Page 185 of Triplet Trouble For My Billionaire Boss

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The moment I hear the front dooropen, my entire body tenses.

I don’t turn around. I don’t acknowledge it. I just keep my eyes locked on the book in my lap, pretending to read the same sentence over and over again, even though I haven’t absorbed a single word.

I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting here in the living room, waiting for him to come home, but I know exactly what’s about to happen.

Cole is going to walk in, act like everything is fine, and try to smooth things over with some half-assed explanation.

And I am not in the mood for it.

Which is why I haven’t taken any of his calls.

I hear his footsteps in the foyer, the rustling of him setting down his keys, the subtle sigh he exhales like he’s exhausted.

Exhausted.

Right. Because I’m sure his day has been so emotionally draining.

I grip the book a little tighter, my nails pressing into the cover.

“Annie.”

His voice is low, cautious. Like he already knows I’m mad and is trying to gauge just how mad I am.

I don’t respond.

I flip the page—dramatically—and keep my eyes glued to the book.

Ihear him take a few steps closer. “Can we talk?”

That’s it.

That’s all it takes to snap the tight thread holding my patience together.

I slam the book shut, stand up, and finally look at him.

His tie is loose, his sleeves rolled up. He looks tired. Stressed.

And I do not care.

“Talk about what?” I say, my voice tight with barely restrained anger. “About how you left me to do this ultrasound alone?”

He exhales, rubbing a hand over his face. “Annie—”

“No.” I shake my head, jaw clenched. “You don’t get to ‘Annie’ your way out of this. You promised me, Cole.” My voice wavers, but I push through. “You said you’d be there.”

“I know.” His voice is low, strained. “Something came up.”

I let out a bitter laugh, throwing my hands in the air. “Yeah. That’s what your very detailed text said. Something always comes up with you!”

“That’s not fair. I tried to call you, Annie. You wouldn’t answer.”

“No,” I scoff. “Because I was getting an ultrasound. By myself. Tell me, Cole, what could have possibly been so important that you missed the firstultrasound of your child?”

Cole runs a hand through his hair, clearly trying to keep his own temper in check. “Just as I was about to leave the office, someone showed up—”

I bark out a humorless laugh, cutting him off. “Oh, someone? Wow, that must have been so inconvenient for you.”

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