“Angela, I…” He stared at her, looking almost afraid.
“What?” She squeezed his hand. “Is it because of you being ashamed to be with me in public again?” She whispered.
“What? Don’t be ridiculous,” Dimitri snapped, sounding like his old self. “I’m not ashamed of you so please never say that again.”
“Okay. As long as you slap on a smile and enjoy the party. Your mother went to a lot of trouble to set this up.”
He didn’t say a word as they got out of the car and walked up to the front door. Dimitri clenched his jaw as he pressed the doorbell.
His mother answered the door.
“Hello, son,” she said quietly. “Happy birthday.”
“Mother, what have you done?” He hissed.
Angela glanced at him in surprise. “Relax, Dimitri. She just wanted to surprise you for your birthday.”
His mother’s eyes never left his face. “She’s right, darling.” She said in a soft voice. “I wanted to surprise you for your birthday. Happy birthday, son.”
His gaze locked with his mother’s and Angela couldn’t help but feel like there was some private conversation that was tacitly taking place between the two of them. She shuffled uncomfortably on her feet.
“Should we go inside?” Her voice was high-pitched as she pulled on Dimitri’s sleeve. “I can’t wait to meet the rest of your family.”
Dimitri didn’t move. “You planned that didn’t you?” He looked straight at his mother. “You planned the whole thing.”
Linda smiled. “Yes, of course I planned the whole thing. But Angela was a big help. Come in, son. Don’t you want to introduce your little friend to everyone?”
Dimitri finally looked at Angela. His eyes sent a chill down her spine. There was something… almost like fear in his eyes as he forced a smile and curved a hand around her waist.
“Come on, darling.”
Without another word, he pushed past his mother and into the splendid interior of the mansion.
Chapter 9
Thirty minutes into the party and Angela was starting to think that Dimitri had some sort of agenda. Saying that he was acting strange was an understatement. He held her hand tightly as he waltzed from guest to guest, quickly introducing her before moving on to another group. Whenever she opened her mouth to say something other than “hello” or “pleasure to meet you,” he would immediately guide her to someone else. It was almost as though he didn’t want her to speak to any member of his family.
“Are you okay?” She hissed at him after he’d rather rudely brushed off a drunk aunt. “You were very rude to your aunt just now.”
“Sorry.” He smiled tersely at her. “She was drunk.”
“So? And what’s with the leading me around? I’m perfectly capable of making conversation by myself, thank you.” She obstinately brought her arms across her chest.
A reluctant grin tugged at his lips. “You’re impossible,” he said affectionately. “Come on. I need a break from all of this. Let’s go upstairs. I’ll show you my old room.”
Angela giggled, lacing her fingers through his as he led her upstairs. He pushed open a door on the first floor to reveal a large room decorated in gold and blue. A huge Victorian bed, an antique work desk, and a floor-to-ceiling book shelf dominated the décor. She smiled as she walked over to the desk and picked up a picture of Dimitri as a young boy. His eyes were closed and his rotund face was spread in a wide smile.
“How old were you here?”
He took the frame from her hand and peered at it. “Around six or seven, I think.” Something flickered in his eyes. “It was the summer after my twin sister died. My parents took me to the lake house as a change of scenery.”
Angela stared at him. “What? You had a twin sister? I didn’t know that.”
He gave her a rueful smile as he set the frame down on the table. “It’s my fault. You’re right, I should have opened up more about myself. But I find some things very… very hard to talk about.”
Angela wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Dimitri.”
He shrugged, touching the picture with his index finger. “It was a long time ago. Her name was Elizabeth.”
“What…” Angela hesitated. “What happened to her?”
“Leukemia. She was born with a weak immune system and she spent her early years in and out of the hospital. When she was diagnosed with cancer, it was so advanced and aggressive that there was nothing the doctors could do.” He exhaled loudly. “It don’t remember it all obviously but I do remember this… this nagging feeling of emptiness. It never quite left me. Of course, my mother made sure to remind me that I was the reason why Elizabeth died.” He added in a matter-of-fact tone.
“What?” Angela’s eyes widened.
“I was the stronger fetus. Apparently I sucked up most of the nutrients which impaired my twin’s development. This resulted in a weak immune system for Elizabeth.” His voice was choked. “I basically killed her.”
“Dimitri, no,” Angela said, horrified. She touched his cheek, forcing him to look at her. “You can’t believe her. God, you were just a child yourself. Did you grow up believing you killed your own twin?”
“Yeah. Kind of.” He took her hand and led her to a corner of the room. “This was why I decided to break free from my family and build my own empire. I wanted to become rich enough to help kids like Elizabeth. Here’s my bucket list.” He grinned. “I made it when I was fourteen, I think.”
Angela smiled softly as she looked at the long sheet of paper taped to the wall. There, in a child’s scribbled handwriting, was a list that was carefully numerated by Dimitri:
1. Become rich
2. Build my company like daddy
3. Open orphanages
4. Fund-a-kid
5. Animal rescue
6. Cancer research funding
“How many of these have you accomplished?” Angela turned to look at him.
“All of them. Here, look.” He fished his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through some pictures until it stopped on the image of a black, curly-haired boy. “That’s Marcos. One of the kids that I’m sponsoring in Africa. There are several others but I’m particularly close to him. He comes to visit me once a year, with a guardian. I usually take him to Disneyworld. You know. Do a lot of kid stuff and all.” He looked almost embarrassed. “You should join us this year.”
Angela’s heart hammered as she looked at him. “You love kids, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” He flashed her a one-sided grin. “Kids and animals. I’ve got a couple of wildlife reserves to save lions from canned hunting. I’ve also opened a few orphanages for baby elephants whose mothers were killed by poachers.”
“Are you blushing?” Angela teased. “Your face’s all red.”
“Sorry.” He looked embarrassed. “I just find it quite hard to open up about myself.”
“Well, I think you’re a wonderful human being.” She placed her palm over his heart. “I love you. So much.”
Dimitri gently nuzzled his nose against hers. “I love you, baby.”
Angela took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
“I didn’t know how to tell you this,” she beamed up at him. “I know I should have said something sooner but right here, surrounded by your friends and family… I can’t think of a better setting.”
“What?” He curved a large hand around the back of her neck as he pulled his face to hers. “Tell me.”
Angela giggled, trepidation and excitement coursing through her as she pushed him away. “I’ve got news.”
“What news?” He asked cautiously.
She slipped her fingers through his. “I’m pregnant.”
Dimitri’s smile froze. “What?”
“I’m pregnant.” She beamed. “I don’t know how I could have missed the signs. My crankiness. Being tired all the time… I hadn’t even realized that I’d missed my period.” She shrugged. “It
wasn’t planned, I know. But it’s here. And it’s ours.” She threw her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. “It’s our baby,” she repeated in a whisper.
It took a full second for Angela to realize that this was not exactly going as she’d planned. She released him, dismay creeping through the ebullient fog as she looked at him. His lips were pressed tightly together and his fists were clenched. His solid chest heaved with each breath and when he spoke again, it was in a deliberately controlled, measured voice.
“Are you going to keep it?”
“What?” Angela gave a nervous giggle. “Dimitri, of course I’m going to keep it. It’s our child.”
“I…” Beads of sweat broke across his brow but he didn’t notice.
“Dimitri, don’t you want this child?”
“No,” he finally snapped. “No, I don’t want this child, alright, Angela?”
“But… I thought you liked children.” Angela stared at him. “I thought you would be happy for us. I…”
“I really wished you’d give up this damn habit of thinking for me, of always putting thoughts in my head,” he said through clenched teeth. “This… pregnancy… a baby… it changes everything.”
“What? What does it change?”
Dimitri avoided her gaze. “You won’t understand. It doesn’t even matter. Look, Angela, maybe we should take a break, okay? Just some time to get our thoughts together and decide what to…”
“What?” She whispered, aghast. “You’re… you’re bailing on me? Again?”
He shifted on his feet, looking uncomfortable. “I’m not bailing on you,” he said slowly. “I’m just saying… let’s take a break or something.”
Angela scoffed. “A break? What does that entail exactly?”
Dimitri sighed. “Angela, let’s not…”
“Tell me, Dimitri.” She winced internally at how high her voice sounded but she couldn’t stop herself. “So, what? We don’t speak for a week? You’ll sulk in your corner like some kind of school kid? Is this what a mature, grown-up relationship means to you?”
“Angie, I didn’t mean…”
“No, damn it!” She screamed. “I’m done with you! I’m tired of never knowing where I stand with you!” Her voice broke in a sob but she took a deep, shuddering breath, determined not to cry in front of him. “I’m so tired of you constantly coming and going from my life, Dimitri.” Her voice dropped to an anguished whisper. “I tell you that I’m pregnant… pregnant with your child and you want to bail? Again?”
“Angela, come here.” His eyes were pained as he tried to pull her against him.
“No,” she sobbed, cradling her pregnant stomach with both hands. “How am I supposed to do it, huh? How am I supposed to cope with the fact that the person I love constantly rejects me? Constantly flits in and out of my life like I’m some kind of… some kind of entertainment for when you get bored!”
He opened his mouth to say something but at that very moment someone knocked loudly on the door.
Dimitri cursed under his breath and turned around but the door had already opened before he could reach it. It was his drunk aunt.
“Hellooooo?” She swayed happily on the spot, clutching a whiskey. “Where have you two lovebirds vanished to?” She beamed at Angela, not even noticing the tears on her face.
“Aunt Nish, this is really not the time.” Dimitri said through gritted teeth as he tried to steer her towards the door. “Why don’t you get back downstairs and we’ll join you in a few minutes?”
“Nonsense.” Aunt Nish pushed past him. “I’d like to talk to your beautiful wife. I haven’t seen her in ages!” She gulped down some whiskey and smacked her lips in enjoyment.
“Aunt Nish.” Dimitri grabbed her firmly by the elbow. “She’s not my wife. This is Angela.”
“Nonsense!” Aunt Nish repeated, smiling widely at Angela. “I would recognize darling Celine anywhere. How are you, my dear?”
Angela looked dully back at the aunt through reddened eyes.
And then she remembered.
Celine. The woman Linda had mentioned back at Dimitri’s place. The woman that Dimitri had adamantly refused to discuss.
On impulse, her eyes ran down to his left hand. His ring finger was empty. Her shoulders sagged in relief but then she looked at his face. Dimitri was staring right at her, his eyes pleading and… guilty.
She felt something drop in her stomach. “You’re… married?”
He shook his head. “Angela, let me explain… I…”
“Dimitri, are you married?”
“Yes,” he said hoarsely. “But it’s not what you think. I…”
“Asshole!” She spat, furiously whacking her purse against his chest.
“Angela, wait!”
His words fell on deaf ears as she was already gone. Brushing back another furious tear, she flounced downstairs, pushing through the guests. She saw Linda on the landing, watching her with a satisfied smile.
Well good for the bitch, Angela thought furiously as she exited the house. She got what she wanted.
Part of her brain registered what Dimitri had meant earlier when he’d accused her mother of planning the whole thing but right then Angela couldn’t care less. She stood alone in the parking lot, taking in deep gulps of the cold night air as she tried to compose herself. It was okay. She touched her stomach. They were okay. Dimitri turned out to be a married double-timer but they would be okay. They would pull through somehow.
“Angela.”
She didn’t have to turn around to recognize his voice. Without looking back, Angela walked towards the gate, trying to ignore the loud crunch of the gravel behind her.
“Damn it, Angela!” He grabbed her elbow forcing her to turn around. “Would you just listen to me?”
“There’s nothing to listen to!” She cried. “You’re married! You’re a married man! You have no business chasing after me, making me fall in love with you, playing me over and over…” Her voice broke.
At that moment, the baby gave a soft, reassuring kick. And that, somehow, managed to calm her down. Ignoring the mascara that streaked down her cheek, Angela wiped her eyes and looked coldly at him. She’d never imagined herself as a mother, never even been overly fond of children in general, but as her baby nudged her again the strong of responsibility that washed over her was too strong to ignore. She was going to be a mother. It wasn’t just her life anymore and that knowledge, more than anything, made her strong enough to walk away from everything that was toxic to her life.
“Angela, let me take you home.” Dimitri said quietly.
She smiled a small, bitter scorn. “And then what? You run back to wifey and come back when you get bored again? I’m sorry, Dimitri but I can’t do this anymore.”
“What are you saying?”
She laughed and this time it was sincere. “I’ve been obsessed with you for the longest time, Dimitri. I thought I loved you.” She shrugged. “Maybe I do. But that’s no longer the point anymore. You have all your issues going on. Your family, the… image that you have to project to society… well, in spite of it all, you’re nothing but a cheater and a two-faced asshole. This is me walking away from you and all your drama.”
“What?” Dimitri looked aghast. “Angela, you need to let me explain.”
“Don’t you get it? I don’t care! I couldn’t care less anymore. Be married. Or don’t. That’s your business,” she said. “Look, don’t worry about the baby, alright? We’ll sort all of it out after he’s born. Or she. You can have visitation rights and all. Oh, wait. You don’t want any visitations rights, don’t you? Maybe you already have kids with her.”
“Angela, don’t do this.” He whispered.
She stood on tiptoes and brushed a light, sweet kiss across his lips. “You wanted your freedom? Well, here it is.”
She turned around and walked away from him. Part of her was expecting him to follow her. After all, it wasn’t just her anymore. There was the baby now. Their baby.
He never followed her. Never once tried to stop her. This time, it was truly over.
Chapter 10
Angela somehow managed to get a cab home. It had started to rain and she was completely soaked by the time she got back to her apartment. She let herself in and stood at the threshold for a few seconds, suddenly realizing how unfamiliar this space had become to her. She’d been spending so much time at Dimitri’s that she barely felt at home in her own place anymore. In the back of her mind, she remembered that her toothbrush, favorite pillow, and most of her clothes were still in his house.
She slammed the door behind her and trudged through the usual clutter in the living room. She shut herself in the bedroom and, not bothering to change out of her dress, she curled into a ball in bed. Angela closed her eyes, taking deep breaths as she listened to the rain lashing furiously against the window. She suddenly sat up and opened the bedside drawer, rummaging furiously through it until her fingers closed over the small picture of her latest ultrasound. She couldn’t help but smile through her tears as she looked at the tiny, bean-shaped blob.
“Hello, little bean,” Angela whispered, her heart swelling with emotion. “It’s just us now. But don’t worry. I’ll take care of you. I’m here for you.”
She held the picture close to her heart, trying not to give in to a fresh torrent of tears as she recalled her last appointment with Doctor Nelson. It was just after her hotel tryst with Dimitri, just after they’d decided to give their relationship another try.
“I’ve changed my mind,” she’d told Doctor Nelson. “I don’t want the abortion after all.”
The doctor had handed her the picture after her exam and Angela could still remember the emotions that had invaded her body as she’d clutched the picture. There was a tiny sense of fear and responsibility, of not knowing whether she would be good enough but most of all, there was this… this absolute sense of wonderment. She’d felt excited, alive at the prospect of starting this new adventure with Dimitri by her side.
The Billionaire's Secret Mistress - Part 2 (Contemporary BWWM Romance) (The Billionaire's Secret Mistress (Contemporary BW) Page 4