My One and Only: A Bad Boy Secret Baby Second Chance Romance

by Weston Parker

  It was the lie that hurt him most, a betrayal he was unwilling to forgive. He’s spent hours replaying the scenario, hating how well Renee had played it, but finding himself grateful, because he didn’t want to be blindsided by Kasey’s inevitable departure.

  She was the talk of the town, how she was building up writers. It was now obvious to him that she was merely using Passions Publishing as a stepping stone. She’d even insisted on removing the standard clause that she couldn’t work for a competing firm for two years after ending their contract of employment. Now, it all made sense.

  Jay wanted to discuss his revelations with his partner, so he’d set up a round of golf. It was a sunny afternoon, so Mitchell was more than willing to join him for an early tee time, before his son’s soccer match.

  “You look like you had a fun night,” Mitchell said, as the two approached the golf cart.

  “Looks can be deceiving,” Jay chuckled, but it was true. He knew his friend had imagined him having a much more fun time gaining the bags beneath his eyes. Opting not to ruin his image, Jay declined to share that his only companion last night was a bottle of overly expensive liquor.

  “Yeah, I bet. But from the looks of you, I should drive,” Mitchell teased, climbing into the driver’s seat before beginning their journey around the course.

  “I was telling Kathy about Renee storming into the office yesterday. She couldn’t believe the audacity of that woman. Hell, neither can I,” Mitchell said. Jay was happy he’d broached the topic, because he was dying to discuss all that had happened.

  “I think Jessica thought I’d fire her, but how could she stop a bull in a china shop? Renee was going to get in that office one way or another,” Jay recalled, although after a few drinks the previous night, he had debated reprimanding his secretary for not adequately doing her job.

  Typically, she made sure to keep Jay’s office locked, from the remote she had on her desk, but at the end of the day, when he and Mitchell met to recap the day’s events, they often left the door open, wanting the employees leaving for the day to see them, and wanting to be able to keep track of who was leaving earlier than others.

  “Don’t blame Jessica for Renee. She’s in a class of her own as far as disrespect goes. There’s nothing that poor girl could’ve done to prevent that.” Mitchell said, seeming to feel sorry for Jessica as if she’d already been punished enough.

  “Maybe so. But I’ll tell you who wasn’t a sweet girl in the scenario—Kasey. And to think of how much control and trust I gave her. You know how difficult that was for me, Mitch. I bent for that woman, and what did she do? Betray me. I honestly don’t think I can forgive her,” Jay admitted what had been bothering him for half a day now.

  “It’s not that, Jay,” Mitchell started, but Jay interrupted him.

  “Of course, it is. Don’t tell me you’re still believing her bullshit loyalty. She set up a meeting with our competition, and I let her know how unacceptable it was.”

  “What did you do?” Mitchell blanched, pausing mid movement as he reached for a golf club.

  “I told her she’s too smart to play stupid. After Renee left my office, I followed her out. She was in the parking lot, hugging Kasey as she looked back at me with a ‘fuck you’ grin. She knew how much I invested in bringing her onboard, and she couldn’t stop herself from gloating before she stole her from under my nose.”

  “I confronted Kasey as soon as Renee left, and she had the nerve to act aloof about the whole thing, claiming she didn’t know what I was talking about. Yeah right. She had three boxes with her, so who knows if she’s even planning to come back on Monday. For all I know, she’d packed up her things to sneak out like the coward she is.” Jay was seething as all the anger boiled back up.

  He was hurt by Kasey’s betrayal, and frustrated with himself. While he cared for his employees, and loved his company more than anything else, he’d never found himself so invested in any employee before, and the one time he did, she crossed him in the worst way.

  “Are you serious, Jay?! The woman had just come into your office gushing about a new author she planned to bring to the company. You can’t deny the genuineness she’s displayed. You went out and embarrassed us both without so much as consulting with me?” Mitchell faced Jay with intensity in his eyes. He was upset, and Jay had never seen him so confrontational.

  “Mitch, you heard Renee. And I saw her outside with Kasey. She looked like she’d seen a ghost when she saw me. I could tell she was afraid of my reaction, caught red handed like that,” he tried to explain, knowing his best friend could not understand what he did after seeing Kasey in the parking lot.

  “Jay, Renee was fucking with you. I’ve got two sources in her office. There was no meeting with Kasey, she was only saying that to rile you up, and look what you did. Now, she’s probably going to take her up on the offer, because you’ve disrespected her after we finally got in a good groove together.”

  The words hit Jay like a ton of bricks as his mind raced to think back to the previous day’s events. The look of fright on Kasey’s face was certain, but now that he recalled the anger he felt while walking towards her, he wondered if it was only a reaction to him.

  “Think about it—why would Renee reveal her strategy to us, Jay? If she was smart, which she is, she’d sign Kasey and then come gloat, not the other way around.”

  That made more sense than any conclusion he’d been able to draw the previous night, and Jay felt like an idiot as he realized how dumb he’d been to walk right into the trap Renee had so sloppily laid out. She’d angered him so that he wouldn’t think clearly, or strategize. When he saw Renee talking to Kasey he didn’t think to ask Kasey what had happened, because he was already too upset.

  “You’ve got to fix this, Jay. We cannot stand to lose Kasey, she’s the best move we’ve made in years.” Mitchell rubbed his forehead, and Jay knew how badly he had messed up.

  “What if it’s too late, Mitch? I know I was horrible to her, and she’s not the type of woman who stands for something like that—especially after we’d come to an agreement.” Jay said, knowing Kasey must feel blindsided by his behavior.

  “Well, you have until Monday to figure out how to fix it. Until then, maybe you should focus on that, and forget about this game,” Mitchell returned the club to his golf bag.

  Jay was dumbfounded by the change in events. It was he who had betrayed Kasey in the end, and the understanding made his stomach churn with shame. She’d done everything in her power to show him she was committed to his company, exceeding every expectation he set for her, and all it took was a rumor from a woman he knew could not be trusted for him to throw everything out the window.

  Mitchell was right, he had to find a way to make things right and convince Kasey to stay at Passions Publishing. He knew the value she added, and how difficult it would be to lose her. But what could he say or do to combat the wrong he’d done? He found himself at a loss for words, but knew he had to find a way. He was determined to make it up to Kasey, no matter what it cost him. He just hoped it would be enough.

  Chapter 20

  Kasey

  With all that had happened in the short time since she walked out of the office on Friday, returning on Monday didn’t feel like enough time. Despite staying in most of the weekend, Kasey was exhausted as she walked through the pristine office she had loved working at just a few days ago.

  Her life and feelings seemed to be on a roller coaster of emotions lately, and she was drained by the impact.

  “Mr. Canton has ordered breakfast for everyone. It’s a complete feast!” Stephanie squealed, taking the bag from Kasey’s shoulder as she sat it behind her desk before dragging her to the conference room.

  Kasey was impressed when she saw the spread. Her assistant was not exaggerating when she said Jay had ordered a feast. There was an entire buffet set up, with servers dressed in black and white available to make fresh waffles, omelets and pancakes. Aluminum containers held everything from home
style potatoes to bacon and sausage.

  An entire table was dedicated to fresh fruits, cut in delectable shapes, as well as Danishes, croissants, muffins, and bagels. The final table housed an espresso machine, a kettle, and fresh orange, pineapple, and apple juices to choose from.

  He had definitely gone all out, sparing no expense, and when she spotted Jay across the room she noticed he’d spent as much effort on perfecting his look. The jet black suit made his dark hair pop. As always, his sleek hair was styled to perfection, but today it didn’t have the same effect on her.

  Sure, he was stunning, the most handsome man she’d ever seen. But that didn’t erase the shame and hurt he’d caused her. Over the weekend, her feelings had morphed from confusion to embarrassment, then to anger only to return to shame before ending with hurt.

  “Good morning, Kasey,” Jay said, as she approached. She could read the apprehension on his face, and it only intensified her need to get off her chest the words she’d been rehearsing for two days now.

  “I need to speak with you,” she said sternly, and he nodded as if he was expecting that.

  “Of course. Let’s go to my office.”

  After instructing his assistant to hold his calls, Jay led Kasey into his office, closing the door behind them.

  “Kasey, I know you’re upset, but please let me explain,” he began, before she could say a word. He was remorseful, that much she could see on his face.

  Kasey remained silent, tilting her head to let him know he could continue, but she wasn’t looking for any explanation from him, little did he know, she’d already come to her own.

  “You may not know this, but I have a very ugly history with Renee. She came into my office unannounced the other night, disrespecting me and Mitchell, before announcing she was going to a meeting with you. I didn’t know then that there was no meeting, and I lashed out at you because I felt betrayed. It was wrong, and I’m sorry. I should have trusted you enough to come to you and find the truth, but I didn’t. Mitchell explained to me that Renee was only trying to cause a rift between us. Can’t you see that?” He inched closer to her, but Kasey took a step backwards.

  “You’re right, Jay. She wanted to cause a rift, and she succeeded. You don’t get to talk to me like that. I thought I made it clear my first week here. You’re not my husband, Jay. You don’t get input on what I do outside of this office. You and I both know you barely get input on what I do in the office,” she said, and Jay smirked at her admonishment, which upset her further.

  “I’m serious!” she yelled.

  “Kasey, I know. I’m only acknowledging the way you barely listen to me,” he said softly, again moving towards her. This time, she didn’t back away, until he placed his hand on her elbow.

  “Don’t touch me. That’s exactly what I mean. You think you can come and talk your way out of this with a few waffles and a new suit? What you did was unacceptable, Jay. You hurt me.” Her voice cracked on the last sentence, and she took a deep breath to gain strength before continuing.

  “I cannot continue to work under you, Jay. There’s no respect and no trust.” She spoke as if there was no room for negotiation, but Jay refused to accept that.

  “Kasey, please. At least hear me out. I’m sorry. Doesn’t that mean something?” He held his hands up as if he was offering his heart on a platter.

  “I get that to you an apology tastes funny, but for me it’s not enough. You apologize for bumping someone accidentally in the hallway, Jay, not for berating them in public. You told me I was stupid, accused me of betraying you, and—you know, when I replay it back in my mind, it’s not even what you said as much as how you looked at me.” She paused, again overwhelmed with emotion as her stomach collapsed with the feeling he left her with. Shame.

  “Kasey, I’m sorry.” His words seemed to hold as much shame as she felt churning in her belly.

  “I didn’t deserve that, Jay.” She couldn’t even look at him, afraid the emotions would spill from her eyes.

  “I know. I was wrong. I’ll do anything to make it right, Kasey. Please,” he begged.

  “I had a long talk with Renee last night,” she looked up just in time to see the words hit him like a punch to the face. He was hurt, there was no denying that.

  “Kasey.” His eyes closed as what she said hit him again.

  “I quit,” she said, before moving to walk past him.

  “Please don’t do this,” he pleaded one last time, his hand on her elbow, and this time she didn’t shake off his touch. It would be the last time she ever felt it, and a part of her wanted to enjoy it.

  “Your apology is too little, too late, Jay. I told you what I needed, and you turned on me at the first sign of trouble.”

  Looking deep in his eyes, Kasey honestly felt that he understood her. He knew he was wrong and that he deserved to lose her as an employee.

  “Goodbye,” she whispered the word as if she didn’t really want to say it before sidestepping him, leaving his office without looking back.

  She’d given her decision much thought over the past two days, and knew it was the best thing for her career. She could not continue to work for him after he had shown how little he valued, trusted, and respected her contributions.

  Her greatest fear when she came to work for Jay was that he only cared how much money she could make him, and his outburst all but confirmed that. Everything they’d discussed went out the window when he thought she could possibly cross him, and for her that was a deal breaker.

  Kasey Wright was not the kind of woman you could cross and get away with it, and Jay had done it more than once in less than a month. She had no choice but to walk away, or at least that’s how she felt.

  Taking a deep breath, she walked into her office, gathering the few personal items she’d purchased to make the new space feel like home.

  Just as she readied herself for the shameful walk to the elevator, Jay walked into her office frantically, closing the door behind him.

  “Kasey, please don’t do this to me,” he pleaded, but it was the final two words that hit her the hardest.

  All Jay Canton cared about was Passions Publishing, but he was talking about himself personally, in a way she couldn’t recall him ever doing before.

  “Jay, I have to do what’s best for me.” She looked directly into his gorgeous eyes, fearful that it would be the last time she had the pleasure of seeing him.

  He stared at her with such intensity, she had to look away, knowing how raw her emotions for him were, and how quickly they could morph into something else.

  “Goodbye, Jay.” She walked out on him again, the small box of her personal items under her arm. This time, she did look back, to find him holding his head in his hands like he’d missed the shot to win the championship. It struck her like a dagger to the heart, but her pride pushed her forward.

  The walk to the elevator was a daze, as she waved to employees, who most likely thought she was just heading to a business meeting. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Stephanie she was quitting.

  The doors to the elevator closed, and she felt herself begin to unravel. There was no doubt in her mind that she was making the right move for her career, but a deep longing felt as if she was walking away from much more than a job, and that hurt the most.

  Two tears fell from her eyes, which she quickly wiped away before exiting the elevator on the first floor. She may not have known what her future held, but she was ready to find out.

  Chapter 21

  Jay

  Two weeks. That’s how long it had been since Kasey had walked out of his office, taking the sunshine with her. In that time, Jay had kept the shades drawn, shunning the beautiful skyline of the city he loved so much.

  Sitting in the dark, he scrolled through emails, debating whether to send one to Kasey. In the past two weeks, he had expected her to reach out, as every other woman in his past had done.

  But Kasey wasn’t like other women, this much he knew, but she was a woman. She
had needs, regardless of what she claimed about not wanting more from him.

  “You’re not my husband!”

  Her words had replayed in his mind more times than he cared to admit, but he still couldn’t begin to understand how she could be so unattached to him. Sure, he had overstepped a boundary, and broke their trust with the way he ambushed her after being tricked by Renee Rockwell, but he’d tried to explain that.

  His arch nemesis had finally gotten the better of him, fooling him into believing that Kasey was considering leaving his company to go and work for her. Like an idiot, he walked right into her trap, storming out of the office just in time to find Renee hugging an uncomfortable Kasey.

  At the time, he thought the strange look on her face was guilt, because he had caught her in collusion with the enemy. Knowing now that she was actually confused by Renee’s behavior since they’d had no plans to meet up later made him grit his teeth with regret.