Page 106 of Calamity Rayne Knocked Up

“Remington, settle down?—”

“Do not tell me to settle down, Meyers!”

I drew back again, shocked he would speak to me that way. My chin trembled as I stared at his red face. My main concern was for his heart and his blood pressure. “Don’t yell at me.”

He shook his head and dropped his volume. “I always knew this would happen.”

My vision blurred. “What are you talking about?”

“Your interests are divided. I can’t trust you.”

I gaped at him. I would have been less shocked if he’d slapped me. “Remington, stop. You’re being ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous? That buyout would have made this family millions, but you and your husband?—”

“Enough!” Hale stormed. “Rayne had nothing to do with my actions. I approached Xander. I heard him out, and he and I came to an understanding. Rayne wasn’t even there. She’s blameless in this.”

A tear fell past my lashes as I stared at Remington in shock. “How could you?” I rasped. My chin trembled, but I said what I needed to say. “Is that what you honestly believe, Remington? That you can’t trust me?”

He knocked a box of tissues forward with his knuckles and turned away from me. “Pull yourself together, Meyers.”

“No, you look at me and answer me. Is that what you believe?”

Remington slowly met my stare but didn’t have the guts to answer. Hale stood protectively by my side but didn’t interrupt.

I took a step closer to his desk. “I would never knowingly betray youor do anything to hurt you, Remington. I have put you before my husband and child more times than I can count. The fact that you can make such an accusation—” My throat closed around my words, and my heart seemed to shake in my chest. “I just can’t believe you.”

“It’s okay, baby.” Hale touched my back when I could barely get the words past the lump in my throat. “You don’t have to do this.”

“No, it’s not okay.” I straightened my spine and lifted my chin. “Remington, I quit.”

Screw Santa

“Is that another one?” I asked, as I grunted and stretched, pulling the wrapping paper over the gift.

Hale read the card. “Looks like it.”

“Send it back.”

It had been four weeks, and Remington still hadn’t apologized or tried to make things right. He had, however, sent numerous gifts to Elara, posed as Christmas presents, but she hadn’t accepted a single one. If he wanted to play the doting grandfather card, he could bring his mean ass to our front door and act like a decent human being.

I whined when I realized I left the tape out of reach.

“I don’t know why you insist onwrapping everything yourself. We have people for?—”

“I am not going to letpeoplewrap my daughter’s Christmas presents, Hale. It’s the parents’ job. Now, hand me the fucking tape.”

My sciatica was killing me, despite my ass going numb an hour ago. I would have moved to a more comfortable position, but I couldn’t get up.

Snatching the tape from his hand, I snapped, “You could help.”

“I am helping. I did all the little things in her stocking.”

The paper ripped as I tightened it around the corner of the box. “Son of a!” I flopped back in defeat. “I give up!”

Hale chuckled and crawled across the carpet to me, shoving the gift away. “The magic of Christmas is coming down the stairs and finding everything done, baby. Let me take care of all of this for you.”

My body slid down the sofa until my back was on the floor. I needed a hug, yet I was being as approachable as a cactus. “I’m sorry.”

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