Page 56 of Grumpy Ex's Secret Baby

I took a step away, just out of her reach, and gave her a tight smile. “Hello.”

“You come here alone tonight?” she asked, taking another step closer to me as Drew and Camille took off arguing about bowties.

“My girlfriend had to work tonight,” I said, putting more distance between us.

“Good.” The woman gave me a sultry smile and fluffed her curled hair. “I guess that means we’re both alone and could use some company.”

I bit back my sigh. In my line of work—at least my old line of work—it wasn’t unusual for women and men to proposition me. Working around people in the entertainment industry, even as an investor, had given people certain thoughts about me.

“Look,” I said as she took my hand. I pulled it away from her and considered signaling it to my security. “I have a girlfriend. You can do much better than me.”

The cameras were flashing as journalists documented the events with their photographers. I had no doubt that some of them were pointed my way. Headlines would read that I had been arguing with a mystery woman, which would then get back to Haley.

“Now, now,” the woman said, smiling again as she approached. “What your little girlfriend doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”

“And I’ve already told you that I’m not interested,” I said, grabbing a flute of champagne as one of the waiters walked by. “Now, excuse me.”

I could hear the click of her heels behind me even as I walked away. It didn’t take long to get lost in the crowd and I hoped to stay that way.

When I found a quiet alcove, I pulled out my phone and called Haley. I wanted her to know I wasn’t the same person she thought I was. My family came first, and it always would.

The call continued to ring before going to voicemail.

I called her again, but the same thing happened. My heart was starting to beat fast in my chest as I wondered if pictures were already circulating.

“Come on, Hales,” I said as I tried a third time. “Pick up.”

When her voicemail kicked in again, I called Bret.

“Hello,” Bret said, sounding exhausted. “Now’s not a good time, Tyson.”

“Is Haley with you? She isn’t answering her phone, and with everything that’s going on, I need to know that she’s alright.”

“She’s fine,” Bret said with a sigh. “Look, she doesn’t want to talk to you right now.”

“She called me a few hours ago and asked if I would come home. What’s happened between now and then to make her not want to talk to me?”

“Yeah, I know. But now I think it’s best if you stay away from her for a few days.”

“Like fuck,” I said, already heading for Drew to tell him I was leaving. “You tell her I’m on the way, and I’ll be there as soon as a private plane can get me there.”

Bret hummed for a minute. “It’s not pretty, Tyson. When you do get here, be prepared for hell.”

“Bret,” I said. “Thank you for all you’ve done for my family over the years. I don’t know if a thank you will ever be enough, but I’m glad they both had you in their lives. I know you didn’t do it for me, but still. Thank you.”

“Just shut up and get here.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

Drew glanced up as I approached, the easy smile dropping from his face. His eyebrows knit together as he nodded to another small alcove.

“What’s going on?” Drew asked.

“You’re going to have to make the speech without me. My family needs me, and I have to go.”

Drew nodded. “Flying or driving?”

“Flying takes less time, but I think I need the drive to give her time to cool down. I don’t know what’s upset Haley, but she doesn’t want to talk to me right now. If I go charging in there, guns blazing, she won’t even entertain the idea of talking to me.”

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