It was him.
She reached to answer it, but stopped herself. Her emotional state was too fragile right now, and she’d too easily fall for his sweet words and promises. For the rest of the weekend, she needed to focus on her priorities.
By the time Monday morning came around, Tobias had called well over a dozen times before she finally turned off her phone. He’d have to give up sooner or later. Maybe a little time would help him realize how stupid it was to hook up with the maid’s daughter. Maybe his mother would help him see thing clearly.
She strolled through the campus grounds to her first morning class, her books cradled in her arms. The birds sang in the branches above her, the usual sights and sounds soothing her. You can do this, she assured herself. It was any other Monday.
Before she reached the building, she heard someone jogging close from behind. When she turned to look, the man stopped beside her, walking at her pace. He worse a suit and carried a briefcase. At first, she assumed he was a professor … until he spoke.
“I’m Jeff Langley. I represent Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. I’ve been authorized to pay a generous amount in your name.”
She stopped dead and faced him. “And what do I have to do?”
“It’s free money. You just need to keep your distance from their son, and not to list him on your child’s birth certificate. If you don’t want to go through with the pregnancy, the payout could be even higher.”
Adora seethed on the inside, a mix of shock and disgust twisting her gut. Just because she was poor didn’t mean she’d sell out for money. Tobias’s parents were too much, and she wondered if he knew what they were up to.
“Tell them to keep their money. I’m not interested in any of it.” She wanted to say so much more, but wouldn’t stoop to their level. Adora began to walk up the path at a faster speed.
“You’re making a mistake if you don’t take their offer. They’re a very powerful family.”
“Stay away from me!”
Adora rushed into the building and down the hallway toward her first class. Tears clouded her vision. If Tobias was able to blackmail her into having his baby, she could only imagine what his parents were capable of. She didn’t want any more problems in her life, and certainly not in her mother’s.
Before she got to the lecture hall, a strong hand grabbed her, bringing her to a stop.
“Adora.”
She looked up into Tobias’s face. His eyes were narrowed, his forehead creased, but her body still melted in relief. She’d been dreaming of him every night.
“Why are you crying?”
Adora shook her head and huffed. “You don’t know?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Your parents want to pay for my abortion. I don’t even want to imagine what they’ll do when their lawyer tells them I refused.”
If she thought he looked pissed off a minute ago, he looked absolutely livid now, his jaw clenched and eyes vacant.
He tugged her by the arm down the hall, away from her class. They came to an empty room at the other end of the building, and he forced her inside before locking the door behind him. “First things first, why haven’t you answered any of my calls? I’ve barely slept all weekend worrying about you.” He ran a hand through his hair, and she noticed he looked more tired than he usually did. “I’m supposed to be at the office right now, but I’m here, because you’re all I fucking think about.”
She had no response. His voice was loud and angry, but his words held so much passion. Passion she’d thought he was incapable of.
“Nothing to say? You think you can walk away from this, Adora?” He wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her so hard, her body slammed against his, her books falling to the floor. “I’m never letting you go.”
“Did you not hear what I said about your parents?”
He scoffed. “You think that changes anything between us?”
“They’re your parents, Tobias.”
“I’ll fucking deal with them, but trust me, nothing they do can shock me. You have no idea the shit they’ve put me through.”
“Well, they have a high-priced lawyer after me, and I don’t want them destroying my life when I’ve done nothing wrong.”
He cupped her face in his hands, staring at her with such intensity her breath caught. “You think I’ll let them do anything to you? To our baby? They’re trying to control my life, but when it comes to you, there will be no compromises. I need you to understand that.”
“The lawyer threatened me, said they were powerful.”
Tobias chuckled, then exhaled away his anger. “I’m the majority shareholder at the Bennett Corporation, not my father. I’m the one to be feared, Adora.”
“I should be afraid of you?”