She can’t be pregnant, it can’t be mine, I can’t take on more right now. I haven’t got the capacity to deal with this.
“I know, finally. I’ve been trying this for months.” What does that mean? Trying what for months?
I’m frozen in place, staring at Reilly. She hasn’t noticed I’m here. I would expect her to be panicked; crying at the unexpected news, flustering about how to make this work. But no, she’s calm.
She knows nothing about me. I could be a terrible father. Iwouldbe a terrible father.
Although I suppose she knows enough about me to know she’s secured a future for herself. Yep, that’s it. She’s one of those. Little Miss Sunshine has snagged herself a rich baby daddy. This is Hannah fucking Pemberton all over again. But this time the pregnancy is real.
“Elton, you scared me. You okay?” Reilly has turned around and her eyes are tracking my face.
“When were you going to tell me?” My voice is low and harsh.
“Tell you what?” She raises an eyebrow at me. I scoff at her response. Oh, she’s good. Another person out for something from me; my time, my money, my goddamn soul. It’s constant and it’s draining. I was blinded by her aloofness, her floaty carefree attitude hiding her agenda.
“Is it even mine?” I spit out the words. Take a second, Elton. Don’t show weakness. “I’ll want a paternity test, of course. We’ll need to set up a meeting with my lawyer and go over how this will work.” My insides are on fire, but my outside is ice cold. Calm, detached.
Her mouth drops open. “Elton, what …”
I silence her with my hand. She jolts, eyes wide in disbelief.
“IF this child is mine, and I do mean IF, don’t think I’ll see you as anything other than a money-grabbing gold digger. I will support the child, but we will never have any form of relationship that goes beyond being amicable co-parents. If we can even manage that,” I hiss at her. My heart is thumping and my brain feels like it’s about to explode out my eyes as my rage courses through me. “Do you have anything to say?” I’m yelling now. The panic surging through me won’t be held back. She flinches at the sound of my voice, but then a hard stone mask washes over her face.
“Well, if that’s how you feel.” Ice coats the words.
That’s all she is going to give me. I storm inside, slamming the door shut.
“Uncle Elton, what’s going on?” Neive tries to follow me through the kitchen.
“Not now, Neive,” I snap. She stops, and her face drops. Fuck that was too harsh. I’ll have to apologise later. But right now, I feel like I’m going to combust.
TWELVE
Reilly
What the hell? Who does he think he is? How dare he! A gold digger? He called me a money-grabbing gold digger.
I’m not even pregnant!
I had taken the phone call on the balcony for privacy. I just wanted to enjoy the view and the sea breeze while I tried to sort out all the issues I’m having with my IUD. It’s bad enough women are constantly having to play with their hormones and their uterus to stop any unwanted pregnancies. Now, I’m being accused of trying to trap a man with a baby.
I will not put up with this.
Deep breath in.
I will not allow him to speak to me in this manner.
Deep breath out.
I don’t care how much money you have, Mr Elton Fox, it does not give you the right to treat me like a piece of shit.
I step inside and school my features. I don’t want to let Neive know about what happened.
I take a cloth and start wiping the side, trying to avoid Neive’s eye. I find myself fluffing around the kitchen, wanting to keep my hands busy. I need to calm down before I go into that office.
I’m not sure how this conversation is going to go but I need to have it. Just when I was going to give him a shot, allow myself to be open to more. The sex was amazing, he’s funny, charming, kind to his family. But, I’ve been burned before, I’ve ignored the red flags and carried on regardless. Not again.
“You’re a lot better at hiding your feelings than Uncle Elton, but I can still see you’re flustered.” Neive’s statement gives me pause; she is so perspective and emotionally intelligent. Not like Elton, who has the emotional range of a toddler.
