“There’s something you should know and I want you to hear it from me before you hear it elsewhere. But first, I want us to clear a few things up. I like you, Gabrielle. I like you a lot and I like spending time with you. I want us to spend more time together.”

I thought I knew what he was saying without directly saying it, but I was still scared of what he had to tell me.

“Okay,” I replied.

He threw back his scotch and brushed his hands through his hair. “Remember the woman you saw me with at the gala?”

“Yes,” I answered.

“Her name is Alyssa Troth, she’s pregnant, and she’s claiming the baby is mine.”

Swallowing hard, I took a seat on the chaise lounge that was closest to me and stared at him. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest.

“I can promise you the baby isn’t mine,” Simon said as he stood in front of me.

“How do you know that? Why would she say that?”

“Because she wants to hook her claws into me for life.”

“How can you be so sure you’re not the father? You don’t use condoms.”

“I am sure. She’s doing this on purpose. She’s nuts.”

“Stop.” I put up my hands. “I can’t listen to that. Jesus Christ, Simon,” I spewed as I got up from the chaise.

I heard him sigh. “Gabrielle, please. I am not the father of her baby. The timing is all off. I’m going to prove it. But, in the meantime, people are going to talk. She’ll go to the press and make me out to be some kind of monster if I don’t cooperate. Listen, baby. I need your support in this. I need you to believe me and give me time to prove that she’s lying.”

“What exactly do you want from me? Spell it out, Simon!” I yelled.

“I want us to be together. Me and You. That day in Vegas, after the meeting. The phone call I took wasn’t only about my grandfather. It was about her as well. I couldn’t tell you because I knew it would hurt you and I shouldn’t have cared if it hurt you, but I did. I cared too much and I wanted to protect you. I tried to let you go, but I couldn’t. Then, after my grandfather passed away, and I found myself needing you more and more, I thought if I distanced myself for a couple of days, the feelings would pass, but they didn’t. The longer I was away from you, the deeper the feelings became. Fuck, Gabrielle! You’ve consumed me. You’ve taken over my fucking life.”