Me: It wasn’t about you!!! It’s about me!
Gage: Sure…perfect Lex has a flaw! Please spare me the bullshit.
Me: You don’t even know me.
Gage: You’re right and you’ve made it abundantly clear time and time again that you don’t want me to get to know you.
Me: I like you!!
Shit shit shit… I shouldn’t have admitted that. Talk about playing with a man’s head. He’s going to think I’m lying and only telling him because I want to see Emma.
Gage: No you don’t! You find me attractive. There is a difference! Every fucking female wants to bang me, Lex. Or suck my cock, like they’re sucking chrome from a bumper. I’m not stupid. I get hit on all the damn time. I don’t give a fuck about other women. I wanted to know you. Find out more about YOU. Do you realize my daughter hasn’t fucking stopped talking about you since we left your house Tuesday. Can you imagine how much that fucks with a little kid’s head? You fucked with her head, Lex. You fucked with my baby girl’s head. Playing like some fucking angelic mother that she’s always wanted. You bought her a play set, slept with her on the couch. You’re the reason I don’t date!
Now I feel like a piece of shit! He’s so right. I hate that he’s right. God I’m a terrible woman!
Me: I’m sorry. I love Emma. I want to be in her life.
Gage: We are a package, Emma and I are a damn package, Lex. I’m her fucking dad. Don’t you get that? HER DAD!
Me: I’m sorry.
I don’t know what else to say other than that.
Gage: Yeah well… tell that to someone who fucking cares. Goodbye Lex. I’ll see you on Friday. Leave me and my daughter alone!
Suit Master: Angel, I’ve been texting you all day. I’m coming over if I don’t hear from you soon. Did you get my present?
Crying in bed, I read the Suit Masters fifteenth text of the day. Another gift was delivered today. It was dinner from Dolly’s Dairy Dream. Another strange thing he obviously knows about me. Good thing he had food sent because I wasn’t going to eat a dang thing after the terrible day I’ve had. I came home from work and I’ve been in bed crying ever since. I can’t believe Emma is gone. All because I turned Gage away. As much as I want to blame him and be mad at him, I can’t be. He’s being a dad and trying to protect his daughter. I can’t fault that. Even though I wish I could.
Roni also hasn’t spoken to me since yesterday and I refuse to worry my mom or Lincoln with my problems. Life is pretty sucky right now. I pray it doesn’t take long for Roni to stop being angry with me. I miss my best friend.
Me: Yes, thanks. I wouldn’t have eaten if it wasn’t for that.
Suit Master: Why? You ok?
Me: No
Suit Master: Talk to me
Me: No
Suit Master: Is this about that little girl?
Me: How’d you know?
Suit Master: You’re a woman and you were upset about it last night. Most women don’t get over feelings that easily.
Me: You’ve got that right.
Two hours later
Me: Thanks again for an amazing night of distractions.
Suit Master: It’s been my pleasure, Angel. Soon enough we’ll meet and you’ll fall in love with me and all of this depressive nonsense will be in the past.
Me: Glad to see you’re still delusional.
Suit Master: Man is not made for defeat.
Chapter Seventeen
Friday
“You ready to get this over with?” Daniel asks, standing in my office doorway. Since Wednesday, he’s been checking in on me constantly. It’s dreadfully annoying.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” To see Gage that is.
Rolling my office chair backward, and sliding on my black Louis’s, I stand and smooth down the sides of my sexy yet conservative turquoise and black mini business dress, synched with a black corset belt. The neckline gives away a little cleavage but it’s not too low. Considering I am signing over half a million dollars, because I showed too much flirtatiousness and breasts during a contract signing. I opted for less boobage. This settlement is nothing but a big bunch of BS anyhow.
Following behind Daniel out of my office and down the hall to the conference room, I take a deep breath and tail him inside.
Sitting down at the oval table, Donald is already eye fucking me, and Roni hasn’t even acknowledged my presence. I don’t like it when she’s mad at me.
Taking the seat next to mine, Daniel reaches under the table and supportively pats my knee.
“Sorry I’m late.” Gage announces, making his grand entrance. I keep my gaze adverted to the table and pick my freshly manicured nails.
Yesterday, I took a personal day. I went to Sally’s Salon, and had my nails, hair, and toes done. I felt a hundred times better once I finished there. Then I stopped by Barbie’s and picked up some dessert and my biscotti for the week. We chatted a while and by the time I came home last night, I felt better about my life. I haven’t felt like myself in days and spending another two hours conversing with Suit Master last night in bed, through texting, left me in a good place. It was the first night I’ve slept well all week. When I woke up this morning, now that’s a whole different story. I dreaded coming in today, knowing I had to come face-to-face with Gage. The man I’m… I dunno with.