by Layla Wilde
Contents
TITLE: SECRET BABY - BOOK TWO
Damian
Stephanie
Damian
Stephanie
Damian
Stephanie
Damian
Stephanie
CONNECT
SECRET BABY
(BOOK THREE)
By
LAYLA WILDE
COPYRIGHT © 2016
All Rights Reserved
Damian
“So, I heard Melissa and Calvin are finally going out. Can you believe it? It’s only been like… I don’t know, two weeks. I totally knew they were going to hook up, though. It was just a matter of time.”
“Yeah, I know, right? But did you hear about that rumor flying around that Calvin is cheating on her with her sister, Rebecca? Like, it’s a total scandal.”
“What? No way! Oh my God, I’m so gonna have to tell Kaitlyn about that. She’ll be all over it.”
“No, you can’t tell Kaitlyn. She has the biggest mouth ever, and what if it’s not even true? If Melissa finds out I spread this rumor, she’ll kill me. And I like her because she buys me nice things. Like, last week, she brought me these shoes. And the week before that, she was totally gonna buy me this diamond necklace, but she got it for Stacy instead. What a bitch.”
As I walked through the door and into the Future Tech Hall foyer, all I could hear were the two women on each of my arms gossiping. It grated on my nerves, and I wanted to tell them to shut up. In all honesty, I missed Stephanie. While I hadn’t spent that much time with her, she had instilled a certain amount of fascination and peace in me when we were together. I knew, deep down in my gut, that I should have brought her instead of the two women on my arms.
“Damian, what do you think?” I didn’t even know the name of the woman who addressed me.
“Hmm?” I briefly glanced her way as we all walked toward the large entrance with the double doors. Above it was a big, classy sign that said, ‘We’ll Miss You, Masters.’
“You know, about the scandal?”
How evil was I feeling tonight? More like cranky, I thought. “You should tell Melissa yourself if you really care about her. She does buy you nice things, right?”
“Yeah… I guess.” She smiled and leaned in to kiss my cheek. “You’re totally awesome. I promise I’ll show you a good time—after the party, I mean.” She grinned, flashing perfect white teeth. “I’ll blow you away.”
“You’re so bad,” the other girl whispered in my ear, licking the lobe. “I love it.”
“Isn’t that why you’re here with me tonight?” I gave her a wink that made her melt into my side.
“Oh, yeah. Definitely.”
The other woman kissed the corner of my mouth, her hands sliding under my custom-fitted suit jacket. “I’m so proud of you, baby. Look at everyone who came to celebrate you.”
They had come to see my father off for his retirement, but I didn’t correct her. I felt as though she was probably far too stupid to understand anyway. A little flutter made the muscles in my chest constrict, and I automatically drew in a large breath. Stephanie isn’t stupid, I thought. It was true, she was much smarter than the average woman I spent time with, and I missed her presence with each second that ticked by.
The more the two women on my arm chatted, the more I regretted not returning Stephanie’s phone call two weeks ago. I’d sent her more money and supplies for the pregnancy and the baby. I had been avoiding her like crazy. Between her and her friend, Darla, I felt trapped into being committed. I couldn’t be like my father. I wouldn’t be.
“There you are! I’ve been waiting for you for five minutes.”
The sound of my father’s voice grated on my already flustered nerves, and my shoulders tightened. Our last phone conversation had not gone well, and I was expecting, at the very least, a slap in the face.
“Come here, boy.” He stared at me and strode over to a much quieter area. The party’s guests seemed more interested in mingling than paying attention to our whereabouts. The women who had come with me stayed behind, though they remained close enough to watch us. One of them looked put out. The other just looked confused.
When he hit me, the two women shrieked. I braced myself and ground my teeth, trying not to cringe against the sting of his hand. Breathing evenly, I did my best to appear as calm as possible despite the anger that welled within me.
“Was that really necessary?” I hissed into the silence.
“Yes. Don’t make me hit you again, boy. What you said to me on the phone was completely uncalled for and wholly unprofessional. If I had another heir, and if I wasn’t already retired, you’d be on the damn streets with nothing right now. Keep that in mind the next time you decide to say something snarky to me.”
“Yes, sir,” I mumbled, swallowing everything I wanted to snarl at him in that moment.
“I’m sorry, what was that? I don’t think I heard you.”
I clenched my jaw and took in a sharp breath. “Yes, sir.”
“That’s what I thought.” He was turned away but shook his head and looked at me again. “Also, if you’re going to get someone pregnant, you had damn well better bring her to your party. Not these bimbos you’re always toting around on your arms all day.”
My jaw tightened even more, enough to break a tooth. He’d told me weeks ago to bring these women, and now he was berating me for it. It was just like something my father would do.
“Are you done? Or is there something else you’d like to say to me?”
“I’m done… for now.” My father lifted a glass of wine to me, turned, and walked away.
“You got someone pregnant?” Bimbo One looked scandalized. I blinked when I noticed both of my ‘guests’ had crept around the corner to follow me. They had seen everything.
“Are you serious? Like, oh my God!” Bimbo Two stared at me like I was an asshole. To be honest, I sure felt like one at the moment.
I looked at the two women I had brought to the party and thought fast. Was there any way to salvage this? Or should I be calling Stephanie right now? I didn’t even know what I would say to her.
“I thought you were into bad boys? Big, naughty, handsome bad-asses with no morals. Didn’t I hear you say something like that before we got here?” I smirked. “Or are you saying you can’t handle someone like me? I’m rich, baby. And Future Tech is mine. Are you going to let one drunk asshole’s ramblings ruin your night?”
The women glanced at each other, silent for a few seconds. One of them snorted and walked away, but the prettier of the two stepped back to me and took my arm. She leaned up and kissed my cheek. “Just because you’re rich. And on one condition.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And that is?”
“Tell me about the girl you got pregnant. And why she isn’t here.”
My heart dropped, and I glanced away. This wasn’t turning out to be my night. If I had any belief in the supernatural, I would have thought karma was out to get me. Damn it, I should have invited Stephanie. And I really should have gone to that appointment.
“She’s just a girl I met at the opening of the Cherry Pop Nightclub. No one special. Now, can we enjoy our night together now?” It was all I could do to keep the lie out of my voice. The more I spoke, the more I began to wonder just how much like my father I really was.
“No, baby, I want to know more. Was she good in bed?”
I swallowed thickly, my anger barely bottled. “I need to use the men’s room. Excuse me.” Pushing past her, I walked briskly away from her and out the door. I fully intended to leave, but that would hurt me more and make me
appear even less professional than my father had already made me look. I refused to give him that kind of satisfaction.
“Shit,” I whispered, stroking my fingers back through my hair. Inside, I could hear tables and chairs moving around. My father was an impatient man and was probably gearing up for his speech, even though it wasn’t scheduled for another thirty minutes. My mind, though, kept going back to Stephanie.
“Dude! There you are. I’ve been looking for you!”
Turning around, I spotted Rocco. “Hey. I just needed to use the bathroom.” It was a lie, but a convincing one.
“Yeah right. I know you way better than that. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” I sighed softly, flustered. “I just needed some air.”
“Uh huh. Okay, I’ll stop pushing. But I have to ask why you didn’t bring the pregnant chick? I thought you liked her. I mean, you walked out on your highest paying agent for that baby, didn’t you?”
I threw my hands into the air, the dam finally breaking. This wasn’t something I could handle anymore. “Rocco! Between you, Stephanie, and Darla, I feel like I’m going insane! I’m doing the best I can, but no one seems to care. You all keep hounding me and putting pressure on me, so just stop it!”
Rocco stared at me and let out what I could only describe as a manly giggle.
“What? Why the hell are you laughing?”
“Because, man, you’re screwed! You like this Stephanie chick! And you feel bad because you brought some bimbos instead of her.”
“That’s not true.” Another lie, and not well-executed at all. After a few seconds, my shoulders slumped. “Okay… I’m dating Stephanie. And I was an idiot and lied to her about why she couldn’t come to this party, and now I’m in this mess.”
“Holy shit, Damian…” He looked like he wanted to punch me, too. “And now you can barely stand yourself because you have nowhere to go. If you admit to your commitment to her, you risk becoming like your father. But if you keep doing what you’re doing, you’re exactly like your father. I guess it all depends on whether you really want to be a younger version of him or not.”
I swallowed hard, knowing he was right, but damn it all, I wished he was wrong. More than anything, I wanted to punch him right in the face. I could feel my fingers curling into fists. I wanted to draw less attention to myself, however, not more. Squaring my shoulders, I glared at him while remaining quiet. The words were stuck in my mouth, and I had no idea what to say to him. More than that, I had no idea what to do.
“What should I do?” I couldn’t believe I had asked him that. Apparently, neither did he because he eyed me as though I had grown new limbs.
“Uh… first of all, call her. Then apologize for being such an asshole. I forget, didn’t we already have this conversation at your house a while ago?” The last sentence was drenched in sarcasm.
I shook my head and looked away from him toward the door that led into the party. I could hear my father gearing up to speak. “I have to go.” My shoulders and spine stiff, I moved by Rocco, but he grabbed my arm and stopped me. I paused and looked back at him. “Rocco, I have to deal with all the shit in there first.”
“No. You need to get your priorities straight. But whatever. I quit, man.” He held his hands up and let go of my arm. “I’m out.”
“What the hell are you talking about? You can’t just be out.”
“Watch me. I’d rather work for someone who knows what real loyalty is. I may not like what you’ve gotten yourself into, but dude, you’re just like your father, and you know it. And I sure as hell wouldn't work for someone like him.” He raised both eyebrows at me. “But if you happen to find some sense, call me. Maybe I’ll answer.” He waved his middle finger at me, turned on his heel, and strode briskly toward the exit.
I watched him for a few seconds in stunned silence. With a growl, I strode into the party. I didn’t even have the mental stamina right now to convince him not to quit or to go after him. I felt completely done. Why was everyone acting like I was the bad guy?
Because, I thought. Right now you are.
Feeling as stressed as I probably looked, I glanced toward the podium where my father was speaking. He was going on some tirade about ‘the good old days,’ which made me want to leave again. My stomach was in knots, and my brain was almost in shut-down mode. I felt like I was getting dragged in multiple directions at the same time, and I couldn’t see any kind of solution.
“And now, how about a round of applause for my heir, Damian Masters. He is my legacy, and my pride and joy.” My father sure had a way with words, especially if he didn’t mean them. He was even better with them when he was drunk.
Asshole, I thought but stuck a smile on my face. Doing my best to unclench my fists, I made my way up to the podium. This was going to be a long, long night.
Stephanie
One month later
My bank account was massive, and so was I. Since Damian had acquired Future Tech, we had spoken less and less; I was beginning to lose hope. Once in a while, I would receive a text asking if I was doing okay financially, but that was all. He had shut down completely and was giving me so little attention I didn’t know how to react. And I had no idea how to bring him back.
There was so much distance between us I could barely stand it. I was so stressed I could hardly function, and I sought as much solace in Darla as I could. Even she couldn’t really take the edge off, but she was my best friend. She was, as far as I could tell, all that I had.
“How am I going to do this, Darla?” I had asked her that question more times than I could remember. I lay in my bed, the phone to my ear. I had been in the bed nearly all day, waiting for Damian to call, text or do something. He was supposed to have come to a doctor’s appointment earlier in the week for another ultrasound of the baby, but he hadn’t shown.
“You do it like you always do things, sweetie.” Darla sounded worried, but I knew she was trying to keep me grounded. “You just grit your teeth and push through.”
“But Darla, it’s not the money. How do I raise a child by myself? My house isn’t big enough, and even though I have all this stuff, I don’t know the first thing about babies. And Damian is just—”
“That asshole,” she whispered. “It’s been over a month since he’s actually talked to you, hasn’t it?”
“Yes.” My voice sounded as weak as I felt. “But I think maybe I scared the hell out of him. Maybe I pushed him too hard after that night he opened up to me. Or maybe… I don’t know. Maybe I’m just completely off my rocker and kidding myself.”
“Oh, honey, listen. How about you and I head out to Barkley’s Café and get a bite to eat? Just the two of us, no bullshit, no expectations. Just us and food. And maybe some needy pigeons.”
I giggled at the last part, and I nodded. “Okay. I’d like that. What time can you pick me up?”
“How about eleven? It’s supposed to be a nice day, and we can get there before the lunch rush.”
“Eleven… That sounds good. Thank you, Darla. What would I do without you?” I smiled and hugged. “You’re so amazing.”
“You deserve it, Steph. Seriously, with all the stuff you’ve been through the last few months, I’m pretty sure everyone else I know would have completely shattered.”
“I feel like I’ve already shattered.” I looked through the ultrasound pictures on my computer. “I mean, we don’t even have any pictures together. Why did I believe that he cared? I should have listened to you. You always know these things.”
“Hey, if it’s any consolation, he fooled me, too. I was really rootin’ for him. But how about we get some rest and have an epic day tomorrow? Sound good?”
I inhaled deeply and squared my shoulders. “Yeah, sounds good. I’ll see you at eleven, Darla.”
“See you at eleven, trooper.”
The café was poorly marked, loud and had a busy side street right next to it, but it was beautiful. Italian style, it had a red awning and a pale exterior, and i
t reminded me of some of the buildings I’d seen in Europe. I had a habit of looking at beautiful places online. There were some tables outside and a few more inside. Coming from speakers was cheery Italian music that lifted my spirits as soon as I heard it.
“Inside or outside?” Darla asked as she walked with me toward the café.
“Inside. I don’t want everyone looking at me.” I smiled apologetically, one hand moving to rest against my belly. I was quite large now and often found it unnerving when people stared.
“Inside it is! I know what you like, so how about you get us a table and I’ll order at the front?”
“Sure.” I smiled more genuinely before I made my way inside and found a cute little table near the back with Italian flags on the tablecloth as well as a little plastic cup of crayons and a coloring book for kids. My heart picking up a little, I moved the crayons and the book over to an empty table next to me.
“When are you due?”
I froze at the voice. That question haunted my dreams, simply because I’d heard it so often. “In about two months, give or take.”
“Wow! You’re so huge. Twins?”
I felt my face flush, and I looked away. My anxiety reared its ugly head again. “No, just one. A little girl.”
“That’s awesome, congrats! My daughter just had a little girl. They’re so darling.”
“Yeah…”
“Excuse me. I’m with her, I need that chair you’re next to.”
I sighed in relief as Darla returned. Apparently, ‘stepping up my game’ meant shutting down. The woman looked flustered but waved at me before moving away from our table. Leaning back in the chair, I looked over at Darla and mouthed ‘thank you.’
“Anytime, sweetie. It looked like you needed a bulldozer to get her out of your face.”
I giggled. “Darla, she’s right over there. I think she heard you.” As I glanced over toward the front till, the woman shot both of us a heated glare.