Page 32 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

“I’ve got this,” I assure her, giving her a nod.

Liz gives Becky one last sharp look before stepping out of the office, closing the door behind her. I barely hold back a sigh of frustration as Becky crosses her arms. She narrows her eyes at me, like she’s got some kind of upper hand.

"You should fire her," Becky snaps, her voice dripping with disdain.

I stare at her incredulously. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Nate. She was rude, and I won’t have my son being around someone like that."

I blink, trying to process her gall.

“You do not get to dictate who I fire and who I keep, Becky. Liz was only doing her job. And for the record, you don’t get a say in who’s in my life, or who Max can be around.”

Her face hardens, but I care nothing. I'm not about to let her come waltzing back into my life like she still has any say in how I run things. And that is whether it’s at work or at home.

“I’m Max’s mother, that should count for something,” she hisses. She acts entitled to control everything because of that.

I shake my head, leaning back in my chair.

“No one is disputing that, Becky. You are his biological mother. But you walked out on him, and on me. You don’t get to show up now and act like you’re in charge.”

She flinches, her face tightening for a second before she masks it with indifference.

“I didn’t walk out. I needed time.”

“Time?” I scoff, standing up.

“Four years is more than ‘time,’ Becky. You disappeared with your lover without looking back. Now you think you can waltz back into Max’s life just like that?”

She pouts, stepping closer to my desk, and I can tell she’s trying to play the victim card.

“That is in the past and that is why I came back to fix everything Nate. Max needs both of his parents to be happy. I know I made mistakes, but we can fix this. We can fix us for his sake.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. She doesn’t understand, she never has.

“Max’s happiness has always been my priority. But we—” I gesture between the two of us,

“We are done. Done. That is never going to happen again.”

“Why not?” Becky’s voice rises, and she steps closer, her perfume too sweet, too suffocating.

“I was stupid, I know that. Following Cole—” she spits out his name like it disgusts her now.

“It was the worst mistake of my life. I realize that now. Let’s be a family again, Nate. For Max.”

I close my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose, trying to stay calm. I’ve had this conversation in my head so many times, preparing for the moment she’d try to weasel her way back in. But it still hits hard, hearing her say it.

“I don’t care about Cole, Becky." I open my eyes to meet her gaze.

“We can never get back together. It is over. I’ll make sure Max knows you’re back, when the time is right. And we’ll figure out an arrangement for you to see him, but that’s as far as this goes. You will see him only when I have prepared him, understand?”

She narrows her eyes, studying me like she doesn’t believe it.

“You haven’t moved on, Nate. That’s why you’re still avoiding me, isn’t it? You still love me.”

Her assumption almost makes me laugh out loud. The arrogance, the sheer audacity of her to think she still has any hold over me.

“Love you?” I step closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous low. “No Becky, I’ve moved on. In fact, I’m in a relationship now.”

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