✧TOGETHER FOREVER✧ ✓

9 ¶¶ CO-PARENTING [edited]

~*~
JAYDEN

I checked my watch impatiently. 7:19 p.m. Where is Ashley?I paced, then clumsily sat back in my seat.

She better not be playing games me with me.

Knock knock.

"Come in."

Jin opened the door, and Ashley was right behind him.

She was wearing a black suit (I could never get used to the fact that she always wears suits). Her hair was tied in a bun, and my fingers itched to loosen it.

I dismissed Jin, and Ashley stood at the entrance, giving me a blank expression.

Okay, so we're just going to stare at each other until I start the conversation.

"You said you'd be here by seven."

"I never said that," she replied coolly as she walked over and took a seat. "I told you to be here by 7. I apologize if I kept you waiting. I needed to drop Jordan off."

"Drop her off? Where?" I asked.

"That is none of your business, Jayden. I'm her mother, and I don't think I would put my daughter in harm's way." She said, her face void of emotion.

None of my business???We're talking about my kid - I think.

"What did you want to talk about, work or...?"

"Jordan is your daughter." She stated simply.

Well, that was unexpected.

So it is true.

A mixture of happiness, anger, and hurt hit me all at once.

"Why didn't you tell me when you found out?"

"I didn't think it was necessary," she shrugged.

"You didn't think it was necessary?" My voice grew louder. "We had a child together, and you didn't think it was necessary to tell me?"

She looked at me like she could kill me.

"You left, Jayden. No explanations, nothing. So, please, tell me-if you were in my shoes, what would you do?"

"You should've told me. I would've..."

"Would've what? Come back to me because you pitied me? I didn't want that. I know firsthand what happens when you force a guy to take responsibility for his kid. Believe it or not, you would have been a terrible father to Jordan," she snapped.

I gritted my teeth and stood up in anger. "You don't know that. She's my daughter, and you had no right to hide her from me or lie to my face that she isn't mine."

She stood up and looked me in the eye. "Don't ever talk to me like that, Jayden." Then, breaking eye contact, she continued, "You know, I came here to talk to you about how we can co-parent, thinking you would listen," she scoffed. "I never learn. I'm so stupid." She began to walk away from me.

"Damn it!" I called after her.

As expected, she slammed the door in my face.

"Ugh!" I slammed my fist onto the table.

Jin burst into my office. "Sir, Ms. Brown seemed offended when she left. Should I send her flowers?"

I shot him a death stare, and he scrambled out of my office. I messed up big time.

~*~

ASHLEY

I can't believe him, such a jerk. It's been almost 24 hours, and I can't get our conversation out of my head.