“I’m… working on it.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means the idea has merit. I might have a candidate in mind.” And after this debacle with Atlas, I needed to put the plan into action immediately. How would Jessa take it?
“Who?”
“No one you know. Don’t worry. I have it under control.”
“Fine. But if whoever this mystery lady is doesn’t take the deal, you call me and my team will find you the most classy, sophisticated, perfect woman to be at your side through thick and thin… or at least through the IPO.” He chortled and left my office.
I spent the rest of the afternoon pretending spreadsheets could drown out thoughts of one curvaceous blonde.
Hours later,when I finally resurfaced from under the pile of work I’d buried myself in, the moon shone outside my office windows.
“Shit.” Way past Theo’s bedtime. Way past when I told Jessa we’d talk. I rushed home as fast as I could. I texted on the way with no response.
When I got there, I’d expected Jessa to be waiting, pissed even, that I’d left her hanging with Theo all night long. Why didn’t she text me to see if I was still alive and makingan appearance tonight? Her communication skills lacked; something we’d have to work on.
Only when I opened the door, I realized why I hadn’t heard from her. Atlas greeted me from my plush couch in my expansive living room with a “Shh…” and pointed at his side.
I scowled and kicked off my shoes, hanging my jacket in the coat closet. I expected to see Jessa on the couch beside him. Instead, as I got closer, I realized it was Theo. He snoozed away with his head against Atlas’s shoulder.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered.
“I stopped by and had dinner with Theo and Jessa. She looked tired, so I let her go home. Theo and I watched the game together.” He turned off the TV.
I gently shook my little boy. “Wake up, buddy. Time for bed.”
“Daddy? Who won the game?” He stirred and rubbed his eyes.
“Not the Ice Dogs,” Atlas muttered.
“Go brush your teeth. I’ll be back there shortly to tuck you in.” I waited until Theo treaded down the hall and into the bathroom before I turned on Atlas.
“Wish you had texted to tell me you were letting my employee go home.”
“I figured Jessa did.” He stood and stretched his limbs.
“Nope. Would have been nice if one of you had kept me in the loop,” I snarled and then rolled my shoulders. I desperately needed a massage.
“Jesus, dude. Theo was home and well-cared for. You had nothing to worry about. Then again, you’ve always been a little too controlling for my tastes. Like Dad.”
He actually believed I took after our asshole of a father?
“Don’t compare me to him. You can spend time with Theo as much as you want. I’ll deal with Jessa tomorrow. I insist on lines of communication staying open; that’s all.”
“Don’t fire her over it. She’s really good with Theo. And man, can she make one helluva pot of macaroni and cheese with hot dogs in it. Reminds me of the dish Sophie’s mom used to make us. Remember the old days before money ruined us all?”
A pang of jealousy hit me. Over the fact he got a good batch of homemade noodles—or because he was here with Jessa and my son when I should have been?
“I’m just saying, go easy on her. You got lucky to find and hire a good nanny, for once.”
“I didn’t exactly find her.” I scratched the back of my neck, debating about sharing. “We sort of… met up this summer.”
He jerked his head back, side-eyeing me. “No wonder you’re possessive of her.”
“I’m not.”
