The CEO’s Hidden Love Midnight Temptations and Deep Desires

"No matter who comes around, I'm always gonna be Abigail and Langston's dad."

He was right, and Dorothy knew it. There was no coming back from that statement.

"You haven't answered my question, got any plans tonight?" Everett seemed almost too eager to find out, as if it was his mission. He was curious.

Well, she didn't feel like satisfying his curiosity!

"That's my own business as a single woman," she retorted, ready to walk away, but Everett suddenly grabbed her wrist, holding it tight.

"You got a date?"

"Everett, let go!"

His hand was slightly damp and cool from washing the dishes, an unexpected reminder of their once shared domestic life. Dorothy had intended to set clear boundaries, to stop herself from harboring any more illusions. Yet, she hadn't anticipated such a strong reaction from him.

"Who are you seeing? Karen?"

"Do I only have Karen as a friend?" Dorothy snapped back, even though she knew the remark lacked bite. After all, Karen really was her only female friend. "But I have guy friends too!"

At this, Everett's expression visibly darkened.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

"Guy friends? Kenneth?"

"He's not the only one."

"Dorothy!" Everett's tone cooled several degrees. "You better be careful with your words."

Dorothy tried to shake off his grip, growing more frustrated when she couldn't. Her temper flared.

"Everett, you should really check yourself! We're over, and the only reason I let you in today was for the kids! You've had your dinner, now it's time for you to leave and stop meddling in my personal life!" "Your personal life becomes my business when you start messing around with other men!"

The accusation was like a slap in the face.

"How come it's all fine and dandy

when you're with Quincy, but I'm

'messing around' if I have met

I

friends? Everett, you're being completely irrational!"

Quincy had been there for Everett after his mother passed, and he hadn't pushed her away. Yet, when it came to Dorothy, he resorted to derogatory terms.

"I"

"Just save it, Everett. Please, just go. I don't want to argue and I don't want the kids to overhear us."

Dorothy was close to breaking point. She had been trying so hard to keep it together, and she didn't want Everett to be the reason she fell apart now. "Let go of me," she insisted.

"I need to know who these guy friends are."

Everett seemed to ignore everything she'd said before, focused solely on the "guy friends" part.

"You don't need to know. And what right do you have to ask, anyway?"

"...As their father!"

"Fine, you're Abigail and Langston's dad. To me, that makes you an ex at best. We're divorced, Everett. You're my ex-husband! What right do you have to meddle in your ex-wife's personal life?"

Even Everett had to admit he was out of line.

But he couldn't help himself.

"How can I not have a right? The kids are with you. What if you bring some guy home and it affects them? I have to know who he is!"

"Dorothy, I've entrusted you with Abigail and Langston. You can't just recklessly decide on a stepdad for them!"

Hearing these words come out of Everett's mouth was almost unbelievable to Dorothy.