“And then what?”
“I couldn’t hold down a job in the city. I was bored with the usual political shit until David offered me a position I couldn’t refuse. He wanted me to learn the ropes at Lantern Publishing so he could commence his five-year retirement exit.”
“You know,” I say, “it explains so much. Like why half the time you just didn’t give a shit about anything.”
His smirk widens and as he moves to his side, he runs his finger down my cheek. “Oh, I gave a shit alright. About you.”
“Whatever.” I laugh. “You never once paid attention to me unless you needed something.”
“The very first day I started, you were wearing a black dress with a white collared shirt under and these red pumps that I couldn’t stop jerking off over.”
“Haden!” I say in shock.
“True story. But then I overheard you rambling on about your wedding so I lost interest. I wanted to fuck you, not break up your engagement and have you wanting a commitment from me. So I occupied my time at work by playing the stock market. Actually, I got quite good at it and managed to make a fairly decent amount which I tucked away for a rainy day.”
“You’re so crass. I can’t believe you thought about me that way.”
“Well, the day that the office buzzed about your broken engagement, I was not going to let anyone get a hold of you. John and Mike were the first to express their interest in you.”
“John with the beer gut and Mike with the unconfirmed toupee?”
He shakes his head, laughing quietly, not wanting to wake Masen. “I shut them down, saying the reason you broke up with what’s-his-face was because you had baby fever.”
“You did not say that! They must think I lured you in like a cougar,” I say, half embarrassed.
“They can think whatever they want. I had my eyes set on making your life hell so you’d notice me…I just didn’t expect this.”
“So the Fallen Baby project?”
“I coerced David into letting me work on that. Mind you, that was before I knew you were pregnant.”
“What about London?”
“That’s half my fault. David wanted me there but I kept refusing. After that night in the club I knew I couldn’t be around you. You’re like this magnetic force field and no matter how much I told myself I could resist you, I just couldn’t.”
I let out a sigh and try to take all of this in. How different things could have been between us if he was honest about his feelings all along! There is still the issue of Eloise…
“And Eloise…why?”
“Presley,” he chastises. “Please let me sort that out.”
I turn over onto my back. This Eloise thing is the only thing stopping us from being together. From being a family. Why can’t he just admit why he was…still is (in my eyes) marrying her?
“I need time to take all of this in,” I confess.
“Take what in?”
“You, not answering my questions about Eloise. Everything about the past. I’m just…overwhelmed.”
No more words are said tonight. And maybe it’s for the best. He moves his body to a sitting position, then leans in to kiss my cheek. “So tomorrow, you’re bringing Masen into the office?”
I simply nod, followed by the only smile I can muster. A fake one.
Entering the office building feels like visiting your home after a long vacation. I had missed everything about it, from the hustle and bustle of the corporate world, to the office attire, and even the politics. Vicky greets me downstairs in the lobby, running towards me in new Louis Vuitton pumps. Bitch! Where did she get those?!
“Ahem, what’s going on south of your kitty?”
She gladly lifts her feet, proudly showing off her new attire. “Oh, you mean these? Well, Patrick bought them for me. Kind of like an ‘I want you back’ present.”
I shake my head at her willingness to accept extravagant gifts from a dickhead who can’t keep his pants shut. I drop the subject, not wanting to get into an argument.
“So,” she says, taking the stroller off me and pushing it towards the elevator. “What’s happening tonight? Are you still meeting Jason for dinner?”
The whole week I went back and forth about cancelling my dinner with Jason. Things were going so good between Haden and me that I didn’t want to create any unnecessary drama. But last night, after his confession, I thought long and hard about what I wanted. Having dinner with Jason was just that—dinner. I’m not planning on having sex with him, but although we ended on friendly terms, there is a sense of closure that I need from him in order to be able to move forward.
“Right now, I’m still deciding. But if I do, you’re still okay to babysit?”
“Of course! Can’t wait to hang out with my gorgeous soon-to-be godson,” she coos at Masen.
“And about that. Don’t mention that to Haden yet. I don’t think he is religious, at all.”
Vicky slides her finger along her mouth, then flicks it to the side. “My lips are sealed.”
Bringing Masen to the office is extremely overwhelming. Every woman and her overactive ovaries are fussing over him, all fighting to have a cuddle so they can smell his skin. It was only announced last week that Dee was expecting a baby with Sugar Daddy. Four months along, according to Mr. National Inquirer himself, Clive. She seems happy, asking me questions about pregnancy and birth. I’m not here to judge her, despite her sugar daddy being old enough to be her grandfather.
Clive is doing his thing, making weird sounds at Masen and trying to make him smile.
“Jesus, Pres, he looks exactly like the Jerk.”
“I would question her if he didn’t.” Haden is standing behind an embarrassed Clive.
Haden moves into the circle and my eyes move up his body and land on his torso. He’s wearing a navy, fitted business shirt with a thin black tie and he has rolled the sleeves up like he always does. Fucking kill me now…. Kitty just wants to dry hump his arms. His face has broken out into his trademark smile, and his glasses…argh! Why the hell does he look so irresistible today?!
Because you made a promise to not touch him while he was still engaged to Eloise.
“Motherhood agrees with you, Pres.” Clive raises his eyebrows and cups his chest, motioning to my huge breasts. “So, Masen drinks breast milk only?”
I nod. “Haven’t had the need to start the formula yet.”
“Have you tasted it?” Clive attempts to whisper.
“Clive!” Vicky scolds, followed with, “Yeah, have you?”
I shake my head at the both of them, trying to hold in my laughter. “No. But I heard it’s supposed to taste like—”
“Cantaloupe juice,” Haden interjects. “It was on an episode of Friends.”
Mortified, because he must have tasted it the other night, I lower my head so as not to reveal my flushed face. Vicky and Clive snicker as Haden continues to stand there with a wide smirk on his face, rubbing his chin with his stare fixated on me.
“Well, there you go,” I say. “Cantaloupe juice. Not that I know what that tastes like, but I imagine it’s sweet. Anyways, look at the time!”
Haden kisses Masen before telling me he has a meeting that is expected to turn into a dinner since it’s one of our stakeholders from London. I say goodbye to him before he disappears.
“Okay, so let me know about tonight?” Vicky reminds me.
“Thanks Vicky, I will. I probably won’t go ahead with it, but I’ll let you know either way.”
Vicky and Clive head back to their cubicles as I make my way to the elevator. It opens and Eloise exits.