by Lucy King
He gave a brief nod. ‘Yes.’
‘She loves the flowers.’
‘Good.’
‘It was thoughtful.’
‘It was nothing.’
Right. Beneath the force of his unwavering gaze and impenetrable demeanour Kate quailed for a moment and was summoning up the courage to continue when he spoke.
‘Are you in trouble?’ he asked sharply.
‘That’s one way of putting it.’
‘What?’
‘Sorry, bad joke,’ she said with a weak laugh although there was nothing remotely funny about any of this.
‘Get to the point, Kate,’ he snapped. ‘I’m busy.’
Right. Yes. Good plan. She pulled her shoulders back and lifted her chin. ‘There’s no easy way to say this, Theo,’ she said, sounding far calmer than she felt, ‘so here goes. There’s been a...consequence...to our...evening together.’
A muscle ticced in his jaw. ‘What kind of consequence?’
‘The nine-month kind.’
There was a moment of thundering silence, during which Kate’s heart hammered while Theo seemed to freeze and pale. ‘What exactly are you saying?’ he said, his voice tight and low and utterly devoid of expression.
‘I’m pregnant.’
The words hung there, oddly loud and blatantly unequivocal, charging the space between them with electrifying tension, and Kate wished there’d been a less impactful way of saying it because something that looked a lot like terror flared briefly in the black depths of Theo’s eyes, and it made her shiver from head to toe.
‘Is it mine?’
‘Yes.’
‘Impossible.’
‘Apparently not,’ she said. ‘Apparently it happens.’
‘How?’
‘I could ask you the same question.’ He did, after all, have vastly more experience than she did.
‘It makes no sense.’
‘I know.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Are you sure it’s mine?’
Ouch. ‘Quite sure,’ she said, choosing to forgive him for his scepticism since he was clearly in a state of shock. ‘I saw a doctor this morning. I’m six weeks along and I haven’t had sex with anyone other than you. I could arrange a paternity test if you need proof.’
He gave his head a quick shake, although whether it was to dismiss the need for proof or to clear his thoughts she had no idea. ‘Are you going to keep it?’
‘Yes,’ she said with a firm nod, just in case he was thinking about persuading her otherwise. ‘I am.’
‘I see,’ he said vaguely, and she got the impression that he’d gone to another place entirely.
‘I don’t expect anything from you, Theo,’ she said. ‘I thought you had a right to know, but that’s it. It’s entirely up to you how involved you would like to be. I can do this with or without you.’ And it looked as if it was going to be without him because he was obviously not happy about it. Which was fine. ‘Anyway, that’s all I came to say,’ she added. ‘I get that it’s a shock. So, take your time. Have a think about it and let me know.’
And with that, she turned on her heel and left the way she’d come.
CHAPTER SIX
HAVE A THINK?
Have a think?
How was that even possible when his safe, steady world had just been blown to smithereens? When his biggest nightmare, his greatest fear, the one he’d taken the utmost care to avoid for the whole of his adult life, had shockingly, horrifyingly materialised?
Only dimly aware of Kate’s departure, Theo stood there, reeling. He couldn’t move. He felt as if he were imploding. As if someone had punched in him the solar plexus and followed it up with a lead pipe to the backs of his knees. His chest was tight. His lungs ached. Dizziness descended and his vision blurred.
Breathe.
He had to breathe.
Before he passed out.
Pulling himself together, he dragged in a shaky breath and released it, and the minute the lift door closed behind Kate, he staggered back and sagged against the window.
How the hell could it have happened? he wondered numbly as he dragged shaking hands through his hair and swallowed down the nausea that surged up from his stomach. What warped twist of fate was this?
That Kate was telling the truth he didn’t doubt. She’d been so calm. So matter of fact. He, on the other hand, felt as if he’d been swept up by a tornado, tossed about, and hurled back to the ground. He didn’t need proof of what she claimed. He needed a drink. A damn time machine would be better. One that took him back to that evening so he could throw her out of his office instead of recklessly caving in to inexplicable desire and carting her off to his bed.
As for his involvement, well, that was a no-brainer. He wouldn’t be involved at all. He couldn’t. He was no good. It was highly probable he’d turn out to be worse than that. He could not be part of Kate’s pregnancy or the raising of a child. Under any circumstances. He wouldn’t even know how. To him the word ‘father’ didn’t conjure up images of fishing trips and football games in the park. It represented fear and pain and desolation. He had no experience of anything different. None of the other kids he’d hung out with, kicking around the streets and causing trouble in order to avoid having to go home, had had positive father figures in their lives. He couldn’t provide what a child needed. Hell, he didn’t even know what that was.
All he did know was that he could not claim his child. The risks were too great. It would be in the child’s best, safest, interests if he stayed far, far away. Emotionally. Physically. In every way that he could think of. He would not allow himself to give even a nanosecond’s thought to what could be if he weren’t so terrified of history repeating itself. He couldn’t. The child deserved to live a life without fear.
So he would wipe Kate and the baby and the last fifteen minutes of his life from his head, and get back to the problems he could understand. If he focused on work and nothing else, the tightness in his chest would ease. The swirling blackness would clear. Something would come to him.
Although...
Hang on...
What if this latest development wasn’t quite the horrendous disaster it appeared to be? What if it could, in fact, be the answer to the issue that had been plaguing him for months?
The questions slammed into his head, burying the chaos and turmoil with the cold clear logic that had rescued him from such situations many a time, and he instinctively clung onto them like a lifeline.
Were Kate and this pregnancy to become public knowledge, he thought, strength flooding back to his limbs as his brain started to teem with possibilities, it would definitely make him more palatable to Double X Enterprises’ recalcitrant CEO. Especially if he stood by her. Daniel Bridgeman had been married to the same woman for fifty years. They’d had no children, but his wife was an integral part of his business. She was on the board of directors and appeared by his side at functions. He cited her as being behind every major decision he’d ever taken.
All of the above clearly indicated that the man valued such a partnership highly, so what if Theo presented one of his own? One he had ready-made. Surely that would allay any concerns the other man might have about his so-called ruthlessness and his less than acceptable personality? How much more touchy-feely could you get than a partner and an imminent baby?
So what if manipulating situations and faking a relationship did seem to smack of the ruthlessness and the lack of integrity he was aiming to disprove? The end more than justified the means. For the deal of a lifetime, a deal he’d needed to push through, he could—and would—do anything.
He foresaw no problem implementing this strategy. It wasn’t as if any of it were for real. Once he’d achieved his goal he’d let Kate go and they’d be done. Should she put up any resistance, he had an arsenal of weapons with which to persuade her otherwise
. And presenting to the world a facade he wanted it to see was second nature to him. He’d been doing it for years, ever since he’d learned at the tender age of seven to explain away the bruises and fractures and convince anyone who asked that everything at home was absolutely fine.
It was the best, the only, option on the table, so, ignoring the tiny voice in his head demanding to know what the hell he thought he was doing, Theo hauled his mobile out of his back pocket, hit the dial button and strode towards the lift.
‘Kate Cassidy,’ he said curtly when Bob answered. ‘Stop her.’
* * *
Kate had got as far as the enormous slowly revolving glass door when the concierge caught up with her. Her thoughts on the scene that had just gone down up in the penthouse were mixed. On the one hand she was relieved that she’d accomplished her mission and had escaped unscathed, yet on the other she was gutted. She wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t as if she’d been expecting Theo to break open the champagne. She hadn’t been expecting anything. So the disappointment didn’t make any sense, which was yet another entry in the ever-growing canon of things about herself she didn’t understand.
‘Miss Cassidy,’ called the man, puffing a little as he reached her.
‘Yes?’
‘Mr Knox requests that you wait.’
Kate stilled, her heart irrationally giving a little leap. He wanted her to wait? Why? What could that mean? Had he changed his mind? Did he want to be involved? What?
Well, she was about to find out, she thought, adrenaline surging and her pulse racing as her gaze shifted to the man striding across the lobby towards her. He seemed so energised, so full of purpose now that she found it hard to reconcile this version of him with the rigidly monosyllabic one she’d left up there in his penthouse. It had only been two minutes. What could possibly have happened in the interim?
‘Thank you, Bob,’ said Theo to the concierge before switching his attention to her and virtually lasering her to the spot with the force of his gaze. ‘Come with me.’
Before she could respond, he’d taken her elbow and was wheeling her in the direction of a room off the lobby. He led her into what was clearly a private meeting room, judging by the antique breakfast table and half a dozen dining chairs, and let her go.
‘Are you all right?’ she asked with a frown as she watched him close the door and then turn back to her.
‘Couldn’t be better.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Marry me.’
Kate froze and stared at him, her jaw practically hitting the floor while her head spun. ‘I—I’m sorry?’ she stammered.
‘You heard,’ he said, something about the gleam in his eyes making shivers race up and down her spine. ‘Marry me.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘I’m not being ridiculous.’
Her eyes widened. ‘You’re being serious?’
‘Yes.’
Kate studied him closely for a moment and thought, no, well, he did look intense and steely and he wasn’t the type to joke. But marrying? Her and Theo? What alternative universe was this? ‘Why?’
‘You’re pregnant with my child.’
Okay, so there was that, but it didn’t seem a likely motive in this day and age. There had to be something else behind it. But what? What could possibly have had Theo dramatically haring after her and issuing a proposal? He couldn’t have suddenly realised he’d developed feelings for her, could he? No. That was impossible. He’d shown no sign of wanting her at any stage since he’d hustled her out of his office suite and bundled her into a taxi. Although presumably stranger things had happened. Somewhere and at some point...
Had her news jolted him into some kind of epiphany or something? He had been in a state of shock earlier. And he did have a reputation for knowing what he wanted, going for it and not giving up until he got it. So had she, however improbable it might seem, fallen into that category of being something he wanted?
Doubtful.
And yet...
What if this was her rock-bottom self-esteem making her assume the worst again? Just because no one had ever wanted to marry her before—or even date her, for that matter—didn’t mean that no one ever would. So could Theo actually want her? For real? She had to allow that it was a possibility, for personal growth purposes, if nothing else. He was looking at her in a spine-tinglingly fierce kind of way. And he had just asked her to marry him, which he would not have done if he hadn’t meant it.
So.
Maybe the circumstances were a bit of a surprise but people had married for less. Maybe she and Theo could work. Somehow. They already did on a carnal level, and imagine a lifetime of sex like that...
Hmm.
Perhaps it was best not to do that. Or get too carried away. Already excitement and a longing for what could be were drumming through her and scrambling her brain. She had to remain calm.
‘Right,’ she said, forcing herself to proceed with caution and fervently trying to keep the familiar fuzzy image of a cosy family unit at bay. ‘I see. Well. This is rather unexpected.’
‘Tell me about it,’ he said, his eyes dark and his expression unreadable. ‘I should clarify.’
Clarify? Yes. Good idea. ‘Please do.’
‘What I am about to tell you is highly confidential.’
A shiver ran down her spine as her heart thumped. Could this be because relationships between personnel at his company were discouraged? How thrilling. ‘I understand.’
‘I am pursuing the acquisition of Double X Enterprises.’
What? Oh. Right. Back to business. Odd. But never mind. His brain was famously nimble and at least it would give her fevered thoughts a respite. ‘I’d heard.’
‘It’s not going as smoothly as I’d hoped,’ he said, and she could hear a hint of frustration in his voice. ‘To gain a competitive edge I need to acquire something I lack. To put it bluntly, a partner.’
Kate frowned. What on earth was he talking about? Why would he need a partner to seal the deal? From what she knew about him he was a lone wolf all the way. He didn’t do partners. Besides, how could she help? She was way down the corporate food chain. And although she supposed it was flattering that he considered her a sounding board, what did any of this have to do with her and the pregnancy and his absurd yet intriguing offer of marriage?
‘Would you like me to help you find one?’ she asked, more than slightly bewildered.
‘What? No. As I said, I want you to fill the role.’
She stared at him, still none the wiser. ‘I’m afraid you’ve lost me.’
‘I need a partner, preferably a fiancée,’ he said flatly, his patience obviously stretched to the limit by her complete inability to grasp what he was getting at. ‘Someone to accompany me to dinner from time to time. The odd gala or party. Lunch. Drinks.’
Huh?
‘Daniel Bridgeman, the CEO of Double X Enterprises, values such a relationship so I need to provide him with one. For appearances’ sake. Temporarily. Until he signs on the dotted line.’
Oh.
Oh.
As the true meaning of what he was after sank in Kate felt as if she’d been thumped in the gut. Her throat tightened and her ears began to buzz and a hot flush rocketed through her.
‘Your company is all I require, Kate,’ Theo continued, evidently unaware of the devastation he was beginning to wreak on her. ‘Your time and your acting skills. Nothing more. Apart from complete discretion, naturally. I anticipate it’ll take a fortnight. A month at the most. I’ll supply you with the necessary wardrobe and a campaign plan. All you have to do is turn up when and where I tell you, pat your abdomen and smile.’
He stopped and looked at her, clearly waiting for a response, but Kate couldn’t speak for the pounding of her head and the blurring of her vision. Oh, she was an idiot, she thought, sw
allowing hard to dislodge the knot that had formed there and turning away to blink back the sudden sting in her eyes. Why on earth would someone like Theo be interested in marrying someone like her for real? What had she been thinking? How deluded could she still be? They hardly knew each other. All they’d had was a one-time thing. He hadn’t changed his mind about her. Why would he?
Of course, it would have saved her a whole lot of trouble if he’d started with the business angle to the marriage proposal in the first place, but obviously it hadn’t occurred to him that he needed to. Why would it have when the notion was so laughably inconceivable?
That she’d got the wrong idea was entirely her fault, and it wasn’t even the first time. There’d been the occasion that evening in his office when he’d told her she was unique. For the briefest, headiest of moments she’d thought he’d been paying her a compliment, but all he’d meant was her situation—her virginity. Then, as now, she’d been stupidly filled with a hope that had been swiftly dashed, and she had nobody but herself to blame.
But while she might be naïve and hopeless, one thing was very clear. She was not going to be steamrollered into a fake engagement, marriage, whatever, just because it suited him. Self-esteem issues or no self-esteem issues, even she was not going to be used in that way, and there was no way she’d allow their unborn child to become a pawn in its unfortunate father’s shady business deals. So she swallowed hard and stamped down on the emotions swirling around inside her.
‘It’s an interesting proposal,’ she said, with a strength that interestingly she didn’t even have to dig very deep for.
‘A necessary one,’ he countered.
‘I see.’
‘Excellent,’ he said, with the flicker of a satisfied smile. ‘I’ll email you the details in the morning and—’
‘No.’
The word was like the crack of a whip and for a moment it hovered in the silence between them.
Theo looked at her, his eyebrows lifting a fraction. ‘What do you mean, no?’ he said, sounding faintly taken aback, as if he was unused to hearing the word, which, she supposed, he was.