Hotshot (41 page)

“Sasha—”

“I’d really prefer privacy to the public sidewalk. Have some class,” she clips.

“Do you want to come up to my office?”

“Where your nosy secretary can see and hear everything? Absolutely not.”

“Well, why are you here?”

“Tonight after work, I’d like to meet.”

“Where?”

“Your place. I’ll be there by six.”

“My place isn’t an option unless you can be civil to Bizzy.”

Her eyes flare with raw hatred. “That’s never going to fucking happen.”

“How about a restaurant?”

“My place. Six. Don’t be late.”

“Is this really necessary, Sasha? You’re right here. I’m here. We can go into one of my conference rooms if you feel more comfortable. I don’t see the need to drag this out. Say what you came to say and let’s move on.”

“Move on?” She points a finger in my face, almost hissing. “You’ve embarrassed me for the last time. Tonight. Six o’clock.”

Without another word, she turns on her heel and stalks away, leaving the stench of her perfume in the air.

I text Bizzy on the way up to my office, briefly explaining the encounter, and telling her I’ll be home later than expected. I know she’ll want to discuss it, but with her mom at her apartment, it’s not the right time.

I breeze into my office, giving Gail a half wave as I pass. She’s on the phone and shakes her finger at me in a disapproving way, which is unusual considering she has no idea of my morning so far. My phone dings for the hundredth time, but I ignore it, knowing in about five minutes, I’ll be immersed in a shitload of work.

Once I remove my jacket and sit down, Gail rushes in with a stern look on her face.

“Are you ignoring your emails?”

“No, I’ve been busy. My morning went to shit about ten minutes ago. Sasha was downstairs waiting for me. I guess my ignoring her yesterday in the suite wasn’t enough to dissuade her. She insists we meet tonight at her place. Looks like the peace is over.”

“I take it she’s seen the news?”

“Not sure which outlet she saw. Could have been the fact that Bizzy jumped in Nick’s arms, flashing her ring to the entire world.”

“It’s a hard ring to miss.”

I smirk at the small joke.

“Regardless, we need to get to work. Can you get PR up here by ten? I need them to field and vet the requests and see which ones we’ll work with. Also, I instructed Nick to refer all calls to the office.”

“Consider it done. I’ve also cleared out most of the emails with generic responses. The ones left are your personal messages from clients and vendors.”

“Thanks.”

“Shaw, I didn’t get a chance to tell you yesterday, but I’m very happy for you and Lizbeth. You’re perfect together and you both deserve a lifetime of happiness.”

“That means a lot,” I tell her sincerely.

“Sasha’s going to be upset, but it’s time everyone acts like adults. Don’t let her put a black cloud over your engagement.”

“She’s not. I’ve finally found a balance of my love for Bizzy and my son. Sasha doesn’t factor into that anymore. I caved to her in weakness but never again.”

“Well then, I think I’ve said enough.” She leaves, shutting the door behind her and giving me an approving smile through the glass.

I set up my computer and get to work, completely forgetting about Sasha.

When there’s no answer after the second time I knock, I feel a small sense of relief. Maybe she is stuck at work and didn’t text to let me know just to be a bitch. Either way, I’m glad to be off the hook.

I decide to leave as the door cracks behind me. My heart falls to my feet when my eyes land on her. She’s outdone herself, even more than usual. Her hair and make-up are flawless, and the silk dress she’s wearing screams seduction.

“What’s going on?” Instantly, I’m suspicious.

“Come in.” She steps aside and motions for me to enter.

My suspicions hit red alert levels when I notice a few candles lit around her living room.

“What’s going on?” I repeat, turning to her. Before I can stop her, she grabs my hand and places it on the lower half of her stomach.

My son chooses that second to kick, and I step closer, willing him to do it again. I’m so lost in the moment, I’m caught off-guard when Sasha’s lips land on mine, her free hand fisting in my hair.

My stomach turns as I yank away and hurl back, almost falling over her sofa.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and spit, trying to get the taste of her lip gloss off me.

Rejection washes over her, quickly turning into fury. Her eyes slit as she crosses her arms and glares at me. “Don’t act so disgusted. It’s not like you haven’t kissed me before.”

“What am I doing here, Sasha? Why’d you insist on me coming here? Was it to try and seduce me?”

“Please, don’t fucking flatter yourself. We got lost in the moment.”

“There is no we! I don’t have moments with you.”

“Bullshit! We are having a baby and you chose to defile my reputation. I warned you about this, Ren. I’ve been more than accommodating with your playboy ways and insistence we do this separately, but I draw the damn line with you proposing to another woman while I’m pregnant. Especially Lizbeth Hastings! She’s a bottom-leeching, nobody who has your entire family fooled. Look at her, for God’s sake! Don’t get me started on her public display of affection with your own brother yesterday on national television. It was pathetic. If you won’t wake up and see it, I’ll point it out. She won’t be around my child.”

“You have no say in who I choose to marry, nor do you have a right to judge her and Nick’s relationship. It has nothing to do with you. And don’t ever insult her again. Your nasty jealousy of her has followed her throughout her life. I’m lucky she’s stuck by my side. If this is what was so important you demanded us meet, you’ve wasted your time and proceeded to piss me off royally. This was a mistake, Sasha.”

“Jealous of her? You’re delusional.”

“Then I suggest you find a way to get over your petty grudge against her from high school. We’re adults now, and it’s time to grow up and move on.”

Her face reddens, and the room takes on a new chill. “She’ll always be the cancer girl who used her illness to gain sympathy. It’s sickening. I won’t subject my child to her level.”

I’m done. This was a huge mistake, and I have to leave before I say things that can’t be retracted. This woman is aiming for ammunition to use against me, and it’s close to working. I start for the door, and she catches me by the arm, digging her nails in. Even through the fabric of my shirt, I feel the pinching of skin.

“We were fine. Things were going well for us. I could see you coming around to accept this and even open your eyes to the possibility of us working things out.”

“You mistook my kindness and deference. I love my son, and therefore would do anything for him, even if that meant submitting to your demands. It was all for him. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it was anything more.”

“That’s absolute bullshit! Things were going exactly as planned. With her gone, we were moving forward, building a foundation that would have eventually worked out. I saw the way you started to look at me. She should have taken the fucking job and stayed in North Carolina.”

My body turns solid, struggling to see through the red haze as her words sink in. “What did you say?”

She realizes her mistake too late.

“What was going exactly as planned? And what the fuck do you know about Bizzy’s job offer?”

“I did what I had to do to get you to see reason. You were being ridiculous, following her to Charlotte like a fool. Leaving your life and responsibilities behind. I knew once you found out we were having a boy, you’d change your tune.”

“The sex of this child didn’t matter. I’ve always loved them.”

“Well, lucky for me, once I knew it was a boy, I had more leverage, and it worked to my advantage. Getting you home was easier than I thought.”

Once I knew it was a boy
… replays over in my mind, and I start to shake.

“Sasha, how did you know it was a boy? And what do you mean about getting me home?”

We’re so close, I can see her pupils flare at the sharpness in my tone.

“It doesn’t matter, Ren, because I’m giving you one last chance. Make a decision here and now.”

“Bizzy is going to be my wife, and you need to learn how to deal with that.”

“You’d choose her over your own son, because essentially, that’s what you’re doing.”

“There is no choice. It was a period of weakness, me thinking I couldn’t have both, but I can and I will. This child will never feel unloved because I won’t allow it. He’s going to grow up in an environment where, hopefully, his parents can find it in themselves to hide their disdain for one another and put their differences aside. I’ll make sure of it.”

I pry her fingers loose and finally reach the door. No more words are exchanged as I haul ass away from her.

This time she’s gone too far and fucked with the wrong man. Her manipulation is over; she has no more control over me. And she’d better stay the hell away from Bizzy.

Bizzy

I look around the condo and notice the door to the balcony open. That’s where I find Shaw sitting, with a half-empty bottle in one hand and a full tumbler in the other. He stares at the dark sky, still dressed in his suit pants and dress shirt from this morning. I’ve had a nagging feeling all day that something was wrong, knowing he had another appointment with Sasha.

In the five weeks since he left her house, she has changed her attitude, no longer including Shaw in anything. Her calls and texts have stopped. There are no updates, and she refuses to answer his requests. He had to bring Caldwell back in the mix in order to get an update. Even then, it was a six-word email.

The baby is fine. Progressing nicely.

She’s switched her appointments without notifying him prior. She canceled all classes and rescinded his and his mother’s invitation to her baby showers. Basically, all ties are cut. Part of me wants to rejoice in celebration, but it’s hurting Shaw to miss so much at this point.

“Hey, sweetheart.” I go to him quickly.

He moves his arms, allowing room for me to sit. I wrap my arms around his neck and lean in to kiss him.

“Babe,” is his only response.

“What happened? Did she change her appointment again without telling you?”

“Not this time. This time, she went straight for the jugular, hit me where she knew it would hurt. She asked for me to be removed from the room, claiming that my fiancée worked with cancer patients, and she was fearful of the possibility of me bringing germs into the room. She put on a good show for the nurse and sonographer, even shedding a few tears.

“When I questioned the nurses about getting an update on the baby’s progress, I learned she still didn’t sign the form allowing me access. I tried to explain it was my money paying for all these extra ultrasounds and added tests Sasha’s requesting, but nothing worked.”

“I’m so sorry.” My gut twists and tightens at the anguish in his voice. Guilt turns in my stomach. She’s using my career as a crutch to keep him away.

“It’s not your fault. I called Caldwell, and he’s working on getting me an update on the baby’s progress, and an appointment with the doctor to hopefully see the most recent ultrasound pictures. I’d like to know what they’ve discussed for the birthing plan. He’s almost thirty-three weeks. It’s time to talk about options.”

“Caldwell will make it happen,” I try to reassure him.

“I know.” He drops his forehead to mine and takes a deep breath. “I just hope it happens before we leave on Wednesday. He’s going to contact a friend that’s a judge and request a petition, demanding Sasha give me access to the information pertaining to the baby only.”

“That’s positive news.”

“That’s about the only positive news. Caldwell finally had a break and discovered exactly what Sasha was up to, and it’s not pretty.”

My heart stammers in my chest. We’ve been waiting for this information since the night Shaw walked in the door after his confrontation with her. Once he explained what she said, we both knew she had been planning something.