Page 11 of Chasing his Ex

“My fiancée is a little shocked,” he says.

That’s when I hear the entire room clapping.

Anger furls inside my gut for railroading me, deciding on my future with no conversation with me.

“Why did you say it in front of everybody?” I hiss as we step into the elevator. I’ve held my tongue for too long and now he needs to know how I feel.

“Because you’re mine, Ava, because you’re all I think about, morning until night.”

I should be flattered that Jameson Sterling is saying these things to me, but he’s a man who bullies and pushes to get what he wants. Is this manipulation or truth? I don’t know, and I hate everything changed the moment he saw me with Finn.

I don’t truly believe his reason for one day us being friends to the next for me to live with him in New York. Something is niggling inside my gut.

But maybe this is what I need.

Maybe friends aren’t as good as feeling wanted.

And I want to be wanted right now.

Finn pushed him. The niggling voice in my head reminds me again.

He flashes his card on the hotel door reader, the click of the lock sounds, and he turns and pushes his back against the door.

He watches intently, studying me, studying him. “Was he romantic?”

“Jameson, don’t.”

“Was he? What’s his name?”

“Finn.” I give his name, but don’t want to give anything else.

“Surname?”

“I’m not telling you. It doesn’t matter. Stop talking about him.”

“What are the schools like in New York?” I ask, changing the subject.

“I expect they’re excellent,” he says. “You decide which school suits and I’ll make the arrangements.”

“You never looked into schools when you were married,” I say.

“No, we weren’t planning on having children, so it wasn’t necessary.”

“You never wanted children? Either of you?”

“No, did you?”

I think about the many times Finn and I had spoken about our future. We both wanted two children. Sometimes he wanted four. I have a sister and he has two brothers.

Jameson and I are so different.

I sigh. “Yes. It was always part of my long-term plan. Obviously, it happened a little earlier than I expected.”

“I do now,” he says, kissing my cheek. “I’d like children, or at least a child with you, and sooner rather than later.”

This is moving at lightning-fast speed. From friends to ... what exactly?

“And your apartment in the building has four bedrooms, five bathrooms and is two floors lower than mine. I’m going to gift it to you. There’ll be enough room for you, Emmy, our child, and a nanny.”

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