The Billionaire's Secretly Fake Bride (MANHATTAN BACHELORS Book 3)

by Susan Westwood

  “Two bedrooms. For a little more, you can get three and have a guest room or an office,” Karen said.

  An office sounded nice. The price probably wouldn’t. Amedeo turned to Violet. “Maybe you should think about that since you work from home most of the time.”

  Violet shrugged. “We’ll see.

  She had no desire to discuss her financial woes in front of this woman. She had her budget and she couldn’t budge from it.

  “This first place is on the third floor which is the top. No doorman, but there are two doors and a gate that you have to get through to get in.”

  “Gate? What’s the neighborhood like?” Amedeo said.

  “It’s okay during the day. Anything near or in Trenton is okay during the day. It’s night time that’s a problem.”

  “I doubt I’ll be going out much at night so that’s not a problem,” Violet said.

  Amedeo’s pursed lips told her he didn’t agree. The driver dropped them off in front of a clean building, but Amedeo looked around as if he was going to get jumped any minute. This place was a step up from her last apartment. None of them would be the luxury of Amedeo’s house, but she couldn’t afford that.

  “I don’t like it. No reason to go in,” Amedeo said.

  “Wait. I want to look,” Violet said.

  He gave her a look, but she ignored it. This was her choice and she’d lived in worse. She’d been raised in worse and as much as she wanted better for her child, she wasn’t going to let Amedeo run over her.

  The landlord came out and unlocked the doors for them.

  Amedeo leaned down to whisper into Violet’s ear. “You want to live in a place where you need this much security?”

  “You have a gate around your property. Don’t judge.”

  He snorted, but didn’t say anything else. The apartment was indeed on the third floor and the building had no elevator.

  “Imagine trucking groceries and a child up all these steps,” Amedeo said.

  He had a good point. No matter how lovely the apartment was, she couldn’t see struggling up these steps every day with a baby and a stroller.

  The second apartment was in a nice area. Well, a little better. No one hung out on the street corner. No burned out cars sat on the street. The building had an elevator.

  “This one, the utilities are not included. You’ll have to pay those,” Karen said.

  “Can we get an idea of how much that costs?” Amedeo said.

  Karen let them into the apartment. “I can find out. I don’t have that information. Not sure why it isn’t in the folder for this location.”

  Two bedrooms. One bathroom that her and her child would have to share. Not a problem. The bathroom was tiled green like a hospital. Amedeo turned his nose up at it. “It’s ugly.”

  “It’s clean and safe,” Violet argued.

  He shrugged, leaning against the door frame to the galley style kitchen.

  “The appliances are brand new in this unit,” Karen said.

  “That’s good. Won’t have to worry about anything breaking down,” Violet said.

  This one went on her list of acceptable places. She didn’t think Amedeo was convinced.

  “How about show us some three bedrooms,” Amedeo said.

  “I’d have to go back to the office,” Karen said.

  “We can set up another date for this,” he said.

  As if Violet wasn’t standing there. “No, let’s look at everything Karen had for us today.”

  “What’s wrong with a three bedroom?”

  “It might be out of my budget,” Violet said.

  Karen watched their discussion as if it were a ping pong match, her head moving back and forth.

  “Let’s not worry about that,” Amedeo said.

  “Let’s stick to the budget,” Violet said.

  “You’re worrying too much about the money,” he said.

  She sighed. “I don’t want to argue with you, but there is a budget and I’m sticking to it.” She turned to Karen. “What’s next on your list?”

  “It’s a two bedroom a little further out from Trenton.”

  “I’m not concerned with the location as long as I can get to shopping and things like that.”

  Karen nodded then let them out the door to the next apartment.

  ***

  Amedeo and Violet sat in a coffee shop after viewing the apartments. Karen was on her way back to her office with Amedeo’s driver. Violet just wanted to go home and sleep, but she’d been hungry. Amedeo bought her a snack.

  “Is that muffin good?” he said.

  “Yes, thanks,” she said.

  She was exhausted, but had a better idea of what was out there and in her price range. Even if Amedeo didn’t agree about what she should be looking for.

  “I still think you should consider three bedrooms. That way you can set up an office.”

  “I work find in my living room. Besides, I don’t want to spend more than I have.”

  This was all pretty overwhelming. Maybe she shouldn’t keep the baby? Maybe Amedeo would be better as the sole caregiver. She could visit the baby. That would be okay. Amedeo had so much more to offer.

  Why had this decision seemed so easy the other day and now she wasn’t so sure? Hormones?

  “I can help,” he said.

  She put up a hand. “No. You’re do more than you need to. I’m going to have to figure out living when the baby comes. You pay for the baby, I’ll worry about me.”

  He frowned. “It think you’re splitting hairs. If I take care of you I am taking care of the baby.”

  “Amedeo. No. I’ve supported myself for years.”

  “And you ended up in credit card debt.”

  “I’m free of that now. No worries,” she said. She could do her best not to get there again.

  “But if you don’t have enough money then you’ll get back there. I think you need to reconsider my marriage proposal. Or at least let me draw up a contract so that you’re taken care of. Even if you don’t’ want to go through with the marriage, I’ll give you what will be just like a divorce settlement.”

  “I can take care of myself.”

  “You were evicted from your apartment when you came to see me? Do you remember that day? You were dripping wet and cold,” he said.

  She didn’t want to remember. She vowed never to get that far down again. Now she had even more reason. Then again, if she gave him the baby, she could take care of herself. She would only have to be responsible for one person. Herself. Amedeo could hire a nanny and the baby would be warm and safe.

  No matter what happened in Violet’s life.

  Why had she thought she could take care of a baby? Why? Right now she didn’t think she could brush her own teeth. She wanted to be prone and asleep. She’d never been so exhausted in her life.

  How was she going to handle another human being? She had to think about this. Get away from Amedeo and think on this. He made it all seem so easy. He didn’t see the obstacles. She saw so many.

  “I know. I won’t let myself get there again. I promise.”

  He frowned. “I wasn’t going to say anything. I wanted Carl to do the asking, but I want to ask.”

  “What?”

  Where was he going? She had no idea.

  “I’d like to offer you a permanent job at my company. Understand that I’m selling it, but you will have a job for at least a year after I do that. The sale won’t go through for at least six months at the rate negotiations are going. That means you’ll have a job for a year and a half, guaranteed. Then if my next company is up and running, I can give you a job then.”

  She didn’t know what to say. She should probably be grateful. She should. Really, except that he clearly didn’t think she could find a job on her own. Which she knew she had to do. She’d been thinking about it.

  Working in an office hadn’t been as bad as she’d originally thought it would be. She liked having other people around her. People to have lunch with he
r talk about a television show.

  “You think I can’t do it on my own?”

  “Wait. What? Why do you think that?”

  “Because you’re offering me a job.”

  He waved a hand. “I’m offering you a job because Carl said you’ve been an asset to his department. I like to keep good people and I trust his judgment.”

  “No, that’s not it. You feel sorry for me.”

  He sighed. “Violet, you are one of the smartest people I know. How could I possibly feel sorry for you? You’re making too much of this. Must be the hormones.”

  She’d never seen red in her life. Right now she was. Her anger spiked. “The hormones? So I’m a bundle of emotions and can’t make a decision?”

  “Violet, you’re putting words in my mouth. That’s not what I’m saying. I just think that you are overreacting. I’m just offering you a job. You’re going to have to work for your paycheck. Come in on time. All of that. No leeway because you know me.”

  She stood, putting her hands on her hips. “Amedeo, I have no desire to be around you right now.”

  “Since we live in the same place, that will be tough.”

  “I’ll fine somewhere else to sleep tonight.”

  “Don’t be silly. You can choose another room if you don’t want to be in my bed.”

  “Now I’m being silly?”

  He eyed her, his mouth moving. “I guess you’re going to take anything I say the wrong way.”

  “I don’t think you can get out of this by turning it on me. You said things that I don’t appreciate.”

  He licked his lips. “Take the car. I’ll find another way home.”

  She stormed out of the place not even knowing if the driver had arrived. He did and she hopped in. She gave him the address for her old apartment building. Kalia would take her in. She’d listen to what she had to say.

  That’s what best friends were for.

  ***

  Amedeo watched her go, figuring that Violet would cool down and come home tonight. He really had put his foot in it and when she calmed down they could talk. He cursed himself. He should have just let Carl offer her the job. Hopefully, she would have realized that the job was real and not Amedeo trying to make thing right.

  He wanted to do that, but he understood pride.

  He was alone for dinner now. He called Salvatore.

  “Hey, bro,” his brother said.

  “I’ve found myself alone for dinner. You available?”

  “Come over. I’m about to put some steaks on the grill. I have enough for both of us.”

  “Well, can you come get me? I don’t have my car.”

  “Sure thing.”

  He gave Salvatore the address then they hung up. Amedeo looked around the coffee shop. It was probably about to close so he cleaned up their messes and stood outside for his brother. He perused his emails while he waited, still pondering Violet’s reaction.

  Was she that independent or was it hormones? He figured she’d calm down and once home, but he wasn’t going to be waiting by the phone. What would his life be like if that condom hadn’t broken? He didn’t know, but right now he wasn’t sure if that had been a good thing or bad. He was used to dealing with women in all of their moods. This was harder because normally Violet was low maintenance.

  He didn’t have to work so hard with her.

  Salvatore arrived not long after. Amedeo climbed into his brother’s Aston Martin.

  “Hey,” Salvatore said. “How did you get stuck without transportation?”

  “I gave Violet the car. We had a fight and I let her have it to go cool off.”

  “What were you fighting about?” Salvatore said.

  “I’ve offered her a job at my company and she’s sure that I’m just giving her charity. She’s very proud, but she doesn’t have a lot of money. I want to help her, but the job offer was legit. My head of the IT department wants her. He thinks she’s a genius.”

  “Maybe he should have offered the job.”

  “Yes, I should have let him, but we were arguing about where she was going to live. I wanted her to know that she would have more resources than she had before. She didn’t have to settle for a dump.”

  “And you don’t want your kid to grow up in a dump.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t say that. I’m not sure if it would have helped. I made a mess of it.”

  “You’re always so smooth. What’s going on with you?” Salvatore said.

  “Not sure if it’s me, impending fatherhood, or that Violet is just exasperating.”

  Salvatore laughed. “You’re in love with her.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  He wasn’t. He wasn’t going to fall in love with anyone. Not ever again. He’d been hurt too badly by Tory.

  “You said that too quickly, bro.”

  Amedeo shook his head. “Love is not for me.”

  “Is she the only thing you think about?”

  “No. I do run a company. Remember? I’m in negotiations to sell it. I don’t have time to moon over any woman.”

  “But I bet in those quiet moments, your thoughts go to her,” Salvatore said.

  Amedeo didn’t want to admit that his brother was right. His thoughts often turned to Violet when he was idle. Which wasn’t often. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean anything. I’m going to be a father so that’s what I’m thinking about. Violet is part of that.”

  “Think what you want, bro, but you love her. I could see it when we were at Mom’s. You treat her the same way Dante treats Gwen.”

  “With respect? Of course I do. She’s a great person. She’s carrying my child. How else would I treat her?”

  Salvatore laughed. “Fine. You’ll figure it out eventually.”

  Amedeo chose to change the subject. “How’s your love life?”

  Salvatore waved a hand. “Dry spell.”

  “What about that woman you were with?”

  “She’s a pain in my ass. We parted ways. She went off to some third world country to build houses. Something I wasn’t interested in doing.”

  “I can see why, but I thought you guys were close,” Amedeo said.

  “So did I.”

  The two fell into a companionable silence as Salvatore drove them to his house. It was the same size as Amedeo’s, but further out into the country. No gate on the property, but it was surrounded by woods.

  They settled on his back deck, each one with a beer in his hand. Amedeo pondered what Salvatore had said. Was he falling in love with Violet? Maybe this time away would be good. He needed to reassess his feelings and how he dealt with her.

  His phone rang. It was his driver.

  “Hello?”

  “She ditched me,” he said.

  “Violet?”

  “Yes. She went into a store and must have gone out the back door. I can’t find her.”

  Amedeo sighed. Violet was that pissed that she wanted nothing to do with him? This was worse than he thought. , He rubbed a hand down his face. “Sit tight. Let me call her. I’ll call you back with instructions.”

  He disconnected then dialed Violet’s number. She didn’t answer. In fact, it went right to voice mail so he knew it was turned off.

  “Violet, call me back. Where are you? I’m a little worried.”

  Salvatore gave him a knowing smile. He punched his brother in the arm. “Shut up.”

  “She’s a grown woman, Amedeo. She can do what she wants. She actually doesn’t owe you any explanation.”

  Amedeo slumped in his chair. Salvatore was right. They’d made no commitment to each other. They hadn’t made any promises. She could do what she wanted. He frowned then dialed his driver.

  “You’re off for the night. I’ll get my own way home.”

  “Thanks sir. You aren’t mad?”

  “No, you aren’t her baby sitter.”

  They disconnected. Amedeo wondered how he was going to fix this.

  Chapter13

  Violet sat in Kalia’s kitchen, d
rinking juice. She hadn’t wanted water so her friend poured her that. Kalia sat across from her.

  “I have some ice cream, too. That usually makes me feel better,” Kalia said.

  “I’m not sure anything will make me feel better. I just don’t think I can do this, K.”

  “What? Motherhood?”

  “Yes. I don’t think I can raise a child. I have no role model,” Violet said.

  Kalia nodded. “I think every woman goes through that terror at some point in their pregnancy.”

  “How would you know?”

  “I have sisters, remember? All of them have been pregnant.”

  “How did you manage not to be?” Violet said.

  “Staying away from men who don’t wear condoms.”

  Violet snorted. “I did that and had one that broke.”

  “I’m betting you and that Italian Stallion were pretty hot and heavy that night. You might have broken a lead shield.”

  Violet tried not to smile, but that night had been full of passion. As had all of their lovemaking sessions. Amedeo had more stamina than any man she’d been in bed with. Her mouth dried at the thought of making love with him.

  She shook herself. That wasn’t the problem. “Probably. I wouldn’t be in this position if we had used a lead shield.”

  “You’d be homeless, too and without a job.”

  Why did Kalia have to be the voice of reason? She wanted her friend to sympathize, not tell her what a fool she is. “I’m going to be shaping someone’s life. Mine is a mess. How can I tell someone how to be a human?”

  “Oh, Violet. Things aren’t as bad as you think they are. Really. It may not be how you planned it, if you planned it, but it’s not bad.”

  “What do you mean if I planned it?”

  Kalia frowned. “Don’t take your crabbiness out on me. I’ll send you back to Amedeo. What I meant was that you’ve gone through a lot of your life by the seat of your pants. It’s not a bad way to live, but now you don’t have to. You can have a regular job and regular hours. Plan a life with this child. Give that child structure that you might also need.”

  Violet thought about that. She had been pretty content with her schedule and her life. Amedeo liked things that way and she’d followed along. She had melted into his life and she couldn’t complain about it.