“What?” I sputtered. “You’re kidding me.”
“I would never joke about this.” His voice confirmed that.
My eyebrows pinched together, and my stomach soured. There was only one reason someone would want so badly for a baby to go away. “Are youmarried?” The disgust was clear in my tone.
“That’s none of your concern,” he spat back so venomously I half expected my phone to sizzle in my hand.
“Wow. Don’t worry, I don’t want my daughter anywherenearsomeone like you.” I hung up the phone, shaking withrage. Hot tears burned in my eyes to match.
When he tried to call back, I ignored it.
And then he texted me again.
Unknown number: Please. I’ll do anything.
Angry tears slipped down my cheeks and wouldn’t stop.
I hadn’t expected him to respond well, or even at all. But I definitely hadn't expected this.
My angry tears quickly turned to bitter sadness for my daughter, because when she asked about her dad, I could never tell her that the first thing he did when he learned of her was beg for me to make her go away.
25.Bryce
The risingsun cast a hazy orange glow behind the skyline I could see from my office. Soon it would be an intense fiery ball casting shadows and shimmers off all the windows. How many sunrises had I watched from this window?
How many did I have left?
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I didn’t notice anyone enter my office until Jude stepped beside me. I glanced over at him, seeing the orange washing out his green eyes. They almost looked yellow in this light. Then I looked back out the window, breathing deeply. My chest felt tight, regardless of how many breaths I took.
“What’s up?” I finally asked him. Clearly he wasn’t going to break the silence.
“I saw your light on and came over to check on you. You’re not usually in this early.”
I glanced his way again. “You want to know what’s wrong with me. Aside from our impending forced marriages?” The one I couldn’t get Jada to agree to. Especially since she hadn’t contacted me since my “proposal” two days prior.
Jude folded his arms across his chest. “If you’re worried about the fifty-percent clause, the prenups will never hold up in court if they’re signed under duress.”
“Which would leave us to traditional marriage rules–fifty-fifty.” I shook my head. That wasn’t the point anyway. I was caught between desecrating an institution my family held sacred or losing my life’s work to people who wouldn’t respect or care for it. My stomach churned. “If there’s a way out of the marriage clause altogether, it better come fast.”
“Like you,” Jude retorted.
I snorted despite myself. “I hate you.”
“Lucky for you, I like us both enough not to give up on either front. We’ll get out of the marriage one way or another. Our brides will just be a placeholder to appease that crazy old man.”
A halfhearted smile was all I could give him, but it was gone as quickly as it came. The sun was a little higher now, shining painfully into my eyes. I turned away from the window and went to sit at my desk.
Jude leaned back against it, making himself right at home. “Is that what you’re doing here so early?” he drawled. “Giving up?”
My jaw tightened. “I asked Jada to marry me, and she rightfully stormed out of here. The only bright side is that she forgot to slap me.”
“You’ll figure it out with that southern boy charm. If it’s not her, someone else will agree.”
I don’t want someone else, was the first thought that ran through my mind. But it sounded as crazy as this whole scheme. “If you don’t remember, you were the one bringing girls to your room while I was busy with coding assignments. I hardly have the experience you do.” I twisted my lips to the side, yearning for those easier college days. Life right now was certainly a lot more complicated. There were no “office hours” or free tutoringsessions to help with Simon’s “assignment,” and the stakes were so much higher than a failing grade.
A knock sounded on my office door, and we both looked over to see my niece adjusting the paper cups in her hands. Her caramel hair curled around her shoulders, which I only noticed because she typically wore it straight.
Maybe she was nervous for the CEO of Javascript to visit later today. It was like tech royalty would be in our offices.
