Page 25 of Baby for My Enemy Billionaire

“Dad, come on. Why are you so slow?” Katie complains as she tugs me along.

“You do realize that I’m old compared to you, Katie? I can’t move as fast.”

“You’re spritely compared to me. Just slow down. We’ll get there eventually.” I manage to get her to walk normally so I can keep up with her. “Now, would you drop dragging me around? You’re a teenager, not a toddler. Do you want me to buy reins for you?”

Katie sticks her tongue out at me.

“You couldn’t put those on me if you tried.”

“I couldn’t when you were a toddler, either,” I mutter. Aloud: “Where are we going, anyway? You wouldn’t tell me.”

“You know I’ve been wanting some new books to read?”

“I recall you saying something like that this morning.”

“Dad! I’ve been asking for new books for weeks now!” Katie rolls her eyes. “God, you are getting old if you can’t remember that.”

Now I’m confused. I like to think that my memory is pretty good, and I would remember something like that. Katie likes to read but hasn’t mentioned wanting new books lately. And this excitement seems a little out of place after she’s spent most of the week staying in her room, either sleeping, doing her schoolwork, or watching YouTube videos. Her mood has been low because she hasn’t been able to use her arm as she wanted. Now she’s bouncing around, excited to get books.

What’s going on?

“Where is this bookstore, anyway?” I ask as I look around. “I didn’t think there was one around here. Why not Waterstones?”

“They’re expensive. Besides, I like the smaller bookstores.”

“Since when?”

Katie huffs.

“Since always. Keep up, Dad.” We turn a corner, and she points. “There it is! I knew it would be here!”

I see a smart-looking shop between a hairdressing salon and a quaint-looking café across the street. Its bright red front is hard to miss, along with ‘The Little Red Bookshop’ printed in gold above the door.

I had thought this place felt familiar, but now I’m looking at the bookstore, I realize what this place is. It’s the store I raised the rent on just recently to match the market price. This is one of my tenants.

Oh, God, what if I go in and they recognize me? That’s going to be awkward. But I can’t tell Katie that. She’s going to be suspicious of me if I say anything.

“Do…do you think you’ll be able to find anything there?” I ask. “It doesn’t look that big.”

“I don’t need a big store, Dad. It makes it easier to find something if it’s smaller.” Katie tugs me across the road after a car goes past. “Let’s go inside. I want to see what they’ve got.”

“How about I stay outside and let you explore on your own?” I suggest quickly. “You’re thirteen now, so you don’t need me also to go in to hold your hand.”

Katie laughs.

“Dad, I need your money to pay for the books, right? And I’m sure you’ll find something in there as well.”

“I don’t…”

“There’s no harm in trying, is there? Come on. Please?”

I should be refusing or telling Katie to move on, but I can’t deny her anything. When it comes to my daughter, that’s easier said than done. I take a deep breath and nod.

“Okay. But we can’t stay long. We’ve got some other errands to do, remember?”

Katie beams and almost tugs me off my feet as she hurries over, almost pressing her nose to the glass as she looks in.

“Careful!” I warn. “Remember your arm!”

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