“Don’t get too arrogant, Eden. You work for Mr. Miller, but I’ve played golf with him, so if he finds out you’re making threats, I don’t think he’d be too happy about that. You sound very confident that he’ll take your word over mine. Why is that?”
“Because,” she said, “Mr. Miller happens to be my father, and I’m the one who helped him expand this company with my sponsoring skills. I tell him where to promote himself and his club. He gets paid.”
Of fucking course.
“Friday at ten,” I snapped. “Now get the hell off my phone.”
I hung up before she could say anything else to piss me off. It was just my luck that a former fling of mine was the daughter of a man who’d invested a great deal of money into Tempt. Tempt was doing fine, but his sponsorship was going to help us bring in dozens of jobs and internships. Having Eden fuck with that opportunity to expand my business really pissed me the fuck off.
“We’re here, sir,” Neo announced. “Should I get your bags?”
“No, Neo. It’s fine. I’ll grab them. Get back to your family. I’ll see you this weekend.”
“Yes, sir.”
I pushed out of the car, tucking my phone into my pocket. I went for the trunk, took my suitcases out, walked to the house, and unlocked the front door. I heard some murmuring coming from the kitchen, and then laughter.
Placing my suitcase down, I headed down the hallway, following the sound. Mama and Lora were there. Lora had her elbows planted on the island counter, bent over a salad she was eating, and Mama was sipping something from a black mug.
“Look who’s home!” Lora said in the same sarcastic way she always did.
I walked up to them, giving them quick hugs. “Where’s Kandy?”
“Upstairs. She’s not feeling too good today,” Mama stated.
“Stomach bug, probably,” Lora filled in rapidly, putting on a small smile.
“Hmm. She been like that all day?”
“Since this morning,” Lora shrugged.
“Let me check on her.” I turned and made my way upstairs and to the bedroom. Kandy was on the bed, her hair sprawled all over the place. She was sound asleep, and it was only 8:30 at night. Didn’t she sleep in this morning?
Sighing, I sat on the edge of the bed, close to her, and pushed her hair back. She moaned a little, rustled around a bit. She looked like she was sleeping so peacefully. As badly as I wanted to tell her about that dreaded phone call I just had, I didn’t want to disturb her rest. I pulled the comforter on top of her, then kissed her cheek.
Going to the closet, I changed into something more comfortable, but when I came back out, Kandy’s eyes were halfway open.
“Cane?” she groaned.
“Yeah, babe. It’s me.” I climbed onto the bed, pulling her to my chest as she moaned. “Lora says you have a stomach bug.”
She yawned. “Oh. Yeah…something like that.”
“Feeling any better?” I glanced at the ginger ale on her nightstand.
“Still feeling a little sick.”
“Need me to get anything?”
“No.” She hugged me tight, nuzzling her cheek into my chest. “I just need you. That’s all.”
I smiled, stroking her hair back. That phone call may have had me on edge, but being with her and having her arms wrapped around me took some of the edge off. I wanted to tell her what was going on—I’d promised her no more secrets—but right now wasn’t the time. Not while she was sick.
I told myself I’d fill her in once she felt better. Eden’s presence wasn’t to be taken lightly. I remembered a lot about her, and one thing I knew for sure was that she was going to make my life a living hell after what I’d done to her. It was best to brace myself, because until my contract with Mr. Miller was up, I wasn’t going to see or hear the end of that wicked woman.
Too bad the contract wouldn’t be up for another three hundred or so days, and I, of all people, knew how much shit could change in the span of a year.
Chapter 7
KANDY
I thought I’d feel better after a few days, but I was so, so wrong. If anything, I felt worse. I was sick to my stomach constantly. Mom said the soonest she could get an appointment with Dr. Bhandari was on Thursday, and I was so ready for that day. I guess it was a good sign that all of this was happening, though. It meant my body was doing something right, or progressing at least, in preparation for a little one.
Mom wasn’t wrong, though—I was just getting started in life, and having a baby was going to throw me for a really big loop. It was hard to even worry about that, though, given that the odds were still so against me.