Ex’s Accidental Baby (Alpha Billionaire Daddies #5)

1. Meredith

Chapter One

MEREDITH

“Meredith Whitlock, what are you doing with that awful bag?”

My mother’s voice makes me cringe as I drag my bag on the lush carpet down the hallway.

“Taking my dirty clothes to the laundry room.” My teeth grit together.

“Why on earth would you do that? The staff?—”

“I don’t want someone else doing my laundry, Mother. I prefer to do it myself.”

I turn, and my mother is staring at me as if I’ve lost my mind.

Before my father and brother went no contact with her because of what she did to Lillian, that look in her eyes would have made me recoil. Mallory Whitlock’s stare has brought many powerful people to their knees.

Now, I’m the only one still talking to her. I would go no-contact too if I had my own place. Since I still don’t, I have to suck it up for a bit longer, because there is no way that I’m going to crash at my dad’s or Grayson’s. Grayson and Dad have their arms full with work, and Grayson has his family to take care of on top of that, and I refuse to add myself to their workload.

So, I just keep walking, ignoring her, and when I’m inside the laundry room, it’s finally quiet, the hum of the dryer the only noise in the house. I’ve already done one load, and this is the last of my laundry.

I’m glad to be able to just be by myself for a bit and do this mindless task because my mind is at a whirlwind.

I’ve got an important day today, and I can’t let my mother spoil it.

I sit on top of the dryer, liking the warmth, and I scroll through my phone. I’ve got texts from my sister-in-law, wishing me luck.

I smile.

Lillian came into our lives like a hurricane, but my brother has never been happier. And I love having their babies to play with. I absolutely love them.

I don’t have any kids of my own. Not because of a medical issue or anything. I just... haven’t found the right guy.

For a long time, I thought I had.

But I’m not going to think about that. Because right now, I have an opportunity to get the hell out of this mansion and live my own life.

I know it’d be easy to get a job at my mother’s foundation or my father’s company, but that’s not what I want. I’m too old to have never had a job outside of college, and I can’t expect to get in on the ground floor anywhere amazing.

I don’t have the experience or the degree–thanks to a certain someone.

But I promised myself I wouldn’t think about him today. Even if he did ruin my life.

I take a deep breath when the dryer beeps, finally getting into motion and putting on my second load. I take the clothes out of the dryer and hold them in my arms to take them back to my room. I’m just washing socks and underwear in the first load–my suit had to be dry-cleaned, of course.

I may not have a job or a degree, but I’ve got a trust fund, and I need to make an impression, so my pantsuit is a big name, and it’s very expensive.

It’s a pastel purple color, and I hope they appreciate the yellow dress shirt I wear underneath.

I get dressed quickly, working on my hair and makeup before I transfer my second load to the dryer.

By the time my clothes are done, it’s nearly time for my interview.

“Purple? And white shoes after Labor Day?” my mother drawls as I hurry down the stairs.

My hands turn into fists at my sides. “Sorry I’m not up with the latest trends, Mother.”

“At least you’re not wearing shoulder pads.”

I’m faced away from her, so I roll my eyes. “Be back later.”

“Where are you going?”

“Brunch with friends,” I lie easily, and my mother hums in the back of her throat.

I rush to open the door and get out to my car, not wanting another sideways comment from her.

I love my mother, I really do, but she’s one of the most critical people in the whole world. And today, criticism is the last thing I need.

I’m trembling all the way there.

It’s a small, local place, nothing my parents would ever expect. It’s a small mechanic’s office, and they’re looking for a receptionist.

I’m fifteen minutes early, and I have an inner fight with myself about staying in the car for a while or going in.

Eventually, I decide to go in early, figure it shows punctuality. I take the deepest breath of fresh air and head into the office.

It’s small, just one story, and it’s about the size of my bedroom, if I’m honest. Desks sit just a few inches next to each other, but there’s a bay in the back which allows the mechanics to work on cars.

I smile brightly at the woman at the front desk.

She smiles back. “Hello, are you needing your car serviced?”

“No, ma’am. I’m here for an interview. I’m Meredith Whitlock?”

“Miss Whitlock! Yes, Dean is excited to see you today. You know you’re only one of two people who applied for the job.”

“I can’t imagine why.” But I actually can.

The shop is in kind of a bad part of town, but it's so far away from every place either of my parents frequents that it’s perfect for me.

I don’t want them to get even a whiff of my plans for a new life.

Dean Green, the owner, comes then and leads me to his office, where we sit on opposite sides of his desk. He gives me a half-smile that shows how handsome he must have been twenty years ago. He’s gone all white and wrinkled now, but something about that boyish smile tells me he used to be a looker.

“I know we’re kind of in a bad area, but I walk everyone to their cars at the end of the day. Is that a problem for you?”

“No, of course not. I think that’s very chivalrous of you, Mr. Green.”

His smile spreads across his face. “The missus used to say I was her knight in shining armor.”

“Oh, does she help you with the store?”

His face falls, smile getting smaller. “No, she passed about five years ago.”

My hand flies to my mouth. “I’m so sorry?—”

He shakes his head. “No apologies needed. She was a light in my life for the time we had.”

He asks me a few more questions and then looks at me curiously.

“You didn’t get your degree?”

I take a long breath. I expected this question but somehow, it still catches me off guard.

“I did not. I had plans to go to law school, but...” I’m not sure how to explain.

“Life happened?”

I look up at him. He’s still smiling softly, not looking judgmental or critical at all.

“Something like that,” I mutter, my cheeks heating.

If I told him the true reason and all the details, he might think I’m stupid. I think I’m stupid.

“I understand. I have a few other candidates, Miss Whitlock, but I’ll tell you that you’re head and shoulders above the rest so far.”

I smile. “Really?”

He nods. “You’re almost too qualified, with your education level. You know it’s only a receptionist position.”

“Yes, of course. I want to... start from the bottom, so to speak.” I look at him a moment longer and then sigh. “Actually, I want to tell you the truth, Mr. Green.”

Dean raises a white eyebrow. “And what’s that, Miss Whitlock?”

I wring my hands in my lap. “My parents have controlled me my entire life. And I haven’t had a real job since college because... Well, something happened, and I leaned on them. Too much.”

“And now you want out?”

“Yes.” I let out a breath, looking up at him.

He shrugs. “I can understand that. It doesn’t make any difference to me.”

I break out in a smile. “Is there anything I can do to convince you I’m right for the position?”

“Don’t think you have to.” He picks up the phone, dialing an extension. “Rita, cancel my future interviews and bring Miss Whitlock her paperwork.”

I want to squeal, but that feels a little premature. I still have to do well at this job and save up all my money to leave.

“Thank you so much.”

“Thank you, Miss Whitlock. I think you’ll be a fine addition to the team around here.”

He stands and ushers me out into the main office, where I meet Rita–a gorgeous redhead around sixty-year-old.

“Good morning, lovely to meet you, Miss Whitlock.” She shakes my hand as I stand there almost in shock that I got hired on the spot.

“You too, Mrs.—”

“Ms. Johnson. But you can call me Rita. Everyone does.”

“Okay, Rita. You can call me Meredith.”

“Happy to have you on board, Meredith.”

After some paperwork and about an hour of training videos, I’m bouncing my way back to my car. It’s still early in the day, so Mr. Green didn’t offer to walk me.

I get inside and yell, pumping my fists. I call my best friend immediately.

Lola has been my ride or die since we were in middle school. I tell her any and everything.

She answers on the second ring, and I just yell into the phone.

“You burst my eardrum, but I guess this means you got the job?” There’s laughter in her voice.

“I did! We have to celebrate. I start on Monday.”

“I have wine, you just bring yourself.”

“Be there in ten.”

I park in the visitor parking lot at her gated community and rush inside.

“Look at you, all employed,” she drawls, looking at my pantsuit.

I flush, smiling wide. “At long last.”

“You know I’ve always told you that you can move in here.”

I shake my head. “No charity. I want to make it on my own.”

She sighs. “I understand. I was a terrible roommate in college.”

I laugh out loud. “You really were.”

“We both were.”

“You’re right.”

“I blame Jacob and?—”

I clap my hand over her mouth. “We don’t speak those names in this house.”

She breathes out of her nose and pulls away, laughing. “We do when we’ve had too much wine.”

“Well, we haven’t... yet.” I grin, heading to the kitchen and pouring us some red.

I fill each glass up more than what my mother considers classy. It’s a celebration, after all.

After one glass, I’m already feeling a bit tipsy, but I’m in a great mood.

Nothing can bring me down. I’m about to have everything I’ve ever wanted.

Well. Most of it, anyway. But I have to start somewhere.

All I need to do now is not screw anything up.