“This is all going to work out just fine, Gwennie. I promise.”
A monthand a half later
When my father died,I thought it wouldn’t be possible for my life to get any worse. Then I lost my mom and the family farm, and I thought I’d finally hit rock bottom.
But if the past month and a half had taught me anything, it was that I had much,muchfurther to fall.
First there was the embarrassing fact that I hadn’t actually spoken a word to Garrett since finding out I was pregnant. The first person I’d told—outside of Corrine—was Civil Corruption’s asshole manager, Chris, a guy I would have personally loved to waterboard. And since that fun conversation, all contact had been closed with anyone except Garrett’s lawyer. I’d been ostracized by Civil Corruption’s inner sanctum and humiliated bytheir legal team. They’d treated me with cold cynicism when they demanded a paternity test and had refused any further communication until the results arrived.
Which led us to now.
The sound of a throat clearing pulled my attention from the surface of the imposing conference room table. Garrett’s lawyer, a tall, lanky man in an ill-fitting three-piece suit, stared down his nose at me disdainfully. I focused solely on the lawyer’s arrogant face, ignoring the only other two people in the room, Garrett’s manager, Chris, and that pinch-faced bitch Kimber.
No Garrett in sight. That was absolutely fine by me. With the shit-show that had become my life the past month and a half, I’d somehow managed to grow cold at just the thought of him. I’d actually become quite adept at numbing the pain, internalizing it and letting it form an impenetrable, protective shield around me.
“Well, Miss Carson, it appears that my client is indeed the father of your unborn child.”
“You don’t say,” I deadpanned, keeping my expression as flat as my voice. I just wanted to get this over with so I could get the hell out of there. I’d promised myself I’d go for the biggest plate of chicken and waffles I could find—an unexpected pregnancy craving—after having to deal with these assholes.
“Since that’s the case, we’ve drafted the papers accordingly. You’ll discover that the visitation agreement is relatively standard. Of course, there will be situations were the schedule will have to be modified—for instance, when the band tours and such—but that’s something you and Chris can work out when the time comes.”
Of course, because why would Garrett possibly want to communicate with the mother of his child on such inane matters as visitation when he could have his gophers do it for him?
“As you’ll see in the documents before you, Mr. Wilder has also been more than generous in terms of a financial settlement. On top of a monthly stipend, all medical bills for yourself and the unborn child will be covered by Mr. Wilder.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from telling him that if he kept referring to my baby asthe unborn childI was going to kick him in the nuts.
“But there are stipulations,” he continued. “If you try to argue for more money, Mr. Wilder is prepared to take you to court.”
My blood began to boil. I could feel it burning in my veins as red coated my vision.
“If you do not agree to sign the nondisclosure agreement we’ve attached, again, Mr. Wilder is prepared to take you to court. If you intend on going to the media in the hopes of a larger payday, Mr. Wilder—”
Just like that, I lost it. “Is prepared to take me to court. Got it,” I seethed. “But what you three dumbasses clearly don’t understand is I’m not the gold-digging whore you’d love to make me out to be. I don’t give two fucks aboutMr. Wilder’smoney.”
“Now there’s no need for such hostile language,” the attorney spoke, but I’d officially had enough.
“Oh drop the professional act, limp dick.” Also, pregnancy might have made me just a touch testy. Not that my attitude wasn’t called for, considering how I was being treated. I placed my hands on the table and leaned forward. “I’ll agree to your nondisclosure for the simple fact that I don’t want the goddamn media circus that surrounds your asshole client to invade my child’s life in any way. And I expect for Mr. Wilder to do the same. Under no circumstances whatsoever do I want him speaking about my child.”
“You seem to forget it’s his child too—” Kimber chimed in, but I shot her a killing look that instantly shut her up.
“When I think it’s necessary for you to speak, I’ll tell you. Until then, you’ll sit there quietly like the good little lapdog you are.”
“You have no right—”
“And as for the settlement,” I snapped, cutting her off and turning my attention back to the attorney. “I don’t want it. If Mr. Wilder is insistent on financial support, he can open an account for our child once he or she is born. That money will belong solely to my baby. I want no access to it. I won’t require assistance with my medical bills because I have insurance through my job, and I am more than capable of providing formy childand myself.
“I won’t argue visitation, mainly because I’m not a heartless bitch, and I want this child”—I placed my hand on my slightly swollen belly—“to have its father in its life. You make the necessary changes to the documents that I just stated and have them sent to me, and I’ll be more than happy to sign if it means never having to lay eyes on you three sons of bitches ever again. Do we have an understanding?”
Mr. Poorly Dressed Lawyer Man sat in silence for several seconds before finally coming to his senses. “I’ll have a revised copy messengered to you by the end of the day.”
“Wonderful,” I bit out sarcastically. Then I grabbed my purse and stomped out of the room. That plate of chicken and waffles was calling my name.
Unfortunately, before I could make it to the bank of elevators, one of them opened and off stepped Garrett Wilder, along with his three bandmates.Just fucking perfect.
His wide green eyes filled with trepidation when he caught sight of me. I was prepared to walk past like I hadn’t even seen him, but then the bastard had to open his mouth and speak.
“Hey, sweetness. Didn’t expect you’d still be here.”
