Page 54 of A Billionaire Gentleman

If I had to keep smiling at Mead, my face was going to crack. “Actually, there are some new toys in your room. Why don’t we go see who we have for you to play with?”

Mead and Ms. Stanton followed behind me as Dallas and I went to his room. As per Dallas’s request, I’d bought him a stuffed elephant, but right now, there was another stuffed animal getting all the attention.

“Horsey with a horn!” Dallas grabbed the unicorn from the bed and hugged it. “Look, Daddy! Horsey with a horn!”

“You bought him a fu– a unicorn?” Mead hissed, glaring at me. “I’m not going to let you turn my son into a pu…” He cleared his throat. “A wimp.”

If Ms. Stanton hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have chosen his words so carefully, and I hoped she realized that it wasn’t Dallas’s presence that had softened things.

“He saw one and asked me for it,” I said evenly. “I told you when he was born that I wasn’t going to do the ‘boy toys and girl toys’ thing.”

His hand started to rise, and for a moment, I thought he’d actually grab me in front of the caseworker. If I hadn’t been worried about how it’d affect Dallas, I might’ve tried to goad Mead into it. He caught himself, though, and dropped his hand.

“I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of parents who disagree on things like this,” he directed his statement to Ms. Stanton but didn’t take his eyes off me. “What their kids can and can’t play with.”

“I have.” Her gaze slid from him to me and then dropped to Dallas without another word.

I didn’t know if that meant she agreed with me or with Mead, but I was okay with that. If she was as unbiased as I hoped, this could go my way with less of a fight than I’d feared.

“You must’ve worked some serious overtime to afford all this,” Mead said as I sat down on the floor with Dallas. “I mean, the brand-new stuff. The second-hand crap is cheap.”

I had my back to Mead, but I didn’t need to see him to know how patronizing his expression was…or to know what he wasn’t saying. I didn’t respond, though. I hated not standing up to him, but this was one of those times that standing firm was a greater measure of character than if I started verbally sparring with him.

“I mean, there are always ways to supplement your income, right? What are some of the things your job offers?”

I sighed and stood. When I turned, I made sure my voice and expression were pleasant, no matter how much I was seething inside. “Ms. Stanton, I was going to let you know this before you left, but the present might be best so you can ask any questions you might have.”

Mead made a move like he was going to go around me to Dallas, and I took a half-step sideways. Maybe it was petty, but I wasn’t going to let him fill my son’s head with nonsense about me while he was in my own house.

“I’ve gotten a new job. Mrs. Islip already knows about it, and I have paperwork for both of you.”

Mead snorted a laugh, and I glared at him for a moment before going back to Ms. Stanton.

“I’m working as a personal assistant to Jude Holden of Holden Enterprises while he’s preparing to retire, at which point I’ll be moved to another position with equal or greater pay. I have full benefits, not only for me but for Dallas too. Medical, dental, and vision insurance.”

“‘Assistant?’ Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Mead sneered at me.

I was getting pretty good at ignoring him, especially considering how many years his had been the only voice I’d been allowed to have in my head. “I have copies of my contract, my insurance information, as well as a letter from my employer.”

Mead stepped closer to Ms. Stanton and lowered his voice as if he didn’t want Dallas to hear what he was about to say.

“I’d bet my pension that she’s shacking up with some guy and getting him to pay for stuff.”

“You’d lose that bet,” I said smoothly. “Mr. Holden is happily married.”

“Come on, you can’t think we’re that stupid. An old man looking for something on the side doesn’t care if he’s married.”

I shrugged. “It really doesn’t matter what you believe, Mead. The truth is, Jude Holden is a good man with a beautiful wife he adores. There has never nor will ever be anything sexual between Mr. Holden and myself. I trust that Ms. Stanton will do a thorough job of evaluating things.” I smiled at the caseworker. “Mrs. Islip asked me to let you know that she’s happy to share her findings with you if you want to reach out.”

A muscle in Mead’s jaw twitched, and I felt a flutter of fear before I pushed it down. I didn’t need to be scared of him anymore. With Jude’s money, I leveled the playing field, and I knew I could beat Mead on my own merits. Anything he did to me, I’d take straight to the cops and to Ms. Stanton. I knew how well he played people, but I also knew that I could get under his skin like no one else could. I just needed to bide my time until he made a mistake.

I could do this.

“Mommy, let’s play!”

Smiling, I turned back to my son and sat down next to him once more. Mead wasn’t going to take Dallas from me, and now I had the means to make that be the truth.

Thirty-Two

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