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“I’m fine.
Just great.”
Elle could only stare at her cell phone display dumbfounded. The text was short and to the point. Sully cancelled their date and added he’d not be able to see her again.
When the first tear slipped down her cheek, she rushed to the door, closed and locked it. Leaning on it, she allowed more tears to fall. It was silly of course, to cry over someone she’d not gotten to know yet.
At the same time, something about him had felt so right. It was as if she’d been waiting her entire life for him. The peace in her soul, the lightness in her chest that came when spending time with Sully was like nothing before.
Finally behind her desk again, Elle wiped away tears and blew her nose. It was time to finally put Sullivan Cole in the past. He was not the man for her no matter what her heart demanded.
The phone rang and it was her cousin, Jennifer. “Hey you’re not going to believe what I just heard at work?”
Jennifer, who worked for the state protocol office, always had the best gossip. Most business executives came to her office on a regular basis with their assistants in tow. The bored underlings made for easy prey and if anyone could wheedle information from them it was Jennifer.
Elle smiled, glad for the distraction. “Tell me, what did you hear?”
“Phillip, Sharon Logan’s assistant told me his boss is preggers.” Jennifer waited for effect. “Guess who she says the baby’s daddy is?”
“Brad Pitt?”
“Close. Sullivan Cole.”
Elle’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?” Her voice elevated two octaves at the thought Sullivan was sleeping with someone while pursuing her. “That low down...”
“Wait,” Jennifer interrupted. “Phillip knows for a fact, Cole is not the father.”
Sometimes Jennifer’s flair for drama was a bit much. “How would Phillip know?”
“Oh honey, assistants know everything. The last time Sully slept with Sharon, she was already pregnant. She went to his place to purposely get some, just to set it all up.” Jennifer laughed. “I bet the girl outside your office can probably tell me how many times a day you fart.”
“Jenn...who’s the baby’s father?” Elle snapped, which made Jennifer excited at knowing she’d hooked her.
“It’s Randall Newman. The owner of the Double Wabble.” Double Wabble was a new franchise that sold hot dogs and steak strips encased in batter that was popular with teens. No one else seemed to like the food. Elle suspected the teens gathered because the Double Wabble logo looked suspiciously like twin phalluses.
“Seriously?”
“Newman’s assistant, Nancy, is a total bitch. I don’t like her. All about getting all the attention. But all I have to do is start acting like I’m jealous of her and she spills faster than an oil tanker in the Gulf of Mexico.”
It almost worked, Elle was curious to know more about Nancy. Instead, she focused on Sullivan’s issue. “Why would Sharon not want the guy, Randall, know he's the baby’s father?”
“He’s greasy and slimy. I’m sure she was drunk when she did him. From what Phillip said, it lasted about a month. You think someone can stay drunk that long?”
“Eww. He is not very attractive if I remember the commercials. Is it the guy in the bright orange jumpsuit that parachutes into a huge bowl of batter?”
“That’s him. Isn’t the thought of Sharon with him totally wacky?”
Elle sighed. “I’m not sure about that. She’s attractive, but has that hard look about her. How does she plan to sell the baby off as Sully’s? He can get a DNA test. I’m sure she wouldn’t lie about something like that.”
“Phillip says Sharon is counting on Sully believing her because she never lies. Actually she lies a lot, but never gets caught. Also, Sharon told Phillip that he would have to seduce Sully’s secretary, to make sure she has the inside scoop on whatever Sully is doing. I’m calling Stacia next!”
“Oh my goodness. Is he going to do it?”
“Oh crap. Gotta go!” Jennifer hung up.
What to do about the situation? There was no way to warn Sully without throwing Phillip under the bus. She leaned forward, not exactly feeling better. So he’d had relations since they’d met. Yes, the woman had purposefully seduced him, but nonetheless, it still hurt her.
There had to be a way to let Sully know. Perhaps if she put her mind to it, she could be as creative as Sharon Logan.
