Page 77 of Primal God

I stand, making both women look at me.

“I’m sorry to have to cut this interview short, Ms. Odell, but I remembered I have another meeting. I’ll get back to you and let you know my decision.”

“Of course.” She stands, holding out her hand again. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

I shake her hand and lead her to the front door. When I come back, Lilith has slipped away again.

Fuck.

I need a drink.

The rest of my week drags by tortuously slow, and I’ve realized it’s dragging because I haven’t spent time with Lilith. When I enter a room, she leaves. When I pop in to help with bath time, she acts like I’m not there. I stay for bedtime stories, and she slips away as soon as she can. I’d think it’s just me being paranoid, but Clara asked me last night if Nanny W was mad at me.

Is she? Have I done something?

Our last real interaction was the day that she found Isadora helping me pick out a shirt for my date with Jackie. I pause. Is that what it is? Could it be that Lilith is…jealous? But that can’t be it, because she went on a date with her boyfriend right after that.

I head downstairs to my office and log onto my computer. Ms. Odell has reached out once, asking if she got the job, but I ignore that email and click the one from Alessandro instead. In it, I find a file on Adam Montgomery, Yemi’s youngest son, and Lilith’s boyfriend. Alessandro sent a small note in the email.

Santos,

Here is the info you wanted. Just remember what I said…

-A

I click the file and scroll through the basic info.

Adam is a few years older than Lilith. He attended the same university until he was kicked out for an unknown reason. Luckily, Alessandro is good at his job and found out why. Partying with underaged students and buying them so much alcohol that two were sent to the hospital. His older brother got him out of legal trouble, so there’s nothing on his permanent record. That’s strike one.

Adam has done little since being kicked out of school. He lives at home and is often seen driving his mother’s sports car around. The same car he picked up Lilith in. I pause. But he’s not the one who brought her home that day. Strike two.

I don’t need to read more to know that I don’t like this prick, but I scroll through each page, getting madder and madder. I’ve thought I’ve seen it all when I come to the last section of the file. The one with the marriage agreement between Lilith and Adam. The agreement that was signed on Sunday.

“Fuck,” I hiss.

I skim over the agreement, getting madder with each word that I read. Why in the hell did Lilith sign something like this? Did she even read it? Because this agreement doesn’t benefit her at all. In fact, it’s the opposite. If she breaks the contract, she will owe her uncle nearly a million dollars. There’s no way in hell she has that kind of money. I skim the document again. If she ends the marriage down the road, Adam gets custody of all of their kids. I know there’s no way in hell she would ever agree to that.

Alessandro’s words dance through my mind.Took a page right out of your book. But I suppose you’re a different man these days, eh, Primal God?

Am I a different man?

I thought I was, but the feelings that have resurfaced since reading this document have me questioning everything. That’s not entirely true. These feelings have lingered just beneath the surface from the moment I met her. The question is, what do I do about it?

I’m about to walk out of my office when my phone dings.

Jackie

I can’t wait to see you tonight. Are you still picking me up or shall I meet you at your house?

Fucking hell. I rub my temples. It would make me a beast to cancel on Jackie now. I glance at the calendar on my desk. But this just might work out in my favor. Lilith is taking the twins to a sleepover. Mrs. Carter insisted that Isadora stay too, saying she had a nanny who would be delighted to spend time with such a cute toddler. I was going to tell her no, but now I think I’ll let her know all three of my kids will stay over.

By the time Lilith returns to an empty house, I will hopefully have sent Jackie on her way.

And then Lilith and I are going to talk.

Whether she wants to or not.

Let’s meet at my place.

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