Chapter 6
Chapter six
Kate
Tristan was the biggest freaking asshole. And I was a damn idiot. What the hell was I thinking spilling my guts to him like that? Maybe I could blame my lack of judgment on Eleanor and Bryce.
If I hadn’t seen them standing in the entrance of the café, I wouldn’t have slid into the booth. And Tristan wouldn’t have a window into my private life.
“Ugh.”
Shoving all regrets of my disastrous morning aside, I strode into Livingston and Thornburg determined to focus on nothing but work. Which, thankfully, there was always enough of when I was a legal secretary to the most sought-after attorney at the most prestigious law firm in the country.
It was easy to keep my mind busy by going through my mental to-do list while I waited for the elevator. Tristan was in the process of bringing another big client on board, which meant endless hours of research and sifting through their finances.
I didn’t mind. I loved my job. I’d always been fascinated with law, but I didn’t have it in me to become a lawyer.
Not the cutthroat kind you clearly needed to be to make it in a firm like this.
“Oh my gosh, have you heard?” The words barely registered before someone slipped an arm through mine and leaned in close.
Why the hell was everyone touching me today?
“Tristan and Lewis have to fight for the partnership,” she whisper-shouted next to my ear.
What was her name again?
Wracking my brain, I gave her a tight-lipped smile. Fight was a rather strong word. “So I’ve been told.”
Wanda? Willow? Winnie? Whitney?
The elevator dinged its arrival. “This is me.” I hurried into the car and poked the button for my floor.
Wendy...
Thank goodness I remembered; it would’ve bugged me all damn day.
Like the woman herself bugged me when she got on the elevator as well.
“Do you know why Lewis is in the running too?” She spoke louder now and apparently the question was rhetorical because she went on without waiting for a reply, “Because Tristan can’t keep it in his pants.”
Tossing her blond locks over her shoulder, she let out a laugh. “Not that it’s a bad thing, you know? I mean who wouldn’t mind climbing all over—”
“What are you talking about?”
Wendy smacked her lips shut, staring at me like I’d sprouted a third eye. “Tristan,” she said his name slowly. I didn’t appreciate it. “You know, your hot boss.”
I shook my head. “I was asking about the partner thing.”
“Oh.” She still looked at me funny. I didn’t care as long as she explained. “Well, according to Mr. Livingston’s secretary, they added Lewis to the mix because they want a family man to represent the firm.”
The elevator dinged again, and everything clicked into place. This was why Tristan was all ‘Marry me’ at the café. He needed an instant family, saw an opportunity and took it. Or tried to, at least.
Asshole.
Waving to Wendy over my shoulder, I hurried to my desk. Needing to focus on anything other than the fury burning through my blood, I got stuck into work. Since Tristan had a meeting at the other end of the city, he wouldn’t be in until way later.
A good thing because I was even more furious with him than I’d been when I’d left the café.
Fingers flying over—okay, more like stabbing—the keyboard, I allowed that anger to course through my veins.
Who the hell did he think he was? And why didn’t he ask one of his many, many, many conquests to be his wife?
That slimy, good for nothing, piece of…
“Keep that up, you might break a finger…or the keyboard. We don’t have keyboard insurance, Kate.”
My head snapped up, gaze colliding with Tristan’s dark one. My brows drew together. One corner of his mouth curved up. Slowly, ever so slowly, he bent over my desk to put something in front of me.
“You left before they brought our breakfast.” He straightened and smoothed a hand down his tie. “A little rude, if you ask me.”
The aroma of fresh bagels and bacon hit my nose, reminding me I hadn’t eaten yet. I ignored it and the container to glare at my asshole boss.
“Why are you here?” I barked. “You have a meeting—”
“Canceled.” He tucked his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels.
My eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“My office.”
Not waiting for a response, he breezed past me and strolled into said office, leaving me with no other choice than to follow. Well, either that or possibly get fired if I ignored him.
“Great,” I muttered.
Pushing away from my desk, I trailed him like someone heading to the gallows.
“Close the door and take a seat.”
I eyed him for a few beats then clicked the door shut behind me. Instead of sitting like he’d wanted me to, I stood in front of his desk with my arms folded across my chest.
“Would you relax?” he said. “I can feel the knots form in my muscles from just looking at you.”
“Hard to relax when my boss is an asshole.”
I regretted the words the moment they left my mouth. Insulting the guy who signed my paychecks probably wasn’t very smart.
Thankfully, Tristan didn’t even flinch. “Sit. Let’s talk.”
My jaw clenched. “Is this about work?”
He gave me a look. One that clearly said “What do you think?”
“Tristan,” I sighed. “If this isn’t about work, I’m leaving.”
Again, he said nothing, simply stared. A strange sensation worked its way through my body. My first thought was discomfort, but that wasn’t right. This was new and not unpleasant at all.
Confused by...everything, really, I spun on my heel, ready to make my escape. Should have known Tristan would be right there. Wrapping his long fingers around my upper arm, he stopped me from taking another step.
My gaze shot to his hand on me. And like at the café, a zing of electricity rippled across my skin. It wasn’t even subtle. I might as well have stuck my finger in an electrical outlet, it would’ve had the same damn effect.
“Kate, hear me out.” His voice was soft, almost begging.
I looked up then, and a pang of pain stabbed through my chest at the sight of desperation on his face.
“There’s a real chance I might not make partner at all because—”
“I know.”
His lip curled in disgust. “Guess it’s the topic of the day.”
“It’ll blow over,” I told him.
Still very aware of his hand on me, I pulled my arm back a little. He didn’t get the hint. Those fingers dug deeper into my skin, and it might have been my imagination, but I could’ve sworn he’d moved closer.
“This could work, Kate. We can both get what we want.”
I shook my head before the last word left his mouth. “No, it can’t.”
It was difficult to think straight with all the weirdness happening inside my body. Tugging my arm again, this time harder than before, I finally freed myself from Tristan’s grip.
I didn’t want to risk him reaching for me, so I put enough distance between us.
“I don’t want to lose Millie, but lying to keep her wouldn’t be right.
Especially if we get caught. This is exactly the kind of ammunition Taelyn can use against me.
” A sigh pushed past my lips. “I’m sorry, Tristan.
You’ll need to find someone else to play pretend with. ”
His gaze, dark and intense, bored into me for a few heart-stopping moments before he finally looked at something over my shoulder.
“No.” Long fingers slid through his dark hair. “I’m the one who should be apologizing.” His attention drifted back to me. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”
We stood there, gazes locked, neither of us moving.
It was weird.
“I... uh ...” I pointed at the door. “I’m gonna go.”
“Yeah.” His gaze never left mine. “Think I’ll see if I can salvage that meeting with Fergason.”
I left the office. Tristan left the building.
And he didn’t come back at all.
Part of me wondered if he was out romancing one of his many lovers into pretending to be his wife. I didn’t care for the sour taste the thought left on my tongue. Tristan was free to do whoever and whatever he liked.
By the time I climbed the steps to Izzy’s apartment a little after six, my brain had gone from wondering about Tristan to being furious with this whole custody situation. It was a mess.
I had to talk to Millie about it. Probably my parents too.
I simply couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I’d never felt so helpless in my entire life. I hated it. Hated that this damn thing was going to hang over our heads for who knew how long.
I hated Taelyn too.
But I’d dwell on it later when my girl was safe and asleep in her room. That was why I shoved past the melancholy and pasted on a smile as I tapped my knuckles against the door.
Instead of Izzy opening, it was Millie. I’d barely had time to inhale when she flung her tiny body at me.
“Hey, Bug,” I breathed into her hair. “Missed you today.”
Her arms around my neck tightened. My heart squeezed behind my ribs.
“Hey.” I pulled my head back to look at her. Her red curls clung to her face. I tucked them behind her ear. “Everything okay?”
She shook her head.
My heart plummeted. “What happened?”
Her big, green eyes shimmered. Agony stabbed me behind my ribs. And when her chin trembled, I would’ve given anything to take whatever pain she felt and make it my own.
“Harry made fun of me today.” A small sniffle escaped her throat. Then another and another.
“Oh, Bug, I’m sorry.” I held her tight to my chest again. In my peripheral, I spotted Izzy moving closer. “Wanna tell me what happened?”
Millie burrowed her face in the crook of my neck and gave me a small nod.
Without pulling away, she spoke, her voice soft and muffled, “Miss Tracy asked us what we wanted to be when we grow up.” Another sniffle filled the room.
“When it was my turn, I said I wanted to be a K-pop idol and then Harry laughed.”
A few more sniffles escaped, and she lifted her hand to wipe her nose. “Miss Tracy scolded him, but it didn’t matter; he just waited until recess to laugh at me some more. And then he said I was too ugly to be anyone’s idol.”
Ohhhh, that boy. I was going to have a serious chat with his parents.
Tucking my fingers under Millie’s chin, I guided her watery gaze to mine. “You know he’s wrong, Bug. You’re beautiful, and if you want to be an idol then that’s what you’ll be.”
Her wide gap-toothed smile reached inside me and filled my entire being with happiness.
“It doesn’t matter what boys—or anyone else—think of you.” I tapped my forefinger against her cheek. “The only thing that matters is what you think of yourself.”
Those words were too big for a six-year-old to understand, but I’d hoped they’d worm their way into her mind anyway. The last thing I wanted was for her to grow up being hung up on what people thought of her.
She was her own unique person, and anyone who didn’t see that or value it didn’t deserve to be in her life.
Closing my eyes, I planted a quick kiss on her forehead. “A little birdie told me there’d be pizza... Was that birdie lying?”
A soul-filling laugh bubbled up her throat. “No. Izzy ordered four pizzas.”
“What?” I widened my eyes in mock disbelief. “Four whole pizzas? Who’s gonna eat them all?”
“Me.” She giggled.
I tickled her sides. “I’d like to see you try, Bug.” Putting her down, I pointed toward the kitchen. “Why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll be right there to witness this pizza annihilation.”
She hurried away, and I shut the door behind me.
Izzy was at my side not even a second later. “You look like you’ve had a day.”
If she only knew.
“Yeah.”
“Come on.” My sister hooked her arm through mine and dragged me toward the kitchen. “I’ll pour the wine while you talk.”
We took a couple of steps when a thought slammed into me. Digging my heels in, I stopped dead in my tracks.
“Katie?” Izzy’s confused gaze collided with mine.
“What if it’s my fault? That I’m only making things worse for her?”
My sister wrapped me in her arms so fast, I didn’t even know what hit me. It took a few seconds to realize she was hugging me. And a few more to admit how much I needed that hug.
“It’s not your fault, and you’re not making things worse.” Izzy drew back and looked me in the eyes. “Encouraging her to keep dreaming is the best thing you can do.”
That familiar sting in my nose made itself known again. “I’m scared, Iz. Taelyn has a good—”
“Fuck Taelyn,” she hissed. “She can bring a whole damn army, but she’s not getting our Millie.”
I needed to hear that. To know someone else was in my corner. Once I told my parents, they’d react the same way. I wasn’t alone. Never had been and never would be. And neither was Millie.
We’d fight. With everything we had in us, we’d fight to keep her.
“All right,” I said. “Where’s that wine you bragged about?”
Izzy did a great job distracting Millie and me during dinner. We’d had so much fun with her new PlayStation, our smiles were still firmly stuck in place when we entered the foyer of our apartment building.
“You’re out late. And on a school night no less.”
The blood in my veins became ice. I hadn’t seen or spoken to her since Clara’s funeral, but I’d never forget her voice. So cold, so superior.
So detached.
Slowly turning, I locked gazes with the boogeyman my nightmares were made of. Only she didn’t look like the monster of my dreams. This woman strutting toward me with her slicked-back hair and Louis Vittone heels was sleek and beautiful.
“Taelyn.”
“Oh, Kate, don’t look at me like that. You know this is for the best.”
“Best for whom?” The words came out steady and calm, in stark contrast to the crazy rhythm of my heart. “For you and Duke? For me?” I lowered my voice. “For her?”
Taelyn’s gaze dropped to Millie. Something about her must have put Millie on guard because she’d tucked her small body behind me.
“Don’t bother fighting this, Kate,” Taelyn hissed. “You’re going to lose.”
I had nothing to say to her. Or rather, nothing suitable for Millie’s ears. That was why I scooped up my girl and took the stairs to our apartment. Millie didn’t say a word. She didn’t even want to watch a few music videos of our favorite K-pop boy band.
It was only when she was tucked in bed that her words finally came.
“I don’t like that lady.”
That’s all she said, but it was enough. Enough for me to imagine what kind of life Millie would have with Taelyn and Duke. Enough for me to pull out my phone and message the one person I never thought I would.