Page 17 of Bona Fide

“It won’t do shit,” I seeth, twirling around to face her. “It’ll make me look like I can’t stand you because I loathe you. You’re the most revolting female to even grace my vicinity. You might look great to eat on the outside, Dem, but inside you’re the definition of too opportunist with a bad aftertaste. I don’t want you. Go fuck off somewhere.”

“It will show that you’re a family man. Someone dedicated to fixing things that might have been broken at one period of time. I will stand by your side too, not only to boost your reputation but show the kind of man you are.”

I take a step in her direction, shoving my hands into the pockets of my pants because I can’t stand her being in my space. I don’t trust myself because I don’t feel like myself. Demi sucks who I am and what I’ve made of myself right out of me. She’s a parasite that keeps suctioning herself onto me and won’t let go.

“Family man,” I repeat through clenched teeth. “Funny, I was at one time, wasn’t I?”

Her eyes enlarge from my bringing up her sins but quickly soften back to normal. “It wasn’t the time for—”

“The time? You killed our baby without so much as mentioning it to me. You never thought to ask what I may have wanted to do. You kept it a dirty little secret because you didn’t want to get—what you called—fat and ugly. You murdered my baby and went shopping afterward. So fuck you, Demi. Come near me again...and see what happens.”

I begin to pivot around, but Demi’s arm shoots out to stop me, sending goosebumps and more adrenaline coursing through my body.

Ripping out of her grasp, I put some distance between us because I’m scared of what I may do—what I’m capable of.

“You’re not the one who would’ve had to go through the whole ordeal,” she fumes with a scowl.

“But I would’ve been there for you, done whatever it was you wanted because you would be carrying my child. But, you know what, maybe it was for the best because now I’m not tied to you in any other way but by name. And that, Demi, I’m going to fix.”

“Don’t threaten me,” Demi snarls with hands balled into fists. “I don’t like to be intimidated, and even then, you failed at it. So remember who can out petty who and cause more destruction.”

I let my lips quirk, honestly, not giving two fucks right now with what’s going on in her head or what she has planned. “Have fun.”

“I’m not done talking to you about this. We haven’t decided—” Then I slam the door in her face and head back into my meeting.

Demi may be a crazy bitch, but she knows when she can and can’t lose her shit. And my office isn’t going to be one of those times where the employees I pay can play witness to her losing her shit on me.

She might think she’s back, but I can guarantee it’s not going to be in the way she wants.

She wants to play the bad guy, I’m going to let her have the starring lead for all of America to see.

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