A self to be a perfectionist.
“Office Kelsie would like to get her shit done so she can arrive home on time to bake cookies with her children.” She clears her throat and reaches for her glasses.
“Be sure to bring some over to Adam’s tonight.” I bite back a smirk.
“I would rather send the kids over there for the night after I let them eat all the cookies.” She attempts to keep her mad tone, but I know my boyish grin is my saving grace. It works every time.
“Hey, if you need them gone totake care of yourselfproperly, just say so.” I watch her blush as she remembers what she admitted the other night. “I’ll even turn on a white noise machine to block out the scream.”
“I don’t scream.” Her eyes roll as her blush reddens with her admittance.
“Then you’re not doing it properly.”
“I’m about to call security to escort you out.” God, she needs to loosen up.
I could help with that.
“I’m gone,” I sigh and walk out, but not before poking my head back into her office for one more taunt. “Do you mind if I do office rounds to see if anyone needs a ‘pick me up’?” I dodge the pen thrown like a dart at me and head back to Adam’s penthouse.
Chapter 9
Kelsie
“You have to be a better mother,” I whisper to myself as I change out of my work clothing and into shorts and a designer hoodie.
The past few weeks I have been short with my children, and it’s not their fault. I need to get myself in check. Between work and single parenting, I am starting to get burnt out. I glance at the pile of laundry in the corner and tell myself I can do it tomorrow. Some elites have called me a useless billionaire. What they don’t realize is that I am not self-made to that extent. This is my family’s money and I am fortunate to be born into it, but that doesn’t mean I’m not capable of showing my kids that money doesn’t need to buy convenience.
Hiring a maid would come in handy, someone to buy my groceries, or a private personal chef to cook dinner every night. I’m equipped to do those things as well. Single parents do it all the time. I know it will also build character for my children, seeing me do the same tasks I watched my mother do. Only I don’t have a supportive husband to take some stress of the chores off me. With a deep breath and forced smile, I walk into the kitchen as Mallory and James sport guilty looks and mouths full of chocolate chips.
“How do they taste?” I laugh and give them their least expected reaction of me. “Can you see if you can toss one into my mouth?”
“Open up.” Mallory laughs and throws a chocolate chip my way. “One more, try!” She leans closer, and I’m able to catch it.
“Perfect throw, Mal.” I head to the cupboard and take out the needed baking materials. “Who’s ready to make the best chocolate chip cookies ever?” The lingering moment with Max at the office still plays in the back of my mind, but I keep myself busy with upbeat music playing throughout the kitchen.
The kids each take a cookie before the tray is completely cooled, and I have pizza arriving any minute. A roof of sheets and blankets covers our heads as we hang out in our fort. I’ve dedicated tonight to being completely present and interacting with them on their level. Tonight, it is all about letting them call the shots and telling me what they need. The past few weeks have been nothing short of going through the motions with school, work, and Mallory’s swim team.
“I think we should sleep in here tonight,” Mallory suggests.
“You have school tomorrow, babe.” I crush her dreams. “On the weekend we can, okay?” She smiles as a knock echoes from the door.
“I’ll get it!” Mallory bolts out of the tent to open the door. “Uncle Adam!” She jumps into my brother’s arms, and they do their usual routine; he picks her up above his head and spins her around before doing the same to James.
“Hey, kiddos. I came to say goodbye for a few days.” Adam walks through the entryway. “Cool fort.”