Page 12

REED

I remain glued to the chair, my head swiveling from one person to the next. “What the hell just happened?” I exhale, flabbergasted at the events.

When she walked through the door with the grace of a ballerina, my jaw almost hit the floor. I was about to close the deal of the fucking century, but all of that was obliterated in a matter of minutes.

Her hair was in soft curls around her delicate face, and it took me a moment to register it was actually her. The bump was a giveaway, proudly pushing against her work blouse as I blinked through the haze of the whooshing sound in my ears.

She held her head high when she delivered her words with careful precision, and what hurt the most was she barely spared me a second glance. She’s clearly done her homework and by now knows who I am. A ripple of anxiety waves through me, but I push it aside while looking around the room for answers. No one is saying a damn thing, the eerie silence filling the atmosphere, and everyone stares at the door she just exited.

Pissed at their lack of a response, I slam my fist onto the table, and their eyes dart toward mine. “What the hell just happened?” I mean, it’s clear what happened; in the bat of her long lashes, she tore up my proposal, destroyed my dreams—years’ worth of plans gone.

Fanzio clears his throat. “My daughter is a bitch.”

I jolt at the vitriol in his words and glance back at the door. Daughter?

Holy shit. She’s his daughter?

That means she’s more than likely telling the truth. She is a lawyer. She’s not a whore. Not a gold digger, and oh my fucking god.

I loosen the noose around my neck as I become increasingly hot. Sweat beads on my forehead, and my chest heaves.

She’s pregnant.

“We need to find the father of that baby.” Fanzio babbles to his lawyer. “Find the father of the baby, and I’ll get the shares. Then you can have the contract.” Haziness floods me. “Are you listening, ?”

“I-I-I don’t understand.” My throat feels like I’ve swallowed razor blades.

She’s pregnant.

Holy shit, she’s pregnant, and it might be my child.

Oh God. I’m going to be a father.

“The father of that fucking baby has rights. I will buy him out!” Fanzio declares.

My gaze snaps up to his. “I’m sorry, what?”

“The father of the baby simply demands custody of the kid, or she hands over the shares.” He shrugs like he isn’t thinking of blackmailing his own daughter, and a gloating smile spreads across his face.

Kevan leans forward and toys with a ring on his finger with a far-off look on his face. Finally, he clears his throat and places the ring back in the box that Gianna threw at him. Jealousy creeps up my spine at considering George’s employee. “George, I don’t think that’s the best way to deal with Gia.” He winces as he speaks.

“Shut the fuck up. This is all your goddamn fault. You’re too fucking soft on her. Find the fucking father and get him to demand custody. He holds the shares over her head, simple. There’s no way the little bitch would give up her precious family,” Fanzio spits, and every vein in his withered face pulsates as he speaks. The venom flowing from him is raw aggression, something I’ve become accustomed to in his presence, but even I can admit his hatred toward Gia is bordering on vicious.

Why the hell does he hate his daughter so much?

As I sit back in my chair and contemplate his words, my racing heart steadies, and a smile slowly spreads across my face at a plan finally coming together.

If that baby is mine, then Gia can keep it; it’s not like I ever wanted kids anyway. I can walk away, and we will both be happy.

Saturday may have been the worst day of my life, but Monday is sure as hell looking a lot better.