Chapter 0022
ALEXANDER
I scowled as I stared at the back of the bottle, reading the dosage as Bailee turned on the bath in the adjoining bathroom
“How much do I owe you?” She asked, and 1 looked up to see her leaning against the door frame, staring at me stone–faced.
For the medicine, how much was it?”
“You don’t need to pay me back.”
“Well, I don’t want to owe you anything.” She snapped, and I lowered the bottle to my side.
The little girl was sitting on the bed, playing with the unopened boxes, and I felt uneasy. I was unsure if she should be playing with them or if I should take them away. If I did, would she just start screaming again?
“You don’t owe me. It’s a gift.” I said, and she held her hand out, palm up, careful not to touch me when I placed the bottle in
her hand
Pushing off the door frame, Bailee grabbed the syringe from the box on the bed, opened the bottle, and filled it without needing to read the back like I had
She knew exactly how much her child needed off the top of her head. I didn’t even know how much of anything I would need.
She was a good mother.
Brinley took it eagerly, enjoying the sweet syrup.
“You can leave. I’ve got it from here. I need to get her into the bath, and I don’t feel comfortable with you being here for that.” She refused to look at me as she picked Brinley up and brought her to the bathroom
Her words felt like a cold dagger slipping between my ribs.
She felt uncomfortable with me being near when her child who couldn’t be much older than two, was in the bath.
I understood the need for privacy and would have waited in the living room or kitchen and given them that, but the way she said it her tone and the narrowing of her eyes…
It made me feel like she thought I was some disease–ridden, sick fuck who would see it as something more than just a kid breaking their fever and that I shouldn’t be in the same house as her.
What kind of a man did she think I was?
Bailee must have seen the look on my face because her face softened, and she shook her head.
I turned to leave.
“Of course I just came to bring her the medicine anyway, and I have work to do. Fill give you two some privacy and talk to you
later
“Alex, it’s just that
“Bailee,” I said, cutting her off. “It’s fine. You don’t trust me around your child, and I can respect that you want to keep her safe. I hope you both have a good day.” I said, leaving the room quickly.
The sooner I left, the sooner she could get her little girl in the bath to bring her fever down
I shoved my hands into my pockets, the receipts crinkling under my fingers from the three stores I had stopped at to ensure ! got the flavor of medicine Brinley liked
My eyes narrowed at the bags of take–out food I had set down on the floor in my rush to get inside and ensure Brinley was okay after I heard her screaming and crying from outside.
So much for breakfast.
25 BONUS
I would just have my assistant grab me something. It had been a long shot to think that Bailee might be willing to let me eat with them. I had wanted to talk a little more so we could get to know each other for the people we are today instead of for the immature, stupid kids we had been the last time we knew each other.
Picking up the bag, I placed it on the kitchen counter before leaving and locking the door behind me.
My driver had been waiting, eating the food I had gotten for him in the car while I was inside. I had come with low expectations for this morning and asked him to wait, but I didn’t want him to be hungry, just sitting out here alone if she did welcome me for breakfast.
I needed to take baby steps, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to have hope. If I could get her to open up to me, she might be willing to work with me to take down her ex
“Mr. Kingston!” My driver exclaimed, rushing out of the driver’s side to open my door.
“There is no need to rush, Mr. Mitchel. Please enjoy the rest of your meal, and then we will head to the office.” I said, grabbing the door handle myself and climbing into the car.
“Yes, sir.” I heard him say before he walked back to climb in behind the wheel.
He was an elderly man but an excellent driver. He used to be a bodyguard, but when he aged out of that, this was the path he turned down. No one wanted to hire him because of his age. They wanted someone with fast reflexes who was skilled in defensive driving
If they had given him a chance, they would have realized he was.
But their loss was my gain
I scowled as I worked through my notifications. I saw a few messages from clients and investors about the arrest. My mugshot hadn’t been released yet, and I wanted to keep it that way.
My team had worked hard all night to keep it hidden. This had been the perfect way to prove to our clients that we could clean up any mess and that their lives could remain as private as they wanted.
There were also a few hundred emails and several texts from my assistant. The longer I stared at the phone, the more popped up until finally he just called.
Answering
the phone I lifted it to my ear. “Yes?”
“Good Morning, Sir,” Nathan said, his voice shaky and panicked. It seemed this bad morning was just going to keep getting worse. “What time will you be in today?”
“Soon,” I said, irritated that he was questioning my actions but keeping that feeling to myself because I knew if he was asking, it was for a reason. He had earned my trust and respect over the past several years, so I would give it to him. “Is everything alright?”
“You have a visitor, sir.“Nathan’s voice dropped, and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It could be anyone, but everyone I knew who had the nerve to show up without an appointment was always up to or wanted something.
“Who is 117
“Caleb Johnson is here to see you.”
Ashley Breanne
