Page 46 of Billion Dollar Dispute

What’s gotten into me?I need to snap out of this, and fast. But he’s making it impossible by keeping his hand on my thigh.

I realize she’s not far away; she’s sitting directly across from me. “Sorry,” I murmur. “What did you say?”

“Where did you go?” Harvey asks, a wolfish grin making me suddenly worry he can read my mind.

I straighten my back as my gaze meets Molly’s.

“We were talking about our hobbies. It’s your turn,” she says.

“Hobbies,” I repeat.

“Yeah,” Harvey says with an expectant look.

“Um, I don’t really have any because I spend all my time with Chad.”

“What do you two do?” he asks. His hand retracts, and though I want to protest, I start talking to avoid any further physical contact. I’m so deprived of touch that I’m craving it from the person I shouldn’t.

“We watch movies. Mainly Marvel or Disney ones.” Once I start, I can’t stop. “My life changed when I had Chad. There wasn’t any free time to do what I used to do.”

“And what did you used to do?” he pries.

“Dance classes, reading, travelling.” I sigh. When was the last time I did any of that?

I gave up dance classes when I fell pregnant… seven years ago.

Reading? That was mostly during holidays or long weekends, but the last time I read was last year.

Traveling? The last vacation was my honeymoon in Bali. Before that, I used to travel with friends every few years. I was so carefree back then. Now, I don’t even recognize that person. She’s so different from the stressed-out one I’ve become.

To steer the conversation away from why I don’t do those things anymore, I add, “Now I work or hang out with Chad.”

“He beat me and Hugo at Chutes and Ladders the other night,” Molly chimes in.

No surprise there. We play together often because it’s a game I played with my dad and now with Chad. “Yeah, he’s competitive,” I mutter.

“I wonder where he gets that from?” Harvey teases.

“I’m not competitive,” I argue, with a raised eyebrow.

Molly and Harvey look at me like I’m joking.

“What?” I say, feeling offended.

“You can’t be serious,” Harvey says.

“I am serious.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“It’s not a bad thing. He’ll be successful,” Harvey says.

“Just like his momma,” Molly adds, throwing me a wink.

“Not yet,” I murmur.

“We will be. I’m not wasting my time here for it not to pay off,” Harvey adds confidently.

My mouth falls open as I stare at him for a moment.Wasting his time…

Clenching my hands into fists at my sides, my nails stab into my palms, grounding me. “No one’s holding you here.”

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