fact that she was encouraging the idea made me sick.
“No. You got it plus more from some unnamed mothafucka that’s walkin’ out here scot-free since you’re so desperate to tie the baby to me and my legacy.”
She picked her napkin back up, using it to dab the sides of her mouth as she tossed back, “Your words don’t hurt me, Bryson. I know what happened and I know it’s yours. That’s all that matters when it comes to you and your precious little legacy.”
I was desperate to know more, so I pried a little deeper. “Just out of curiosity, what’s in it for you? I mean, other than the obvious… money, fifteen seconds of fame, maybe a reality show with a bunch of other thirsty bitches…”
“Excuse me?! I am not thirsty. If anything, you were thirsty when you tried to get me up to your hotel room.”
My eyes rolled on their own. “There really wasn’t much trying involved, but I’m not here to argue semantics. I wanna know your motive.”
She took a sip of her water, shrugging as she answered, “I don’t have a motive. I’m just here to get what I deserve. And you wouldn’t have moved me out here if you didn’t know that to be true.”
“That didn’t have anything to do with me. That was all my agent’s doing simply because she didn’t trust you to stay quiet, though I assured her you had nothing of substance from the jump.” I still couldn’t believe Leslie had gone through all the trouble of bringing the girl to town.
“Whatever. All I know is I’m here now and I already have shit that needs to get paid. So you gonna write the check or deposit the money into my account?”
I tried not to draw too much attention to us as I answered straight up, “I’m not giving you shit, Nicole.”
She brushed me off again, looking at her nails as she replied, “That’s not what Leslie said. She guaranteed $15,000 Pre-DNA test and another $20,000 contingent on it being confirmed as yours.” I choked on my water.
“She did what ?!” I just knew Leslie wouldn’t sell me out without at least telling me first.
But Nicole smiled confidently, leaning into the table to say, “That’s right, baby. And mama has her eyes on a new pair of shoes and a bomb ass stylist. So I’ll ask you again; are you gonna write me a check or deposit the money into my account?”
Kennedy
“Landon, we need to talk.”
Walking around the house with the guilt from the night of my birthday gathering had officially become overwhelming. It probably would’ve been easier to have the conversation while the situation was still fresh, but there was no time like the present when it came to finally getting stuff off your chest.
He hardly looked concerned as he wiped his hands on a towel and turned the stove down to a simmer. “What’s going on, babe?”
“I umm… I’m quitting my job.” I figured that was the safest starting place.
His face scrunched with confusion as he asked, “ What ? Why? I thought you liked working with Bryson.”
“I do. I… did . But we…” I choked on my words, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth as I tried to hold back the tears that were begging to be unleashed. It surprised me that I even had any left after crying every lonely night to sleep.
Now hisconcern fell in as he walked over to me, wrapping me in an embrace. “Babe, just tell me. What is it? ” I felt guilty for even letting him get this close, knowing my news would surely tear us apart.
“ We … we … we kinda developed umm… feelings for each other that were… far from professional.”
He let me go, taking a step back as he said, “I don’t understand. ”
A single tear sprang free without my permission and it hurt me even more when he reached in to wipe it.
“We… we kissed . And we… did some things that weren’t appropriate. And I’m just so sorry, Landon.” A few more tears joined the pity party, but this time I was forced to wipe them myself as Landon looked completely outdone.
His eyes were
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