Page 47 of Baby for My Enemy Billionaire

My phone buzzes again, and I reach for it as a reflex. It’s from Nate again, and I can see the message on my screen.

Do you want company tonight? I can come over and keep you warm in this storm. I know you must be scared.

“For fuck’s sake,” I growl as I toss my phone onto the table. “Do you men know how to take a hint, or are all of you faulty?”

“Was it your ex again?”

“He’s asking if I want company.” I get up and move towards the door. “I’ll be right back.”

Before he can say anything, I grab my keys and head downstairs. The door that goes up to my apartment can be locked from the inside, and when my place is the only one that can be accessed, it means I have the freedom to keep the door locked when I want it to be.

If only I could turn off the intercom, though. If Nate does come back, he might use the damn thing. Perhaps I can mute it somehow?

I make sure the door is shut and locked securely before tripping back up the stairs. The stairwell is very dark, with no light, and I keep missing my footing. I return to my apartment and shut it, locking the door and putting the chain on.

“When you leave, the keys are here.” I put them back on the hall table. “I don’t want to take the chance of Nate coming up here if he does ignore the warning to stay inside.”

“Does he have a key?”

“No, he doesn’t. That I know of, anyway.”

Finn watches me, looking bemused.

“I’m sure I’ve asked this already, but why is he so insistent on getting you back? If you’ve already told me the answer, I’m having problems getting it into my head.”

“I’m having problems getting it into my head as well.” Wrapping my arms around my middle, I wander over to the window. It’s still rattling, and the snow outside has increased. I can barely see where the curb meets the road. “He’s the one who cheated, and I get he might be asking for my forgiveness, but it’s been weeks. Surely, he would have given up.”

“Maybe he didn’t think he had a good thing until he lost it, and now he’s panicking?”

“I’m not forgiving him and taking him back. I don’t have ‘doormat’ written on my forehead.” I glare out into the storm. Even though it’s warm in my apartment - thank God the heater is up to date and doesn’t cut out - I can feel myself shivering. “He might be trying to turn this around and make it his narrative. His friends did initially believe him, but I know everyone’s put him on blast. Apart from one of our mutual friends, I’ve cut her off for ambushing me with him at the resort. Even if he got my forgiveness, I wouldn’t get back with him.”

“You deserve better than that, Jade. No man should disrespect a woman, and vice versa.”

“At least you understand that. Although…” I glance at him with a wry smile. “Given how you and I met, you think you should speak about disrespect?”

Finn snorts.

“You almost hit my daughter. Granted, she was not watching where she was going, but can you blame me for being upset my daughter was nearly hurt.”

“It’s a good thing your daughter is a sweet kid. Otherwise, I’d be arguing with you on that.” I sigh and rub my hands over my face. “What’s wrong with wanting a sweet, dependable person as a partner who is loyal and kind and looks after you? Is that too much to ask, or am I reaching too far?”

“You’re not reaching at all.” Finishing his coffee, Finn gets up and puts his mug on the table. Then he crosses the room to me. “There’s nothing wrong with having realistic expectations for what you want in your life. It’s just matching it up with what’s in front of you. That’s the problem.”

“Did you have a problem when you met your wife?”

“Not really. It just all clicked for us.” Finn sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “It’s been a while since I’ve had that connection with anyone else. Then again, I’ve not really been looking. God knows I’ve tried in recent years, but I have pretty high expectations.”

“You mean you need to lower the bar?”

“I probably need to put the bar on the floor at this rate.”

I touch his arm before I realize what I’m doing.

“At least you are admitting that you need to do it. That makes you better than other guys.”

“Given that you and I do very little but squabble, I’m surprised you would say that about me.”

“We may have been at odds in the beginning, but are we squabbling now?”

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