Resisting Her (Moving On Duology Book 2)

by Catherine Edward

  “Do you have evidence to prove it’s not her?”

  “What evidence do you have?”

  Their questions came from all the directions. The bodyguards surrounded me, escorting me to the waiting car.

  “We all know about her partying habits and the rumors were running around for years. What makes you think she’s innocent?” My gaze flicked to the side, finding the lanky guy. This guy was loud and stood out from the crowd. I saw a few acknowledging nods toward him.

  I stopped and glared at him. “What kind of man would I be if I can’t tell apart my girlfriend from another woman?”

  “Mr. Cortez, say nothing now.” Benjamin gripped my elbow, trying to drag me to the car.

  “So, you claim that it was Ms. Alana Swanson and not your girlfriend.”

  “Correction—it's Mrs. Schultz now and no. I’m just claiming it wasn’t my girl,” I replied.

  “Then who is it?”

  “That’s none of my business.” I climbed into the car and closed the door. Marcus’ team cleared the path for our vehicle.

  “What took you so long?” Benjamin asked when the car eased into the city traffic.

  “I ran into that SOB in the men’s room.”

  “You didn’t say anything to him, did you?”

  “No. I told only what I thought he should know already.”

  Benjamin’s shoulders visibly relaxed. “Good. Because the hearing isn’t for another two months and the jury refused to move the dates. We don’t want to alert them.”

  “Can’t we do anything about it?”

  Benjamin shook his head. “The date is set. But we have Isabela’s hearing in two weeks.”

  “How strong is our evidence?”

  “We got Andrew sober and taught him what exactly to speak. We also have her drunk video to back up our claims. I’m sure we have this.”

  “You better be sure. I don’t want to lose this by any chance.”

  “You won’t. Oh and Raphael called.”

  This caused my eyebrows to raise. “Waylon?”

  “Yep. He found his grandfather’s will, the one his father has hidden from him. He didn’t trust his legal team to handle this, so he approached our office.”

  I nodded. “Go on.”

  “Looks like Desmond hid the truth from his own son. Raphael’s grandfather passed all his properties to his grandson instead of his own son. Since Raphael was only thirteen when he died, he signed only a power of attorney to Desmond for eight years.”

  Raphael Waylon’s birth was one of Desmond’s one-night accident. He never wanted his son, Raphael’s grandfather accepted him. Instead of leaving his business to his promiscuous son, Desmond’s father must have left everything to Raphael. It made sense. “That meant Raphael is the rightful owner to the Waylon Inc.”

  “Yes.” Benjamin’s grin was infectious.

  “Good.” I gazed ahead at the traffic. My thoughts went again to Arianna. Her words reverberated in my mind. Will I be a good father?

  Chapter – 23

  I’m a coward.

  I banged my head on the table and stared into the far wall. Instead of going over to my apartment, I went straight to my mansion and slipped inside the dark office I rarely used. I didn’t bother to turn on the lights. Outside the sun was setting for the day, dousing the room in the darkness that reflected my mood.

  The courage and fury I felt in the court building drained as soon as I climbed into the car. My hands still held their tremble. A child. My child. I walked to the only window in the room. I pulled the curtains close, letting the room submerge in complete darkness.

  There was this foreign emotion snaking its way out of my heart and I couldn’t quite place my finger on it yet. She’s pregnant with my child. And this was Arianna. Wiping off the thin sheen of sweat, I paced the floor. Scenes from my past pushed its way through and I shoved them aside.

  The door opened with a click and I didn’t have to turn to know who it was. I’d recognize those furious footsteps anywhere. The grizzly Mama Frisby would claw on me any moment now.

  “I taught you better than this, Orlando.” Her booming voice echoed through the walls of the dark office room. “She tells you she’s pregnant and the best you could do is to run away?”

  When I didn’t respond, Gaby turned me around with a force that surprised me. But my guilt-ridden self wouldn’t meet her gaze. Not right then. I should’ve stayed.

  “I asked you a question, Orlando.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry?” She pushed on my chest. “Sorry for what? For impregnating her and ditch her like that.” Her fury hit me like a lightning bolt and I felt like I was once again a child in front of her.

  “No. It wasn’t like that.” My eyes widened, realizing what my action meant. Did Arianna think I ditched her?

  “Then what did you mean.”

  I shook my head, my knees giving away. “I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking clearly and I needed to clear my head.” Clutching my head, I tried to wrap my head around it. I was only thinking about it from my side and I failed to think from her perspective. I hurt her.

  “She tried calling you and you attended none of her calls. Ari is like a daughter to me and I’ll never let you break her.”

  “Gaby, please…” My voice broke. I was on my knees, her accusations hitting me at full force.

  “When she expressed her fear about your reaction, I told her you wouldn’t repeat the mistake of your mother.”

  “I will never abandon her or the child,” I growled. I’m not my mother. I’ll never be like her. “I love her, Aunt Gaby.” My voice broke as realization dawned. I loved Arianna.

  Gaby stilled and blinked, her eyes softening a moment later.

  “And… and it scares me.” I sat on my heels looking at her, letting her see my defeated face. “I’ve never felt this way for anyone in years and it scares me. What if I can’t be the father the child needs me to be? What if I can’t keep her happy?”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “I mean every word. She said… she said she expects nothing from this relationship.” My breathing quickened. “What if she leaves me?” I ran a hand through my hair. “I can’t… I can’t lose her. Not now that I have her. I… I…” Right then, every insecurity I locked away was back, crashing down at me with a full force.

  “Oh, no, sweetheart. Is that what you think? That you aren’t good enough for her. That she’ll leave you. Arianna will never do that.”

  “What if… what if she doesn’t want a lifelong commitment? She just wanted to live one day at a time.” She told me that. I remembered every word she said.

  She shook her head. She knelt, taking my face in between her hands. “Arianna is in love with you. And I can tell she really cares for this child.”

  “I… I don’t know. I’m not sure if I’m ready for that step yet. I know nothing about being a parent.”

  She ran a hand through my hair. “No one takes special classes for these things, sweetie. You just let it happen and go with the flow.” She stood with a groan, her hand on her back. “Come on. My legs ache when I kneel for a longer time.” She sat on the couch nearby and patted the empty side beside her.

  I swallowed. Her words soothed my mind. Gaby took my hand in her’s when I sat beside her. “Is she angry?”

  “No. She’s hurting and let me tell you, Orlando, this isn’t something you should put a pregnant woman through during her initial stages of pregnancy.”

  I gripped my hair. “I swear, Auntie. I wasn’t thinking clearly.” No explanation justified my actions this morning. “I feel horrible.”

  All I remembered at that moment was the rush of blood to my head and the uncontrollable spiral of my memories. Benjamin kept calling and when he said we were getting late for the court, I hurried out not bothering to tell her first. My mind cleared only when I climbed into the car. And it wasn’t until Gaby pointed out I realized what Arianna would think of my actions. I was barely tr
ying to come in terms with the news.

  “You should.”

  “You’re not helping.”

  “I think I am.” The side of her eyes crinkled with laughter.

  “Shut up,” I grumbled.

  “So what are you gonna do? Stay here and sulk or going to talk this out with her?”

  My shoulders slumped. I already hurt her enough. I had to clear the air before I ruined my chance with her. “I’m gonna talk to her.”

  “Good.” She nodded. “I brought her here and she’s in your room right now. She—”

  Before she could finish, I rushed outside. My legs moved on autopilot and the guilt of causing her the slightest of the pain deepened. I reached the room in less than a minute. Breath whooshed out of my lungs, noticing her in my bed, looking like a rag doll—pale and exhausted. Her gaze jerked to my face. Red-rimmed, puffy eyes widened.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t careful,” her voice barely a whisper and hoarse from all the crying said.

  What?

  “Look, I know I told you I expected nothing from this. I still stand by my word. I want nothing and I expect nothing,” she spoke faster and her nostrils flared. The tip of her nose grew redder.

  “Arianna…” I closed the distance to the bed in four long strides.

  “No, let me finish, please.” She wiped her face. “I expected the consequences when one of us moved on from this whatever relationship status we had. But I didn’t expect this and let me make this clear, I don’t regret this.”

  “Ari—”

  “I’m keeping this child. I or my child will never be a burden to you in any form or—”

  Fuck this. I kissed her. Rough and full of need. Arianna was real. The overwhelming emotion I felt for her was real. And now I knew what we were. Her fingers pulled at my hair and I groaned.

  Breaking the kiss, I stared into her expressive eyes. “Marry me.” We were both breathless and she stared at me, her eyes wide like saucers.

  “Huh!”

  “I’m not good with proposals and I don’t have a ring.”

  I had made my decision last night. When I gazed into her eyes, I knew what I wanted. I loved her. Does this baby change things for us? Of course, it did. It was a sign that it was time to take the next step in our relationship.

  “Orlando…”

  “I’m sorry I walked out on you. I was a fool.”

  “You don’t have to do this.”

  “I know.” I took a deep breath and my shoulders slumped. “I want you. I didn’t think I could love again. But when I left you for the trip… I missed you every fucking second. You were all I could think from the moment those elevator doors closed. Your face was all I saw when I closed my eyes. I remembered nothing but your tears.” Tears filled her eyes and her chest heaved with a sob. “I missed going to sleep with you and I hated not being able to see you when I woke up the next morning.”

  She didn’t talk. Tears now streamed down her cheeks and she bit her lips controlling the sobs. Her grip on my biceps tightened.

  “I love you, Arianna.” Her breath hitched. “I never thought I’d say this to any woman ever again. But I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  Strangely, something lifted off my heart as soon as I said those words. An unseen weight that had been burdening my heart. I didn’t realize telling her this would offer such relief. My breathing eased. It felt as if my lungs were suddenly open and accepting it all. Warmth spread in my chest cavity.

  Arianna sobbed and for a moment I wondered if I said the wrong thing. But then she hugged me, pressing kisses all over my face and a huge grin broke into her face. Tears streaming down she looked at me and that moment will forever be etched in my mind.

  “I love you too,” she sniffled. “I’ve been in love with you as long as I can remember. Guess I never got over that crush on you.”

  I kissed her tears away. “I’m sorry for being a coward.”

  “God, I love you so much,” she mumbled, snuggling to my chest.

  I touched her stomach. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a father.” Resting my forehead on hers, brushing our noses, we stayed that way for a moment. “I never held a child before.”

  “Me too.” A nervous chuckle slipped out of her lips. “I couldn’t believe until I saw her either.”

  “Her?”

  Arianna shrugged. “I’m just keeping it as her. It’s weird referring to her like it and you know.”

  “Oh.” I released her lip from the grip of her teeth. “I can’t wait to see her.”

  She reached under the pillow, pulling out what looked like a sonogram. My eager hands gripped at the photo, searching the grainy image. She chuckled when I turned it upside down, unable to figure anything.

  “Here.” She pointed a dot that on close observation appeared more than a dot. “That’s her.”

  “She’s so tiny.”

  “I know right.” Her full-blown grin stole my breath away.

  “Was I too hard last night?” Suddenly remembering our lovemaking session, I asked her.

  “I’m fine.” She sank into my chest.

  “I’ll call the doctor and fix an appointment first thing in the morning. I didn’t know you were… um… and you didn’t stop me. I hope I didn’t hurt her.”

  Now she laughed. “No, really… I’m fine. I have no distress and I’ve already spoken to the doctor this morning. Gaby suggested I call her because the nausea was too much to handle.”

  “I’m sorry.” I caressed her cheek.

  “For what?”

  “For putting you through this.”

  “It’s common with pregnancy.”

  Grabbing her knuckles, I kissed them. “I filed a defamation suit against the media for ruining your name and reputation.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “So, you want me to sit back and watch while some nude photos are being posted and they claim it’s you, fucking different men and call you a whore? Not happening.” I ground my jaw.

  A gasp left her lips. “What are you talking about? Nude photos?”

  My brows lifted. “Did you see the news?”

  “Um… I saw party photos.” Her gaze averted.

  I pulled my phone out and swiped my thumb across the screen. Google displayed the last results from my search, I handed it over to her. “Here.”

  She took it with a frown and soon her expression turned sour. Her face scrunched in disgust as she thrust the phone in my hand. “What the hell is this?”

  “I believe it has to do something with your sister dearest.”

  “Alana? Why would she do that? She…” Arianna frowned, her brows creased. “She’s married and runs the company alongside my father. She has a reputation to behold. She—”

  “Stole your identity so she could live her life the way she wanted,” I completed the sentence. What better reason did Alana have?

  Her mouth opened and closed. Shock coated her features.

  “Alana wasn’t pregnant. She forged a sonogram picture before her wedding and today Brian told me she lost her baby. It’s clear she played him.”

  “You met Brian?” Her eyes bore into mine.

  “Yeah, I ran into him in the men’s room.” I shrugged. “He wanted to warn me to stay away from his wife.”

  Arianna’s brows knotted. “Oh, God. This is… huge.”

  “It is.” I grabbed her hands again. “I don’t want you to worry about this issue. Let me handle everything. You relax.”

  “She never liked me. But this…”

  “I know.” I kissed the tip of her fingers, distracting her.

  She drew out a sigh. “How do we prove it isn’t me?”

  It was my turn to chuckle now. “As much as you despise the wild party you hosted and the tattoo, it’s that tattoo that will prove your innocence in the court.”

  Her cheeks reddened and she averted her gaze. “Um… so, you want me to show them my tattoo?”

  My laughter raked my body. “No need. Photos
are enough. If they demand more, they have people for that, silly.”

  “Oh.” A smile stretched her lips. “Thought so. Because flashing a judge in a courtroom is highly inappropriate.”

  There she was, my Arianna. “That would certainly entertain the crowd.”

  She hit my chest, laughing with so much ease now. “I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too.”

  “How are you here early? I thought you wouldn’t be back until September.”

  “Enrique and Chiara showed up in my suit and said I had to haul ass. And I did.”

  “Oh.”

  Tracing her pout, I kissed her lips. This moment was so precious. The kiss was soft and tender, yet passionate. I was glad I didn’t ruin it all by being holed up in my space. Thanking Gaby for talking sense into me, I hugged Arianna close, savoring the moment.

  Chapter – 24

  Brian Schultz

  “Fuck!”

  The bastard in the car in front of me slowed again for the hundredth time. Ugh! The traffic wasn’t congested, but the asshole drove like the road belonged to him.

  Orlando’s words kept echoing in my mind. The nerve of that bastard. The fucker packed a powerhouse punch that knocked me out of breath, literally. I should’ve expected this.

  My grip on the wheel tightened as I honked at the slow driver. The action was something I considered as outrageous before today. What did he say about the tattoo? Alana’s flawless skin was free of artificial ink.

  My thoughts reeled thinking of the time Arianna told me about a party. I vaguely remembered her telling me that she got a tattoo. I felt hotter despite the air conditioner running at eighteen degrees. Wiping the sweat off my forehead, I took the turn toward the residential street.

  The car screeched when I slammed the brake and I got out, banging the door shut. Alana wasn’t home. She must have gone to meet the therapist. I hurried upstairs to my office and pulled the photos from the drawer.

  My hands shook. Forcing a deep breath, I arranged them in order. One by one I looked at them, finding nothing odd. Tattoo. Orlando mentioned about a tattoo. I saw none. Fuck. What the hell did he mean?

  I paced back and forth. His words kept replaying in my mind. His gaze held pity. Why would he sympathize with me? It felt as if he tried to tell me something, but held back. Orlando’s confidence shook mine. I grabbed the water bottle from the table, taking a few generous mouthfuls. He’d addressed the media earlier with a cocky smirk.