Page 35 of Single Daddy To Go

“Then why did he buy the new penthouse?” she shrugs.

I pause for a moment. This is true. Last week, Rob closed on a penthouse just a block away from his old one. This one is bigger and grander, with unobstructed views of both Central Parkandthe Hudson River. I asked him why he bought it when he already had so much space, and the billionaire merely smiled with a secret look in his eye. So I take a deep breath.

“He bought it because he can? Why not, if you have the money?”

She rolls her eyes.

“Please, you silly girl. He only bought it because Sheldon and I just bought a new trophy penthouse. He’s jealous of us, can’t you see it? Sheldon bought a new Rolls Royce, and the next day, Rob’s down at the dealership test driving Lamborghinis. Sheldon buys something, and Rob’s at the store the next day asking for the same model. My ex just can’t handle that my new husband is more of a man than he is. Sad, isn’t it?”

My mind whirls. Robdidjust bring home a new Aventador, a flashy red sports car that looks like something out of a superhero movie, with acceleration so crazy quick it makes my head spin. He told me he got the car on a whim, because he felt like it. I told him I was worried he’d crash it, and he laughed, promising to be careful.

I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but now, I can’t but help wonder. Was there some ulterior motive to buying that car? After all, Rob’s got a fleet of luxury vehicles already. Why did he buy this one just recently?Didit have something to do with Sheldon and Lindsay?

As if reading my mind, his ex holds up her keys. Sure enough, there’s the telltale Aventador logo on her car key.

“See?” she says smugly. “Sheldon got one, so Rob had to get one too. That man has no imagination.”

I swallow, fighting the lump forming in my throat. I try to breathe through the compression in my chest. I feel like I’m one of those cartoon animals who has walked out into mid-air with nothing beneath its feet, and hasn’t yet noticed. So I long I don’t look down, I can stay standing even if my legs are treading air.

But Lindsay’s on a roll and not about to give up her lead.

“Don’t you get it?” she yawns, feigning boredom. “He’s just trying to keep up with the Joneses, except in this case, the Joneses are the Stys. Don’t get caught up in his little game. You think he’s so charming. Trust me, I thought so too. But all he cares about is himself. He’s a sick man, sick in the head. He’s using you, like he uses everybody in his life. Has he told you he wants a baby yet?” she asks casually, tapping her red nails together. “It’s hismodus operandi, if you will. He says that he wants a baby with you, and that you’ll be a happy family together. Don’t fall for it, sweetheart. I gave him that baby, and look where I am now: married to another man.”

I don’t know what to say. I just stand there, staring, like a deer caught in a car’s headlights.

Lindsay stretches a hand towards me, as if she might touch me. She stops just short, flicking her hand away. “I’m sorry,” she purrs. “I don’t mean to judge or anything like that. Heisa very attractive man, and I can understand why you’d be blown away. Plus, I quite loved him once myself, or at least IthoughtI loved him. I just want to save you from what happened to me, that’s all.”

This is too much. In a strangled tone, I manage to say, “Would you like to take Katie now? I’ll go look for her.” I feel like everything is moving in slow motion and that I’m trying to fight my way through a heavy fog of misery.

She laughs again, just two beats.

“Ha ha.” She tosses her head again. “Yes, where is my little angel?”

Just keep moving,I tell myself. I find Katie playing with the twins in the next room.

“Katie, honey, your mom is here early to pick you up,” I say.

Katie, thankfully, remains oblivious to the tension between us. I help her to get her backpack and gather her things. When she sees her mom, she runs over, squealing. “Mommy! Mommy!”

She tries to give Lindsay a kiss, but the blonde dodges the contact.

“What did I tell you about messing up Mommy’s makeup?” she scolds. Immediately, the little girl hangs her head and looks at the floor.

“Oh, sorry Mommy,” Katie mumbles, shuffling her feet.

“Thanks for taking such good care of her,” Lindsay says to me, her fake smile in full force. “I’ll see you later. Bye now!”

“Bye Ally,” mumbles Katie, her little form small and dejected with one hand caught in her mother’s clasp.

I watch them walk away. When they’ve left the building, the force of gravity at last overcomes me. I sink to the ground, unable to stand anymore.

My whole world is spinning, like I’m drunk. I’m in shock, like I’ve just been hit by a car. Is it true? Is Rob engaged in some twisted game of one-upsmanship with his ex? Is our whole relationship just a sham to get back at her? Am I just a pawn in his schemes?

I don’t want to believe Lindsay, but she makes a convincing case. And she knows him so much better than I do. Plus, the baby thing, or maybe I should call it the babyscheme. Was it just a practiced move on his part, designed to make me feel safe and secure? I feel so stupid, and utterly, absolutely devastated too.

Lindsay’s right. I don’t measure up. Rob could have any woman he wants, so why would he pick some day care attendant who already has the mom body without even being a mom? He’s a billionaire, and I’m poor, pathetic nobody.

This whole thing, this whole fairy tale romance, has seemed like something that couldn’t possibly be real. It all happened so fast, and it was so perfect too. I went from being a girl no one noticed to being the girl on the arm of one of the world’s most powerful men. I should have known it was too good to be true.