My Boss’s Whim

by Liliana Rhodes

  "They're being cautious. I'm sure it doesn't help that you ended up becoming one of the wealthiest men in the world. You might as well wear a bullseye."

  "Tell me," I said as I stopped pacing long enough to look him in the eye. "What's the worse that can happen?"

  "They could take everything, Xander. Everything you own."

  "I have a baby coming. This has to go away now."

  "I'm doing what I can."

  "It doesn't sound like enough."

  "If you need money, why don't you ask your parents for a loan? I'm sure they'd be more than happy to help you out."

  "More like my mother would be more than happy to hold that over my head," I growled. "I don't need money. We can live just fine. It shouldn't impact anything short term. I just need to know I'm protected."

  "I'm trying. There’s only so much I can do."

  "Try harder."

  "Have you spoken to your dad? Maybe he knows someone. He's always been very connected."

  "Yeah well, it was through his connections that I ended up in this mess. I think I'm better off figuring this out on my own. This doesn't affect my parents anyway."

  "It was only a suggestion. I'll give you a call when I hear anything else."

  I stormed out of his office. I didn't want to be there any longer than I needed to be.

  The feeling of helplessness overwhelmed me. Being in control was what helped make my business the success it was. I wasn't in control now.

  Sitting in my car, I checked the time and wondered if Ashley would be ready to head home. I couldn't tell her what happened. She shouldn't have to worry about this. I dialed her cell without thinking.

  "Hi hon! Let me guess, you're ready to take me home."

  "Yes, my meeting is done," I grunted.

  "You always did hate the city."

  "I'm not in the mood for chitchat. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

  As I hung up, I felt bad for how I acted on the phone. I should have calmed down before calling her. Needing to keep this mess from her was going to be harder than I thought. Don better figure out a solution quick.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Ashley

  The store reminded me of those warehouse stores I used to shop in with Jackie for groceries, except this one was filled with baby stuff. I waddled beside Jackie, her hair up in a ponytail, looking casual as usual in jeans and a body hugging pale yellow t-shirt. Normally, looking at her reminded me of my weight, but since I got pregnant, I didn't worry so much. As we walked through the store, she pushed the cart as she babbled about all the things I still needed to do.

  "Will you please stop? Between you and Xander, I don't know who's worse," I said.

  "What do you mean? There's so much that needs to be done before the baby comes. Have you even chosen a name? Painted his room?"

  "Please. Shut up!" I shook my head. "What is it with you people? I've got plenty of time. I'm not due for another two months."

  "You do realize that's sixty days, right?"

  "Why is everyone talking to me like I'm an idiot lately? Yes, I realize that. The room is painted. I have everything ready for his arrival. Except for a name. Xander and I can't seem to decide, but we've narrowed it down."

  "Are you having a shower?" she asked.

  "No, we're not. We thought about having one, just a party really to celebrate the baby. I don't want people to feel obligated to buy us something. Plus I hate those girly showers with all the ridiculousness. Just a party would be nice. And I'd like my dad to be there."

  "You need to have a shower. I know your mom isn't around anymore, but what about your mother-in-law? I'm sure she would love to throw you a shower."

  "Obviously you haven't met her. She couldn't care less that I'm pregnant." I shook my head then plopped down on a dark wood glider with beige fabric and put my feet up on the matching ottoman. "I feel really bad for Xander. I don't think she realizes how much she's hurt him. He called her all excited about becoming a dad and she barely reacted. He's told her a few things, sent her the ultrasound picture. She had no comment, nothing. There's no way she'd even think of hosting a baby shower for me."

  "But you're the closest thing to a daughter she'll ever have," she said as she sat in a chocolate fabric rocking recliner with tan piping.

  "You're thinking like a normal person. Seriously, you'll have to meet her sometime. She's a peach," I grumbled.

  "Then that's it. I'm throwing you a shower. I'll invite your dad and it'll be co-ed. None of that silly stuff you said you don't like, I promise."

  "You can't do that. Parties are expensive. It would make me feel bad."

  "Now it’s your turn to shut up. We can do it at The Manor so you'll already be home. And I can ask Sam to cater as a favor. I know she'll do it cheap."

  "Let me at least pay for her."

  "Okay, okay. I guess she does need the money now more than ever anyway," she said softly.

  "What do you mean? Is everything okay?"

  "She's pregnant."

  My jaw dropped. Stunned, I couldn't say anything for a moment. I watched Jackie swivel in the chair then hit the lever to prop her feet up.

  "You really should get this one, Ash. It’s really nice. And feel how soft it is. It’s microfiber, I'm sure it'll clean up nicely from all the spit-up." She grinned at me then stood up.

  "Is it Drake's?" I asked, my mind still on her news.

  Like a zombie, I stood up and dropped into the recliner Jackie recommended. She was right. It was roomy and comfortable. I rocked briefly, still in shock over Samantha. I knew it had to be Drake's. Jackie handed me a stuffed monkey and I held it in the crux of my arm.

  "Yup! And she won't tell him."

  "Seriously? Why not? He's crazy about her. He thinks she's the one."

  "I know. He's told her, but she's stubborn. There's no talking to her."

  "Make sure you invite Drake to my shower." I shot Jackie a look as I smiled.

  "You're up to something. Absolutely, I will. I might even tell him it starts earlier than it does," she said, smiling.

  As I stood up from the recliner, a salesperson came over. She was dressed in the purple polo shirt uniform the store had and smiled sweetly at us.

  "Is there anything I can help you with?"

  "Yes," I said. "I'd like to order this rocker recliner."

  "That's one of our best sellers. It comes in over 100 fabrics and colors."

  "Just make it exactly like this one. These colors, everything." As the salesgirl wrote the information down, I turned back to Jackie. "We have to figure out how to get them together. They're obviously both too stubborn to figure it out on their own."

  "I think if we just get them alone together in a room, it'll happen. Mark my words, Ashley, your shower will be a big day."

  * * *

  I didn't realize how much I bought at the baby store until I loaded my car with everything. Xander insisted on getting me an SUV. I knew a car seat wouldn't fit in the sports car he previously gave me, but I thought one of his other cars would've been fine.

  After a little looking, Xander made some calls and bought a silver Mercedes-Benz GL-Class SUV for me. I was glad he didn't go for the top-of-the-line one. I hated the way it looked like a box on wheels. I would've preferred something less expensive, but he wouldn't hear it.

  While ordering my car, he also ordered an SLS AMG GT in red for his sports car collection. Sitting in the garage, that car looked like it was speeding without being on. I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel of that car, but with my pregnant belly, I didn't fit now. I'd have to wait.

  As I made my way up the tree-lined drive that led to the front of the mansion I still couldn't believe was my home, I decided to park in front so I didn't have as far of a walk to unload the car. I knew I could ask the staff for help, but I couldn't get used to that. It didn't seem right to me.

  Pulling up the circular gravel drive to the front of the house, I slid out of the car and popped open the trunk just as Tara jogged
over from the stables. She was dressed as she always did in worn jeans, a plaid button-down shirt, and battered brown boots, but this time she still wore the cowboy hat I noticed she donned anytime she worked with the horses. Her sandy colored ponytail was tucked underneath.

  "I guessed right. I knew you'd come back with a ton of stuff!" she drawled as she approached. "Let me help you carry that stuff in."

  "No, I can do it myself."

  "I'm not taking no for an answer, Ashley. Besides, I haven't seen the baby's room yet."

  "Okay okay, but only because I want you to see it. Otherwise I know you wouldn't argue with a pregnant woman," I said, smirking.

  "Oh? I wouldn't? And I thought you knew me so well," she said and laughed.

  Tara grabbed as many bags as she could carry, leaving me with the smallest one. I picked it up and closed the lift-gate as I hurriedly tried to catch up to her as she made her way upstairs. She was too fast for me and when I finally caught up to her, she was standing in the middle of the nursery, the bags at her feet.

  "This is absolutely adorable! I have to admit I'm a little surprised you didn't go with blue, but this is definitely a boy's room. I love the color of the walls," she said as she walked over to one of them. "What would you call that? Tan? It’s darker than that but not brown…maybe mushroom?"

  I picked up a dark brown wall hanging with jungle animals. A pale yellow lion, a light blue elephant, and a two-tone brown monkey were the main characters on it, and I folded it over my arm so the monkey was prominent as I showed it to Tara.

  "I call that color monkey butt," I said as I pointed to the lighter brown on the monkey. Moving the monkey closer to the wall, she saw it was a perfect match and we both started laughing.

  "Well, that's the best looking monkey butt I've ever seen. And trust me, I've dated a few monkey butts in my time."

  "Is that why you never married?"

  "It’s complicated," she said, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "There was one man. Ooh boy, was he ever a man!" She fanned herself with her hand. "The love of my life, I tell you."

  "What happened to him?"

  "I wish I knew..." Her voice trailed off and she looked lost in a memory as she ran her hand over the fuzzy material of the wall hanging. "I didn't grow up rich, but my parents knew horses were all I cared about. For my eighteenth birthday, they scrimped and saved to buy me an old horse. We didn't have land for the horse so he had to be boarded at a stable. I started working there to pay for my horse's boarding. Ended up making it a career."

  "Did your boyfriend work there, too? Is that how you met him?"

  "Yes, he did. Mason's family owned the stables. They actually owned the entire town. His family wanted him to learn the family horse business from the bottom up. Shovelin' shit and all. Chances are if you've got a horse, the Abernathy family has lineage in it."

  "So what happened?"

  "He went away. He left for college and never came back," she said as she shrugged. "Not a day passes by that I don't think about him though."

  Her eyes misted. I was so curious and wanted to know more, but I could see her eyes filling with tears. I never expected to see someone as strong as Tara cry. Feeling bad, I searched for some way to change the subject when the baby kicked

  "Oh! Give me your hand." I grabbed her hand, the skin paper soft but rough from manual labor, and placed it on the side of my belly where I felt the kick. After a few seconds, the baby kicked again and she jerked her hand away.

  "Oh my goodness, that was strong!" she said.

  She held her hand up like she wanted to touch again. I took her hand and pressed it back in the same place until the baby kicked again.

  "Did you feel it?"

  "My word! I've felt foals moving within the fillies, but never a person. That's one strong baby you got there." She looked at me, her eyes still moist with tears and a tender smile on her face. "Thank you."

  Hugging her tight, I felt my own tears coming. Wishing I could tell Tara how much having her around meant to me but knowing I'd end up crying like a baby, I kept my mouth shut. Instead, I stepped back and started unpacking the bags of toys and baby gear, embarrassed by how emotional I was. Tara helped as we happily enjoyed each other's quiet company.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Xander

  It was late. The glass looked more like a mirror than a window from the darkness outside. I wasn't sure what time it was but guessed it was past 3am.

  Lately I spent my nights going through years of paperwork, focusing on various financial dealings between my company and any others I did not know personally. I didn't understand how I got into this mess, but I wanted to be damn sure it wouldn't happen again.

  "Xander?" Ashley peeked into my office. She looked like an angel with her white cotton nightgown and loose black hair. She held back a yawn before she continued. "Aren't you coming to bed?"

  "I'm in the middle of something. Go back to bed," I growled, hoping she would leave without questioning me.

  "I can't sleep. I had another nightmare. You've been in the middle of something for weeks now. What's going on?"

  "This doesn't concern you. Now please, Ash, go back to bed."

  I watched as her face slowly crumbled and tears burst from her eyes. Without a word, she spun on her heel and left. I ran out from behind my desk and chased her down the hall.

  "Ashley..."

  "Just leave me alone. I don't know what I was thinking. It's obvious there's something going on, but you won't tell me anything! You never tell me anything!"

  She stormed off as fast as she could with her pregnant stomach and entered the nursery. I caught the door as she turned to slam it. Her eyes were puffy and red, her cheeks tear-stained.

  "I'm trying to protect you. Can't you see that?" I growled.

  "See what? That my husband is pulling away from me more and more? Is that what you're protecting me from?"

  She threw a stuffed monkey at my head, but I caught it and brought it back over to her. Looking around at our son's room, I knew I was wrong. I had to tell her the truth. As hard as it was for me, I needed to open up to her.

  "You know, I come in here sometimes. By myself. Just to look around and imagine our son growing up in this room. Growing up, my dad was always so busy with work. I hardly saw him. I don't want our child to grow up like that. I want to be involved every step of the way."

  "Why are you changing the subject?" she asked with arms crossed over her chest and her brow wrinkled like it did whenever she was mad.

  "I'm not. Just listen to me. I want to be the dad at baseball games. The one that gets up in the middle of the night when my son needs me. I don't want to be the one behind a desk or in a meeting."

  "But that's up to you. Aren't you the one always reminding me that you're a billionaire? Maybe you don't know what that means," she said sarcastically.

  "Yes," I said then sighed, wishing this came easier for me. I crossed the room to the dark walnut crib and ran my hand over the curved sleigh bed railing. "You're right. I've been keeping things from you."

  "Is there someone else?"

  "No! Of course not." I turned to look into her dark almond shaped eyes and touched her cheek. "I'm in trouble. All our assets have been frozen while the company is under investigation."

  "Why didn't you tell me?"

  "Because I didn't want you to worry. I thought I could handle it myself and you'd never have to know. It's one of my early investors. They were involved in some shady deals, and now the Feds need to make sure Boone Enterprises wasn't involved. I don't know how long this will take."

  "We'll make do. We don't need all those fancy cars and everything, Xander. Not as long as we have each other."

  "I know, but I can't help but think about the baby. I want him to have whatever he wants, whatever he needs…" My voice trailed off and I looked down, embarrassed I never put it together before about my own father.

  "What are you thinking about?"

  "My dad. I just realized why
he was always so busy working. He was trying to give me the same thing. And I turned it all away."

  "You know, you've never really spoken about him before."

  "I never had much to say. He still hasn't changed much. He's always working."

  "Why do you think that is? I'm sure he has enough money he could just retire."

  "And stay home with my mother?" I laughed. "I always suspected she was one of the reasons he worked so much. Just to stay away from her."

  "Maybe you should reach out to him. When was the last time you two spoke?"

  "I don't remember. Sad, isn't it? You're right. Maybe I'll give him a call tomorrow. I'm surprised he didn't call when he heard we were pregnant, but maybe she didn't tell him."

  "You should talk to him about your problem, too. He's been in business a long time, maybe he can help."

  I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight. Feeling the baby kick, I let go, afraid I might have held her too tightly. She smiled and took my hand and put it on her stomach. The baby shifted under my hand and I smiled, thinking about how our son would soon be here.

  Later the next morning, I took Ashley's suggestion and called my father. The phone rang oddly and had a far away sound to it, as if the line wasn't very strong. He picked up on the third ring, his voice a bit muffled on the speakerphone.

  "Alexander? Is something wrong?"

  "Well hello to you too, Dad."

  "You never call. Of course I'm going to assume something is wrong."

  The line buzzed and cracked.

  "I'm going to have to call you back. I must've gotten a bad connection."

  "No, the connection is fine. I had my number forwarded to Penny."

  "Does Mother know?"

  "Does your mother know I'm enjoying myself on my yacht? No. Does your mother know I love Penny more than her? Probably, but what can I say? This yacht will always understand me in ways your mother couldn't. Besides, our relationship works better when I'm not around. At least for me it does," he said as he chuckled.

  "Was she always like this? I remember her being fun and caring when I was younger."