Chapter 33--Disappointed

*Amber*

Biting nervously on my lower lip, I slip out the door for the second time today. The first time had been to drop Ash off at school.

And I had been not so lucky to see Jasper and Ryan conversing in the dining area.

I have been pacing back and forth ever since, straining my ears against the door, listening for sounds, or yells, or any signs of agitation. But it has been utterly silent. Well, that's probably because the walls are soundproof.

Well, I am done waiting, and it absolutely sucks staying in the same space with a man who's incredibly hot, walks about in towels and a banging wet body, ignores you and acts like you don't exist and only talks to you when it is necessary.

It doesn't suck. It is hellish.

I close the door behind me as quietly as I can and I take all but three steps when Ryan walks past, blissfully ignoring me.

Hell. How long is he going to remain mad at me? I'm not sure I want to find out.

I start after him. "Ryan, I—"

He presses his phone to his ear, jogging up the stairs like he has something to get to immediately. "Mary, get the plans..." His voice trails off as he disappears down the hallway that leads to his room.

"Trouble in paradise?"

My heart jumps and I whirl to find Jasper smirking. "What? You live here now?"

Sneering, I snap, "Fuck off."

He raises his hand in surrender, causing my eyes to narrow, watching him carefully as he says, "Hey now. I thought I'd say hello and—"

"Get lost, Grant," I say, laying emphasis on his stupid false name as I step around him and head to the kitchen, having nothing else to do.

He follows, steps soft and evenly paced. "I mean to apologize to you. For everything I have done."

I scoff, stepping on my toes and pulling the cupboards open. "You're apologizing? I bet pigs have begun to fly outside."

I stretch for the jar of flour, struggling to get it down. I feel him behind me and I yelp, jumping out of the way as he gets the jar from the top shelf.

He chuckles, shifting the transparent container from hand to hand. "Why so jumpy, Amby. One would think I was a stranger and you haven't experienced proximity with me before."

What the hell?

Heart racing, I motion to grab the jar from his grasp, but he raises his hand, eyes glittering with challenge. I don't know what he is getting at, but he is making me angrier by the minute. I need that flour. I need to bake. I need to do something to make myself feel less...ignored.

I reach for the container again and he extends it all the way back. Only too late do I understand what his trap is when I fall forward and he grips my waist hard.

My knee is rising to kick his balls off when the sound of the door creaks. My head snaps left and I catch sight of Ryan walking away.

God, no.

Grant is smirking, but his grip on my waist loosens. "Doesn't it feel just like old times?"

"You're sick in the head," I seethe, pushing him off.

He barks a laugh and it is gone in a split second, followed by the sound of glass shattering. My eyes pull down to find the shards of glass scattered about the floors, covered in flour. "Guess what breaks as easily as glass," he whispers and turns away from me. He throws over his shoulder as he walks away. "See you soon, Amby."

My breaths are harsh, hard, and it takes a moment for me to realize what the odd metallic taste in my mouth is. Anger. Blood from biting down on my lips too hard.

****

*Ryan*

"No," I tell Mary, waving at her in dismissal. "Not now. I'm busy."

Her lips purse and her eyes go all glassy. "He says he'll fire me if I hang up one more time."

Jamming the top of my pen into the table, I give her an incredulous look. "And who hired you?"

She has a pained expression on her face and I let out a sharp sigh. "Alright. Connect him."

She smiles and walks briskly to her desk, speaking politely into the receiver, even if I know my father doesn't give a damn about her mannerisms.

My office line rings a heartbeat later and dread twists my belly as I pick up the phone and press it to my ear. "Dad."

"I will have your flight tickets ready by the morning. I expect you home before night falls tomorrow."

"I am not—"

"You and the woman who they claim has your child. Three tickets. Bring her and the boy."

I start in my seat, hand clenching the pen in my hand so hard, it snaps in two. "How did you find out?"

"Never in my life have I been this disappointed in you," Father says, and I hear the tremor in his voice. My heart slows and my jaw clenches. Not like this, not this way. I had planned to introduce Amber to my parents soon, but the recent happenings placed a hold on it.

Why introduce her if the first thing that comes to mind when a problem arises is to run off and leave me? I don't know what goes on in her pretty head and I do not wish to dump something like this on her. Not until I am sure she actually wants to.

Not that it matters anymore. My father's voice is hard as he says, "I'll have the doctor ready for a paternity test--"

"He's mine. There is no need for that."

Father says nothing for a while and I am tempted to check if the line has been disconnected when he speaks again. "I should have made Jasper heir instead."

He hangs up, and I throw the phone into the wall.

Of course, Jasper told them. The bastard.