Page 3 of One Baddie for Three Daddies

The plan after they graduated was for the three of them to go into business together. His absence gnaws at me, creating a strange imbalance.

I shake my head, pushing those memories aside. I can't let the past cloud my focus. I'm here to make an impression, not to relive old mistakes. I straighten my shoulders, steadying my breathing.

Whatever happened before, this is a new chapter, and I need to keep my head in the game. If I let emotions get in the way now, I'll never get through this meeting with my dignity intact.

2

ALEX

Six years. Six damn years.

I sit in the conference room, staring at the woman across from me. Bianca Preston. Bia.

She looks every bit as stunning as she always did. Her long brown box braids frame her face, highlighting those deep, intelligent eyes that always saw right through me. She’s more polished now, dressed in a sleek blazer and pants that scream professionalism, but there’s still that spark of spontaneity in her eyes.

We had no idea it was her we were hiring for the job. Someone else set up the meeting for us. It’s like fate decided to have a laugh at our expense.

Liam sits next to me, and I can practically feel the tension rolling off him. He’s gripping his pen like it’s a lifeline, his knuckles white.

Bianca’s presence has him on edge, but he’s doing his best to keep his cool. It’s not easy for him; she broke his heart when she left without a word all those years ago. Shit, she broke all our hearts.

I glance at Liam. He meets my eyes for a brief second before we both turn our attention to Bianca.

“Okay now that the boring stuff is out of the way, Bianca, why don’t you walk us through your design concept?” Rebecca prompts.

Bianca nods, before standing up and walking over to the projector screen. Her movements are graceful, confident. She clicks through her presentation with ease, outlining her vision for our newest property with precision and passion.

As she speaks, I can’t help but admire her a little. She’s grown so much since we last saw each other. Her confidence is palpable, filling the room as she explains her ideas with enthusiasm.

“Our goal is to create a space that is both modern and welcoming,” Bianca says, steadily and sure. “We want potential buyers to walk in and immediately feel at home.”

She glances at me briefly before continuing with her presentation. There’s a flicker of recognition in her eyes when they meet mine, but she doesn’t falter.

Liam sits back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. His expression is hard to read, but I know him well enough to understand the conflict there. He wants to be impressed by her work – hell, he is impressed – but there’s still that wall he built up after she left.

“Thank you, Bianca,” Rebecca says as Bianca wraps up her presentation.

Bianca returns to her seat, looking calm and collected despite the intensity of the situation.

I can't help but steal glances at Bianca as Sarah drones on about the project timeline. Her focus is unwavering, her eyes locked on Sarah as if she’s hanging on every word. Liam, on the other hand, is back to gripping his pen like it’s the only thing keeping him tethered to reality. He’d rather die than admit Bianca is good at what she does.

Sarah’s voice fades into the background as I study Bianca. She’s got this quiet confidence that draws people in. It’s in the way she carries herself, the way she speaks with authority without coming off as arrogant. It’s no wonder she landed this gig; she’s a force to be reckoned with.

I force myself to look away before anyone notices. The last thing we need is for someone to pick up on the tension crackling between us. Pretending we don’t know each other is harder than I thought it’d be, especially with all these memories rushing back.

“Alex, any thoughts on the proposed timeline?” Sarah asks, pulling me back into the conversation.

“Yeah,” I say, clearing my throat. “I think Bianca’s timeline is solid. We might need to make a few adjustments once construction starts, but overall, it looks doable.”

Liam nods in agreement, though his jaw is still clenched tight. “I agree. It’s ambitious, but I think we can pull it off.”

Bianca flashes a brief smile, and for a moment, there's a hint of relief in her eyes. She needed that validation from us, even if she won’t admit it.

Sarah continues outlining the next steps, and I try to focus on her words instead of getting lost in my thoughts about Bianca. It’s not easy; every time I glance in her direction, I’m reminded of all those nights we spent together, laughing and dreaming about the future.

Liam shifts in his seat beside me, his tension palpable. He’s struggling more than I am to keep up this façade of professionalism. But despite everything, he’s holding it together for the sake of the project.

Bianca leans forward slightly, her attention fully on Sarah as she speaks. She’s so damn professional it hurts – like we’re just business associates who’ve never shared anything deeper than a handshake.

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