by Lynn, Sandi
“Great.” I rolled my eyes.
The moment I walked into my grandfather’s home, Celia greeted me with a hug.
“It’s good to see you, Grayson.”
“It’s good to see you too, Celia.” I smiled.
“Your grandfather is in the living room. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”
“Thank you.”
I walked into the living room and found my grandfather sitting in his favorite chair with a drink in his hand.
“Hello, Grayson.”
“Grandfather.” I nodded.
“Go pour yourself a drink and have a seat.”
Walking over to the bar, I poured myself a bourbon and took it over to the couch.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” I asked.
“Are you seeing anyone special? Perhaps you’ve met someone while I was away?”
“No.” I furrowed my brows at him. “Why?”
“Excuse me, Mr. Rhodes. Dinner is ready,” Celia spoke as she entered the living room.
We both got up and took our seats in the dining room.
“Why are you asking, Grandfather?”
“I’ve been keeping a close eye on things while I was away. An eye on the business and an eye on you. It seems you haven’t slowed down at all as far as the partying and women are concerned.”
“And?” I narrowed my eye at him. “What I do on my personal time has no effect on my job or performance. You can see that.”
“That is true, Grayson. The deals you’ve closed and the decisions you’ve made regarding the company have been impeccable. You’re going to be thirty-two years old. Don’t you think it’s time you thought about settling down? Find a special woman you can share your life with?”
“No, Grandfather, I don’t think that. You know how I am.”
“And I’ve overlooked it the past few years because I thought it was just a phase. But like I said, you’re going to be thirty-two years old. I married your grandmother when I was twenty-one and started a family when I was twenty-two.”
“That was fifty-years ago. Times have changed. People have changed. Views about relationships and marriage aren’t the same anymore. What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Family is important, and I think the key to a solid exceptional businessman is the family he has supporting him. You know I’m retiring in a year.”
“Yes. I know.”
“You’re my grandson and I love you very much. But your partying and excess use of women is out of control. I’m giving you one solid year to find someone to love and build a life with.”
“What?!” I exclaimed. “And if I don’t?”
“Then I have no choice but to sign the company over to Alfie.”
“Alfie? You can’t be serious! That pompous ass couldn’t run a company on his own if it was shoved up his ass!”
“He’s doing just fine, and he has a great wife who supports him.”
“Yeah. Under me and with my guidance. His wife has nothing to do with his job performance.”
“Sure it does. A happy man makes you better. If I didn’t have your grandmother by my side when I started the business and over the years, I probably wouldn’t have made it.”
“This is utterly ridiculous! I can’t believe you, Grandfather.”
“And I can’t believe you, Grayson. It’s time to grow the fuck up and have some stability in your life.”
“I have stability, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you sign the company over to Alfie. I’ve worked my ass off to get where I am today. That is MY company.” I pointed at him. “You’ve been grooming me to take over since I was a teenager.”
“And it will be yours as long as you adhere to my request. You’re missing out on so much more in life.”
“I’m missing nothing and I’m doing just fine. I enjoy my life and the way I live it. You cannot sit there and tell me what to do! This is MY life!” I shouted.
“You’re right. Only you have the power to create your destiny. But it is my company and I can do what I want with it. You have one year, Grayson. Enough with these trashy women you’re spending your nights with. I no longer want to see your name at the top of New York’s most eligible bachelor’s list. And if you think you can pull a fast one on me and drum someone up just for show, you’re seriously mistaken.” He pointed at me. “My intention from the day you were born was to have you take over the family business and I want that legacy continued for generations to come. But I will not hand my company over to someone who never intends on making that happen.” He got up from the table. “It was a pleasure having dinner with you again. It’s been way too long. The fate of your future is in your hands, Grayson.” He walked out of the dining room.
I slammed my fist down on the table. Rage consumed me and I needed to get the fuck out of here. Dialing Damon, I told him to come get me.
“Are you okay, Mr. Rhodes?” Celia asked. “I overheard part of your conversation.”
“No, Celia. I’m not okay! He’s being an asshole! What the hell is wrong with him?!”
“I’m sure he’s just trying to look out for your best interest.”
“Well, he needs to stay the fuck out of my life.” I got up and kissed her cheek. “Have a good night,” I spoke as I walked out the door.
Chapter 8
Harper
I stared at my naked body in the full-length mirror and placed my hands on my belly. I couldn’t believe I was pregnant and had a living being inside of me. To be honest, I didn’t think it would happen on the first try. But it did and I was the happiest I’d ever been in my life. I was six weeks along and now it was time to put my plans in motion. Not only did I have to hunt for a new apartment, I needed to secure some more accounts for my graphic design business.
I had three apartment tours lined up for today. After stopping at Starbuck’s and grabbing a decaf coffee, I headed to my first appointment. I wasn’t impressed at all. The pictures online were much more appealing. My second apartment tour was an apartment I fell in love with, but it was way out of my budget range, and the third, same as the first. I wouldn’t allow myself to get discouraged just yet. I’d find the perfect apartment for me and my child. All I needed was a little patience and more accounts.
“Have you considered just going to work for a company?” Charlotte asked. “I know how much you hate that kind of structure and office setting, but I’m not sure you have a choice now.”
“I have, but nobody will hire me being pregnant. Shit. The two-bedroom apartments in this city are so costly and I refuse to raise my kid in a sketchy neighborhood. I’ll just have to drum up more business.”
When I got home, I was exhausted, so I laid down and took a three-hour nap. When I awoke and checked my phone, I had a voicemail from the director of a marketing firm I’d been steadily doing work for.
“Harper, It’s Connie. Listen, I have some bad news. Things right now aren’t good for us, so we have to scale back and cut costs. Unfortunately, we won’t be needing your services anymore. I’m sorry. You’re so talented and your work is exceptional. I’m sure you won’t have a problem finding another firm to do work for. I’m putting your final check in the mail today. I’m so sorry about this.”
A sickness formed in the pit of my belly as I listened to her message. That marketing firm was my bread and butter. They were my top account. Without them, I had just lost half of my income. Tears started to stream down my face as fear crept inside me. This wasn’t only about me anymore. I had a baby to think about. This couldn’t have happened at the worst time. But at least they owed me a chunk of money. Money that would get me through at least another month.
Grayson
I took my bourbon over to my piano and set it down. Taking a seat on the bench, I placed my fingers on the keys and began playing. What the fuck was I going to do? I never hated my grandfather more than I did at this moment. I wasn’t a relationship type of guy. I gave all that up in college. Women were too much of a problem
for me. They didn’t understand I had a life outside of them. That I was working hard for my future. All the fighting and the yelling because I didn’t spend enough time with them or pay them enough attention was exhausting. It was then I decided to stay single. I was better off without all that complication in my life and my grandfather couldn’t understand that. He couldn’t understand that I was better off being single. I liked women for one thing and one thing only: the pleasure they provided me with sex. It was all I needed. I was a happy man living the bachelor life and doing whatever the fuck I wanted to do without someone trying to control me. But now, he was the one controlling me. He was in control of my future and I didn’t like it one bit. But I’d never let Alfie take control of the company I worked so hard to make mine.
Chapter 9
Grayson
It had been a week since I met with my grandfather, and now the clock was ticking away. I hadn’t told Julius yet, and I needed to talk to someone. Then suddenly, a lightbulb went off in my head. Julius was the key to this whole thing. Picking up my phone, I dialed him.
“Hey, Grayson.”
“Can you come by the penthouse tonight? We haven’t had a bro night in a while. I’ll order us a couple pizzas and we can kick back and drink a few beers. That’s if Yasmin will let you out of the house.”
“Hilarious, Grayson. It just so happens I was going to call you and ask you the same thing. Yasmin is going out with her friends tonight. What time do you want me over?”
“How about seven o’clock?”
“Sounds good. I’ll bring the beer.”
“Great. I’ll see you tonight.”
I ended the call and set my phone down. I prayed to God that he would tell me what I wanted to hear.
The elevator door opened and when I walked into the foyer, Julius stepped out.
“Hey, bro.” We lightly hugged.
“How are you, Grayson? We really haven’t spoken much the past couple of weeks. I was afraid you were ending our friendship.”
“Nah, Julius. You’re like my brother. No matter what, I could never stop being your friend.” I smiled. “The pizza is on the island.”
“And I brought the beer.” He held up a six-pack.
Walking to the kitchen, I reached up into the cabinet and took down two plates. Grabbing two slices of pizza from the box and a bottle of beer, I took it over to the table.
“How are you, man?” Julius asked as he took the seat across from me.
“I’ve been wanting to tell you what’s going on, but first I had to calm the fuck down and process it.”
“Process what? What happened?”
“I had dinner with my grandfather last week.”
“I didn’t know he was back in town.”
“I didn’t either until he showed up at the office. He invited me to dinner. Boy, I had no idea what I was in for that night.”
He steadily narrowed his eye at me as he brought the bottle up to his lips.
“What the fuck happened?”
“My grandfather thinks it’s time I grow the fuck up and have some stability in my life. He claims that my partying and women reputation is out of hand. He’s giving me one year to find a woman to fall in love with, and if I don’t, he’s signing the company over to Alfie.”
“What?” He choked before spitting out the beer in his mouth. “You can’t be serious, Grayson.”
“Oh, I’m dead serious.”
“So if you don’t get in a relationship or fall in love before the one-year mark, the company isn’t yours?”
“That’s right.”
“What the fuck is his problem? What does it matter to him? You’re running that company to perfection. You’ve more than proved yourself to him.”
“I know.” I shook my head. “He wants the company to be a family legacy. And without me having a family, that won’t happen.”
“So he’d just give it to Alfie? I don’t get it.” Julius furrowed his brows.
“He has a wife and two kids.”
“But he’s not family.”
“Trust me. I know that, Julius. I don’t understand why my grandfather is being like this.”
“So what are you going to do?”
I took a sip of my beer as I stared at him.
“The woman who used my sperm. Is she single or married?”
“Oh fuck no, Grayson. No way.” He shook his head. “I can’t tell you that.” He placed his hands on his head. “Oh my God, I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is no!”
“You owe me!” I spoke through gritted teeth. “You made a promise to me that my sperm would never be found by someone to use, and you failed!” I pointed at him. “You got me in this mess, and now you will get me out of the current one I’m in with my grandfather.”
“Have you forgotten that you signed off all parental rights to that kid? What the hell are you going to do? Go to the woman and tell her you need your kid after all?”
I took in a deep breath to calm down.
“I have a plan, but I need to know if she’s single or married. Please, Julius. I need your help. I could lose everything.”
“Shit, Grayson.” A worried look crossed his face. “You can’t disrupt this woman’s life to save your own. It’s not right. Plus, I could get fired if anyone found out. Not to mention that this woman could sue the shit out of us.”
“Your family owns the sperm bank. You’re the director, the overseer. I’ll make sure she doesn’t sue, and I’ll pay her off if I have to.”
He pulled out his phone, began typing on it and then looked up at me.
“She’s single, and she’s thirty years old.”
“What’s her name?”
“Come on, Grayson, don’t.” He slowly shook his head.
“What is her name, Julius?”
“Harper Holland.”
“Address?”
“Fuck, man. What are you going to do just knock on her door and say, ‘Hi honey, I’m your baby daddy?’”
“I’ll scope out the situation first.”
“Oh, so you’re going to stalk the poor woman?”
“No.” I rolled my eyes. “Is there a picture of her?”
“No. We don’t keep pictures of our customers. Only our donors.”
“Then this is what you’re going to do for me. You’ll send her flowers from the cryobank congratulating her on her pregnancy.”
“And how is that going to help?” he asked.
“You’ll be the delivery man. And when she opens the door, I’ll be able to get a look at her from a distance.”
“Are you insane? Have you lost your fucking mind?”
“No. It’s simple. So don’t make it a big deal. How the hell am I supposed to get to know her if I don’t know what she looks like.”
“Oh my God.” He placed his face in his hands. “You are not seriously going to do this.”
“Yes, I am.”
“What if she’s not home?”
“Then you’ll call first. Pretend you’re the delivery company and tell her she has a delivery coming and ask if she’ll be home to sign for it. You owe me, Julius.”
He glared at me as he stood there and shook his head.
“Fine. But if something happens and I go down for this—”
“Nothing will happen. Stop being paranoid. Call me tomorrow when you find out if she’s going to be home.”
“Whatever, man. I can’t believe this. Who the fuck are you?”
“A desperate man trying to keep the company that’s rightfully mine.”
Chapter 10
Harper
I’d spent part of the day contacting several advertising and marketing companies with no luck. I really didn’t understand what was going on. I’d never had any trouble securing work and always had a good steady income. I had some leads on website designs which was good, but they didn’t pay as well.
I was cleaning up my apartment when my phone rang with a number I didn’t recognize.
“
Hello.”
“Hi, I have a flower delivery for a Miss Harper Holland. I’m about five minutes out and I was wondering if someone will be home to sign for them.”
“Yes. I’m home.”
“Excellent. I’ll see you soon.”
Shit. Maybe I shouldn’t have told him I was home. My mind started to stir with thoughts that maybe he wasn’t a flower delivery guy after all. I’d never had a flower delivery service call me before. I immediately dialed the number he called from.
“Hello.”
“This is Harper Holland. Before you deliver the flowers, I need to know who they are from first.”
“They’re from the New York Cryobank.”
“Oh. Okay. Thank you.”
I let out a sigh of relief and then there was a knock on the door. Looking out the peephole first, I saw a man in a baseball cap and dark sunglasses standing there holding a large floral arrangement wrapped in paper. I opened the door with a smile.
“Miss Holland?”
“Yes.”
“These are for you. I just need you to sign for them.”
“I took the piece of paper and pen from him and scribbled my signature.
“There you go.” I handed it back to him.
“And here are your flowers.” He smiled.
“Thank you.”
“Have a nice day and enjoy your flowers.” He nodded.
“Thanks. I will.”
Grayson
I stood around the corner of the hallway and gulped the moment she opened the door. I honestly didn’t know what to expect her to look like, but I knew damn sure I wasn’t expecting what I saw. The moment she shut the door, Julius turned and walked down the hallway.
“Let’s get out of here. I can’t believe you made me do this!” he said.
“She’s beautiful,” I spoke. “At least from what I could tell from a distance.”
“Trust me, bro. She’s smoking hot. Damn. I wasn’t expecting that,” Julius said.
“I wasn’t either. Now that I know what she looks like, it’s time to put my plan in motion.”