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I looked away, a faint smile coming onto my lips.
“You have a really nice smile, Derek.”
“Take a picture. It’ll last longer.” I turned back to her, the smile gone.
But she still wore hers. “I’m excited to read your new pages.”
“Really?” I glanced at the pile of marked-up pages. “Because it looks like you demolished the previous ones.”
“Think about it this way. The only reason someone gives you suggestions for improvement is because they believe you’re capable of taking the criticism and rising to your potential. When someone says nothing, that’s because they don’t believe you capable of being better than what you already are. So, it’s a compliment.”
It was the first time I’d ever heard anything like that—and it made complete sense. With my students, I asked them to step aside so we could discuss their failures and how to turn them into successes. It was because I believed in every single one of them, wanted to prepare them for their future endeavors and make sure they didn’t repeat my mistakes. I treated them the way my father treated me.
“You know, Derek…” She dropped her gaze for a moment, losing her confidence for the first time. “I really like you as a person, and I would love it if we could—”
Someone knocked on the door consecutively for ten seconds. “Babe?”
The relaxed state I’d been in was immediately shattered by the sound of her obnoxious voice. I drank my beer to swallow the pill of self-hatred, because her presence in my life, again, was entirely my fault. “Fuck.”
Emerson cleared her throat then gathered her things. “I’ll get out of your hair.”
I was just going to tell Fleur to leave, but that conversation probably wouldn’t go over smoothly, because that woman couldn’t see reason. Emerson probably should dismiss herself, so she didn’t have to see the soap opera about to take place.
Fleur knocked again. “I know you’re home, Derek.”
How? I walked across the living room and opened the door, so pissed off that her perfect hair, makeup, and body had no effect on me. “Fleur, I’m busy right now—”
“Who the fuck is this bitch?” She stormed past me into the penthouse, her hands moving to her hips and staring Emerson down like she would blow her to pieces if she had the nuclear codes.
I closed my eyes in humiliation because I couldn’t believe this was happening. I turned around. “Fleur—”
“This bitch is gonna kick your ass if you call me that again.” Emerson stood with her big purse over her shoulder, staring Fleur down without a hint of intimidation. She stood her ground and looked like someone who knew how to throw a good punch.
Fleur was all talk, so she turned back to me. “What the hell, Derek?”
“Her name is Emerson, and she’s my assistant.” I stepped closer to her. “Don’t call her that again. This isn’t a high school locker room, Fleur. You have beauty, but definitely not class.”
Fleur’s eyes were wide and furious.
“You should leave—”
She slapped me across the face.
Now, Emerson got involved. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” She actually stood in front of me and faced off with her, like I was something worth protecting. “You can’t treat him like that.”
I needed a second to get the stars out of my vision before I gently grabbed Emerson by the elbow and pulled her behind me. “Emerson, it’s alright.” I turned my back to Fleur, feeling the instant swelling of my cheek because she’d hit me so hard. There would probably still be a mark tomorrow. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Uh, no,” Fleur said. “Her ass is fired.”
“Bitch, he writes my checks,” Emerson fired back. “Not you.”
My hand moved to her back, and I escorted her to the door, getting her into the hallway so the two women couldn’t see each other. I shut the door behind me and breathed a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry about that, Emerson.” It was humiliating, to say the least. I ran my fingers through my hair and looked at the floor.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You deserve better, Derek. A lot better.”
I kept my eyes on the carpeted floor. “We aren’t serious, despite the way she behaves.”
“Doesn’t matter. You can have any woman you want, Derek. It makes no sense to spend time with someone who doesn’t respect you.”
I lifted my chin and looked into her face, saw the genuine concern in her eyes. It wasn’t because I paid her to care. That was just the kind of person she was. It made me realize I had been harsh with her when it wasn’t necessary. “I ended things a while ago, then we bumped into each other…and the whole thing started again.”
“I mean, she’s gorgeous. I get your infatuation.”
“I’m not infatuated. It’s just physical.”
“Well, she wants it to be more, and she’s willing to do anything to make that happen. It’s your choice, Derek. But I stand by what I said. You deserve someone who respects you. That’s the most important thing in a relationship, if you ask me.” She turned away and walked down the hallway before she got in the elevator.
