CHAPTER FOUR
HOLLY
The universe has to be playing tricks on me. What are the chances I not only see the mystery man who knocked me up outside of a bar—where he hits on me as if nothing happened years ago—but that he’s also my new boss?
My boss!
Like seriously…
What the fuck?
We don't cross paths for three years and now this? Oh, and let's not forget he's somehow best friends with an old client? Or how every time he walks into the room the temperature rises and the molten look in his chocolate eyes when he calls me Red is enough to make my panties melt.
The heat between us wasn’t even this intense the first time.
Again, I ask, what the fuck universe?
Now I'm faced with telling this handsome, powerful man, who has no memory of our night, he's the father of my child?
Yeah, I have a feeling that's going to go over well.
Why couldn't we just cross paths at an Applebee’s? Most of all why can't Thor remember this plain Jane?
I pop the cork on the bottle of wine and fill the glass a quarter of the way before looking at it and shaking my head. That's not enough. Not after the day I had. I should just drink it from the bottle, but I have a little bit of class left. I fill the wine glass to the rim, to almost overflowing.
I can't pick it up, so there's only one thing a girl can do. I lean down and slurp a sip from the top.
"What are you doing?" Terry laughs, placing her purse onto my kitchen counter.
I stand, letting the sweet cherry red run down my throat.
"It was a stressful first day," I groan. I sent Terry a text after I got Matty to bed begging her to come over. I need my best friend and the only person who will understand.
"Okay? And this led you to forget how to drink wine?"
"I wanted a lot…and only one glass. Don't judge me."
"No judgment." She laughs, raising her hands. "I think we've all done the one glass, one bottle, but what happened?"
"So much." I carefully pick up my glass of wine and chug it down like I’m some frat boy at a fraternity party.
"Damn girl, slow down." She places her hand on my arm, pushing the glass away from my lips.
"Ter, you don't understand," I cry.
"I don't because you haven't told me anything yet."
"Right." I place my now half-filled wine glass down and steady my hands on the counter. "You remember the guy we ran into outside the bar the other night." She nods. "He's my boss."
"You mean…" She points to me and then towards Matty’s room. “Na-uh.” Her eyes grow wide in disbelief.
"Yeah."
"Shit." She rushes around me and grabs another bottle of wine off my counter. "We're going to need this one too. Is Matty asleep?"
"Yep.”
“Good.” She gets another wine glass for herself, then pops the cork on the bottle.
We move to the couch, and I finish downing my wine. Terry eagerly pours me another glass. I grab one of the sofa pillows and place it on my lap. "I can't wrap my head around this. I don't know what to do."
"Well, wouldn’t it start with you telling him?”
“How? I told him we hooked up in the past, but he didn’t remember me. I was hoping to at least have that because I feel like if I tell him now, I look like the girl coming for an easy payout. For Christ's sakes, the man smells of money and power, and I…" I push my hand through my messy mom bun and look down at my attire and cringe. I'm dressed in sweats and an old t-shirt that Matty has rubbed his messy face all over. I'm a disaster and he's Mr. Hottie. "And I smell of grape juice and peanut butter."
"You do not." Terry laughs, smacking my leg. "You're being ridiculous."
"Okay, maybe I am." I sigh and push the throw pillow to my chest. "I just don't know how to bring it up. Do I sit him down and go, ‘Hey, remember the night you don't remember? Well, surprise! That one night led to a baby and you’re a daddy.’
"That's a start. Rip the bandage off."
I groan and take another large gulp of my wine. "I'm scared. I don't know this man. What if he wants nothing to do with Matty or refuses to believe me and then he fires me? Shit. I'm not sure which would be worse."
I need this job. Liam Morgan has the power to blacklist me if he wants to. I could end up back at my parents just as I'm starting to make it on my own.
"He’d be stupid to fire you. Listen, the worst thing he says is he doesn't want to be part of Matty's life. At least you wouldn't have to keep wondering what if. This is your chance."
"I spent months after I found out I was pregnant trying to find out who he was with no luck. Now I'm back in the city for a month and I found him.” I sigh and pick the lint off the pillow. “I guess I’m still trying to process that I’m not dreaming because I never thought this would ever happen."
Terry reaches over and pinches my arm, making me yelp. “Nope, not dreaming.”
“Geez.” I rub my arm. “Did you have to do that so hard?”
“You’re fine.” She waves off and picks up her glass of wine. “I can’t believe you didn’t google who you were working for.”
“I didn’t think about it. River called me Sunday night and asked
