Chapter 21
Miles
I froze when I heard those words come from her mouth. My heart started racing, and I broke out into a sweat.
“Is it mine?” I stood up.
“Of course, it’s yours.” Her brows furrowed. “How can you even ask me that? I’m six weeks along.”
“How long have you known?” I asked sternly.
“Just a few days. I saw my doctor this afternoon.”
“And when were you planning on telling me?”
“Tonight, tomorrow, hell, I don’t know.” She threw her hands up in the air. “I know how you feel about children.”
“Are you keeping it?”
“Yes, I’m keeping it!” she shouted.
“Did you do this on purpose to trap me?”
“No! It was an accident.”
“I don’t want children, Stella. I already told you that. My work takes up ninety-nine percent of my life, and that’s what I need to focus on. When I come home, I want to relax, not come home to a baby”s drama. The crying, sleepless nights, toys everywhere, illnesses, having to pretend to be something I’m not.”
“That’s okay, Miles. You don’t have to pretend because you won’t ever be a part of my baby’s life or mine! You were manipulated and emotionally abandoned your whole life. And the last thing I want is for my child to suffer the same thing. Tell your attorney to step it up and get those annulment papers ready so I can be out of your life as soon as possible.” She grabbed her purse and stormed out of the kitchen. I followed her to the elevator.
“Where are you going?” I gripped her arm.
“That is none of your business. You do you, and I do me. Remember?” She jerked out of my grip and stepped into the elevator.
I ran my hand down my face, walked over to the bar, and poured a drink. Taking it up to the rooftop, I finished it and threw the glass against the brick. What the fuck was I going to do?
* * *
Stella
Tears poured from my eyes as I climbed into the cab.
“Where to?” the cab driver asked.
“Just take me to the New York Hilton in Midtown.”
I was shaking, and my mind was filled with chaos. I couldn’t stay at the penthouse tonight, and I couldn’t look at him anymore. As much as I wanted to block his number, I couldn’t. He needed to be able to reach me when the annulment papers were ready to be signed.
I entered the Hilton lobby and walked up to the desk.
“Good evening. Checking in?” The man behind the counter smiled.
“I don’t have a reservation, but I need a room.”
“For how many nights?” he asked.
“I’m not sure yet.” I looked down.
“Okay. Let me check what’s available. Our Urban room with one king bed is available for three nights only.”
“I’ll take it.” I pulled out my license and credit card.
“Do you have any bags we can help you with?” he asked.
“No. I don’t.”
He looked at me strangely.
“I left in a hurry. I’ll have my things tomorrow,” I told him, even though it wasn’t any of his business.
“Very well. Enjoy your stay.” He handed me the keycard.
I took the elevator up to the fifteenth floor, found my room, and stepped inside. Throwing my purse and myself down on the bed, I grabbed the pillow, placed it over my face, and screamed. I’d never felt so alone as I did at that moment. Pulling my phone from my purse, I checked to see if Miles had texted me. He didn’t. Asshole. Tomorrow morning, while he was at the office, I would return to the penthouse, pack my things, and leave.
After taking a hot bath to calm down, I pulled up apartments on my phone. I needed to find one as soon as possible, and I wasn’t about to wait for his realtor. I could do this. I could be a single mom. Millions of women did it every day. I wasn’t sure if Miles would still deposit the rest of the money in my account. After the bomb I dropped on him tonight, he probably wouldn’t. He was an emotionless, broken man who only cared about himself and his needs.
* * *
Miles
Returning to the kitchen, I saw the ultrasound picture sitting on the island. Picking it up, I stared at it but couldn’t make anything out. Shaking my head, I set it down and went to bed.
I was up all night, tossing and turning, worrying about Stella and where she ran off to. After showering, I walked into the kitchen.
“Good morning, Miles,” Dora spoke. “Where’s Stella?”
“I don’t know. She left last night.” I walked over to the coffee machine.
“And this?” She held up the ultrasound picture.
“What about it?”
“What happened between the two of you?” she asked.
“She’s pregnant. I told her I didn’t want kids, and she left. End of discussion.” I walked out of the kitchen, grabbed my briefcase, and stepped onto the elevator.
I’d felt this pain in my heart since last night—a pain I couldn’t describe.
“Isla, call maintenance and clear my new office immediately.” I stormed past her and into my office.
“Are you planning on moving in today?” she asked.
“Yes. After they clear everything out, I want everything from my office transferred.”
“I’ll get on it right away, Miles.”
I sat behind my desk, pulled my phone from my suit coat, and called Levi.
“Good morning, friend. To what do I own the honor?”
“I need to talk to you,” I spoke sternly.
“It sounds serious.”
“It is. It’s very serious. When can you meet?”
“Are you available for lunch at one o’clock?” he asked.
“I’ll make it happen. Where?”
“Gramercy Tavern,” he said.
“I’ll be there.”
“Miles, are you okay?”
“Far from it. I’ll see you at one o’clock.”
I set my phone down and sighed.
“Isla, come in here,” I shouted.
“Yes, boss?”
“I want a memo typed up and sent out telling everyone about Ben, how we wish him well, and that I am the new CEO of Bradshaw Capital.”
“I’ll get on it. So, where am I going if you’re moving offices today?”
“You’re moving desks. Tell Marissa that she’s taking your desk and you’re taking hers. She’ll report to the new president when I decide who that shall be.”
“Leaving me to be the bad guy?” Her brow arched.
“I’ve been the bad guy enough lately.” I turned my chair around and faced the city.