Page 18 of The Regrettable Mistake

She smiled at that, as if it meant more than she obviously read into it. “I knew you could never hate me, no matter what.”

“That’s where you’re mistaken. You fucked with my family. People I love more than life itself.”

Julia laughed. “Yeah, you loved your wife more than life itself until the better pussy rolled into town and you just couldn’t help yourself.”

“Let’s get one thing clear,” I said. “You were never the better anything. You were a moment of dumbass nostalgia, of the longing for what I thought we could be back when you told me you were pregnant. Steph is a better woman, far better in bed, and an amazing mom to my son where you were just a shitty womb that gave him life.”

She gasped in shock. “You don’t feel that way.”

“I feel so much more. If you were to get hit by another car, I’d hope like hell you didn’t make it out alive this time, so at least then, I’d have some positive news for my son.”

“Ollie,” Caleb chastised and grabbed my arm. I didn’t even realize I’d stood as I spit the venom from my mouth. Julia’s eyes teared up as she leaned over and signed away her parental rights. Then she turned her whole attention toward Caleb. “I’ll do your stupid video, but not with him here.”

“Fine!” I huffed. “Don’t let her walk out with those papers. It wouldn’t be the first time she tried to walk away with more than she was entitled to.” I lobbed the warning at Caleb as I picked up my suit jacket and left the room. Once outside the conference room, I leaned back against the wall to give myself a minute to breathe before I faced the onslaught of attention that would hit me the minute I stepped out the office doors.

“I can try to sneak you out through the parking garage.” I turned to see Hillary, Caleb’s assistant. She smiled up at me with adoration in her eyes and I felt sick at the sight of it. She had been another woman who had tried to gain my attention, even while knowing I was married to Steph. She had probably overheard the conversations between Caleb and me over the years that led her to believe I didn’t care about my wife.

“No. I need to address the media anyway.”

“Does Caleb know? That’s probably not wise,” she insisted and shifted to go to the conference room.

“They are recording a deposition in there. Do not disturb them. Caleb already knows my plans for the day.” I walked away, headed for the elevator bank before I decided to nip this problem in the bud too.

I turned back and Hillary’s smile warmed again. “It will never happen. No matter how many adoring smiles you throw my way, how many low cut blouses and displays of cleavage you try to shove in my face, I will never go there with you.”

“W-what?” She sputtered.

“I’m a married man. Have some self-respect.”

“Not for long, from what I hear.”

“Even if I was single, I’d never go there with you.” I turned and walked away before I said something more to her that would mean my best friend had to hunt for new help. He might just end up doing that later, when I told him about our interaction, but at least he wouldn’t be left in the lurch until then.

CHAPTER 9

Steph

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked Principal James as he grabbed my arm and spun me around gently.

“You can’t be here.”

“I work here and I’m dropping off Denmark.” My son stared up at me with concern in his eyes. There was no way to hide that I had been crying all night or that his father hadn’t come home again. It was something I promised to talk to him about that evening, once we were done with school for the day.

“I think both you and Denmark should take today and Monday off. His teachers have already excused him from class.”

“Excuse me?” I questioned again. “We didn’t authorize him missing school.”

“No, but I did. It is a safety concern right now, Stephanie. I’m sure you understand that we cannot have the press, strange adults with cameras, try to sneak onto our campus for the purpose of harassing our students and staff.” His eyebrows rose, as if their movement alone could proclaim his words true.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t argue with him, considering I’d almost hit two of those photographers while pulling into the parking lot, which was why Den and I were late getting into the school.

“Are you sure this is just a couple days off?” I asked with real fear in my voice. “I didn’t do what she’s claiming. We didn’t even meet until…”

Principal James waved my concern away. “It’s nothing like that, I promise. We value you here at the school and none of us thought that was the case. I wish the press weren’t a problem or it would be business as usual. Your private affairs should remain as such.” I noticed he flinched at his own use of the word affairs, even though that wasn’t how he meant it.

“Fine.” I turned back to Den who wore a scowl on his face. “Let’s go, buddy. Seems we earned a few days off.”

“Why? Because those men jumped in front of your car and you almost hit them?”

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