Page 5 of Enemy Ex's Secret Baby

That plan is completely up in the air now that Gillian has helmed with protest and practical smear campaign against Hitchins Property Development, preventing us from making any moves on getting this condo built.

It’s been nothing but a pain my ass.

But how the hell do I deal with Gillian?

Your guess is as good as mine.

“Just, you know, give her options. I’m happy to throw some money her way so she can send that kid of hers to a private school instead of Seton. Although Kent should have the money, shouldn’t he?”

I roll my eyes. “You know her. She’s into all of that stuff.” Since we were little, Gillian has been very righteous. Miss Holier-Than-Thou with her veganism and her emphasis on community care. Always thinking she’s better than everyone though she’s just mucking about. The sad thing is nothing will ever change.

That’s why I try not to get involved. Keep things simple. I work, I play, I have my morning runs and that’s that. Nothing complicated. No causes. No passion.

Maybe something is wrong with me, but I’m okay with that. Passion just makes life complicated.

I’ve learned that the hard way.

“Right...community, not condos,” Dad says and then pretends to gag.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I whip it out and see a text from Lola.

Come meet Harley’s baby!

I sigh. I told her I’d come. I’m not a monster. After all, the Solace girls and us Hitchins have been friends since childhood. Just because we’ve grown in different directions doesn’t mean that shared history just disappears. “Dad, I gotta go. Harley just had her baby and–”

“Yes, go, go. I have to start making some calls.”

I give him a sympathetic glance. “Will you please get to bed on time tonight?”

My father’s bulldoggish expression softens. “Axel–”

“Your doctor says you need your eight hours.”

He sighs. “Yes, I’ll go to sleep on time.”

He’s such a bad liar. “And your meds. Don’t forget to take–”

“I’ll be fine. Go, son.”

I look at my dad one last moment before leaving. I feel like there’s a lock at the base of my neck, pulling all my bones too close together. Hopefully, I can get in and out of this without going toe to toe with Gillian.

Otherwise, we might have a problem.

* * *

I press the glowing elevator button for the fifteenth time. This elevator is so fucking slow. I’ve been standing here waiting for it for what feels like ages. In reality, it probably hasn’t been more than thirty seconds. I don’t know why I’m in so much of a rush. Not like this baby is going to get up and leave. But I’m always in a rush these days. Always trying to get things done as fast as possible. Some might say I have a problem with work-life balance, but that’s not a problem when your work is your life.

The elevator finally dings, a red light glowing above the one that’s arrived.

“Finally,” I mumble to myself and walk right up to the silver doors to sneak through as fast as possible.

I’ve made a terrible calculation, though, and forgotten to leave berth for anyone coming off the elevator. As soon as they slide open, I feel my face go paper white.

“Yes, we can go, but stop jumping so we can–” Gillian Solace comes off the elevator with her head turned back, eyes on her daughter, Stella, and walks smack into me before I can step aside. “Oh my god!” she exclaims, her face snapping to mine with terror in her eyes.

I get a flash of the image of her I just saw in the paper, her passionate fury almost slapping me in the face. “Sorry, sorry, I–”

“Axel, what the–” she stops short of cursing and clutches the neckline of her floral peasant blouse. “What are you doing here?”

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