Page 50 of Baby for My Enemy Billionaire

“I’m here. I’m here.” I bat her hand away. “Would you stop doing that?”

“Well, if you will get distracted…”

“I’m fine.” I take a deep breath and pick up my bag from the bed, slinging it over my shoulder. “Okay, let’s go. I want to get this over with, and I’m going to be late if we don’t get a move on.”

“At least the snow’s melted enough so we can travel.” Maddison leads the way to the door, shrugging on her coat and slinging her scarf around her neck. “And that you don’t need to go far. It would be tough if you made that appointment and couldn’t get there unless you started walking yesterday.”

“With tennis rackets strapped to my feet as well,” I grunt, putting my bag down long enough to put my thick duffel coat on. It’s not exactly professional attire, but in this weather, I don’t give a damn. “I just hope he doesn’t dismiss me almost immediately.”

“Of course, he’s not going to do that.”

“You sound very sure of yourself.”

Maddison smiles as she opens the door.

“Someone’s got to be optimistic in this situation.”

I don’t know what to say to that. I simply lock up my apartment and head downstairs after my friend, getting into her car. I would be using mine, but it doesn’t do well with this weather, but Maddison’s SUV is perfect. She’s taking time out of her day to help me, and I’m grateful for it. As we get into the car and head off, I make a mental note to take her out to dinner at some point as a thank you.

If I have any money to take her out, that is. Pretty much everything I have will go into making sure my store stays open. If I can’t get my landlord to change things, I will be screwed.

We finally arrive at the building, and Maddison pulls up on the curb. She looks up at the building in question and whistles.

“This is the address? Fucking hell, it’s enormous.”

“I know. I think that it can’t be right.” I check the address on my phone. “But it is. His offices are here.”

“Is he like a billionaire or something? How does a landlord have a place like this?”

“He must have quite a few places.”

“What is his name again?”

“Clements. I only know him as Mr. Clements. Both him and his father.”

Although I know him as just that, there is something at the back of my mind telling me that I know that name other than as my landlord. But where from? I can’t think where it could be familiar to me.

“Well, you’d better get out and go see what you can do with him.” Maddison gestures at a nearby sign. “I can’t stay here forever, so I’d better drive around the block for a while.”

“I saw a coffee house a bit further back. You could wait there for me.”

“Perfect. Just text me when you’re done.” Maddison reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Good luck. But I’m sure you won’t need it.”

I don’t know what to say, although I will surely need plenty of luck. Somehow, this isn’t going to go the way Maddison thinks.

I wish I had her confidence and that she’s going instead of me.

Heading into the large lobby, I approach the desk and introduce myself. It’s not long before I’m going up in the elevator to the office at the top of the building. Of course, Mr. Clements has his office right at the top. It’s hard to imagine him having it further down and letting his underlings go above him.

Was Mr. Clements’ father like this when he was alive? He always seemed so kind and generous towards me. The one time I did meet him, he seemed pretty laidback and generous. And our correspondences said he was willing to help those under his care—or in his buildings, so to speak.

I doubt the son is going to be the same.

When I leave the elevator, I see a pretty brunette sitting at a large desk outside an office with glass walls. Two men are inside with their backs to me, looking over something on a screen in the corner of the room. They look familiar, but I can’t place them. I’m also struggling from sleep deprivation and nervous about this meeting, so my mind is not completely firing on all cylinders.

The brunette looks up and gives me one of those professional smiles that don’t reach all the way to the eyes.

“Good morning, ma’am.”

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