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chapter 20
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The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 21
TRAVIS Paige knows something is up. The woman is the farthest thing from stupid I’ve ever seen. That combined with me turning into a robot whenever I’m around her has tipped her off to the fact that I am hiding something from her. To her credit, she hasn’t pushed much, but I can tell it’s not going to be much longer before she puts her foot down. Even though I haven’t known her that long, one thing I know about Paige DeLisle is that she doesn’t suffer fools. So something has got to give. I need to tell her about TJ, but every time I try, the words just won’t come out. I don’t know how to say it. I’m so scared of losing her. I know she won’t hold this against me, but she may decide that she doesn’t want to get involved with someone who is parenting a toddler, and that would be fair. Another problem is that the longer I wait the worse it is because of how long I’ve waited. Long story short, my anxiety levels are through the roof. I have been avoiding Paige for pretty much the last
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 22
“Say it like what?”“As if that’s how I treat you.”“But you do.”“What?” She shifts back as if I just spat in her face.I massage my temples. “All this is coming out wrong. What I’m trying to say is that you are opinionated, and I like that. It’s just that not everyone takes well to that kind of an approach.”“I feel like you’re trying to backpedal now. First you use the word judgmental. Now you’re saying you meant opinionated. Travis, you aren’t an idiot. I think you meant judgmental, and after seeing my reaction you’ve decided to try and walk your comment back.”“You know what? I can’t do this right now. I don’t have the energy to fight with you and convince you of what I meant to say or didn’t mean to say.” I switch off the stove and walk out of the kitchen and over to my mantle where I keep my keys. I snatch my bike keys up and head for the door.“What? You’re just going to walk out and leave me here?”“Yeah, I am, because if I stay I’ll just end up saying more things that you’ll
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 23
PAIGEWhat the hell was all that about?That was such a stupid fight to have. Yeah, maybe I was being a little sensitive, but Travis? That was weird, right?The man is many things, but ineloquent isn’t one of them. It’s almost as if he said what he said to pick a fight with me.Is he trying to break up with me? It’s a question I’ve had for a couple of days now, but I keep pushing it out of my mind because I decided I was being paranoid. I dismissed it because of who he was prior to the last few weeks, but I can’t ignore what is in front of me now.First, he was emotionally distant. Then he was distant physically, claiming to be busy. I don’t know his net worth, but the man runs several companies worth a couple billion. He’s always been busy, but that’s never stopped him before. So what’s different now? Why has he been avoiding me this entire week? Then you add on what happened tonight and I’m starting to think he’s doing this on purpose.Is it something I did? Did I say something to p
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 24
TRAVISAs the elevator whisks me up to the penthouse, blood rushes to my ears the higher I go. My pulse is through the roof. I don’t know how Paige is going to take what I’m about to tell her, but I can’t keep dodging it.I let myself into my apartment and everything is still.“Paige?” I call out. No one answers.Maybe she’s gone.I walk over to the kitchen and see that her bag is where she put it down when she arrived earlier in the evening. So I walk into my bedroom, which is when I hear retching coming from my bathroom.I rush over and see Paige doubled over the toilet.I get on my knees and rub her back. “Paige…”She reaches behind her and pushes me away.“Get off me,” she says in between heaves.I fall back and land on my ass. I guess she’s still angry at me for leaving the way I did.I climb up to my feet and consider apologizing, but this isn’t the time for it. So I just stand there and watch until she finishes emptying her stomach into the toilet.When it looks like she’s done
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 25
“Because it’s the truth. You don’t want to date a man with a child and you’re blowing this out of proportion to use it as an excuse to end things.”She rolls her eyes and walks over to where she left her purse and pulls it off the table. “The fact that you would even say that to my face is so insulting.”“Then prove me wrong. Stay. Let’s talk about this.”She stares me down for a few seconds, then says, “You want me to stay? Okay, I’ll stay. Let’s talk. By the way, you should know I’m pregnant.”My vision blurs momentarily. “What?”“I am pregnant. I’ve known for a while now, and I’ve been trying to tell you, but never found the right moment.”“How long—” my voice catches. I clear my throat and try again. “How long have you known?”“I found out before we left for Paris.”“Paris? You’ve known for a month and didn’t tell me?”“Well, I wanted to wait and see where we stood before I told you. Judging by everything that has happened tonight, I think that was wise.”“Paige, that’s not fair.”
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 26
PAIGEThis is all too much. I do not know how much more of this I can take. Life keeps coming at me fast and I don’t know how to deal. I’m barely keeping my head above water.The past two weeks have honestly been the most difficult of my life. It’s true what they say. You don’t know what you have until you lose it. I wasn’t aware of just how much I loved Travis until our relationship ended. When I ended things with him I knew it would hurt, but not this much.I’ve spent every night since crying myself to sleep. I love him so much, but I don’t think continuing our relationship would be the smartest thing to do. It’s not that he has a son with his ex-wife, because although that would be an adjustment, I know if I wanted to I could welcome his son into our lives while also planning for our baby. What has me balking is the fact that he kept it from me. He should’ve told me about it immediately instead of sulking, avoiding me, and picking fights with me.I thought that dating an older man
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 27
I quickly run to the bathroom and touch up my makeup before heading into the office.The drive from the hospital to work is probably the first time I’ve felt real hope concerning Mom’s cancer diagnosis. Of course, she isn’t out of the woods just yet but it’s looking like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, finally.Today,DeLisleis shooting the visuals for the ad campaign for our newest collection. We are doing it at Brooklyn Bridge Park with the bridge in the background.Jeremy stops on the street in front of the site and I get out of the car. There’s a flurry of activity as my staff, makeup artists, hairdressers, interns, the photographer and his assistants all run around. However, my eyes go straight to the tall figure standing in a gray three-piece suit with his hand in his pocket, as cool as a cucumber in the sea of chaos.Travis is here.We haven’t spoken since that night and havebarely seen each other. I have been avoiding him, and I’m guessing he has been doing the same.
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 28
TRAVISEven though I’ve always wanted children, I’ve never considered myself much of a baby person.That has all been blown to hell as I sit here, smiling at the newborn cradled in the crook of my elbow.Mom forced me to come back home for the birth of my baby brother, Phil’s first born. She insisted that I’ve missed way too much of our major family events. I’m ashamed to say she was right, because I have two other nieces and nephews who I only met in person after their second birthdays.I had convinced myself that video calls to see the babies was good enough, because they wouldn’t know the difference whether I was really there in person or not. However, as I look down at this baby I’m starting to realize the weight of Mom’s reproach. These are the things that are important in life. So I’m going to have to make more time for them.“Stop that, you’re being creepy,” Phil says.I look up at him. “What?”“Why are you grimacing at my daughter? You’re going to scare her.”“I’m not grimacin
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The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 55
I held the door for her to get into the car. My dad picked up Makayla so she could give Deira one last hug while I walked around to get into the driver's side. We waved at everyone, and I drove away. As we wove through the grounds of the estate, I kept looking over, stealing glances at Deira as the dappled sunlight flitted over her, turning her hair gold and making her skin glow. I could feel heat pooling in my groin and a desperate need coursing through my veins. I thought again at how long it would be until we got to the hotel that night, and decided it was simply too long.Instead of turning toward the main road, I looped us around toward the back of the estate. I remembered a particularly secluded spot that was perfect for what I had in mind. A few minutes later, I pulled the car to a stop."Is something wrong?" Deira asked, looking over at me curiously."Nothing's wrong," I replied with a wicked grin. "I just don't want to wait until we get to Hawaii." When she realized what I me
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 54
CASSIUSThree Months LaterDeira made a beautiful bride.Watching her walk down the aisle toward me, with all our family and friends present, I knew that I had made the right choice in asking her to marry me. In fact, I knew that every choice I had made since that moment I decided to step into that steam room, despite it unexpectedly being occupied, had been the right choice.It was a simple ceremony, because once I'd proposed and she'd accepted, we both wanted things to move quickly. Neither of us saw a reason to wait. So, our whole wedding party was just three people. Scott was my one groomsman, and Dani was her one bridesmaid, and Makayla was the flower girl. In fact, Makayla was something of a flower empress, having demanded to be put in charge of all the floral decisions for the wedding. When that happened, Deira just laughed and looked at me."She gets this from you, you know," she had said, smirking.For my part, I thought she had made great decisions. The flowers looked beauti
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 53
A few days later,I was standing outside a hospital room, fidgeting with my dress. Cassius took my hand, pulling it away from the floral garment."You look great," he whispered. "Don't worry." We were about to go into his mother's hospital room, where his parents were waiting to meet Makayla and I for the first time. Makayla was bopping excitedly beside me. She had been on cloud nine ever since Cassius and I had explained that she had grandparents, and they were waiting to meet her. I, on the other hand, was very nervous."Ready?" Cassius asked. I took a deep breath, and nodded.It turned out that I didn't have anything to be nervous about. Cassius's father immediately stood up and gave me a warm hug, and his mother insisted I come sit by her so she could hold my hand and talk to me. They both were very kind to me and, more importantly, to Makayla. Just as she'd been with Cassius, Makayla seemed instantly at ease with them. It didn't take long before she was chatting away to them, talk
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 52
DEIRALeave it to Cassius to make a dramatic entrance, I reflected as I stared at him from afar. Whether it was barging into my steam room or crashing into my car or running through the airport yelling my name, he never did anything subtly. I looked at him, standing there breathing heavily. Had he run through the airport looking for me?I glanced back at Dani, and she raised an eyebrow. She didn't have to say anything more for me to understand the question she was asking. That raised eyebrow said, well, what are you going to do? It might as well have said, well, Deira, what do you want? I hadn't expected to have to answer that question at the airport, right before we went through security, but apparently, that's what was happening. Now I had two choices.I could turn my back on Cassius, take Makayla's hand, and walk through the security gate toward a totally new life, or I could go over to Cassius and ask him why he was here. I could give him one last chance to be part of my life. It
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 51
CASSIUSThough my mother was doing well, I still spent the next week or so in the hospital. Now that I'd reconciled with my parents, I wanted them to know that I was there for them. But also, I knew that once I returned to my real life, I would need to talk to Deira, and I wasn't ready. Not because I wasn't sure what to say—in fact, the opposite. I knew that I wanted Makayla and Deira to be part of my life now, and forever. But we'd had such a rocky path, I was a little scared of how Deira would respond to me.So, I put it off for days, until my mom finally prodded me to leave the hospital."You've been here forever," she said. "Go home, get a shower, and get a good night's sleep. And then, once you're refreshed, maybe talk to your girlfriend about us meeting our granddaughter." She winked at me."She's not my girlfriend, Mom," I protested, feeling like a teenager."But you like her, right?" my mother asked, and all I could do was grin in response. "See," she continued. "You have to g
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 50
The next morning, Dani took Makayla to school on her way to work, letting me sleep in. I laid around her apartment all morning in my pajamas, then went for a quick run before getting myself some lunch. I was very consciously not thinking about work, or Cassius, or anything else. I had half-expected him to call me at some point, but he didn't, and I couldn't help but be relieved. I didn't think I could talk to him until I decided what to do about Mr. White.In the afternoon, I picked up Makayla from school and took her to the park to play. That night, the three of us made pasta and played board games. It was nice to have some time to just have fun, without thinking about all of the stress of the past few months. The next day, after dropping off Makayla at school, I found myself thinking about my blog. I hadn't thought about it in months. I went to the home page and started looking over some of my past entries. Before long, I found myself writing down ideas for new posts. It had been ye
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 49
DEIRA I had hurried inside after getting out of Cassius's car, but I didn't want to go back to Dani's apartment when I was so upset. I waited until I saw Cassius drive away, and then I went back out to take a walk around the neighborhood. I had meant to calm down, but I found myself reliving our conversation and soon I was crying. Cassius not believing me about Mr. White hurt even more than I had let on. I'd let out all my anger on him, but beneath the anger was a deep pain and a sense of betrayal. Why did he think I would make something like that up? What did I have to gain from that? And did our relationship mean so little to him that the word of an employee he barely knew was better than my word? That last part stung more than I wanted to admit. For all the ups and downs of our relationship, it had never felt meaningless to me, but it seemed for Cassius this always came second to his job. He believed Mr. White over me, just like he had taken a business call instead of watching
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 48
After I got my dad calmed down, I went to find the doctor. I wanted a clear understanding of the accident and my mother's injuries. The doctor confirmed that the coma appeared to be because her body had been through a trauma, and that there was nothing worrying on the scans. All her other injuries were minor, especially considering the severity of the accident, but we wouldn't know her true status until she woke up. I made sure he understood that I was the point person now, and that my mom was to want for nothing. He nodded and reiterated that there was nothing to be done but wait. The waiting was excruciating.I found myself wanting to call Deira, but remembering the look on her face as she'd slammed the car door, I didn't think that was a good idea. I called Scott instead. He offered to come to the hospital, but I asked him to take care of the business instead. That way, I could concentrate on taking care of my parents."Of course, man. Whatever you need. Anything else I can do?" he
The Billionaire's Secret Baby chapter 47
The address wasn't far, and I made it there in twenty minutes. Deira was just taking Makayla inside when I pulled up. I waited in the car and a few minutes later she emerged. I was going to get out and meet her, but she walked right to the car and got into the passenger seat."I can't talk long," she said. "But I realized storming off like that earlier wasn't helpful, so I wanted to try to explain." She fidgeted, like she was nervous."I did talk to Mr. White," I said, wondering if what he said was true, and now she was nervous because she regretted her actions. At his name, she glanced over at me sharply."Did he admit what happened?" she asked, seeming surprised."He told me his side of things. Why don't you tell me yours?" At the phrasehis side of things, her face fell. She looked down at her hands and took a deep breath. Finally, she spoke."He accused me of sleeping with you to get my job," she said quietly."What?!" I hadn't been expecting that at all, and I was so shocked I fel
