The Office Rival: An Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

According to Marcus, Haden never showed. Eloise was worried but somehow got over it and partied hard with the rest of them. Of course, I know why he didn’t turn up. He was probably smashing up the city, picturing my face on every pole.

So here I am, sitting in front of the countertop as Marcus sits beside me looking like death. Dark circles surround his dull green eyes, and his skin looks pale and sickly. Even though we are indoors, he is wearing his hoodie with the hood covering his head. The sun filtering through the small window appears to irritate him, and he squints his eyes involuntarily, curling his body like a nocturnal animal.

The giant curveball to this mad situation—I didn’t expect the Jerk to be here as well.

He turned up only moments ago and sent Eloise on a mission to get everyone coffee from the café a couple of blocks away. She doesn’t appear as wasted as the rest of them and still looks stunning after a night of partying. A mini-argument erupts after she blatantly refuses to be his coffee monkey, but he manages to convince her somehow.

Haden stands against the sink, and just as I predicted, his right hand is wrapped in bandages. I probably should ask if he is okay, but that would mean I care, which I don’t.

He is purposefully avoiding eye contact with me and is clearly still very pissed off, insinuating that this is all my fault. Well, it takes two to tango, buddy, and one selfish dick to blow his load.

Earlier, I asked for a glass of water, but after witnessing how dirty the kitchen is, I leave my untouched glass sitting on the countertop. I am parched but can’t be bothered to rinse the glass out. Marcus interrupts my thoughts, questioning why the three of us are standing in the kitchen.

So, I start with the beginning—what happened that night in the alley. Throughout my recollection of the events, I honestly have to pinch myself. Here I am standing with a guy I was fooling around with and a guy who is be my child’s father.

The reality of the situation is that I barely know them, have no clue when their birthdays are, le

t alone their favorite colors. Okay, favorite color is lame, but I cannot feel any more like a stranger in this confined room. I have a better relationship with the man who owns the local laundromat, and that’s saying a lot.

“You’re pregnant with Haden’s baby?” Marcus laughs, shaking his head in disbelief. “Honestly, what a sick joke you guys came up with.”

“It’s true. Why would I lie about this? But we aren’t together. It’s not like we were seeing each other,” I tell him in my defense.

“You’re not together. You’re with me,” he responds bitterly, spitting out his words in haste.

Clearly, I am stupid to think that being pregnant with his cousin’s baby is not an automatic breakup. Not being accustomed to this possessive side of him, I choose my words carefully, not wanting to rub salt into his very open wound.

“Marcus. We had our fun, but the reality is, I’m going to be a mother. My priority is raising this baby.”

Haden crosses his arms in silence, waiting for a reaction. I look in his direction, goading some sort of help from him to save me from this uncomfortable situation. Nothing, of course, even when Marcus reaches for the bottle of bourbon from the cupboard and drinks it straight from the bottle.

He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “Why the fuck did you both tell me nothing went on?”

I glance aside, avoiding Haden. “Because it was nothing. A drunken mistake.”

“Well, it’s not nothing since you’re having a baby together!” He slams his fist against the countertop. Ouch! It looks painful, but nothing in Marcus’ expression, aside from pure hatred, makes me think he feels a single thing.

Looking much like death himself, the Jerk is dressed in all black. If one didn’t know his life was turned upside down less than twenty-four hours ago, you would think he’s attending a funeral. Maybe it is a funeral, a farewell to his carefree life of no responsibilities and only having to worry about himself.

Finally, he steps in. “Back off, Marcus. This is hard on all of us.”

Marcus jumps to his feet and stumbles to where Haden is standing. Head on, Marcus sways the bottle, taking another swig and throwing it into the sink behind him. The sound of the glass smashing startles me, and I know shit is about to get real.

With shaky hands, Marcus latches onto Haden’s shirt and presses against him.

“You fucking knew she was with me. You fucking knew I loved her!” He almost spits into Haden’s face.

Being somewhat sober gives Haden the advantage, and he pushes Marcus off, watching him fall backward. I reach out to help him up, and with a shrill, he laughs as he wraps his arms around me.

“Get rid of it. You can have another baby with me. We’re in love. We can get married if you want. Just get rid of it,” he demands in a calm yet dominant tone.

Shocked at the harshness of his words, I set the record straight once and for all. “I’m seventeen weeks along. If I wanted that, no one would make that decision for me,” I angrily yell at him, annoyed at his lack of morals and willingness to voice them. “I don’t expect you to understand, but it’s happening, whether you like it or not.”

“Of course, I don’t fucking like it! I love you, and this is how you repay me?”

Did he really say those words? This is getting worse by the minute. Marcus has no clue what love is. Love to him is mind-blowing orgasms at night followed by a morning blowjob. I don’t know how else to spell it out for him without being the wicked witch and breaking his heart.

“Put yourself in my shoes for a second. I’m raising this baby alone. I’m terrified. I didn’t purposely do this to hurt you.”