Page 12 of Baby for My Billionaire Rival

I can tell Fig is eating this up. And so am I. Caroline’s forehead is crinkling as she thinks of her next point and it’s so fuckingcuteit makes me want to scream. Why does someone I dislike as much as Caroline Gladstone have to be one of the most decent-looking girls I’ve ever seen?

“I mean, we aren’t here to worry about the ethics of capitalism when it comes to an average consumer. You might because your business deals directly with the average consumer, but my business –”

“It’s irresponsible to think that Gladstone Manufacturing is somehow above the average consumer,” I smirk, letting my eyes travel down to her diamond necklace.Don’t you dare stray any lower, Simmons. “Although I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you would believe you’re on the same level as the average customer.”

There’s a collective, “ooo” from the crowd and I have to laugh. “How old are we, guys?”

Fig tries to calm everyone down while Caroline and I square off. I might be afraid of eye contact most of the time. But not with Caroline. I have a need to intimidate. To tease. Towin.

“It might surprise you to know, Simmons, that Gladstone Manufacturing has committed to being carbon neutral in the next decade. Not only that, but we’ve already seen a twenty-five percent decrease in our carbon emissions. Though our product might not end up in the hands of consumers in a direct way, we’re doing a hell of a lot more than corporate giants like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola. And arguably they’re the kings of consumers.”

Another round of jeers from our classmates. And if I wasn’t on the receiving end of her takedown, I’d be inclined to join them. I keep my mouth shut.

“Alright, alright, that was good for now, let’s keep moving forward, shall we?” Fig says.

I drop my gaze to my notebook. Caroline looks at me a while longer before turning back to her friends and undoubtedly whispering about me.

The rest of class, I chew on my lower lip, unable to focus, thinking about how nice it would be if I could go home to my dad later and tell him everything. He’d pat my shoulder, tell me the city slickers don’t know the difference between a cup and a flange plunger and be done with it. And it would make me feel so much better.

Except Dad won’t be there when I get home. Never again.

And that makes it all feel that much worse.

Chapter 5

Caroline

“He hates me.”

“Oh come on.”

“I’m telling you, Jude, hehates my guts,” I say, pacing back and forth in the foyer of Chase’s house. “I can see it in his eyes.”

Jude looks away from the plot of wall she’s painting to narrow her eyes at me. “What do you see in his eyes, Caroline?”

I hold my hands out. “Daggers. Literal daggers.”

“Not literal.”

“Can you stop being a schoolteacher for one second and let me rant?”

Jude shrugs. “I just think you’re being negative.”

I huff. Ever since Jude and Chase entered into a relationship, she’s annoyingly cheerful and optimistic. “Chase!”

“Are you going to tell on me?” Jude scoffs.

“What?” Chase appears from the hallway, resting his hand on the wall. “I’m about to get on a call. What’s wrong?”

“Can you tell your girlfriend to validate my feelings instead of talking to me like she’s an Instagram page that advocates for toxic positivity?”

Jude gapes, her gaze flicking from me to Chase. “I am not toxically positive!”

Chase looks to the ceiling, eyes shut tight. “Caroline?”

“If you take her side in this, I swear to God, I’m going to be so mad.”

“I’m his girlfriend!” Jude cries out in defense.

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