Chapter 2
Chapter Two
LOTTIE
Ifinished my last file and logged off just as the doorbell rang. Confusion rolled through me as I glanced down at my watch and saw it was just after six pm.
Who the heck would be ringing the doorbell? Colby had a night class today so he'd be home late, and I suspected Kaleb and Andrei had lost track of time at the office.
It was easy for all of us to do. We were dedicated to our work. Almost a little too much.
But it was something we were working on together. More time at home, away from work computers and phones. Spending time together as a family unit.
There were times that I could hardly believe this was my life.
I had three boyfriends.
But they were more than just boyfriends. They were my Daddies.
The doorbell rang again and snapped me out of my musings.
With a growl of frustration, I rose and went down the stairs, muttering under my breath the whole time.
I opened the door with a scowl on my face. "Can I help you?" I asked the woman with her back turned toward me.
She whirled around and adjusted her handbag on her arm—her very expensive looking handbag.
She is dressed impeccably, off white blouse and a pencil skirt that did nothing for her straight figure.
But I was sure every piece of clothing she wore was designer and her outfit probably cost more than my car.
"Of course the help answers the door," she muttered and lifted her nose toward the sky. "Go and get Mr. Wulf for me. Immediately."
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
"I don't know who the fuck you think you are lady, but I live here and I'm not the help." I crossed my arms over my chest and stood right in the doorway so she couldn't move past me. "If you want to see Kaleb, you can contact his secretary and make an appointment."
Her mouth dropped open as she glared at me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the SUV pull in and blaze down the driveway. Oscar parked right in front of the door, and Kaleb was out of the car before he even fully stopped.
"Listen here you fat bitch," she snarled. "If you think you have any say over Kaleb then you're dead—"
Kaleb wrapped his hand around the woman's upper arm and turned her toward him. His face was rigid with anger. His lips were pressed into a straight line, and his brows furrowed together.
I'd never seen him this angry before. It was frightening.
“If I ever hear you speaking that way to my girlfriend again, I will make your life a living hell by taking every single penny away from you.”
Okay, it was kinda hot the way Kaleb was defending me right now.
“Before you even try to contradict me, I own you. I own the house you live in. The business your piece of shit husband works for. Everything. Just know if your venom spills out to Lottie again, I will ruin you.”
Yep. Definitely rubbing my thighs together now.
The woman—who I still wasn’t sure of her relation to Kaleb. Was she his mother? She had to be.
“Son, why would you ever think I be so mean to your girlfriend?” It was like a switch flipped and the raging bitch turned into a saccharine sweet woman instantly. She was so fake, It made me want to throw up.
My nose scrunched up and I looked the woman up and down, my face saying what my mouth wouldn’t.
Kaleb didn’t miss the look. Those hazel depths caught mine and held for brief seconds, but that’s all that was needed.
“Kaleb, sweetie, I’ve been trying to call you.” She tried to place her hand on his arm, but he shrugged it off. “Russell would love to discuss a joint business venture with you that we both think will be very lucrative.”
Eww. Just eww.
Everything about this woman set off creepy radar. I wanted nothing to do with her.
And I didn’t want Kaleb to either.
But judging by the color deepening on his face, he hated every breath this woman took.
“Go.” Kaleb shook his head and pointed away from the house.
“But Kaleb—"
“Enough,” he cut her off, his voice now tired and weary. “Just enough, Mother. Please leave.”
His eyes briefly meet mine, but the flash of pain is enough to make me suck in a breath. The agony was so visceral, it was like a knife was piercing my own gut.
She huffed and stuck her nose in the air. She took a few steps toward Kaleb and spoke low. “We’ll discuss this another time. When only polite company is present.”
I’m not sure if she said it just loud enough for me to hear, or if she wasn't aware of her volume, but I heard the words all the same.
I wish they didn’t hurt. I wish I could say that I could ignore this bitch of a woman and let her words fall off me like water off a ducks back, but I couldn't.
Because I’m still a scared girl thinking I’m not good enough for these three men I’m in love with.
And some part of her sensed it like a piranha smelling blood in the water.
“Time for you to leave Patrice.” Andrei appeared, the fury of hell radiating in his eyes. “Now. Before I remove you myself, and you really won't like it if I have to do that. Because it may involve some concrete shoes and the bottom of the river."
I know it was cliche, but the fire in Andrei's eyes made me squirm. The man was an absolute teddy bear with me, but everyone else was fair game.
And obviously Kaleb's mother was on his shit list.
Patrice huffed--a sound I suspected she used frequently--and strode off toward her shiny BMW parked in the driveway.
Before she opened the driver's side door, she glanced at Kaleb.
"Son, I suggest you check your emails regarding the deal.
" Her sharp eyes flitted briefly to me, before trailing back to Kaleb. "For your little fake family's sake."
A shiver ran down my spine as she got in the car and peeled out of the driveway.
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" I whispered, not directing the question at anyone specifically.
Kaleb sighed. "That would be my mother for you."
Andrei muttered under his breath in Russian, and I hoped it was a curse that would keep the evil woman out of our lives.