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BAILEE SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AGO (Seventeen Years Old) Two letters. One syllable. Just no. That was all I was worth and all I was going to get? “Why don’t you be a big boy and tell me the truth.” I waited a moment, but he didn’t open his mouth to speak. Was he really going to continue ignor
BAILEE I chewed on my lip nervously while waiting for Nathan to let me into Alex’s office. I was almost excited, but I didn’t know why. We had argued the last time we saw each other, but getting so much out in the open between us had been therapeutic. I would probably never get total closer for
ALEXANDER “When we first ran into each other at the bar, I had just wanted information from you about your ex-husband,” I said, Caleb’s title rolling off my tongue with disdain. Bailee wobbled, and I watched her eyes flicker back to the chairs before me as if she regretted not sitting when I had
ALEXANDER “She’s clearly not your match! Pair with Lola, you fucking idiot!” Mason screamed at the television as he jumped up from the couch, his hands in his hair. Ben looked just as angry from next to him, and I shook my head as I watched two of my best friends screaming at the reality dating s
BAILEE Taking a day off during the week was rare, but I really needed it. Mom guilt was very real, though. Even though I had used my morning to go to a doctor’s appointment, my decision to take the next couple of hours to myself was overshadowed by the guilt of my daughter being at daycare instea
ALEXANDER My eyes widened as I heard my assistant approaching. I knew he would have my morning coffee in one hand and any documents for today’s meetings in the other. Nathan was always prepared. “Oh, look what you made me do! Look what you made me do! Look what you juhhh-jesus!” Nathan exclaime
ALEXANDER Lorna stared at it as if she were scared to open it, but eventually, she gave in and pulled out the second stack of photos. Only this time, she was the star. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that Harrison Matthews?” I asked as she stopped on an intimate picture of her being pressed
BAILEE Standing before Alex’s mansion, I felt out of place. He hadn’t invited me over, and I bounced on my toes for a few seconds, hoping to shake the nerves loose before lifting my hand to knock. “You do remember that I said I don’t bite, right?” Alex said, making me jump as I glared at the sm
HAVEN The second I walked into the break room the next day, Bonnie and Calum jumped from their seats, asking if I was okay. Suzie had sent me home yesterday for the rest of the day unpaid, and while I wasn’t expecting my badge to work this morning, it did. “How are you?” Bonnie asked, and I shr
BEN Bailee gently hit his arm with the back of her hand as she walked by him to a cabinet to grab a glass, and I laughed. “It was a week ago. Where is Brinley?” I asked, looking around for my adorable niece. She would probably love to hear my news with them. “She said she had to go find her train.
BEN I wasn’t sure when I decided to return to the city. Still, I found myself pulling up to Alex’s house five hours later, my back irritated from being in the car for so long, and only one text from the manager of the rehab center checking in and asking if they could get me anything since I missed
HAVEN “Hey, have you guys seen my…” Calum said as he trailed behind the security guard who stormed past us, but he stopped in our way when he saw my face. “You’re crying?” “Not now, Calum.” He ignored her, but I didn’t want to discuss this with him. We were just co-workers, not friends. He fli
BEN My hands were sweaty, and a chill went through me. I couldn’t trust anyone. Not my parents, staff, or even Haven after her repeated lies over the past week. If she had told the truth this time, I would be in serious trouble. My staff had access to everything that controlled my life. I wou
BEN My heart twisted in my chest. After seeing her picture, I knew in my gut that Siri was mine, but Haven had lied so many times that even hearing what I had wanted to hear, I wasn’t sure I could believe it. “There wasn’t anyone else?” I repeated. If there wasn’t anyone else, then Haven hadn’t
HAVEN “That’s not possible,” I said, shaking my head back and forth. This room was too small for us to hash this out now. I felt like I couldn’t breathe with Ben so close, and his body heat made me uncomfortably warm. “Look at me, Haven,” Ben demanded, and I ripped my eyes away from the stack o
HAVEN I had resented Benjamin Evans for many things over the years, but the feeling of dread that now bubbled in my gut when I drove to work was the cherry on top. This job was finally something I had outside of my home that I had worked hard for, and that made me happy, and he made me not want t
BEN “Haven, like your old assistant Haven?” Bailee asked, and I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “The one and only,” I grumbled in response, rubbing my temples as I tried to fight the headache that was rapidly coming on. “That’s great! Did you guys talk?” Bailee asked, sounding as excited