Page 20 of The Stranger

The knot loosens immediately. The kind of things I whispered to her last night won’t be found in any curriculum.

“I know you’re an idiot,” my son crows, dragging my attention his way.

“I said you are an idiot!” Sylvie yells in my ear. “A big stupid idiot!”

“You are the one who wanted ice cream for breakfast.” Felix dives under the water.

“I did not. I did not. I did not!” Her final bellow coincides with Felix breaking the water.

“Enough!” I yell, then regret it immediately as Sylvie stiffens. I set her down on the ground. “Felix, get out of the pool,” I command, employing a little tone regulation.

“C’est des conneries.” I ignore my son’s muttered curse as he slaps the water’s surface.

“You shouted.” My daughter turns her reproaching gaze my way.

“Yes, I did.” I brush her damp hair from her forehead.

“You never shout.” Tears brim at her lids.

“Everyone shouts sometimes.” I can feel my blood bubbling, and my cock is confused. “Go and shower. Get dressed, then we’ll eat ice cream together.”

“Before dinner?” She eyes me suspiciously.

“Of course, if you don’t want to…”

“No—yes. Last one to get dressed is a loser!” She peels away as Felix clambers out of the pool after her.

“No running on the tile,” Jacques says from behind. I’d forgotten he was here. “I’ll go…” Behind me, his shoes scuffle. I hear the door closes. And now we’re alone, staring at each other over the pool.

“Bloody hell,” the woman mutters, pushing a wayward lock from her face.

“You,” I command, pointing an angry finger her way. I’m angry that she’s here. Angry with my warring children. But most of all, I’m angry at my body’s continued reaction to her. “My office. Now.”

7

LUC

“C’est le bordel.” My hand twinges suddenly, so I loosen the vise-like grip on the door handle before realizing the manila folder Jacques handed me moments ago is receiving the same treatment.

“What’s a shit show?” Jacques’s tone is carefully low, though not out of deference to me. It’s not to protect my children’s sensibilities either, given they’re upstairs with one of the maids. “What the hell is going on?”

“That’s what I’m about to find out,” I retort. “And after I’ve dealt with it, you and I are going to discuss how the hell this happened.” Not that there will be much to discuss except perhaps how his ineptitude contributed to his dismissal because he’s definitely fired.

“How what happened?”

I glower as my grip tightens once more on the handle.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you right, but you know this isn’t right.”

“You are telling me?” I explode.

“Whatever the issue is, she’s only been in the house for five minutes. What kind of⁠—”

“Five minutes is four minutes too fucking long.” I glance back his way. “Why are you hovering?”

“I’m coming in.” He nods toward the door. “You need me in there. For protection, if nothing else.”

An unhappy laugh rattles out of me. “It’s a little too late for that.”