Resisting My Billionaire Baby Daddy

Chapter 5 Staying Away from Him

Emily

 I felt a weight of exhaustion settle on my shoulders as I stepped into the hotel room. The dim lighting in the room framed the still figure of my son, Jack, who was sound asleep in his bed. And when I looked around, I realized that Nancy, his nanny, had left already.

 I let out a tired sigh, feeling the weariness seep into every muscle of my body. The events of the evening had taken a toll on me, both physically and emotionally.

Dropping my bag to the floor, I made my way towards the bed, intending to change out of this suffocating dress and take a much-needed shower. The desire to wash away the reminders of the past and find a sense of peace in the embrace of sleep consumed me.

 Just as I was about to begin the process of unraveling the knots of my evening, a familiar beep sounded from my purse, capturing my attention.

I groaned inwardly, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. With a heavy sigh, I retrieved my phone, hoping it wasn't anything important, or at least, not something that'd worsen my mood. However, the message that greeted me only served to fuel my annoyance.

  It was from Killian, the very man who had ruined my mood tonight, and the same man who wanted to draw a clear line between us.

"Thank you for coming out tonight, Ms. Reigns. Let's work together to make this project a success. Have a good night," the message read.

 I scoffed, my irritation pulsing in me. Killian's words were laced with a veiled indication, indirectly telling me to forget what had happened between us, to brush it aside as inconsequential.

 All that mattered to him was the project we were working on together, and our past encounter was to be buried in the recesses of our memories.

A wave of anger mixed with resignation washed over me. I gazed at Jack, his innocent face undisturbed by the tumultuous thoughts that plagued my mind.

 It was at that moment that I made a silent promise to myself – to keep him as far away from Killian as possible. The last thing I needed was for Killian to discover the truth, to recognize in Jack the undeniable resemblance that linked them together.

The truth was painted on Jack's features, a constant reminder of a night that held both pain and unforeseen consequences. It was a burden I wanted to bear alone, and I was determined to protect my son from the confusion that'd come with finding out who Killian was.

***

 The morning sun streamed through the tinted windows, casting a lovely ray across the bustling city. I walked briskly through the polished marble corridors of Kildan Constructions, heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and trepidation.

 Today marked the beginning of my partnership with Killian's company, on a multimillion-dollar project that held the promise of transforming my career. As I approached the receptionist's table, I took a deep breath and introduced myself.

"Good morning, Miss. I'm Emily Reigns. I'm the interior designer for the apartment complex project," I stated with a polite smile.

 The receptionist nodded and bowed curtly, offering a small smile in return. "Yes, Ms. Reigns. Mr. Dane has informed us of your arrival. The 13th floor is where your office is located. When you get there, you'll be directed to where to go. You can take that elevator," she explained, gesturing towards the elevator.

I thanked her with a polite nod and made my way towards the elevator. It was a mix of excitement and nerves that coursed through me. This opportunity was a game-changer for me, a chance to prove myself on a grand scale. I couldn't afford any distractions, least of all the magnetic pull of my past.

I walked into the elevator and was taken aback when I saw Killian standing in there, alone.

 A curse slipped out under my breath at the sight of him, and I could not believe that all of the time to run into him, it had to be now.

 The last thing I wanted was for any sort of interaction with him outside the confines of work. Like he said, the only thing that mattered was the work we had together, and besides that, I wanted nothing else to do with him.

My mind raced, searching for a way to avoid unnecessary conversation.

Suppressing my irritation, I stepped into the elevator, keeping my head as low as I could without saying a word to him.

 As the doors slid closed, the silence filled the confined space, stifling any careless words that might try to escape. My gaze remained fixed on the floor, determinedly avoiding any eye contact.

Suddenly, Killian's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, jolting me from my thoughts. "Aren't you going to indicate which floor you're headed to?" he asked.

I jolted out of my reverie, realizing that I had forgotten to press the button to my desired floor. With a slight fumble, I quickly pressed the button for the 13th floor.

 A small sigh of relief escaped my lips as I saw that our destinations were different. I couldn't wait to finally escape this awkward silence.

 “How was your night?” Killian's voice broke through the silence again, and I inwardly groaned. I had been hoping he wouldn't say anything, hoping to avoid any unnecessary conversations. But of course, life doesn't always work the way you want it to.

“It was fine,” I muttered, curtly delivering my response. I purposely didn't bother to ask about his night, not wanting to open a path to further conversation. The less interaction between us, the better.

To my relief, Killian seemed to catch my hint. He fell silent, and I gave a small nod of appreciation before focusing my attention on the floor numbers, pretending to be engrossed in their progression.

The elevator ride carried on, weighed down by an awkward tension that seemed to hang in the air. I carefully avoided his gaze, keeping my eyes fixed on the floor. I couldn't help but feel a sense of annoyance at this encounter because it wasn't the way I had hoped to start my day.

Finally, the elevator chimed, indicating that we had reached my floor. I almost let out a sigh of relief, but before I could take a step towards the exit, Killian called out to me. I stiffened, not wanting to prolong this already uncomfortable situation.

“Emily, wait,” his voice urged, carrying a hint of something I couldn't quite decipher. But I didn't want to find out. I didn't want to give him the chance to say whatever he had on his mind. My impatience got the better of me.

Without waiting for him to finish, I forced myself to turn towards him, giving him a curt and dismissive nod. I spoke in a clipped tone. “Have a nice day, Mr. Dane,” I said, immediately walking away as fast as I could.