Billy, I ..." She stopped short as she reached the open office door, the eyes that met her gaze surprising her. She smiled warmly as she walked past the table and closer to the desk. "I didn't know she was here." Her shoulder tilted back towards Katie.
"Well she is." His tone was short and curt, as it almost always was with her lately. He blamed her for Victoria's situation, for the charges, for the denied bail, for all of it. "Now you know." Billy's eyes narrowed as he waited for her to react. "And I can't imagine you'd have the gall to say anything about it because if it wasn't for ..."
"Billy ..." She held up her hand to stop him. The last thing she wanted was to go yet another round with him today. "Of course not. It's fine. Whatever you need. I was just coming to make sure you had everything you needed for this afternoon." The blank look on his face spoke volumes. "The marketing meeting with the new ..."
"Damn it!" He slammed the file down on his desk as he ran his hand roughly across his face. Katie's wide eyes peered at him from behind Phyllis' back.
"Daddy," she said quietly, "Mommy says ..."
"Mommy's right. It's not a nice word. I'm sorry. I shouldn't say it."
"Grandpa still says it sometimes too." Katie shrugged as she resumed her place at the table.
"I'm guessing that response means you forgot." Phyllis sighed and rocked back on her heels. "I really need you at that meeting, Billy. Jabot needs you at that meeting."
"Well unless it's gonna be kid friendly, I just don't see any way I can make arrangements for anyone to keep her on this kind of notice. Jack and Kerry are out of town and ..."
She knew he wanted to throw it in her face again, the fact that he deemed all of this to be her fault, but he somehow managed to stop himself. "She can stay with me," she offered.
He froze, the look on his face vaguely incredulous. "No," he answered flatly, "not a good idea."
"I know it doesn't thrill you." She lowered her voice as she leaned further across the desk, "since you seem to think I'm the devil incarnate, but I'm pretty much the only option right now. You know as well as I do that it's absolutely crucial for Jabotiques that we land this deal. If we don't ..."
A momentary flash of something akin to agreement passed across his face before the doubt settled there again.
"Honestly, Billy!" she hissed, "what do you think I'm gonna do? I would never hurt Katie. You know that. You know me."
The silence was about more than this decision. So much weight was behind the words, the anger, the veiled shots they took every chance they could.
"I used to think so," he whispered. It wasn't anger in his voice then. This was resignation - maybe even sadness.
She watched him intensely as he moved to step out in front of her.
"Hey, Katie."
She smiled as she watched him kneel down beside the round table.
"Daddy has to go to a really big important meeting, but you're gonna stay here with Phyllis. Is that okay?"
Katie nodded before he moved to straighten again. Their eyes met for only a fraction of a second before he moved past her again and resumed his position behind the desk. "I guess I better look over my talking points." It was all business again, the moment from before long gone. "I'll drop her off in your office before I leave."
There was another moment of silent stillness. She watched as he finally lifted his head, his eyes looking at, but not into, hers. "So unless you need something else ..." He gestured to the stack of papers on his desk, his suggestion quite clear.
"No. I don't," she answered quickly. "I'll leave you to it." She turned and smiled towards Katie, who still drew happily, her teeth chewing lightly at her bottom lip in fixed concentration. "I'll see you in a bit."