Elliot looked down and saw Layla with adorable puffed-up cheeks. "You should not use my full name like that? It's not very polite," he said in gentle reprimand. Layla huffed, then said, "It's because you're a bad man.""Did your mother say that?" Elliot asked. He looked calm. He was not upset. Layla was just a child. What did she know?She was only aware of the things that she had been taught by the adults around her. "No way! Mommy wouldn't say bad things behind someone's back!" At this point, Layla was worried about snitching on her brother, so she cleverly changed the subject and asked, "What are you making?""Sweet barbecue ribs," Elliot replied as he showed her the marinated ribs. "It's your mother's favorite. What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you."Layla answered without hesitation, "I want chocolate! I also want meat! Could you hide some chocolate in the meat for me? Whatever you do, don't let Mommy find out!"Elliot thought about it, then said, "I can do that
Once Avery was out of the room, Tammy said, "Did I say something wrong?"Ben answered earnestly, "You knew that Elliot had given Zoe three hundred million dollars and yet, you chose to bring up the money anyway. He could have given Avery that much money as well, but the reason behind it would be different." "I would've already forgotten about Zoe Sanford if you didn't mention her.""She's the reason they fought this time," Ben said. "Don't underestimate the destructive power of an ex-girlfriend.""That's true! Besides, Avery's pregnant now, so mood swings are common to begin with… However, I think her allowing Elliot to cook for her is a sign that she is willing to have a relationship with him again!" Tammy could not really understand what Avery was thinking."They are the only ones who know if they are going to get back together," Ben said nonchalantly. "As their friends, all we have to do is sit back quietly and watch!"…Upstairs, Avery pushed open the door to the master b
Avery wanted to say something, but she was shocked by the glistening tears and undisguised vulnerability in Elliot's eyes."Elliot—"She could not help but speak, and it was his name that first escaped her lips. She had wanted to ask him what was wrong.However, Elliot wrapped his large hand around her arm and pulled her into his arms before she could say another word.Avery supported her weight with her arms as she blinked. He watched her eyes framed by long lashes. Their faces were only inches apart.She could see the brokenness in his eyes even more clearly now."What's wrong Elliot?" she asked in an unintentionally gentle voice as her heart clenched tightly in her chest."I dreamt that you left me." Elliot's Adam's apple bobbed in his throat, and his voice was hoarse. "You ran off with another man."Avery felt a lump in her throat. She could not speak.She would not tell him about the recurring nightmares she had back when he was dating Zoe. She had always had dreams a
"Okay… Yes, Sir! Let's go play with Shea!" Layla dragged Hayden and headed in Shea's direction. "She said she'll take us out to play! She's getting the bodyguard to drive us!"At five in the afternoon, Elliot helped Avery down the stairs.Everyone watched the couple walk down. They looked warm and harmonious. All kinds of thoughts began to fill the minds of the watchers. An hour was the average time for an afternoon nap. Two hours were normally considered rather long for a nap. However, Elliot and Avery had spent the entire afternoon resting upstairs.How was it possible for them to nap for that long?They were all adults, so everyone had an idea of what had happened without having to ask."Weren't you guys playing poker?" Avery blushed as realized that everyone was looking at them, and she tried to change the subject. "We stopped playing at four in the afternoon and started helping Chad with dinner! Were you two really sleeping so soundly upstairs that you couldn't hear any
After dinner, Layla held Avery's hand. She looked exhausted, "Mommy, I want to go to bed… Give me a bath…"The nanny immediately rushed over to help.Layla threw a tantrum because she was tired."I want Mommy to give me a bath!" she sobbed.Tammy walked over with a smile and said, "Layla, your Mommy's belly is going to grow even bigger soon. She won't be able to give you a bath by then!"Layla froze for a moment, then she stroked Avery's flat belly."Your Mommy's belly is going to grow this big," Tammy said as she gestured at Avery's abdomen.Layla's jaw dropped in shock as disbelief washed over her little face.Tammy carried Layla upstairs and said to Avery, "Go take a break!"Avery was a little worried and wanted to go up with them.Elliot grabbed her arm and said, "Come outside with me.""What is it?" Avery said as she walked ahead of him. "Shea should be tired too. You should head home.""The bodyguard will take her home." Elliot held her hand and led her outside. "Let'
Avery: [Maybe he figured I need to eat more because I'm eating for two now.]Tammy: [Hahaha! What did he buy for you? Send me photos!]Avery took a photo of that night's haul and sent it to Tammy.Tammy looked at the photo, then immediately called Avery."Why did he buy jewelry again? Haha! Do men like giving the women they love jewelry?" she laughed.Avery placed her head in her hands, "He had a motive."Tammy froze, then asked, "What motive?""It's because of an event next Monday."Avery truly experienced how petty a man could be that night.She had declined his offer to buy her clothes and jewelry, but Elliot had insisted on buying her both. When she asked for his reason, he gladly gave it.When Avery had attended the meet-and-greet at the hotel with Eric Santos, they had both worn cream sweaters and were mistaken as lovers. She had worn the necklace that Eric had given her and that too had caused quite a bit of controversy. It was all in the past, but Elliot had never
"Why aren't you saying anything, Avery?" Tammy asked. "Do you think there's a possibility that Cole was the father of the child Zoe was pregnant with? After all, the chances of getting knocked up after sleeping together once are really low! Besides, if Zoe would date a major sc*mbag like Cole, it's enough to prove that they're the same type of people!"Avery felt an ache in her heart, then croaked, "I'm not sure if they really are dating or not… I'm a little tired now, Tammy…""Okay. Hurry up and get some rest, then," Tammy said.Avery hung up and stared out into the night. Tears fell silently down her face.She had thought that Elliot and Zoe were just like other couples while they were together.He had thought that the child Zoe was carrying was the result of their many nights of loving passion."What a joke!"she thought. All the loathing she had felt for Elliot was because of his relationship with Zoe. She had despised and resented him to the point that she had wanted
Elliot, Chad, and Ben had not left since their arrival that morning.They had spent their time touring Tate Industries.At least, that was their excuse. Their true motive was to stay for lunch."Wanda Tate is a master of marketing," Ben said with his phone in his hand. "She hit a brick wall running into us though.""Even so, their sales aren't bad," Chad said. "There is still huge potential in the lower-income market.""They're selling their products for cheap, after all! They are sacrificing profit for reputation… Their original plan was to quickly take over the market and run Tate Industries out of business, and when they have a monopoly of the market they raise their prices," Ben said. "Now, they've realized that Tate Industries isn't as easy to take down as they'd thought. Which is why they're coming up with other ideas.""Are they cutting down costs? Or are they planning on conquering the lower and middle-income markets as they continue to make big promises to their investor