Unexpected

Reid.

Unexpected things happen all the time. But nothing prepared me for the surprise I felt when I saw one of the senator’s cars outside the house Anna lived in. What was the senator doing here? I parked outside for a few minutes. As soon as the door opened, I drove away, not wanting to be seen. Michael would know my car even if he saw it in darkness.

Later that day, I made inquiries and found out it was not the senator who visited Anna that day. It was the old man.

“Something is going on,” Jaime said. “It’s something big but all the staff don’t want to speak about it.”

“It’s alright. Just tell my assistant to arrange a casual meeting with Michael. After a few drinks, he’ll probably tell me everything.”

Jaime smirked knowingly and stood up. “Sure deal.”

A few minutes after Jaime was gone, the door opened. I looked up to see the only person who dared to enter my office without knocking.

Kylie, beautiful and sweet. She was wearing an extra citrus perfume that day. Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked towards me, hips swaying from beneath the red body on dress. She looked really sexy.

“Reid,” she said, sashaying towards my desk. “You’ve been ignoring me.”

I finished signing the document and placed the pen on the table. She sat on the edge of my desk, the lower part of her dress riding up. Leaning forward, she traced the knot of my tie with her fingers.

But for some reason, I felt nothing. Kylie usually got me going just by looking at me.

“I missed you so much,” she said but I could barely focus on her. All I could think of were those dark brown eyes, the ones of my ex-wife.

Sh!t! Why was i thinking of her?

“Reid?” Kylie leaned closer. “You don’t have to pretend with me. I know you want it as bad as I do.”

Her hand went lower.

“Enough,” I said coldly, pushing her thin hand away.

“What?”

“I said enough.” standing up, I straightened my jacket. “Just stop.”

Her expression hardened. “Is this about her again? Yeah I heard she resurfaced. I saw it online.”

I didn’t say anything.

“You said you were over her,” she continued. “That cheating bitch didn’t deserve you anyway.”

“Don’t,” I warned, not liking the direction she was taking.

“Why? Because it’s true? She slept with another man and you’re still—”

“Get out.”

She laughed. “You’re defending her now”“

“Don’t talk about morals. You’re dating your former best friend’s ex-husband. You smiled with her while waiting for your turn so you don’t get to call her a bad person.”

Her cheeks became red. “That’s—”

“Save it. You want to insult my ex? Fine. But don’t forget who you are while you’re doing it.”

Her dainty fingers curled into fists. “You’re unbelievable.” She said as she grabbed her bag and headed toward the door. “You deserve to be miserable.”

Hell, maybe she was right about that.

I remembered one day I found Anna in the kitchen. She was barefoot, standing on her toes to reach the top shelf of the cabinet. She wore one of my shirts, a blue dress shirt that looked oversized on her body. Sun rays shone on her lush brown hair.

“Reid,” she had called over her shoulder. “If I die trying to get this mug, this is on you.”

I had laughed before marching towards her and wrapping an arm around her small waist.

“I’ve got you,” I’d said. . “You know I’ll always do.”

She’d leaned back onto me and smiled. She trusted me, and I trusted her.

“You make everything feel safe,” she had whispered.

The memory hurt deep as if someone had just twisted a knife in my gut. I drew a deep breath and brought my mind back to the present. I had loved and trusted so much only to repaid with betrayal. This made me slam a hand against the desk. “Damn it.”

I hated her and everything that reminded me of her. So why couldn’t I get her out of my head.

Later that evening I went to the club and found Michael at our usual spot. He was just staring at his drinks.

“You didn’t tell me you’re paying house calls,” I said before taking the seat opposite him.

“What?”

“What were you doing at my ex’s house?”

“Oh. That was my father. He thinks she’s his.”

I raised a brow. “His what?”

“His daughter,” Michael said. I was about to flip out but he continued. “From an affair decades ago.”

The old man thought Anna was his daughter.

“That’s insane,” I said. “I thought Anna’s father was dead. Are you sure about this?”

Michael let out a loud chuckle. “No one believes this nonsense. If she’s his daughter, where was she all these years?”

In an orphanage, I wanted to say.

“He had some investigator dig up records,” Michael continued. “Apparently she was placed in an orphanage. I don’t believe a word of it “

“It’s very strange,” I commented because I wanted him to give more details.

“Even if it were true, it changes nothing. That woman cannot be brought into our family. Do you understand what that would do to mother? The press would have a field day and I’m not about to allow that negative publicity affect my next campaign.”

“So you’re saying,” I said. “Your father wants to acknowledge her but the rest of you don’t want that.”

His silence gave me the answer.

“My father is old,” Michael suddenly added. “I hope he tires of his fantasy soon or I’ll have to do things the hard way.”

“Huh?”

“Yeah. She has to disappear before this gets out of hand.”

I knew exactly what Michael meant by making someone disappear. I had never got involved in his affairs but this concerned the mother of my child.

“No.” I said firmly, placing my hand on the table.

Michael leaned his head to the side and laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re concerned about that little cheat. Never pegged you for a simp, bro.”

“It’s not about her. It’s about the little girl, her child. She’s my daughter and I’ll let you hurt the person who takes care of her.”

“Or what? What will you do?”

I grabbed his hand over the table and twisted it until he groaned in pain.

“I’ll do so many things. All I can say is touch her and you’ll regret.”

Before he could say anything, I let go and walked away.

I had just made a new enemy but I didn’t care. For my daughter, I would do anything.