Page 71 of Enemy Ex's Secret Baby

I watch him as he approaches me. He’s never looked older than right now. I wish I could give him a hug. “How so?”

“You think I’ve worked my whole life for you to tear my company down in a mere hour?”

“Our company,” I correct. “It’s our company, isn’t it?”

Dad tries to keep his breath steady.

“Dad, I think it’s time you retire,” I say. “I mean no disrespect to your work and everything you’ve done to put us in the position we’re in now, but it’s time you rest. And let me take care of you.”

His brow flinches for the briefest moment. As if he might be grateful. That’s not the Paul Hitchins way, though. “You don’t have what it takes to keep Hitchins afloat. How can you take care of me when you have to declare bankruptcy?”

I don’t think my father has ever believed in me. He’s believed in what he’s taught me and the things I’ve done to try and follow in his footsteps. But he’s never believed in what I might be capable of myself. That’s why he disowned Jeremiah. He was too far afield of what Dad deemed to be “his” way. After the life Dad has had, I can’t blame him for wanting to go the safe route.

“I love you, Dad,” I say.

His head jerks back as if I’ve just slapped him in the face.

“I’ve never wanted to do anything but make you and Mom proud.”

At the mention of my mother, the rims of his eyes go red. “Um…” Dad looks away. “I’ll speak with you later.” He walks off before he can show even an inch more of emotion.

I sigh, alone in the conference room. That was hard. And yet, I still feel lighter than air. Because Gillian is behind every thought and every word I say. I would not have had the confidence to do this if I hadn’t told her the truth of my feelings for her and gotten her in my corner.

She’ll be so proud of me. More than that, she’ll be so happy. I want nothing more than to make her happy the rest of my life.

My phone starts ringing in my pocket. Lola’s calling. I feel my proverbial tail bend between my legs. We still have to tell her. Finding the right time feels impossible. It’s certainly not right now. “Hey, sis,” I answer.

“What time can I expect you to come pick me up?”

We’re meeting Jeremiah for lunch, and I told Lola I’d pick her up from the bakery on my way, so we only had to take one car. I check my watch. “I’m at the Bunker Hill office now. I’ll be there in ten.”

“A true ten or a businessman ten?”

I hear Gillian giggle in the background and my heart soars. “A true ten. I’m leaving now.”

“See you soon!”

We hang up and I hurry out of the office, softly repeating to myself how I’m going to say hello to Gillian so that Lola doesn’t suspect a thing.

23

GILLIAN

Lola hangs up the phone. “Axel is picking me up in ten.”

“Sounds good.” In a way, I felt like I was on the phone with Axel too. I could hear his voice through the speaker. It feels wrong to keep lying to Lola like this. And even more wrong that I’m continuing to lie to him. I have to do one thing at a time.

Axel knowing that Stella is his daughter has to come first.

“Okay…I’m going to go check on the bread before I go,” Lola says with a sigh. “Need me to do anything before I take off?”

“No, I think I’ll be good,” I say.

“If you get a minute, the oatmeal cookies should probably be ready to be frosted by the time I’m gone and we need those ready by four.”

I make a mental note. “Oatmeal crème pies, got it.”

“And if you can restock the beverage cooler, especially–”

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