Billion Dollar Baby

by Imani King

  I watched them with awe.

  “See.” Braden hugged me from behind. “I want to be part of our child’s life.” He squeezed me against his chest. “I’ll sign any document I need to. I’ll make sure everything is buttoned up and that our child is provided for.”

  Something about that didn’t sound quite right. Braden wasn’t rolling in money. In fact, from what I could tell, he was in dire need of it, especially with the local fire station’s loss in funding. How would he provide for the child’s every need? It just didn’t make sense.

  But at the same time, I was so happy that Braden wanted to raise the child with me that I couldn’t possibly ruin the moment with my own silly doubts. I was probably just overthinking things anyway.

  Still, in the back of my head, logic kept nagging at me. Something didn’t feel right. I bit my lip, trying to quell the turmoil building up inside of me. I had always allowed my head to guide my actions. Everything I did was based on reason and a well-thought-out plan. This pregnancy pact was anything but. This was a matter of the heart. Something I’ve always wanted.

  “Hey, you okay?” Braden asked, breaking me from my trance.

  “What? Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was just thinking.”

  “About?”

  “Don’t worry about it.” I placed my hand on his, squeezing it tight. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

  Chapter 11

  Braden

  Adele was out doing the groceries when I got an unexpected phone call.

  It was my grandfather.

  I stared at the caller ID in disbelief. We hadn’t had the best of conversations earlier in the year. But there it was, his number. In black and white.

  “Hello?” I finally answered. I didn’t want to talk to him again.

  “Braden.” My grandfather was a bull of a man. For as long as I could remember, he was well-built and sturdy. He had fought in at least three wars, coming out of each one of them with battle scars fit for fireside stories. He was a living legend in our town, owning a chain of successful avocado farms, capitalizing on the hipster craze sweeping through this part of the country. Before that, he had a leather factory, supplying most of Hollywood with the raw material it needed for costumes, props, and luxury items. He was a man of riches, fame, and unmatched stubbornness. The richest damn man this side of the Rockies.

  The two of us had never quite gotten along. Once I had the courage to stand up for myself, we were like two rams butting horns, locked in a death match. Maybe that’s why I severed all ties with him long, long ago.

  “Yes?” I responded, my voice colder than I intended it to be. I didn’t hate the guy. After all, he had spared me the life of an orphan. But at the same time, I couldn’t stand him, especially after all the phone calls and the posturing. He knew I needed the money. And with Adele in the picture, I really did.

  “I need to talk to you. Do you think you could drop by the estate? It’s urgent.” His voice was feeble and scratchy as if he were fighting off a bad cold.

  “Is everything alright?” I asked, concerned.

  “I just need you to come. Please.”

  I frowned. I could tell by his tone and by his use of the word ‘please’ that something was wrong. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  Two hours minutes later, I found myself in front of the large iron gates that guarded his driveway. Up ahead, his mansion-like home loomed on the top of a hill, like some kind of a beacon of prosperity.

  I ground my teeth, knowing I could have easily inherited his entire estate if I had simply fathered him his precious little heir. That’s why I married Chelsea in the first place. I didn’t even love her. I was just trying to accomplish what my grandfather had always asked of me. It never worked. It was like a curse. No matter what I did, I could never get a girl pregnant. Karma maybe?

  The gates eventually opened. I slowly crept up the driveway, parking in front of the three-door garage. I lingered inside the car, a bit apprehensive about facing the old man after so long.

  I took a deep breath, steadied my nerves, fixed my collar, and stepped out.

  Before I could reach the front porch, the door was already open. Henry, the butler, stood there with his usual ramrod straight posture and bleak expression. “Mr. Ennis.” He nodded in my direction. “Right this way.”

  I followed him to the stairs, climbing the winding steps all the way to the top floor. There, the floorboards creaked underfoot like ominous moans warning me to turn back. I didn’t heed their warnings.

  We arrived at my grandfather’s bedroom. It was the biggest room in the entire estate. His bed dominated the space, covered in rich golden fabrics and matching tapestry. When I was younger, I imagined it was a bed fit for a king. Little did I know that the king was a tyrant.

  “Braden… is that you?” A subtle whisper floated through the air.

  It took me a moment to realize that it came from the bed. Stepping forward, I noticed my grandfather suffocated under a mountain of blankets. Only his head was visible.

  I nearly gasped at the sight of him. His eyes were sunken. His skin was pale, tinged with a sickly yellow hue, and pulled too tight over his cheekbones. His lips were a thin, pink line that disappeared into a frown.

  “You’re a sight for sore eyes,” I whispered.

  He managed a chuckle, but it was devoid of life. “I bet I am. You must be glad to get rid of your old man.”

  Despite our differences, I approached his bed, taking his bony hand in mine. “Of course not.” I wanted to say more, but the words refused to emerge from my lips. Seeing such a strong man reduced to this state was hard to accept. He didn’t even look like the same person. “What’s wrong…?” I asked, my voice cracking mid-question, betraying me. This was my one chance at appearing stronger than him, but his state made me feel vulnerable.

  “I’m sick. They say I don’t have much time left. The doctor has tried everything—”

  “Why aren’t you in a hospital, then?” I blurted out, interrupting him.

  He shook his head. “I refuse to go to that blasted place. If I am to die, I will do so in the comfort of my own home. Now, I didn’t invite you here to talk about death, but about life.”

  My heart tightened. I knew what was coming. He would once again badger me about an heir. “Grandfather—”

  He silenced me with a look. Despite his sickness, his bright blue eyes were just as fierce as ever. “You will listen to me and you will not interrupt.” He tried to sit up but struggled.

  Awkwardly, I placed a hand on his back, supporting him as he settled himself into a more comfortable position. He glanced at the glass of water on the nightstand which I handed to him, waiting for him to start his speech.

  “I’d like to see you with the family money. If you do not inherit it, I will be forced to give it to Jamie and Jessica.” The old man shook his head. “And I rather not do that. I want our name to live on.” He caught my eye. “Which means you need to have an heir.”

  Reality started to set in. I had been playing with the idea of getting Adele pregnant, but I wasn’t putting any pressure on it. I figured that if it happens, then great—I get a wonderful family and all the wealth I might ever need to look after them. And if it didn’t, well, then it wasn’t meant to be. I’d still have time to figure something out. But now, with my grandfather dying, time was quickly ticking away. Adele would be my last chance at an inheritance. But did I really want to get her involved in all this?

  “If I father an heir… do I get the full inheritance?” I asked, treading very carefully into dangerous territory.

  “You get two million at the birth of the child, to ensure that its needs are met. If paternity is established, then you will get the estate upon the time of my death,” he answered. “But you already knew that. You’re stalling.”

  Beads of sweat started to form on my forehead. He had always been able to see right through me. I looked away, trying to parse through my thoughts.

  On one hand, I didn’t know
whether I wanted to involve Adele in my family drama. She would probably take things the wrong way, thinking I only wanted a child just so I could get the inheritance. Of course, money was a huge factor. With it, the child would be provided for. Adele would be provided for. But deep down, it was much more than that. I wanted to give Adele what she wanted: a child. It was a biological urge. Something that I never expected to experience.

  “I’ll think about it,” I said, straightening myself out and letting go of my grandfather’s hand.

  “Don’t take too long,” he said, easing back into the pillows.

  I knew he was right. Death was coming for him.

  When I arrived at home, Adele was already back. I found her in the kitchen, unpacking the groceries. I greeted her with a kiss before I started to help her. “How was the supermarket?” I asked, trying to engage in some small talk if only to take my mind away from my grandfather and his stipulation. I would have to tell her, but I needed to find the right time.

  “Oh, it was fine. I bought some cookies that were on sale. I thought we could enjoy them on the porch later. What do you say?”

  “Mmm. Sounds perfect.”

  “Also, I was thinking. We should probably put up some new fences around the property so the horses can have their freedom. It must suck being cooped up in the stables all day. We might want to get some professional sheers for the sheep as well. I don’t know how you manage with the set you have now. It must take you forever.”

  I allowed her to drone on with her ideas, knowing very well that I couldn’t afford such improvements. But if I managed to father an heir that would be a different story.

  “Braden?” She grabbed my hand.

  I jumped, startled.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah. I was just zoning out.”

  “Something on your mind?” she asked, tilting her head.

  “No, it’s fine.” I was going to leave it at that, but it didn’t sound at all convincing. “I was just imagining what it would be like to strip you naked, pull you into my lap, and have my way with you on the rocking chair outside.”

  She smirked. “Maybe we’ll find out very soon.” Her giggle filled me with a sense of warmth.

  In that moment, I couldn’t stop myself from folding her into my arms and pulling her into a tight embrace. Her smell wrapped around me, turning my mind to mush. Just then, I was struck by how much I truly cared for this woman. The feeling was overwhelming, one I had never experienced before. It was richer, and deeper than what I had felt during high school. This was a more mature feeling. One that excited me to the depths of my soul.

  For a split second, I considered telling her everything. My feelings. The plan. But I just couldn’t face the consequences.

  “Actually, how about we just lay in the hammock together?”

  “I’d like that.”

  We headed toward the twin oak trees. I had put up a hammock about a week ago, and it had quickly become our new favorite spot. I took her into my arms, using my foot to rock us back and forth. As I held her, all I could think about was how good it would be to have this woman in my life—forever.

  Chapter 12

  Adele

  I was home alone. It was my day off from the shelter and Braden was at the fire station. It was the first time in almost a week. I was trying to stay optimistic, but it didn’t seem like he would be keeping that job for much longer. Still, for the time being, we were making do with what we had and that was all I could ask for.

  My textbook weighed heavily in my lap. I looked down at the chapter I was supposed to read. It was explaining how to foal a horse. Reading about it paled in comparison to doing it.

  I set the book down and headed for the kitchen, boiling a kettle of water. As I waited, I spotted my keys and thought about heading to the store. There was something I was meaning to buy…

  Before I could muster up the courage, however, the doorbell rang. I jumped at the sudden noise. I wasn’t expecting anyone.

  I looked through the peephole to find the mailman standing there, a yellow envelope in hand. Quickly, I unlocked the door.

  “Adele.” He nodded in greeting. I had been ordering quite a few things for the farm, which meant that Bill and I had come to know each other well. “This one’s for Braden, but you can sign for it.”

  “Do you know what it is?”

  “Looks like some legal documents,” he said, holding out a stylus.

  I signed the device, pressing ‘okay’ once I was done.

  “Have a nice day!” he chimed before walking back to his truck and driving down the street.

  I closed the door with a soft thud and stood there for a moment, feeling the envelope between my fingers. It was thick. My curiosity was slowly building up in the back of my head. A part of me wanted to pop the seal and see what was inside. After all, Braden and I were living together. We were practically a couple, even though we hadn’t explicitly defined our relationship yet. But we were more than just friends with benefits. He wouldn’t mind if I took a little peek, right?

  With the envelope in hand, I walked back into the kitchen, grabbing a knife. I was just about to slide it under the seal when I stopped myself. No. I couldn’t do this. It would be a breach of privacy and I didn’t want things to get weird between us.

  Sighing, I put the knife down, settling for a thorough examination of the outside of the envelope. It was addressed from his grandfather, Eunice Ennis. From what Dahlia had told me, they didn’t get along very well. So, what was inside the envelope?

  Taking the high road, I tucked the envelope behind the coffee machine, promising myself that I wouldn’t touch it. I would just ask Braden about it later.

  Braden came home late, looking exhausted.

  I greeted him with a kiss, letting my arms lock around his neck. “How was your day?” I ask, tilting my head. “You look tired.”

  “They’re cleaning up the station. Had us moving a lot of heavy boxes all over the place. I think they’re going to consolidate with the next town over, but they won’t tell us yet.”

  I frowned. “If they do that, will you be able to keep your job?”

  “Technically, yes. But I’m not sure whether I want to make the commute. Besides, Eastwick is a pretty big town. I’d probably be working extra hours which leaves me less time to take care of the animals.”

  My frown deepened. It seemed he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I wished there was a way I could help him, but it wasn’t like my army pension or my salary at the shelter amounted to much.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll get through this. I’ll find a way.” He smiled, gently kissing my nose. “I always do.” He hugged me close before looking into my eyes, a look of adoration dancing along his irises. My heart swelled. Deep down, I knew this man truly did love me. “What did you do all day while I was gone?”

  “I went down and fed the animals in the morning and then I did a little studying. That reminds me. The mailman dropped off an envelope with some legal documents from your grandfather. I signed off on them. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Where are they?” Braden asked quickly, a sense of urgency in his voice.

  “In the kitchen.”

  He followed me, snatching the envelope out of my hand the second I presented it to him.

  “You didn’t open it?” he questioned, raising an eyebrow.

  “No.”

  This seemed to calm him down a bit. Carefully, he tore the seal, pulling out a thick stack of papers, his eyes scanning the text.

  “What is it?” I asked, my curiosity too great to ignore at this point.

  “It’s just some documents concerning my inheritance,” he answered, his words slow and carefully chosen.

  I couldn’t help but think that he was trying to hide something from me. Even his body language was tense. Something fishy was going on.

  “Oh?”

  He wet his lips, flipping through the pages. “He’s just been kind enough to guarantee that when we hav
e a child, it will be well taken care of.”

  I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. “I thought you and your grandfather didn’t get along. Why would he do that?”

  Braden shrugged. “Saw the error of his ways, I suppose. I’m not going to complain.”

  “What are the tenets of the will?”

  “I’m not sure, I haven’t read through everything yet.” He stuffed the documents back in the envelope. “I’m too tired to do it now.” He opened a drawer, placing it inside. “Don’t worry about it.”

  I bit the inside of my lip, contemplating my next move. Braden was clearly hiding something. He was trying to finish this conversation way too quickly. My suspicions rose when I saw his fingers twitching by his side. Still, I decided to drop the subject for the time being. Braden had matured significantly since high school. I knew he wouldn’t lie to me. Whatever was happening, he would tell me when the time was right.

  “Okay.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. Our lips melded together as my fingers tangled in his hair. Somehow, Braden always managed to taste like the sweetest honey. Every time I kissed him, I was left wanting more. It was addictive.

  Either that or I was starting to fall in love with him.

  No.

  I had already fallen in love with him.

  And for that reason, I could forgive his desire to keep the will and money private. It was his family and he had every right to deal with the matter in the way he thought best. It wasn’t my place to pry.

  Braden looked down at me and smiled. He kissed me once more, his hand cupping my cheek in a gentle manner. I nuzzled into his touch, yearning for it. I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent, getting high off it.

  Once I opened them, he pinned a strand of my hair behind my ear.

  “You know, it doesn’t matter to me if you want to keep the will close to the vest. I understand. But I want you to know that you can tell me anything. I’m here for you.”