Page 9 of Dreaux: The Corporate Assassin

“Maaaa!” I screeched, causing her to laugh. If I had a lighter complexion, I know my face would be beet red from embarrassment. “A man is the last thing on my mind. You see how Briley’s father did me.”

When I met Bryce, he was so charming and charismatic. Although he was a few years older than me, he was so handsome. During a business conference seven years ago, I was fresh out of college and on the road all the time doing internships. At first, I thought bumping into him that night in the hotel lobby was the best night of my life. He’d helped me with my bags and even offered to have dinner with me at the hotel’s restaurant. I didn’t see any harm, even though he was a stranger, because he was so kind. I accepted the dinner reservation, and we laughed the night away and ended it together. That weekend, we sexed each other as if we had been lovers for years. After exchanging numbers, we vowed to stay in touch and even meet somewhere when time allowed. It wasn’t until two months later that I found out I was pregnant.

When I called him and told him he was going to be a father, he hung up on me. I tried calling him back, but my number was already blocked. I was devastated, to say the least, and didn’t know what to do. I was twenty-three, barely in my career field, and had no life experience or time for a baby. It was a couple of weeks later, at a charity ball I attended with my parents, that I found out the reason he didn’t want any parts of my child or me. He was married with a family of his own. The night that I thought was my best suddenly turned into my worst, and I’d yet to forgive myself for being so naïve and reckless.

“Bryce is a bitch, Denim!” my mother spat, jarring me from my thoughts. “That man is a sad excuse for a husband and father, and I wish I knew some people that would break a few bones of his for me!”

“Mama! You’re married to a judge!” My eyes went wild at her revelation, causing her to shrug. “You can’t say stuff like that.”

“Girl, that’s your father… not mine.” She rolled her eyes and continued to sip her drink. “Your daddy or Bryce’s ass doesn’t scare me.” She paused for a moment before asking, “Bryce came by to visit the other day. He brought Briley a toy, and she barely acknowledged him. He blamed you…”

“Me?” I scoffed as I grabbed my phone and rose from the bed. I was off today and didn’t want to spend it inside, so I was about to shower and run some errands. “He’s the one that acts as if his child doesn’t exist… as if I’m the reason he will be deemed a cheater once the public knows about hisoutsidebaby. I don’t care what he says, Mama. That’s on him—not me.”

When Bryce finally came to terms with the fact that we were having a child together, he wanted me to keep quiet because of his marriage and his being a public figure. He never introduced himself to me as a married man because, if he had, I would have never had dinner with him when we met, let alone sleep with him. What makes matters worse is even though he denied Bri in the beginning, he still tried to sleep with me during and after my pregnancy. He was still trying to this day. I was so ashamed that I had found myself attached to a married man, and I felt as if I had failed my daughter by bringing her into this world in this situation.

“Girl, you know I told him to get the hell out of my face.” Her screen went gray, which let me know she had an incoming call. “This is your aunt calling for the second time this morning. Let me call you back, baby.”

Agreeing to speak later, I continued walking through my room and gathering my things for my shower. I was frustrated with what Mom told me because how dare he blame me for his shortcomings as a father. The more I thought about it, the more heated I became. Finding his contact in my phone, I put it on speaker and placed it against the tiled wall behind the sink. It didn’t take long for the rings to echo throughout the room. Right before the voicemail could come on, he picked up.

“Denim…” He huffed as if I was annoying him. “I’m busy right now and?—”

“I don’t care about any of that!” I cut him off and glared into the phone as if he could see me. “Please share the reason for you telling my motherI’mthe reason my child doesn’t fool with you. What efforts have you made in the last years to show my baby that you give a fuck about her?”

Usually, I’m calm and sensible, but when it comes to my daughter, all that goes out of the window. Excusing himself to whoever he was with, I could hear his background become radio silent. Crossing my arms, I tapped my bare feet on the tiled floor and waited for him to respond.

“First of all… watch your tone when you speak to me. I’m not one of those thugs that you’re used to.”

“Stop acting like a bitch, and I won’t speak to you like one.”

“See, this is why I need to spend more time with my child. I refuse to have her subjected to your hostile behavior and think it’s okay. The more you keep her away from me, the more she feels like her little combatant attitude is okay. I want you to start sending her with me. My wife and I were talking, and we feel it’s best if she stays with us.”

Slowly, I dropped my arms to my sides and tried to control my breathing. “Repeat that shit one more time for me…”

“You heard me.” I could hear the smugness in his voice, and I’m glad this was a phone conversation. If in person, I probably would have put my hands on him. “You’re never home and have your parents raising our daughter. She barely knows me because you won't let me see her?—”

“No!” I cut him off. “She doesn’t know you because the only way you want to see her is if you can have sex with me, and I’m not going for that! Had I known you were married, I would have never let you touch me.”

He chuckled menacingly. “Did you ask? If I recall, you were drunk and all over me, baby. I gave you what you cried to have: premium dick. Now, as I was saying… Rebecca and I have talked. I want Bri living here full-time. You can come to visit her whenever you want and spend every other holiday with her. It won’t be any different than the arrangement you have with your parents.”

I wanted to curse him and let him know how he had me fucked up, but he was right. That is the exact arrangement I have with my parents, and it makes me sick. I’m away more than I’m home and hearing him say it lets me know that now more than ever, I needed to get my shit together. There was no way I was allowing Bryce to have full custody of my child.

“Bryce, fuck you and your wife.” I gritted my teeth as I leaned on top of the counter and spoke into my phone. “That lady has made it clear to me on more than one occasion that my child is a bastard… that she’s filth and will never be welcomed into her marriage or her home. You expect me to justlet you have her?”

“Be that as it may…” He ignored my statements as if they held no weight, “Bri is mine just as much as she is yours, and if you don’t want to be amicable about the situation, we can take adifferentroute.” He paused before adding, “When are you coming back from California? I can fly out and see you while you’re there. Maybe we could?—”

Beep. Beep.

Disconnecting the call before he could finish, I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths. So badly did I want to fly back home and show my ass, but I know I can’t do that. Causing a scene wouldn’t help me or my baby. Bryce can talk as much shit as he wants, but he knows I will die before I hand her over to him.

Once my breathing was under control, I continued my routine and started my shower. Before getting in, I said a small prayer that my job assignment ended soon so I could return home to my daughter. God knows I love my job, but it’s not worth me potentially losing my child, especially to her bitch of a father.

* * *

“Ms. Atkins,the report you wanted is on your desk like you asked.” Jasper looked up from his laptop once I entered the office. “Also, someone by the name of Nate has been calling nonstop for you this morning. What’s that about?”

Giving him a small finger wave as I balanced my coffee and briefcase, I entered my office without answering his question. My assistant could be a nosy little something, but I tried my best to keep the lines of personal and business uncrossed. I wasn’t sure why Nate was blowing me up like he had been. He and I have barely spoken since that awkward night at his house. Placing my things on my desk, I got myself situated and powered up my desktop as I checked my phone for any missed calls or messages.

“Today is a good day to have a good day… Let’s do this.” I breathed through the office jitters as my emails loaded while reaffirming myself. I was good at this job, but that didn’t mean I was eager to clock in every day. Working as a clerical administrator for one of the top agencies in the world is one of the most trying jobs I’ve ever had in my life. The countless phone calls and emails drove me crazy, but I always do what I need to do.

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