“And did he say why?”
“Said he happened to be there.”
Jason snorted. “I’m sure. Definitely the cookie type.” He sighed. “Had you met him before?”
That was my cue to start with the lies.
“No. He said he was a friend of your father’s, though. And that he’d known you since you were a kid.”
“Something like that,” he said. “He’s…a big name in one of the divisions of my company. Actually, he founded the company with my father.”
“Is that right?” More lies, of course.
“Mhmm.” Jason glanced away, and I could tell he was trying to figure out just how much information to reveal in the same way I was.
“And…you don’t want him talking to Willa? Why not?”
Another lie, one I hoped might throw him off the scent—if he’d picked it up, that is.
“It’s…complicated. Work-related matters.”
“Anything I need to know about?”
More consideration before he spoke. “No. I’m going to be putting some distance between Anton and myself as I make some business adjustments.” Jason stopped, wrapping his hand around his coffee mug and glancing aside. “But you lost Willa. That’s what I’m most concerned about.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not going to make up an excuse for what happened. I was careless, and she got away from me.”
Jason locked his eyes onto mine, the blue so piercing and bright that it seemed he might be able to look right into my thoughts to tell if I was lying.
“It’s fine. Willa has a tendency to pull stunts like that, so I’m not surprised. But you came clean with me right away, and you didn’t attempt to spin up some bullshit story about why it wasn’t your fault. That goes a long way with me.”
Total relief. I was glad at my decision to do the right thing.
“Go up and get Willa. Tell her it’s time for homework before dinner.”
I nodded and then got up and began to head out.
“April,” he said.
I stopped in my tracks and turned. “Yes?”
“Good work so far. She can be a handful, but I can see you’re up to the task.”
I smiled in spite of the fear still running through me. “Thanks.”
I left. I should’ve been happy, glad that I’d been able to please the boss.
But all I could think about was what a liar I was. And whether or not it was only a matter of time before he found out.