Page 26 of Chasing his Ex

“Are you back with your sugar daddy?” My voice isn’t kind or wondering. It’s harsh and critical after what she has done with me.

She silently closes the door behind her but doesn’t answer, and the knot in my gut knows. Not that it matters anymore. I want to know much more.

“Sugar daddy?” she hisses.

“Yeah, your billionaire boyfriend. I saw you having a coffee with him just now.”

Her shoulders drop, her eyes glance at the floor, and I know she doesn’t want me to know who he is. “He isn’t my boyfriend, nor ever been my sugar daddy. He wanted to talk.”

“He held your hand,” I say. “It looked more than friendly.”

“And that is none of your business. But just so you know, the only thing important to me is my work, my career. Don’t let me having a date with you or a coffee with another man, make you think otherwise. I don’t need a man to further my career. My work will do that.”

“Is that the only important thing for you?”

She shakes her head at that. “The only thing that matters according to this conversation.”

“No, I think you’re out for what you can get, and he is that meal ticket,” I hiss. Her face goes from anger to hurt in one second flat. “How old is your daughter?” Her mouth drops open, and she gasps at the fact that I know. “Were you ever going to tell me?”

“There is nothing to tell you. She isn’t yours.”

Panic fills my stomach. She’s reacting to me being the way I am. She disappeared for four years and she could easily do it again. She waits for my next words and I sense the storm brewing between us, thundering inside the dark clouds, that want to rain us both with anger. But I can’t help run my mouth. “You’re lying. Show me her, prove she isn’t mine. I heard you telling your boyfriend I was your only ex-boyfriend.”

“That doesn’t mean I haven’t had one-night stands,” she says and swallows.

“You are too career focused and I know that isn’t you,” I say, much calmer. “If she wasn’t mine, you could prove it to me right now. I’m sure you have a picture of her.”

She laughs and shakes her head. “Why didn’t you say something on the night I went back to your home? Because that’s what you were thinking when you were staring at the wall, wasn’t it? Wondering what the fuck you were doing with me.”

“Yes!” I yell.

She lowers her head and stares at the floor. “It’ll take a lot more than sleeping with me to hurt me. You can’t hurt me anymore than I hurt myself. So leave me alone to get on with my life.”

“I need to see her” She doesn’t look up to me. “Please.” My voice is much softer. “I’ve got rights.”

Her eyes flick to mine, challenging me as she always did. My competition in every class. My nemesis, my antagonist, my ex-lover, my equal ... because we were always equals. Probably why we were so good together, why we’re bad together.

“Or are you scared of something?” I ask.

“Oh my god, I’m not scared of anything.” She slams her hand on her hip. “Why should I be?”

“Because maybe I’m sick of you deciding on things and not involving me.”

Her face twists to me. “I decide on things that are best for me.”

I silently swallow.

There's a tap at the conference door. Ava turns and opens the door.

“Keep the noise down,” the female voice says.

“Sorry, we’re finished, Charlie,” Ava says, and she shuts the door and turns to me. Tears lace her eyes.

“Is she mine?” My voice is low and demanding. The tension in the room grows thick and stifling. “Just be honest with me.”

“She’s mine. Now leave before I get security on you and don’t come to my office again.”

“Not until you say she is, or she isn’t,” I say, lowering my voice. “Trust me, I only need to know the truth.”

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