When she looked at me again, my arms were folded over my chest. “Sorry, Eli. Hormones.” She said before adding a “Roar.” Then she smiled and winked at me before we finished up our coffees and headed to look at the development.
The condo was as amazing as Haley had described if not more so. With an uplift in terms of what each apartment provided, adding extra luxury, would mean a very healthy return on the investment. “Let’s do this, Haley.” I told her.
“Fantastic. I’ll start negotiations when I get back to the office. The great thing is I know the developer has spread himself too wide lately in buying up real estate so I believe I can secure a good price on this.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without
you, Haley. Please tell me you’re not going to leave after having the baby.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. I’ll be leaving those two at home to fight over who does what. We’ll be lucky to get anywhere near the baby with Chase around. He’s already started buying gender neutral clothing. I’ll end up giving some things away to charity because no one needs thirty-two pairs of bootees.”
“Sounds like you’re going to have your hands full.” I said to her.
“Nothing I’m not used to.” She quipped, with an accompanying wink. “Anyway, a little heads up about my friend, Alex.” She added.
“Friend?”
“Yes, you unobservant jerk. I meet Alex once a week for cocktails although mine are now non-alcoholic.”
“So, Alex knows about the baby?”
“Yes, and so prepare for the heads up.”
“Okay, and by the way I’m only letting you off with calling me a jerk because you’re holding me ransom with this valuable information.”
“Okay, so listen up. Alex is giving herself a year to find a man and then if nothing is happening, she’s going to get a sperm donor.”
My jaw dropped. Whatever I thought Haley was going to say, it wasn’t that.
“Say that again?”
“She’s twenty-nine and while she says she can cope without a relationship, she’s not prepared to go through life without a baby. So in a year’s time, if there’s no man in her life, she’s going to have a baby on her own. Which means,” Haley stared at me pointedly. “While you’re considering dating this woman, you’re gonna have to think more long-term. The daughter you have already is a nightmare, but Alex wants kids. If you don’t then you need to cut her free.”
Fuck. I’d never given a thought to the future. My history of parenthood was scarred by my nightmare marriage. Did I want to go through it all again at the age of forty-eight?
Haley noted my reaction. “And that’s why I’m betraying her confidence and giving you a heads up.” She said. “Because I don’t want you breaking her heart. She deserves the love of a good man and so much more.”
“Thank you, Haley.” I replied. “I understand it has put you in a difficult position, giving me that information. You can bet I’ll think things through.”
“I think you left it so late with Alex, you’ve kinda been placed in an ‘all in’ situation.” Haley shrugged her shoulders. “And it could be a whole lotta fun if you get the stick from up your butt and start living your life by the seat of your pants.”
I sighed. “Know anywhere that does personality transplants?”
Once I left Haley, I returned to the office and asked Alex to screen my calls and for me not to be disturbed. I blamed it all on the bogus business meeting and told her I was getting prepared. I even asked her to spend the afternoon compiling a list of King’s available properties that we could show Mr. Saunders. Should I be concerned that I was becoming so adept at lying?
I swung my chair around, looking at the view of Manhattan, while I stroked my chin. I imagined Alex carrying an unknown man’s child inside her body and my own insides churned, acid rising in my throat. Over my dead body was that happening. Then I allowed myself to picture her full with my child, heavily pregnant, her face glowing. The possessive feeling in me rose like a wave and I had to grip the arms of my chair to stop myself crashing through the door of my office, storming over to Alex’s desk, locking the outer office door and taking her over her desk.
Christ, my dick was straining against my pants. ‘Calm the fuck down’, I told my mind and body. I’d locked my door and the blind across the glass was down. I swiveled round to face my desk and opened a private browser window where I typed in short blonde hair and it brought up a hot woman, not as hot as Alex but someone who my mind could picture was her. Sitting back in my seat, I watched as the man stroked his hand down the woman’s back and then trailed his hand up before he grabbed the back of her neck and guided her mouth toward his cock. I loosened my pants and freed my own cock from my boxer briefs before holding my length firmly in my hand. As the woman in the clip began bobbing her head up and down on the man’s cock I began to fist my own. My eyes closed as I pictured the real Alex who was just the other side of the door. I banged my desk in frustration that I was in my office jerking off when really I wanted to be balls deep inside Alex, sunk within her warm depths. I could feel the telltale pull in my balls that my climax was coming, and I fisted myself for all I was worth.
“Fuck, Alex.” I groaned.
As I came into my hand I rushed through into my private bathroom, banging the stall door. I grabbed some tissue paper while my heart rate—that currently thudded and strained like I was about to have a stroke—combined with my rapid breathing, making me feel a little woozy. Gently, I sat for a moment and once recovered I cleaned up and dashed out of the office, making Alex jump.
“I’ll be back shortly.” I announced offering no further explanation.”
Alex flushed, “Okay, Sir.”
Then I was out of the door, escaping what had just happened and feeling in firm need of a scotch.