Boss Daddy: A Secret Baby Romance by Black, L. (good books for high schoolers .TXT) 📕

This was something that was mine. Something I did because I was not only good at it but enjoyed it.

Art was one of the things that was largely kept from me when I was at home. My parents encouraged me to paint, but only if it was classical art, and only if it didn’t take my time and focus away from events, networking, and being there for Ethan.

Now, I got to do whatever I wanted. I could create whatever came to mind and take as much time as I wanted to with it. It was a luxury and an indulgence, and one that I was leaning into more and more.

I stepped back from the wall and looked at the new section I was adding on to the picture. It wasn’t quite as seamless as I wanted it to be, almost as if my thoughts and emotions from the different days I painted were showing up in the painting.

“You did a much better job on the one in New York.”

The voice behind me startled me. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was, but I didn’t want my back to him. I whipped around to face him.

“Ethan,” I said.

He stepped up closer to the wall and pointed out a section of the mural. “You see right here? Your lines are weak here. They don’t live up to the rest of the piece, like you gave up on this area.”

Of course he was there to criticize me. That was what he did best. While we were together, he could have listed it as his hobby on a resume.

“What are you doing here, Ethan?”

My heart was starting to beat harder in my chest, but I didn’t let my expression show my fear even as I looked around to make sure there were other people who could see us. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was getting to me. Seeing me upset and frightened was always one of his favorite things. I gave into it for far too long. I wasn’t going to do it anymore.

I noticed a group of mothers with their young children heading for the field nearby to play. It gave me comfort to know we weren’t alone. There were too many witnesses, which gave me confidence he wouldn’t do anything.

“I’m looking at your mural,” he answered. “Isn’t that why you’re painting it? So people will look at it?”

The reply made my teeth grit and my jaw twitch. That was just like him. A sarcastic, nasty comment wrapped up in something innocent. It was why so many people trusted him when he didn’t deserve it. Why so many were charmed by him and convinced he was so perfect. They didn’t want to see beyond the veneer he put up. But I could see past it and it made my skin crawl.

“How could you do that?” I asked.

He looked at me like he just didn’t understand what I was saying. “How can I look at your mural?”

“Don’t act dumb, Ethan. It’s not going to impress me. Why did you do that to my house last week?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Do what to your house?”

“You know what,” I said, getting angrier with every word that came out of my mouth.

“No, I don’t. I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said. “I didn’t do anything to your house. I couldn’t have. I was in California for the last couple of weeks.”

“Don’t try that. I know you’re lying.”

I waited for him to argue, to try to defend himself again. But he didn’t. Instead, the faux innocence melted away from his expression and his eyes narrowed.

“Why are you with that guy?” he asked.

“He has a name,” I said. “And I know you know what it is.”

“I don’t give a shit what it is. I want to know why you’re with him.”

The anger had shown up in his voice, and the words were coming through his teeth with greater force. Somehow that felt more comfortable. He was more predictable this way. I would rather be on edge because his aggression was ticking up than dangling, waiting for the next thing to happen.

“I’m with Jordan because he treats me with respect. And that’s all you need to know. It’s more than you deserve to know. Now, go back to New York and let me get on with my life,” I said.

I took a step back toward my paints, hoping he would just walk away. Ethan immediately took a step toward me, lessening the space between us again.

“We aren’t finished, Hannah. I’m going to prove to you who the better man is. Mark my words, you’ll be running back to me soon. You just better hope that when you do it isn’t too late,” he said.

There was an ominous threat in those words, but I didn’t back down. I looked Ethan directly in the eyes and spoke clearly and calmly to make sure he understood every word I said.

“Get the fuck away from me, Ethan.”

He started to move toward me, but the squeal of tires stopped him. We both looked to see Jordan getting out of the truck he had just parked haphazardly in the closest spot to us. Ethan looked back at me with an arrogant smirk on his face and gave a little half shrug.

“That’s my cue,” he said.

He was gone before Jordan got to us, heading across the front of the library toward the parking lot. Jordan started after him, but I put my hand in the middle of his chest to stop him.

“What was that all about?” Jordan demanded.

“He was just being an asshole, then he said he couldn’t have been the one in my house because he was in California the last couple of weeks,” I said.

“That’s bullshit.”

“I know. He asked why I was with you and said he was going to prove he’s the better man and I would go running back to him.” I took a breath and let it