Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 185811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 185811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
“Bridgett—” Edgar starts, but I hold up my hand.
“I do not care how you feel about either of us. I do not care if you think we deserve the positions we have. I do care about you talking about us like we don’t matter. Because we do.” I glance at everyone again. “This is our dad’s company, and if I ever hear you talking negatively about Aiden or me again, I will go to our father. And if you know anything about him, you know he’s always wanted to keep Bender and Sons a family business, which means it won’t be Aiden or me without a job. It will be you.”
With that final statement, I turn on my heel and head out of the office and down the hall to my desk, feeling like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I don’t know how my dad would feel about me doing what I just did, but I feel fricking fabulous, like I should be offered an Academy Award.
When I hit my desk, I grab my purse from my drawer and dig through it for my cell phone so I can send Noah a message to let him know what just happened. I might not know how my dad or Aiden will react to what just happened, but I do know Noah will be proud of me for standing up for myself.
Just as I finish sending him a text, I hear footsteps approaching. When I look up, I spot Catharine coming my way. I haven’t seen her since I was out with May weeks ago. As soon as our eyes meet, I can tell something is off. She might be dressed in a pretty, expensive jacket, jeans, and boots with her hair fixed and makeup done, but she looks pale and nervous.
“Hey,” she whispers when she’s close. I place my cell on my desk so I can message Noah once I figure out what’s going on with her.
“Hey,” I parrot, then ask, “Are you meeting someone?” I mean, people purchasing property or a home don’t usually come to this location, but what the hell do I know?
“No.” She licks her lips. “I came to talk to you.” She glances around the empty office space. “Do you have a couple of minutes to talk?”
“Sure.” I look at the conference room. When my dad was here, everyone in the office had weekly meetings in there, but it’s been empty since. “Come on.” I lead the way, letting her inside before me and then shutting the door. After we both take a seat at the large oval table, I watch her, wondering what this is all about.
“I don’t even know how to say what I’m going to say,” she says quietly, ducking her head, then I listen to her take a deep breath. “Conner and I are having a baby.”
My spine stiffens—not in anger or shock, but in a what-the-heck-are-you-doing-here-and-why-the-hell-are-you-telling-me-this kind of way.
“I need you to sign the divorce papers he gave you.”
“What?” A laugh escapes, and she lifts her head to glare at me.
“I know he gave you divorce papers. I need you to sign them so he and I can get married.” She rests her hand on her stomach, probably to remind me that she’s carrying his child.
“I don’t know what Conner told you, Catharine, but I’ve already signed the divorce papers.”
“Don’t lie.” Her nostrils flare. “He told me you’ve refused to sign them until he gives you the money you asked for.”
“Is that what he said?” I try really hard not to start laughing, but it’s honestly difficult, given the situation.
“He told me everything.” She sits up a little straighter in the chair she’s in, no longer looking as unsure or ill as she did earlier. “I know you cheated on him and that, even when he forgave you for forsaking your vows, you didn’t stop sleeping around. And now you’re trying to get every single penny you can from him.”
“I think you and Conner need to have an honest conversation about what’s really going on,” I tell her gently because getting upset cannot be good for her or the baby if she is pregnant.
“He’s always honest with me,” she snaps while slapping her hand down on the top of the conference table, making me jump. “For once, think about him and how what you’ve done has affected him.”
Taking a breath, I think about trying to tell her again that I already signed the divorce papers, and that Conner is the one refusing to jot his name on the dotted line, but I can tell by her demeanor she won’t believe me. “All right.” I stand. “I’ll sign the papers.”
“What?” She blinks up at me.
“I’ll sign the papers.”
“You will?”
“Absolutely.” I shrug and head toward the door, ready for this awkward conversation to be over. I hear her get up.