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“You do need to talk to him, my friend,” Race urges me.
“I’m not ready to hear it.”
Brando knocks on the door a few more times before our neighbor emerges from her apartment.
“Could you please keep it down, folks? I’m trying to meditate, for Pete’s sake!”
I hear a door slam behind her, and Brando sighs in desperation. Eventually, his footsteps fade as he walks away.
Finally, I fall asleep on the sofa, sobbing on Race’s lap.
The next morning, I march into Brando's office without a word, slamming my resignation letter onto his desk. His eyes widen.
“What was that last night? What’s this?” he attempts as he looks at the letter in confusion, but I don't give him a chance to speak.
“Save it,” I snap. My voice trembles with hurt, and the lump rises in my throat, but I do my best to push it down. I won't let him see me break. And I have to stay strong enough to get through this. “I don't want to hear it. Go talk to Veronica. She’s pregnant, and that’s the end of us.”
His eyes widen in surprise. “What?”
“That’s right. You’ll become a daddy again.”
“What the hell? Ana, please.” He stands up and pleads, “Let me go speak to Veronica, and we’ll sort everything out.” Desperation is etched on his face as he realizes the gravity of his situation.
“Sort everything out?” I scoff, shaking my head. “A woman is expecting your child. Addison will have a baby brother or sister. On top of it, this delightful lady threatened me, saying that if I ever came near you again, she would make my life a living hell. And I can’t even blame her for it. I would have done the exact same thing. So, tell me, Brando, how do we fix that?”
Before he can respond, I turn on my heel and leave, tears streaming down my cheeks.
CHAPTER24
BRANDO
I take a deep breath,my heart pounding with a mix of anger and frustration as I stand outside Veronica's apartment.
One would think that she could have informed me about her pregnancy in person.
Or that she could have come to me before accosting Ana in the middle of the street.
As the door finally swings open, our eyes meet, and I’m reminded of how attractive she is. Tall, with long dark hair, a sultry voice that once held a seductive allure, and now a small baby belly she protectively holds. She is the ultimate expression of New York elite and privilege. Memories of our past flood my mind, but all I feel is a wave of annoyance and resentment.
“I was wondering when you would show up,” Veronica purrs, attempting to sound casual, though her voice holds a hint of nervousness. “Please come in,” she says as she steps aside and lets me pass.
“So, you’re telling people that you're pregnant with my child,” I say as I step forward, my voice betraying the irritation I feel.
She takes a moment to react, her gaze avoiding mine. “You haven’t been responding to my calls. I had to get your attention somehow.”
She does have a point. I have been ignoring the myriad messages she has left on my cell, thinking I had been quite clear that we were over. Now I realize it might have been better if I had returned one of her many calls.
I sigh, my voice filled with controlled intensity. “So, how are you feeling? “
She raises an eyebrow, surprised by my question.
“I’m good, thanks for asking. The first trimester was brutal, but I’m feeling much better now.” She gestures for me to come into her expansive living room overlooking the park. We spent many mornings together on this very sofa.
I narrow my eyes in anger.
“You went to speak to Ana, Veronica. Without informing me first. Also, without confirming that the baby is mine. That's not something I can tolerate.”
She looks hurt, but there's also a hint of defiance in her eyes. “You know we were together during that time. There was no one else, and there is no need to confirm it one way or another. This child is yours, without any doubt.”
