Page 36 of Secret Baby for a Damaged Billionaire

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snaps.

“Then why even consider it?” The words burst out of me like an explosion, my hands smacking down on the desk. “It doesn’t fit with our relationship.”

“Relationship?” she repeats incredulously, her voice laced with disbelief. “This is about work, not our relationship.”

“Work is part of our relationship,” I argue, my chest heaving. “And right now, it feels like you’re not all in.”

“Maybe….” She hesitates, her voice wavering ever so slightly. “Maybe I’m just trying to figure out where I fit in all this, Lucas.”

She stares at me with a vulnerable gaze, but I’m too wound up to back down.

“Well, figure it out,” I growl, the words dripping with frustration. “Just don’t expect me to sit here and watch you walk away from everything now.”

“No one’s walking away,” she snaps, her eyes flashing with defiance. “This doesn’t mean I’m not committed to you or our relationship.”

“Then why won’t you just refuse the offer?” I demand, my chest tightening. “If you’re really committed, then show it by turning them down.”

“Lucas, that’s not how this works,” she replies exasperatedly, throwing her hands up in the air. “I’ve given so much to help build this business, but that doesn’t mean I have to give up every other opportunity that comes my way.”

“Every other opportunity?” I snarl, stepping closer to her. “Like Dom? Is he part of these ‘opportunities’ too?”

The second his name leaves my mouth, I regret saying it. But I can’t help but feel threatened by that asshole. He keeps popping up in her life and I know how amazing she is. Of course, he would want her back.

The mention of Dom seems to be the last straw for Emily. She jumps to her feet and leans over my desk, her face contorted with anger, and she glares at me, eyes blazing.

“Don’t you ever speak to me like that again!” Her teeth grind together through each word. “Dom has nothing to do with any of this and you know it!” she yells, her voice cracking. “This is about me and my career, not some stupid rivalry between you two!”

“Stupid rivalry?” I practically shout, my anger reaching a boiling point. “You think that’s all this is? Just a stupid rivalry between two men fighting over you?”

“Maybe if you spent less time worrying about him and more time focusing on us, we wouldn’t be having this conversation!” she retorts.

“Fine!” I snap, my patience finally wearing thin. “If that’s what you want, then go! Go chase after your precious clients!”

“Fine!” she screams back, flying out of my office and slamming the door behind her.

#

It didn’t take long before I knew I’d fucked up, five seconds maybe. It was my fucking insecurity rising up again. I didn’t want to lose her, and everywhere I looked there was another threat. But this time, I wasn’t going to allow my life to fall to pieces.

My feet move on their own as I follow her out of my office and into the gym.

“Emily, wait!” I call out, catching up with her as she storms through the gym, heading toward the lady’s locker room, ignoring my plea.

“Leave me alone, Lucas!” she shouts back, her voice raw with emotion. The fighters in the gym pause their training, their attention drawn to the spectacle.

“Look, I’m sorry,” I say, my anger subsiding slightly as I approach her. “Let’s just talk about this, okay?”

“Talk?” She whirls around, her eyes flashing with fury. “You had your chance to talk in there. Instead, you decided to throw Dom in my face!”

“Because I’m worried about you, Emily!” I shout, my frustration rising once more. “I don’t want you getting involved with him or anyone else who might take you away from me!”

She scoffs, her hands flying up in exasperation. “Is that what this is really about? Your possessiveness?”

“Maybe it is!” I admit, my heart beating out of control. “I don’t want to lose you, Emily.”

“Then trust me,” she begs, her voice breaking. “Trust me to make my own decisions and to not abandon you.”

“Can you honestly tell me you haven’t thought about it?” I ask, my voice laced with doubt.

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