Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“Those stipulations go both ways,” she went on, glancing at her manicured nails as if she were discussing the weather and not issuing a threat. “If I remember correctly, it prohibits either of us from bringing around casual sex partners. You being in violation of the morality clause is not going to reflect well on you for the custody case. Hell, it might even cost you custody of Owen.”
Her words made my blood run cold, because I had no doubt that she’d twist this situation to her advantage, regardless of the fact that she’d brought him home early. Not because she wanted custody of Owen, but hurting me was her goal and the only way to do that was through our son. She’d backed me into a corner and I only saw one way out. I had no choice and I’d deal with the repercussions of what I was about to do later. Right now, it was all about self-preservation and making sure my custody of Owen wasn’t jeopardized in any way.
“Stevie isn’t random or casual,” I said, looking Alyssa dead in the eye and knowing that Stevie could likely hear this entire conversation. “She’s a serious girlfriend and we’re in a committed relationship. I am not in violation of the morality clause.”
Alyssa’s gaze narrowed skeptically. “Owen would have told me if you were seeing someone.”
Why? Did she actually grill our son and try to pump Owen for information when she had him? Of course she did.
“Because of the morality clause, I was waiting to tell Owen about Stevie until I knew it was serious, and it is. And she isn’t a stranger to Owen. He’s met her many times in various public settings. He knows who she is.”
“Where did you meet her?” Alyssa demanded to know. “Because clearly, she is not someone in our social circle. Trust me. No woman that I know would be caught dead wearing that cheap dress and those budget-friendly shoes.”
“Yeah, well, some of us don’t give a shit about those kinds of things,” I said, which held true for me. Alyssa, on the other hand, had grown up surrounded by wealth and sadly, she measured a person’s worth by those material possessions.
Alyssa stared me down. “Where did you meet her?” she asked again.
I knew she wouldn’t hesitate to hire a PI to find out the answer to her question, and the last thing I wanted was anyone digging around in what I knew of Stevie’s painful past and handing that information over to Alyssa to use as leverage. “I met her through Raven,” I replied truthfully. “She works at The Back Door.”
Alyssa gaped at me in shock, then she burst out laughing, the sound harsh and cruel. “Wait, she’s a waitress? Isn’t that a bit like slumming it for you? Or are you just thinking with your dick and not your head?”
My jaw clenched so hard I thought I’d break a molar. My protective instincts flared to life, and I glared at her, no compromise in my expression. “I’m only going to tell you this once, Alyssa. Unless you want to be slapped with a defamation of character suit, watch your mouth and what you say about Stevie. She’s my girlfriend and a part of my life. She will also be in Owen’s life and spending time with him, and I will not tolerate another inflammatory word against her, do you understand?” Considering the words that just came out of my mouth were unrehearsed and improvised, Stevie being my girlfriend sounded convincing even to my own ears.
Alyssa’s lips pursed, her expression filled with spite after the way I’d just put her in her place for being disrespectful. She stood up, chin jutting out. “Sure, I’ll watch what I say about her, but you’d better be careful, too. I’d really hate for you to lose custody of Owen if this ends up being a bunch of lies to cover your ass.”
“Get out,” I snapped, done with her bullshit. “I may have to deal with you because you’re Owen’s mother, but I do not have to put up with your condescending attitude in my home. Leave. Now.”
The corner of her mouth lifted in a sneer, but clearly realizing how pissed I was, she wisely didn’t say anything more. She headed toward the elevator, not even bothering to say goodbye to Owen, as most mothers would considering she wouldn’t see him for another week. But then again, as much as it pained me, I knew that Owen was nothing more than a pawn for her to use against me.
Once she was gone, I sank down into a chair, scrubbing my hands over my face and feeling emotionally drained. Fuck, now what was I going to do? The only thing I could, I realized, because I didn’t have a choice.