Page 29 of Man Seeking Woman

Unfolding the paper, my heart dropped into my gut as I stared at the black and white picture.

"Holy shit, you've got to be kidding me. . ."

The picture was of August chasing me out of the restaurant, his face was contorted in a way that made him look upset. I was a few steps in front of him, and you could see the side of my face. I looked petrified.

"Who took this?" I asked, my eyes scanning the picture trying to understand why it would be in the paper. Who cared enough to put that there? What was so important about it?

"Read the article, El."

The headline above the picture made my stomach twist to the point I felt like I might throw up.

One night stand gone wrong. . .

We've all known August Burke as a beer mogul and the CEO of Burke Brewery. What we never saw coming was him losing control at the Red Tavern. Several diners reported that Burke and his date, who still remains unidentified, had a spat before she blew her top like a beer that's been shaken. Sources say the two had an altercation in the restaurant which spilled outside onto the street before Burke's lover got into a cab and sped off.

Whispers have begun about news of a baby, but nothing has been confirmed or denied at this time. I reached out to August this morning who declined to comment, leaving us to wonder and speculate.

Does this mean we can expect New York's bachelor of the year is a soon to be daddy?

It's hard argue that what people saw, wasn't a couple in distress. One onlooker described the incident as crude and inappropriate for public display. "If he didn't want to get her pregnant, then he should have used protection. I mean, who doesn't know that by now?" Linda D asked. Another diner stated, "I heard the young woman calling him names and yelling that he was crazy. I just think that children need to be brought into this world with parents that care. They don't have to like each other, but they at least need to try and get along for the kids sake."

I guess the question we're all wondering is, was this a one night stand gone wrong?

We all know how vulnerable the wealthy can be when they cross paths with the wrong person. Maybe this woman has become August's Achilles heel? Only time will tell.

My hands began to shake, so I threw the paper onto my coffee table and clutched the sides of my head.

What the hell. . . I don't need this shit!

"You alright?" Kayla asked, placing her hand on my shoulder and giving me a tender squeeze.

Looking up at her, I had no words. No I wasn't alright. Nothing about the entire situation was alright.

He's part of the Burke Empire, no wonder I recognized his name.

"What happened last night, El?"

"I really don't want to talk about it right now."

"Ella Day." Her voice was short and firm. "Talk to me. Why didn't you tell me it was August Burke?"

"I didn't know, I didn't realize that it was one of the infamous Burke's."

"You're not pregnant by him right?"

"What?! God, no, Kay," I said, my eyes turning to slits. She shouldn't even have to ask me that.

Bouncing her hand in the air, she bobbed her head up and down. "Calm down, I know, I just had to ask. Don't worry, I believe you, I know there's no truth in this story."

"Kay, as if shit couldn't get any worse, this was the last thing I needed to see."

"Will you at least tell me how you ended up having dinner with the hottest guy in New York City? I mean, shit, if I had known you were meeting August Burke, I would have given you a way sexier dress to wear."

"Not funny, that's really not funny." Grunting, I slouched further into the chair, resting my arms at my sides. "I had no idea, I didn't even know New York had a hottest bachelor or that it was that asshole."

Dropping to her haunches, she grabbed my hand tightly. "You can't just feed me bread crumbs. Spit it out already. What the hell happened?"

"Fine, I'll tell you." Kay grinned from ear to ear, a little too excited for my horrible night. "But you need to promise me you won't tell anyone else."

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