Lena doesn’t look up when she senses Dallas’s presence in the doorway, instead choosing to focus on the spreadsheet in front of her until she hears the two words she has been waiting to hear all afternoon. Lena is aware of the troublemaker shifting, taking several long moments to actually step inside and shuffle across the study.

Dallas hovers awkwardly in front of the desk, the courage to finally apologize to Mommy not quite locating her tongue. She huffs, clasping her hands in front of her, before sighing and clasping them behind her back instead— fidgety in the face of possible discipline from the woman who so regularly adds a little color to her behind.

“If you’re not here to apologize, then I suggest you go back to the corner until Mommy calls for you,” Lena murmurs, glancing over the top of her reading glasses. She purses her lips, emerald eyes severe, unwilling to back down after the morning they’ve had. Lena catches sight of a trembling lower lip and sighs, pushing her glasses up to rest in her hair.

“This was your idea, darling. You were the one who wanted to invite her.” Lena raises her brows, “You said you wanted to meet the person that Mommy is dating.” That’s the only reason we invited her for dinner.” She waits for the brat to respond, to perhaps explain herself, but trembling lips remain squeezed firmly closed.