The Billionaire’s Surprise Heir: A Second Chance, Secret Baby Romance

by Tara Brent

  As I open the door to their apartment, I hear the desperate cry of a baby. Looking over at Ethan’s face, I decide its best not to say too much, he looks stressed out enough.

  “Now there’s a sound to bring a grown man to his knees,” I say to him, putting up a smile to dampen his frown.

  “Mia’s having problems feeding Lilly and she's kicked me out of there,” my brother informs me. “The nurse is better at that stuff than I am.”

  “Don’t worry, it's not your man boobs she’s interested in,” I say, hoping to lighten his mood.

  Instead, he looks at me in confusion and then bursts out laughing.

  “I know, I know, I feel for Mia, but what can a man do?” He smiles as he sits down looking a little more relaxed. “I’m glad you’ve stuck around or I might have gone insane with all this stress.”

  “It’s only a baby,” I try to reassure him. “You’ll all settle down soon, I’m sure of it. Anyway, there’s nothing Mia can’t overcome. She’ll have it all sorted by tomorrow, you’ll see.”

  “I’ll go get some cold beers, I need it,” Ethan says, jumping up and heading for the cooler.

  I have to smile to myself. This parenthood thing seems very stressful, yet billions of people do it over and over.

  “I won’t go in to see her until Lilly quiets down,” I call over to Ethan as he comes out of the kitchen.

  “Yeah, don’t you dare leave without seeing her though. She has big plans for you bro. You're gonna wish you’d never taken her up on this blind date challenge,” he informs me.

  “You'd have thought Mia’s got more important things to worry about than my love life,” I reply. “What could she possibly have done between the hospital and here? I only saw you guys a few hours ago.”

  “I want nothing to do with it, so don’t question me, bro,” Ethan says, taking a long drink from his beer bottle.

  “Now there’s something I don’t see often,” I point my beer bottle at his. “If Mia sees you drinking out of the bottle, you’ll be in trouble.”

  “I don’t want to make too much washing up, so I’m keeping the glasses clean,” he laughs.

  “So, how’s it feel to be a daddy?” I ask, truly wanting to know.

  “Crazy, bro. I’m numb, that’s how it feels. Useless and numb,” he admits. “I can’t do anything to help. Mia keeps shouting at me and then she starts crying. The nurse said I’d be best to let her rest but how the hell is she going to do that with Lilly’s lungs bursting out?”

  “Ha...ha...ha...” I couldn’t help but laugh. I’d never seen my brother in such a state.

  “You can laugh, it’ll happen to you one day, you’ll see...” he grumps back at me.

  A movement to my left forces me to turn and I see Mia and Lilly walking towards us. Mia looks bedraggled.

  “My goodness that was so difficult,” she says with a long sigh. “I mean, it’s supposed to be one of the most natural things in the world, breastfeeding, but boy it is so damn hard.”

  It's a relief when she doesn’t go on to give us any more details. To me, a woman’s body is a temple. I really don’t want Mia to ruin my world by informing me what breasts are really meant for. It does not go down well in my vision of beauty.

  “Now then, Calvin,” Mia says, sitting next to her husband as they both make those strange sounds over Lilly. “I have that blind date set up and ready to go.”

  “What? How can you have done that while having a baby?” I ask, dumbfounded. “Surely even you can't plan and scheme in the middle of labor.”

  “I hope you’re not going back on your word,” she says, looking up and gazing at me with killer eyes. “My patience is a little stretched at the moment, so don’t you be thinking of backing out of our agreement. I’m determined to win my bet.”

  “This isn’t a bet, is it?” I ask. “When did my love life become a game?”

  “Oh, don’t you give me that,” she says, passing Lilly over to Ethan.

  She has a steely determination in her eyes I find a little disturbing. I know better than getting on her wrong side. She looks like a woman on a mission.

  “You’re missing something in your life, Calvin. You know you are, I know you are, good grief even Ethan knows you are. Yet you’re the only one who doesn’t know what that something is. ” She says scornfully.

  “Maybe I need a baby?” I laugh, and she throws a cushion at me.

  “I want you to take this date seriously, Calvin,” she demands. “You need to think outside the box. Every woman you ever date is usually a model or a money grabber. This one is really sweet and knows nothing about who you are.”

  “I’m sorry, Mia,” I say, rubbing both hands over my face. “I’ll put my serious face on.”

  “You are so immature," she says, hands in the air. "You two are alike and he’s older than you so he has no excuse,” she reprimands us.

  Poor Ethan, he's simply cooing over his daughter and saying nothing. He looks up and raises his eyebrows at me as if to warn me I’m on my own.

  “How the two of you manage to run a global network of companies, I'll never know.” Mia has gone into serious mode, with an apostrophe attached to it. I know when to stay quiet. “If they knew how immature you both are when you’re in private, all those shareholders would run a mile. I ought to blackmail the pair of you. Record your conversations when no one’s around. Video you both when you’re playing on the damn computer. Honestly, I do believe you’re both still teenagers!”

  “What did I do?” Ethan chimes in, not happy at being dragged into this charade.

  “See to your baby and keep quiet,” Mia orders. “Calvin Luca, you will go on this date with this very sweet lady and you will treat her with respect. She is so lovely, that if I hear any bad feedback, I will make you suffer.”

  “Whoa, is it that serious to you, Mia?” I ask, knowing full well that when Mia decides something is going to happen, it does.

  “Yes, Calvin, it is. So be warned. I’m very hormonal and I must get my way for at least a month.”

  “Okay, I’ll go. Give me all the details while I hold my niece,” I tell her and head over to Ethan to get my share of Lilly cuddles.

  Once she’s in my arms I want to shut out the world and make silly noises to her. Her fingernails are so tiny and soft, they look like they’ve been painted on. Those thick dark curls have got to be our Italian genes. One of her eyes is half-open as her face makes the most peculiar twisting shapes.

  “I think she’s pooping,” I tell Ethan.

  “Nah! She has loads of wind,” he informs me. “Anyway if she poops you’ll soon know about it!”

  Mia laughs and it's good to see her looking happy again. She snuggles up to Ethan while Uncle Calvin enjoys coo-ing at his niece.

  Chapter 4

  Tasty Toes

  This is unbelievable. How did I let my mom and Ali talk me into this? I haven’t been on a date in...erm...well, at least two years. This is a really weird situation I’ve gotten myself into.

  “Mom, you going out?” Callum’s little voice calls out as he comes charging through my bedroom door, sandwich in hand. He jumps onto my bed and little legs go up into the air. Down goes my makeup, and off I go to join him.

  I love to spend time with my son and never miss an opportunity to be close to him. We lay side by side and he swings his legs around and plonks his feet on my belly.

  “Poohaaw!” I chuckle as I hold my nose and pull a face at his feet. With my fingertips, I pull at the end of his grey school sock as if it's contagious. “Or, maybe, I can have tasty toes for dinner!” I shout out as I pretend to bite his bare wriggling toes.

  He squiggles, and wiggles, and giggles, and I love it.

  After a few moments of the frantic play, we both lay back and catch our breath. Callum tucks into his peanut butter and red jelly sandwich.

  “I’m going out for a meal,” I tell him as we both lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

  “Why don’t you have a peanut butte
r and jelly sandwich, they’re the best?” He asks, reaching out a mangled sandwich so I can have a bite, of which I do.

  "Nah," I say, munching his sandwich with him. "I'm having a posh meal. You know how much you enjoy going out for pizza. Well, mommy’s going to go out and have a grown-up meal,” I explain, leaving out the part about going with a strange man.

  “Whatcha gonna eat?” He asks, suddenly sitting upright with his sandwich now fully consumed.

  “I don’t know,” I say, leaning on my arm to stroke his soft baby hair. “I suppose I’ll read the menu first and then decide.”

  “You've gotta make yourself look nice, mommy,” he tells me, jumping off the bed and running out of my room. I can hear his little thumping feet dashing back down the stairway. No doubt he’s gone to ask his nan to make another sandwich. It’s all we can get him to eat at the moment.

  On my part, I continue to lay there and stare up at the ceiling. Should I be doing this when I’m a mom? This guy won’t even know that I have a young son. Best to tell him right at the start, even before we eat. Then if it's not to his liking, he can leave.

  Despite my reluctance to go on this date, I'm beginning to get butterflies in my tummy. I wonder what he looks like? Mia said he’s handsome, but that was all she would tell me. Saying "no" to Mia was impossible, and besides, I’m going to one of her exclusive restaurants in San Francisco. A place where people go on a waiting list to book a table. That is unless you know the right people. The thought of eating at one of the finest establishments in town clinched the deal for me. Even if the guys a complete let down, at least I’ll experience eating at Changchi Wanfan. The very best Chinese restaurant in San Francisco.

  “You don’t look anywhere near ready, Tiffy!” Ali’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “What you doing? Daydreaming? You’ve got a red hot date to get ready for, girl.”

  “Have you any idea how nervous I am?” I admit, sitting up and going over to the dressing table. Glancing in the mirror as the light shines on my face, I see a freckled redhead staring back at me. “Can we cancel it?”

  “What? And miss out on the best meal of your life?” She shakes her head in disbelief as if it was the worse crime in the world. “I’m here to boost your confidence, girl. Now, let me do your hair and then we’ll sort your wardrobe. Have you even made any decision on what you're going to wear? No, I didn't think so. No trousers for a start off. How the hell will he ever get into your pants with a great big zipper protecting your nether regions?”

  “Ali! I don’t want him in my pants, thank you very much?” I insist, most indignantly. “This guy is a complete stranger to me, Ali. I’m not, you know, doing that with someone I don’t know.”

  “At your age Tiffy, you have to grab every opportunity that comes your way,” she says, tugging on my red locks. “You're not getting any younger!”

  “Well, thanks for that vote of confidence. You're supposed to be my best friend. What if he’s a complete loser, or eats with his mouth open...”

  “Not listening!” She covers her ears and squeezes her eyes tight shut.

  We’re like a couple of school girls when we get together. She never fails to bring a smile to my face and I never fail to annoy the crap out of her.

  Quickly I pick up my cell phone and start pressing the buttons, “That’s it, I’m cancelling.”

  I’ve never seen Ali move so fast. She grabs the phone from my hands and promptly throws it on my crumpled bed covers.

  “Take off those clothes, it’s time to get you dressed,” she orders. “No need to go through your closet. I’m well aware what’s in there and none of it is suitable. I’ve taken the liberty to bring something appropriate. You’re going to a top restaurant, Tiffy. You have to look the part. If you look the part, you’ll feel it.”

  She produces a simple dress but it is exquisite. It’s light green in color and a body-con design, meaning it will cling to my shape. Which, incidentally, is not all that bad despite the rigors of giving birth. It has a beautiful lacy top layer and off the shoulder narrow straps. When I wiggle into it though, all I can see is my cleavage.

  “I can’t wear this, Ali, it shows too much,” I moan. “I don’t know about all this. The last thing I want is some strange guy ogling my breasts while he eats his dumplings. It’ll be enough to put me off my dessert!”

  “With this dress, Tiffy, YOU will be the dessert,” she tells me. “Now, let’s get that hair finished.

  Ali runs a brush through my long red hair and I watch in the mirror as her magic fingers do their work. She deftly creates a style that she knows I love. My hair's pulled back tight from my face. A long braid that she’s intertwined with a shimmering dark green ribbon and curls around my neck to hang over my shoulder.

  “Oh, Ali, it’s a side braid. I love it,” I declare.

  She hands me a matching bolero jacket and a lovely twinkling clutch bag, with a gold chain to hang on my shoulder.

  As I enter the living room to show mom and Callum, they clap out loud.

  “Oh, mommy you look like a princess,” Callum jumps up to bounce on the sofa.

  Mom hugs me and then the doorbell rings. Ali is quick to dash to the door and no sooner returns to inform me that it’s a driver of a big limo. He's here to take me to the restaurant. My stomach does a complete flip and my legs feel like jelly. What have I let myself in for?

  “Off you go,” Ali says in an encouraging voice. “Don’t worry, you’ll knock him dead.”

  Following the driver, I walk to the car. He holds the door open for me and I feel a bit embarrassed as I climb in. Before he shuts the door on me, I wave to my family who is peeking through the window. Anyone would think I was going on a prom date. That’s exactly how I feel. Then I realize that I’m alone in the car. He must be waiting at the restaurant. No doubt Mia put on this glitzy show to make sure I had fun. The driver sets off and all I can think is, there’s still time to pull out.

  Familiar Freckles

  I’m a bit of a sly kinda guy. I’ve learned to be that way in my business life, it doesn’t always pay to be honest. After being persuaded into this blind date charade by my sister-in-law, I decided to stay at a distance while I wait for my date to arrive. This way, as she’s shown to the table, I can see who she is without her seeing me. Don’t’ ask me why I have to do this because I don’t know. Call it a guy thing, or put it down to my character, I don’t care. I mean if she’s not what I hope then I won’t stand her up, I guess. But, I will be forewarned. That’s just who I am.

  Most of the women I date are in the glamorous and sexy category. Trouble is they also tend to be a little vacuous. Well, perhaps that a little harsh, but none of them have ever challenged my intellect, which is disappointing. They usually wear provocative outfits and expect me to spend money on them, lots of it. Most of the time, I don’t think much about it. It became a part of my life to associate with attractive and wealthy people. At first, it was exciting, but now, I’m looking for more in the women I meet. It could be that I’ve outgrown fast cars and fast women. So, what the hell am I doing on a blind date?

  In my mind, I’m telling myself that it's as a favor for Mia and her game of challenges. Yet, I'm looking forward to this challenge of dating someone I’ve never met and spending an evening with this stranger. Even if I don't like my partner, I can convince myself it’s a business dinner. Mia made me promise to be a gentleman and remain completely charming throughout. That's not difficult as I always turn on the charm with the ladies. Then again, something's niggling at the back of my mind that’s causing me to feel strange. Like I’m nervous. Bad nerves are not something I ever suffer from, but for some reason, I'm like a giddy kid on his first date.

  Perhaps that’s why I decide to watch from a distance. In fact, I’m in the security room watching the CCTV cameras, to observe the woman they show to my table. I sent a car to pick her up so I could do exactly this. I’m a busy guy and I could be doing a million other things. Instead, I'm escorting some woman of Mia
’s mischief-making. She insists that I need a “normal” woman in my life and that all the women I date are too beautiful. Does that mean she’s found me an ugly duckling? Cruel, I know, but I’m the one who’s got to please my sister-in-law. Then she’ll leave me in peace to enjoy my glamorous lifestyle. Which, for some reason, she believes is no longer fitting for my old age.

  I suppose when you hit 30 years, you should be considering settling down. Though I'm quite certain that’s not what I want out of life. Kids and responsibilities have never appealed to me. Mia seems to think this new woman will change my outlook, but I doubt that very much. I’ll give her a good time before I leave San Francisco and get back to doing what I do best; making money.

  With my thoughts drifting all over the place, I miss the arrival of my blind date. Through the camera, I can see that someone is already sitting at the table. From this angle, the camera only shows the entrance to the booth, not who's in it. Well, at least I know she’s arrived. I suppose if Mia’s gone to so much trouble I ought to make an appearance.

  I slowly stroll through the restaurant in the hope of getting a glimpse of whoever is in my booth. If only I didn't feel so nervous. Mia could be right, this could be what I need. Though, it’s hard to believe that with my stature in life, I’m going on a blind date.

  Arriving at the booth, I put on my best smile and lunge in with a warm greeting.

  “What the fuck!” Slips out of my mouth as I stare wide-eyed at the familiar freckles staring back at me. “Tiffany!”

  “Is this meant to be some sort of joke?” She says back at me, in much the same tone.

  I can’t reply because my voice has abandoned me. She starts to get up to leave but I can’t let her. I mean...I mean...

  “No!” I say. “Please, don’t leave, Tiffany,” I manage some words. “It’s unlikely that Mia knew. She wouldn’t have done this to anyone.”

  As I'm speaking, I enter the booth and sit opposite her. My redhead, from oh so long ago. How I have thought about her so many times. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest at this unbelievable coincidence.