The Teacher

12: SKYLAR

"Mr. Styrke. What do you think about that?" Jonas, the spokesperson for the company Ahoy Anker, questions. I've been spacing out the entire meeting. My thoughts have been filled with Wren. I look over at Roxie, and she nods, answering for me.

Christ. I'm fucking screwed. It's been a week since I fucked Wren. I made myself clear that I would take her to the edge and not give her release. She wasn't too pleased with me and told me not to contact her. As much as I want to reach out to her, I will respect her wishes this once. That is a reward I can give her.

"Correct, Mr. Styrke?" Roxie raises an eyebrow at me. "Excuse us." She looks around the table. "Mr. Styrke, can I have a word with you in private?" She stands exiting the conference room, not waiting for a response. A catch few men's eyes widen at Roxy's behavior. I have dealt with this attitude for years, but no one has ever seen it happen.

I stand up, leave the conference room, and follow the scent of Roxy's perfume. My office door is open, and she is waiting inside. As I make my way inside, she closes the door and sighs deeply.

"Everything alright, Roxie?"

"That's what I should be asking you. You have been spacing out all week. Today's meeting is a huge one for the company." Her voice rises, and my jaw tightens.

"Let's remember who the boss is here. Watch your tone and check your attitude."

She scoffs. "I think you are forgetting you are the boss too."

"Roxie," I warn her. Where the hell is all this attitude coming from? This isn't like her. "Do you need to take time off?"

Slowly, she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and then exhales dramatically. I have been preoccupied with Wren when I'm not caring for my daughters. I don't recall anything happening to Roxie. It is not like she overshares her personal life with me, but nothing at work has happened from what I can remember. There had been no fire for her to put out.

"If you need time off, I can arrange for someone to take over your position temporarily." I move toward my desk and sit down. HR should have some candidates on file. Roxie is an essential person to this company and isn't someone we could afford to lose. "Take two weeks off—"

"I'm fine. It's you. Skylar, I don't know what is going on."

"It's my personal life. Of course, you won't know what's going on." I watch as every muscle in her face slowly forms a look of confusion. What I have with Wren is just between her and I. Roxie lets out a humorless laugh.

"Right. Let's draw up another contract with my specific job role and a different job title. Last I checked, I was your personal assistant. Keyword personal."

My office phone rings, and she moves quickly to answer it, putting it on speaker. "Mr. Sytrke's office."

"Hello, this is Wren Dunnigham. Gabriella and Isabella's teacher. Is Mr. Styrke available?"

I shake my head no.

"I'm sorry he isn't. Is everything okay with his daughters? Can I take a message for you?" Wren's background is full of children screaming and laughing.

"Right, please hold on." she pauses, and it sounds like the phone was dropped. "Penelope, you do not put glue on other people. Look, that is not a nice thing to do. Come with me, Callie."

Roxie and I stare at the phone for what seems like five minutes. The sounds of children screaming louder have me ready to end the call, but I'm intrigued to know what she wants.

"What does that say?" I hear a child's voice.

"Mr.IT? Is that like an alien?" Another child says. "Does Ms. Wren know aliens?"