Page 29 of Don't Fall for the Billionaire
“Have a seat.” He gestured. “What is this about?” He leaned against his desk in front of me, crossing his arms.
“You left this morning and didn’t say goodbye to Eloise.”
“And? There are plenty of mornings I have to be at the office before she wakes up.”
“But she was already up when you left. You couldn’t take two seconds and say goodbye to her?”
“What the hell is this about?” His eye steadily narrowed. “You’ve worked for me for almost two weeks, and you think you can storm in here and question my parenting?” he snapped. “You don’t understand, Charlotte. I’m doing this for her. The extra hours, the travel, and early meetings. It’s all so she can have a better future and won’t have to worry about money.”
“She’s eight years old, Ashton. She doesn’t need a better future right now. She needs her father right now.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” He turned away and sat behind his desk. “You don’t have the pressure I have. The company, the deadlines, closing deals, and the task of being a father on top of it all.”
“Stop, Ashton.” I raised my hand. “Just stop. Excuses are easy to make. And that is what you’re doing. You’re always going out, you barely see her, let alone spend any time with her. She’s your flesh and blood, whether you like it or not. I actually apologized to her for you not saying good morning before you left, and you know what she said?”
“What?”
“She said she’s used to it. There’s nothing worse than not feeling loved by your parent.”
He rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. “You listen to me. You have a job to do, not sit here and criticize my parenting skills.”
“I only criticize what I see.”
“It’s none of your damn business what I do. I hired you to look after Eloise for me when I’m unavailable.”
“You’re always unavailable.”
“And that is none of your concern,” he shouted, pointing his finger at me. “Your only concern is Eloise.”
“And that’s why I felt the need to voice my opinion of your shitty fathering skills.”
God, I shouldn’t have said that, but it just came flying out of my mouth.
“We’re done here. Go.” He pointed to the door.
I slowly walked to the door, placed my hand on the handle, and turned around.
“I would have given anything to have gotten to know my father before he died. That’s all Eloise wants. You make her feel like a burden, and you suck!” I walked out.
I stared at the pretty girl sitting behind her desk, who was staring at me.
“You must be Lila. I’m Charlotte, the new nanny.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Charlotte.” She smiled. “Everything okay in there?” She pointed to Ashton’s office.
“Just Ashton being Ashton.”
“Ah.” She nodded.
Chapter Twelve
Ashton
The nerve of that woman. I stood from my desk and walked out of my office.
“Did she leave?” I asked Lila.
“Yes, she did.” She grinned.
