Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
This time, Kristie leaps to her feet.
“You are a fucking douche,” she spits. “I’m sorry that I ever forgot it! I’m through with this conversation, and don’t talk to me ever again. I’ll send you my lawyer’s contact info and you can talk to her.”
Then, she makes to stomp out, but at the last minute, remembers that her son’s in an adjoining room. She whirls on her feet and stomps in there instead, shutting the door behind her.
I sag on the couch, suddenly feeling defeated. Oh fuck. How have we made such a fucking mess of the situation? We can’t even talk for five seconds without fighting because we’ve fucked up so much ... and despite it all, I still want the curvy girl with all of my heart.
12
Kristie
Iscrub my fist angrily at the tears on my cheeks. How in the world does Nick Bradley do this to me? I’m hurt, livid, and terrified all at once because I have no control over the situation. Nick hasn’t contacted me since the day he met his son, but I’m expecting the worst. Now that the billionaire knows Riley exists, it’s just a matter of time before he claims the boy as his ... permanently, this time.
My heart squeezes and then shudders because I’m frightened. Riley is everything to me, and I’ll move heaven and earth to make sure my son gets everything he needs. But this situation goes beyond material needs. I’m terrified that Nick Bradley will wrest the child from my arms, and that I’ll have no way to fight back. What happens then? Will I only see Riley on weekends? School holidays? Riley is only a baby, and it seems cruel to separate a young child from his mother. Yet I know Nick’s capable of such depravities. He’s risen far in the business world because of his ruthless practices and take-no-prisoners approach, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he sees Riley as just another asset under his control.
But this isn’t about assets, property, nor dollars and cents, at least not anymore. This is about a baby, and I let out a half-sob while dialing my friend Angela in Texas.
“Hey babe,” she says while picking up. Then her expression scrunches up with consternation. “Are you okay, Kris? What’s wrong?”
“Everything,” I blubber. “I can’t even explain.”
“Shh, it’s okay,” Angie soothes. “Tell me everything.”
In halting terms, I recount what’s happened since we last spoke.
“So Nick knows about Riley,” my buddy says in a low voice.
“Yes, the cat’s out of the bag,” I say in a sorrowful tone. “What were the chances? I mean, of all the auctions in Vegas, he had to come to mine! Nick doesn’t even live in Vegas, so I just don’t get how this could have happened. The probability must be one in a million.”
“Yeah, and he came with your stepdad too,” she murmurs. “I’d think they’d be mortal enemies.”
“No, they’re not. Besides, Steve is getting old, and I think Nick wants to keep things positive as Steve enters his twilight years.”
“Okay, that kind of makes sense,” Angie says in a thoughtful tone. “But it’s been a week now since Nick met the baby, right? Has he contacted you since then?”
“No, and this is the weirdest part. I thought Nick was going to go ballistic, and snatch Riley from my arms. I was seriously ready to call the police if that happened. But yeah, after I went back into the baby’s room, Nick got a call. I could hear it through the walls, and then he rushed out.”
“Okay, so it sounds like he had an emergency,” Angie muses.
I let out a deep, shuddering exhale.
“I guess so. But I know he’ll be back. That man isn’t going to walk away from his son.”
“Or from you,” Angie adds. “I think that man’s addicted to you, hon. He doesn’t seem to be able to let you go.”
“What do you mean?” I ask in a slow voice. “Nick hates me, Ang, so if you mean ‘addicted’ in the sense that someone’s addicted to drugs or violence, then okay, yeah I guess. Besides, it’s been two years. He definitely let me go.”
“No, no,” Angie muses, her pretty features thoughtful. “I think you’re under Nick’s skin, that’s all. I mean, he’s wanted you since you were seventeen and just a young girl. You’re what now? Twenty-two? Twenty-three? So it’s been six years, and your stepbrother’s still hot on your tail. That’s a long time, Kris. This man has been obsessed by you for years at this point.”
“I’m twenty-two,” I say in a wooden voice. “And it’s not me anymore. It’s the son we share.”
Angie cocks her head at me on the screen, her expression still thoughtful.
“I’m sure Riley plays a part, but I think that this man has never been able to get you out of his bloodstream. He’s addicted to you, like I said.”