Chapter 19
One Month Later
Jolie was typing on her computer furiously. She’d been working on the final edits for an article for the past five hours, and still couldn’t get it right. There was something off about it that she couldn’t quite put a finger on.
She lifted up the receiver on her desk and dialed the writer’s extension.
“Peggy, get in here,” she said into the phone. When she’d placed the receiver down, she realized that she had sounded more stern than usual and she decided to modulate her voice as she spoke to Peggy. There was no point in pissing off more employees. If Margaret decided to send her on another forced vacation, Jolie felt like that would be the death of her.
“Yes, Ms. Park,” Peggy walked into her office, looking pale faced and dim-eyed. Jolie calling her into her office, while editing an article; was not a good sign. Jolie was aware of the reputation she had in the office. Her young age had nothing to do with it, and everything to do with her perfectionism and strict work ethics.
“Peggy, this isn’t working,” Jolie said and sat back dejectedly in her chair.
Peggy was a 28 year old writer, older than Jolie herself, but more nervous now than she had probably been in her entire professional career.
“All right, I’ll change whatever you want,” Peggy said, clasping her hands together in front of her.
Jolie steepled her hands on the desk and narrowed her eyes, reminding herself that she needed to be ‘nice’.
“I don’t know what needs to be changed,” she said and Peggy nodded her head furiously.
“I’ll write it again, then,” she said and Jolie breathed in deeply.
“I just know that Margaret is going to send it back immediately when she reads this, and it’s my job to make sure that every article that passes her desk for approval is up to a certain standard,” Jolie said, trying to make herself sound kind, but Peggy wasn’t appreciating the effort. She looked like she was going to burst a vein any minute now.
It was beginning to make Jolie sick. She was trying hard to be nice, to make herself more approachable to the writers and other employees on this floor who she was responsible for. But none of it was working…she couldn’t help but wonder if she was a monster to work with.
“I’ll write it again,” Peggy said, keeping her head down.
“I don’t want you to write it again, Peggy, I want us to discuss what we can do differently with this article. We need to fix the problem,” Jolie said and felt her gut churn. She was really beginning to feel sick and she grabbed the edge of her desk.
Peggy was startled by the motion and she looked up at Jolie with a jerk.
“Are you all right, Ms. Park?” she asked and Jolie nodded her head.
She could feel the thin film of sweat that had formed on her forehead. Her face was turning red.
“You don’t look well, Ms. Park,” Peggy said and Jolie stood up from the chair, just as her body shuddered feverishly.
She covered her mouth with a hand and shook her head, as she ran past Peggy and down the corridor towards the toilets. She banged the door open with her body and hurled herself into one of the stalls.
She had just about managed to kneel down in front of the toilet, when a squelching sound escaped her lips and she got sick. Jolie clung to the toilet, thankful for having tied her hair tightly in a bun that morning and also thankful that there was nobody else in the toilets then.
“Ms. Park?” Peggy’s voice interrupted her, as she sat down on the floor, panting to control the feeling of relief she was going through now. She didn’t feel sick anymore. It had only lasted a few minutes and now it was gone.
“I’m fine, Peggy. Please start writing the article again,” she said as she fanned her damp face with her hand.
“Okay,” Peggy said and Jolie waited for the sound of her leaving the toilets, before she got out of the stall.
In the mirror outside, Jolie stared at her face. She didn’t look tired or sick, like she had expected herself to look. It had to be food poisoning or indigestion or a fever? Instead, her cheeks glowed and her eyes looked bright. She splashed water furiously on her face and didn’t care about ruining her makeup. Every time she stared back at the mirror again, she looked like she was a new person.
Her hand went instinctively to her belly as she looked at herself some more. Jolie gulped as the inevitable thought passed through her mind and her heart began sinking again.
Brandon hadn’t used protection that night. He had emptied himself deep inside her. Jolie instinctively pressed her legs together at the thought. She could be pregnant. She could be carrying Brandon’s child, her stepfather’s child!
Jolie whipped around, tucking in red hair behind ears and charged out of the toilets. Margaret was walking down the corridor, in her usual marching way. She stopped when she saw Jolie and arched her eyebrows at her.
“Your face is glowing, Jo! You look like you’ve been sleeping well,” Margaret said and went on her way, without waiting for a response.
Jolie gulped and licked her lips, standing stationary in the corridor now and thinking. She needed to get to a doctor, she needed to get tests done before she could allow her mind to wander. But she knew the truth already, she could feel it now even though she couldn’t feel it a few minutes ago.
She was pregnant.
Chapter 20
Brandon could hear the grandfather-clock ticking noisily in the dining room. Other than that, there was complete silence in the room. Alice was sitting across from him at the table, and their housekeeper had served them coffee and danishes. They lay untouched on a plate between them, as did the coffee. He wasn’t hungry and even though Alice had been eyeing the danishes, she was being polite and not reaching for them yet.
Brandon had been away on business for the past three weeks. He had told himself and his wife, that his work was urgent and important. The truth was that most of the time, he had kept himself locked up in his office, trying to not allow memories of Jo interrupt his work. He had returned to Boston and to Alice at the end of those three weeks, forcing himself to man up and face his life decisions.
He wanted to surprise Alice, so he hadn’t told her he was on his way back. When he returned to the house, he found the place trashed; with three of her friends drunk and occupying the spare rooms. Alice was sleeping on the couch, much like the way he had found her that morning of the party when Jo left.
He had made her go upstairs, shower and change and then meet him in the dining room so they could talk.
“I’m sorry, Bran…I just got carried away,” Alice mumbled, while he glared at her. He didn’t know the woman he married, and as much as he was trying to make amends to their rocky beginnings…Alice was making it very difficult.
He cleared his throat but said nothing.
“I’m bored in this big house, all alone by myself. You have to understand, Bran!” she argued, creasing her forehead for sympathy. He clenched his jaws as he glared at her some more.
“I asked you to travel with me. It wouldn’t have been a problem, Alice,” he retorted, even though he knew deep down inside, that he was glad when she turned his offer down.
“Yes, maybe I will from now on. I haven’t visited any of your hotels or resorts. We could finally plan a honeymoon,” she said, giving him a weak smile. Brandon wasn’t in the mood for smiling. He just wanted all this to go away.
“Did we make a wrong decision, Alice?” he asked her and a sudden fear entered her eyes. She jumped out of her chair and rushed towards him, throwing her heavy arms around his neck. Brandon had been quick to notice that in three weeks she had already started developing a beer belly. How much had she been drinking?
“Don’t say that, honey…we’re just going through a rough patch. When I start traveling with you, things will be better. We’ll get to know each other, you’ll see,” she said and pressed her lips to his cheek seductively.
The same woman, who four months ago, Brandon had believed was qui
rky and fun— now annoyed him. He tried to wriggle out of her grasp.
“Sit down, Alice,” he said and dejectedly, she walked back around the table and sat down.
“I need to discuss something with you. I should have brought this up before…before we even decided to get married, but I need to talk to you about it now,” Brandon said, and he could see Alice’s eyes widen.
“What is it?” she asked, in a frightened voice.
“I want children. To be completely honest with you, Alice, it’s why I was looking for a wife. I want to have an heir I can leave all my wealth and my business to. I believe I’ve reached that stage in my life when I want to build a legacy for myself. It’s probably a little late and I should have spoken to you about it sooner…” Brandon’s voice was weak but the smile forming on Alice’s face interrupted him. She leaned forward for his hand, over the table, pushing a danish off the plate with her elbow.
“You don’t have to say anything more, Bran. I understand and I want the same thing,” she said and he couldn’t help but sound surprised.
“Really? I didn’t think you would,” he said and his mind wandered to Jo again. Alice had demonstrated exactly the kind of mother she was capable of being, and he felt his heart harden a little. Was that the kind of mother he wanted for his own child?
“Yes, Bran. I want a baby. I know I’ve messed up everything with Jolie. I was a terrible mother to her. I want a second chance. I want to do it right this time,” she said and Brandon saw the sincerity in Alice’s eyes. She looked sad, she looked like a woman who was paying for her sins. She was begging him for forgiveness and who was he to deny her a second chance?
Brandon allowed his hand to wander towards Alice’s. When their hands touched, she smiled even more widely.
“I think this is exactly what we need, honey. This is exactly the new beginning we need. A fresh start,” she said and lifted Brandon’s hand to her lips.
He could barely hear her speaking, all he could think about was Jo and how he couldn’t stop dreaming about her every night. He wished he was holding her hand, and not her mother’s. It was wrong to think that way, it should have made him feel sick, but that wasn’t the case. Every time he thought about Jo, he felt like he was glad that he even met her.
“We’re going to be so happy together, Bran. I can’t wait to get started. We’re going to have such beautiful children together! I want a boy this time and then maybe a girl…no twins though…” Alice was speaking but Brandon couldn’t concentrate on a thing she was saying. His hand remained in hers and he continued staring at her, but he couldn’t help but think that this was all a huge mistake. But what choice did he have now?
Chapter 21
Jolie was pacing the floor of her office. She’d been debating for the past few days, deciding whether or not to tell Margaret yet; but she knew she had to. After the twelve pregnancy tests she took, and after her discreet visit to the doctor’s office…there was no denying it anymore, she’d been pregnant for several weeks.
This would change everything. Not only would she have to take leave from work, it would also completely change her lifestyle. Having a baby and raising it by herself, would mean that she wouldn’t be able to work the hours that she was working now. No more working late and no more working on the weekends; which could all have a devastating effect on her career. Didn’t Margaret give her a lecture on putting herself out there and making a life for herself outside of the office? Well, she’d done it now. She’d screwed up everything!
Jolie rubbed her hand over her face and shook her head. How was she going to be a mother? She was terrified of the idea. The only experience she had with motherhood, had been with her own mom and there was no way that she was going to raise her child like that.
And it wasn’t only motherhood that was the scary bit…it was Brandon too. Just when she thought that she had finally moved on with her life, that she would be able to forget him! Now, having his child would mean that she would never be able to move on. She would always have a part of him with her. What if the kid grew up to look like him? What if she wasn’t able to keep the secret hidden forever? What would people say? How would her mom react?
Jolie sat down on her chair with a thump, realizing that she had begun to sweat profusely. She hadn’t been able to concentrate on work since she found out. It was already affecting her life!
She was beginning to feel alone, like she wasn’t going to be able to do it. Telling Brandon was completely out of the question…she would have to live her whole life without letting him know. He could never know. The last thing she wanted was to screw up his life, especially since he had made it abundantly clear to her that he wanted to stay apart.
Jolie shook her head as she stared at her computer screen. Peggy’s new article stared back at her; something she hadn’t even spent a few minutes on yet. She had to come clean with Margaret. She needed to let her boss know that she wasn’t being able to operate. She would have to quit!
Jolie jerked herself out of the chair and with her head held high, she marched straight out of her office and knocked on Margaret’s door. It was now or never. There was no point in delaying matters. The baby was going nowhere.
“Who is it?” Margaret’s clipped voice came through.
“It’s me, Jo,” she called out.
“Ah, Jo! Come in, come in,” Margaret said, her tone changing immediately and Jolie turned the knob and opened the door. Her heart was thudding in her chest. This meeting was going to change the course of the rest of her life, and it was only the beginning.
When she stepped in, she stopped in her tracks, her knees nearly buckled.
Margaret was seated on her chair as usual, and across from her; was seated Brandon Calloway, and they had both turned to look at her.
“Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt,” Jolie fumbled with her words and Margaret arched a neat eyebrow at her.
“Don’t be silly, Jo. Mr. Calloway’s come to see you, and I was just about to send for you. So, it’s perfect timing,” Margaret said and Jolie could feel the back of her neck burning up.
Brandon was on his chair, sitting as casually as ever. It seemed like the more time passed, the sexier he got. His dark hair was fashionably brushed back, his beard was trimmed and shaped as neatly as ever. He was in a dark suit which accentuated the width of his strong shoulders. His brown shoes were brilliantly polished and matched his chocolate colored tie. Crystal cufflinks glittered at his wrists.
“He’s come to see me?” Jolie turned to Margaret with wide eyes, stopping herself in time from dropping her jaws.
“Yes, I understand that you two know each other?” Margaret said, looking a little confused now because of Jolie’s own confusion.
“Yes, of course, yes, we met earlier at the…yes, we know each other,” Jolie knew she was making an utter fool of herself.
Brandon took in a deep breath and stood up from his chair, quickly buttoning up his suit jacket as he did so.
“Thanks for the chat, Margaret. I’ll be sure to put in your name on the guest list for Friday,” Brandon had assumed a charming formal tone, which Jolie wasn’t accustomed to…but which he clearly used in meetings of this sort.
“Jo, shall we have a chat in your office?” he turned to her then with complete confidence, while Jolie felt like she was going to melt into a puddle in her shoes. His deep green eyes were focused on her without apology.
“Okay, sure,” she said and turned on her heels and led the way towards her office.
Down the corridor, she could hear her heels clicking against the marble floor. She was aware of Brandon’s presence directly behind her. Did he have any idea that he was the father of the child she was carrying? How could he?
Jolie pushed open her office door and Brandon stepped in behind her. Without a word, he had locked the door behind him and then turned to face her.
“Hello, Jo, you look as beautiful as ever,” he said, with a soft smile grazing his lips.
“What are you
doing here, Brandon? Where is my mother?” she snapped, feeling overwhelmed by the torrent of emotions coursing through her body.
Chapter 22
A mention of Alice; was the last thing Brandon had expected to hear from Jo. His hand flew to his tie, which he fixed without any real need to. He didn’t know if she could tell that he was nervous.
Seeing Jo after a month had knocked the breath out of him. He wasn’t lying, she was just as beautiful as he remembered her, if not more. She was wearing fashionable looking black slacks and a floral blouse with matching black stilettos. Her hair was done up in a neat bun to suit her professional environment. Thin silver earrings dangled from her ears and her face was perfectly made up. She looked radiant.
“Alice is in Boston,” he managed to reply and he watched as Jo folded her arms over her breasts. Those breasts…why couldn’t he stop looking at her breasts? Was it because he knew how they tasted? How perfectly they fit in the palms of his hands?
“So what are you doing here?” she asked him and Brandon took in a deep breath.
“Are you going to offer me a seat?” he asked and Jo gulped, but managed to keep her head held high. Her lips were firm and her blue eyes were icy cold. She seemed mad at him, and he couldn’t blame her. For a month, they had completely cut off contact and now he had turned up here, throwing himself at her. Anything could have happened in these weeks. She could be seeing someone. Brandon could feel himself panicking.
“I want to know what you’re doing here, Brandon,” she said and he noticed how her lips were quivering. It was all a front, she was only pretending to be strong.
“I wanted to see you. I wanted to know how you were doing,” he said, and Jo licked her lips and looked away from him.
Daddy In Charge_A Billionaire Romance Page 45