Billionaire Baby Daddy

“And Renée has only ever been self-motivated and petty,” Katherine said. She sighed. “Are you really telling me that there's nothing about this that seems weird to you? Like how she managed to get a paternity test at all? Where the hell did she get Emma’s DNA, you moron? And don’t you feel the least bit guilty at how much you’ve upset Lexi?”

The truth was, I did feel guilty. I hated the idea of Lexi packing up her bags, almost as much as I'd hated sleeping on my own the previous night. But I couldn't let my feelings get in the way of what I knew to be a logical decision.

“Even if I throw out the evidence that Renée gave me, doesn't it say something about Lexi's and my relationship that I even considered the evidence to be true?” I asked, putting my head down on the desk.

Katherine was silent for a moment.

“It doesn’t say anything about your relationship with Lexi,” she said. “It says something about you. Your suspicion has always been your biggest flaw. And I understand where that comes from. It's also what makes you such a great businessman. One of the many things that makes you such a great businessman, rather.” She paused. “The thing that you have to remember is that, yes, Renée does know you. I get the feeling that she's been watching you for a lot longer than you think. I think she's had her eyes on you since long before the two of you started dating.”

“She does seem a little obsessed with me,” I admitted. “I actually threatened to get a restraining order if she came near me again.”

“And this is the woman you trust over Lexi?” Katherine asked with a sigh.

I’d never heard her sound so disappointed in me. I had no response.

“A restraining order might be a good idea,” Katherine said. “Although, it'll ruin her family's reputation.”

“I know,” I sighed. “And that's the only reason I haven't had the paperwork drawn up already.”

“Your safety and well-being are more important than her family’s reputation,” Katherine said. “Besides, she had no problem destroying your family. The one you built with Lexi and Emma.”

“We don’t know that they’re my family,” I said.

“Come on, Andrew. If anyone knows how to play you and push your buttons, it’s Renée. She knows what your fears are and how to manipulate you. It doesn't mean that your relationship with Lexi is doomed to fail. You need to learn to trust Lexi more, sure. I don't think you would have let her live in your home for as long as you have if you didn't trust her, though.”

“What am I going to do?” I asked. “She's never going to forgive me, after this.”

“There's still time,” Katherine said confidently. “She hasn't told Emma that they're leaving yet. To be honest, I don't think she knows where they're going to go if they leave. You can still catch them.”

I swallowed hard, a sickening feeling in my gut. “You don't think she's going to hate me, do you?”

“Let her know how bad you feel,” Katherine advised. “And talk things out, explain to her exactly what happened and what you were feeling. Lexi has Emma, and she has to carefully think through every decision that might affect the girl. I'm sure she'll understand your fear and suspicion, better than you might think.”

I nodded my head. “Katherine?” I asked, sensing that she was about to hang up.

“Yeah?” she asked.

“Thanks,” I said quietly. I hung up with her and quickly dialed Janice's number. I needed a favor.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Lexi

I stared listlessly down at our suitcases, trying to think if there was anything that I'd forgotten to pack that we'd need right away. Or ever again, really. I was sure that once we walked out these doors, we were never going to be allowed back into Andrew's mansion again. The thought still made my heart clench.

I had never meant to let Andrew's mansion feel like home, but it had definitely become that way over the time that we'd been living there. It wasn't just that all of Emma's and my things were there. It wasn't just that I had no idea where else we were going to live. No, it had something to do with the fact that Andrew and Emma and I were all there together. It had something to do with lunches and family outings. It had something to do with finally, for the first time in my life, feeling comfortable in a home.

I couldn't believe I had to let that all go.

“But Mama, where are we going?” Emma asked, sounding confused.

It broke my heart to hear her ask that. I didn’t have a good answer.

“We're going to go stay in a hotel for the night,” I said. “Won't that be fun?”

I had been doing some online freelance work recently, so I could at least afford a couple nights at a motel. It wasn't a long-term solution, but I didn't know what else to do.