Page 29 of Enemy Ex's Secret Baby

I blink at him.

“I want you to call her.”

I can’t hold back my laughter. “Call her?”

Dad crosses his arms over his chest and gruffly grunts. “What’s wrong with that?”

“I can’t–I –“ I stand up and start to pace. “I can’t call her, Dad. Then she’ll think I’m interested in her.”

“Yes! That would be the point, wouldn’t it?”

I stop short and stare at him.

“Her father is a city councilmember. I know math has never been your strong suit, Axel, but–”

“You want me to pretend to date her, so the city council maybe grants us the permission to continue the build?”

“Precisely.”

I feel like I’ve been plunged underwater, the world around me going mute and slow motion. I need a moment. To think.

This is…low. Even for my dad.

I stare down at the card and then look up through the window once more. Now, I can get a good look at the backyard. All the Solace sisters are congregating together. Saturday brunch. How cute.

I can’t help but look for Gillian. Kent at the head of the table, flanked by Harley holding her new baby and Dana, then Kira and Amy, but no–”

“We’re here!” I hear Stella squeal so loud she might as well be in the room with me, not outside. She bounds into view, greeting all her aunts and grandfather with gusto.

I smile to myself.

And where Stella goes, Gillian isn’t far behind. She strolls in toting a bohemian satchel (no doubt vegan leather). Her long dirty blonde tresses look perfectly tousled by the wind, and though she moves slowly with the exhaustion of a single mother, it’s so elegant and poised.

Why does she have to be so beautiful? Why can’t she be a hideous monster instead of an absolute goddess that I can’t help but –

“Axel!” my father grouses, interrupting my daydream.

I turn back to my father, leaving the window and all daydreaming of Gillian Solace behind me. “Sorry?”

“You’ll do it, won’t you?”

I know I should just do it. Suck it up. How long could I have to keep up the charade. A couple months at most? The decision will come soon enough. All I have to do is pretend like it wasn’t for the sole purpose of getting our building permits and then I’ll be able to move on from Linda Drosney, just like I’ve moved on from every other woman in my life.

She may have crossed the line with me, but even she doesn’t deserve that kind of disrespect.

“Don’t you think that’s going too far, Dad?”

He chuckles. “We have to get this built, son.”

“Sure, but…that’s…I’m not willing to go that far.”

The light doesn’t change in the room, but a shadow passes over my dad’s face. He just has this uncanny ability to create darkness out of nowhere. It’s terrifying. I used to admire it. Now, though, on the other side of it, I just want to run away. “What do you mean you’re not willing to go that far?”

“I just mean–”

“Axel, this is our empire. Our legacy.”

Oh god, he’s launching into a movie villain monologue.

---