“Your daddy and I are good friends. I care about you and him so much.”
“But you had a sleepover?”
I drop my head forward between my shoulders. Part of me feels like this is something her father should discuss with her, especially since he didn’t seem to mind her seeing us. But then again, I’m the other part of this equation.
“How about your daddy talks to you tonight and you can ask him all the questions you want about it?”
She cocks her head to the side, and I’m fully prepared to bribe her, but she shrugs and says, “Okay.”
If only if it were that easy to convince Graham…
Eleanor can barely keep her eyes open after our late lunch. The two hours we spent in the pool completely wore her out.
She’s snoring softly before I even finish one book. She looks like a little angel. I tuck her in and plant a soft kiss on her head as I tiptoe out of her room just as my phone buzzes.
I pull it out and slide the screen open to see a text from Shelly. I smile as I click the image attached to the message. It takes up my entire screen.
Shelly: Greetings from Mexico, bitches!
It’s her and Hank, their sunburned faces smooshed together as they hold up brightly colored cocktails that are overflowing with fruit.
I don’t know the details about this getaway, but they look incredibly happy. Honestly, with how in love they are, I wouldn’t be shocked if she came back with a ring on her finger.
I send back a kissy emoji and wish them all the fun. A slight tinge of jealousy shoots through my chest but I ignore it.
I head downstairs to clean up Eleanor’s lunch mess and make myself a cup of tea. A few cozy episodes of Schitt’s Creek are in order to help cheer me up.
I’m reaching for a tea bag when I see something drop onto the counter out of the corner of my eye. I glance to my right and see Miss Perry casually strolling past me.
“I believe those are yours.” She spins around to face me, her eyebrow arched almost comically high.
I look at the measly scrap of material on the counter.
“No, afraid not.”
“You sure? I found them while tidying up Mr. Hayes’ office this morning.”
“I’m positive. There’s a little more material to my underwear and I don’t own any in a bright red like that.”
My stomach tightens. I don’t know what kind of game she’s trying to play, but I’m not in the mood for it. I turn my attention back to the box of tea, pulling out a bag and placing the box back in the cabinet.
“Oh, silly me, they must be—” Her words trail off. I turn back around to see what she’s up to. She grabs them, a smile on her lips as she stuffs them in her pocket.
“Dear me, I guess you’re right. I should have looked closer.” She shakes her head with a skin-crawling laugh before muttering under her breath… “I would have recognized them as my own.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yes?”
“What did you just say?”
She waves a hand at me like I’m an insignificant nuisance and I snap. I slam my hands down on the counter and shout, “What? If you have something to say to me, Fiona, then say it!” I make sure to use her name just to turn the knife a little.
She scowls at me before her stoic mask slips back into place. “Why, whatever do you mean?”
I laugh out of frustration. “Seriously? Don’t you ever get tired of playing this twisted game? It’s exhausting, honestly. You have had animosity toward me since the moment I met you and I did nothing wrong. I’ve been polite and respectful.”
“Respectful?” She spits the word out in mockery.
“Yes, I’ve been respectful.”
“You call parading around here, throwing yourself at Mr. Hayes respectful? Lying across his desk spread-eagle?”
I laugh. “That is none of your business and when did I ever throw myself at him? That’s your thing. And last time I checked, he was a pretty willing participant in me being ‘spread-eagle’ on his desk.”
Her face grows red and her hands curl into tight balls. “I tried to warn you, you will never be the woman he needs. You’re just a silly little girl.”
“Oh, and let me guess. You are the woman he needs? Well, isn’t that convenient.” I shake my head and turn to leave. “Forget the tea, I’m done with this.”
“I was the woman he needed. I was there for him when his wife died.” She points her finger at her chest dramatically every time she says the word I. “I was the woman that held him when he was grieving, when he was at his lowest. And I was the woman who he came to for physical release and intimacy.”
I shake my head. No, this can’t be happening. He said—
“Oh yes, little Margot.” She steps closer, her menacing eyes boring into mine and I know she’s eating this up. “He’s been in my bed too.”
My stomach lurches and I feel like I’m about to lose my lunch on the kitchen floor. I’m in total shock.
“I—I don’t understand.”
Our interaction is interrupted when a clueless Graham comes waltzing through the kitchen door.
“Afternoon, ladies. Thought I’d come home for lunch and finish the workday here.”
He gives Miss Perry a curt nod and turns to me with a quick smile before grabbing the refrigerator handle.
My face must look like I feel because he spins back around to me. “What’s wrong, Margot?”
“You slept with her?” My voice is shaky with emotion as I point my finger toward Miss Perry.
His eyes dart from me to her, then back to me, his skin going pale. I don’t need him to confirm it; it’s written all over his face.
“How could you? When? You said—” The words catch in my throat and I feel like I’m about to hyperventilate.
“It was years ago; it meant nothing, Margot. A mistake.” I see him flash an angry look toward Miss Perry.
“It certainly didn’t seem like it,” she snips and he shouts at her.
“Leave the fucking room!”
He doesn’t have to tell her twice; she stiffens before quickly exiting.
“Margot, please—” He reaches out for me, but I step back, recoiling.
“I asked you point blank and you lied to me. I gave you an opportunity to be honest with me.”
He opens his mouth and then closes it again. “Technically I didn’t lie because you asked if there was ever a relationship between her and me. There wasn’t. It was one time and I wanted to forget it happened.”
I shake my head. “You fucking asshole.” Tears start to fall.
“Margot, baby, please. I was wrong and I’m sorry I kept it from you. I fucked up.”
“You knew that’s why she hates me. When I brought it up the other day you acted like I was making it up. I heard you guys talking a while back and she was telling you to fire me, that she didn’t trust me. You know that’s why she didn’t call me back after my first interview. You knew all that!”
“Now, Margot, please. You’re making accusations. Let’s focus on the issue at hand. Don’t blow this out of proportion.”
I can feel the anger radiating off my body. I can’t look at him right now.