Carrying the Billionaire's Baby: A Clean BWWM Billionaire Romance (The Billionaire Baby Mystery Book 1)

by Courtney King

  After she had finished the breakfast, she climbed out of the bed and over to the window seat, where she curled herself up into a ball and admired the view. Torn between the beauty of her surroundings and the pit in her stomach, she sipped the last drops of her coffee and stared out the window.

  Chapter 3

  Richard sat at the head of the conference table, thumbing through the file containing the details of Sherry’s life. His head of staff, Marlene, sat at the table with him.

  “By now, you’ve had a chance to read through the file,” said a mature woman, pacing beside the table. Her freshly manicured nails tapped against her folded arms as she slowly made her way around the table.

  “Still reading, mother,” replied Richard, annoyed.

  “Who we’re dealing with,” she continued, “is the woman who is carrying Richard’s child. The heir to his fortune. She is not to be treated like a prisoner.” She glanced intently at the two security guards, who looked down.

  “She is to be fed, pampered, and treated like a guest in this house. She is family now.”

  Marlene stared at her fingernails, where the paint was beginning to chip.

  “Marlene, I’m putting you in charge of this woman’s daily needs. See that she has a proper hair appointment and have her looking presentable. The press will be calling soon and we need her to be TV-ready. Understood?”

  “Got it, Captain,” quipped Marlene. She glanced at Richard, who always seemed to be amused by her boldness with his mother. He offered an approving grin, right on cue. This girl might be carrying his child, but she didn’t know the way to his heart the way Marlene did.

  Marlene, who had worked for the Blacks since graduating from college, had longed to be part of Richard’s world, in any capacity. She had spent the last ten years making her way into his inner circle. She was convinced that one day, he would express his undying love for her. This whole pregnancy problem was trying to get in the way of that, but Marlene remained deterred.

  Richard threw the file and the papers on the table. “Mother, what, exactly, is your plan?” He looked exhausted and confused.

  “The plan is to keep her happy and healthy until she delivers this baby,” she said sternly, leaning over him.

  “Then what?” asked Marlene.

  “Marlene, you’ve already been given your instructions, dear. You can leave the rest to Richard. Besides, he’s the one who got her pregnant in the first place. Clearly, he knows how to handle her.”

  “Mother, I told you already, I have no idea how she got pregnant.”

  “Well, Richard, you’ve always been quite the ladies’ man,” his mother said, glancing at Marlene. “Keep her happy, and do your part for this family and its fortune.”

  She gave Richard a final long look, then left the room and closed the door behind her.

  Marlene remained at the other end of the table, contemplating how she was going to make sure this woman was pampered. This woman who had been suddenly thrust into the life Marlene had been working so hard to have. She stared at Richard and let the tears fill her eyes, and he glanced her way as one made its way from her eyelid to her cheek.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Damn allergies,” she sniffled, wiped her cheek and stood up to leave.

  “Will you be needing anything else today, Mr. Black?”

  “God, I don’t know what I need Marlene. You can go.”

  Marlene left the conference room and closed the door. She stood for a moment to make sure the tears had dried, cleared her throat, and headed for Sherry’s room.

  Richard sat alone at the large table, staring at the papers before him. The photographs of Sherry had left him with a strange feeling. She had a look about her that he liked, and one particular photo of her on a pier, smiling back at the camera, had brought on a strange rush of protective feelings. But he was certain he had never seen her before.

  But now she was more like a hostage, being held in his home. He stared at a picture of her on the pier, the night sky behind her, and thought of ocean waves.

  ***

  Sherry sat curled up in the window seat, staring out into the sky. She sat up when a light knock sounded on the door.

  “Come in.”

  Marlene entered with bags and boxes.

  “Mrs. Black has ordered in some clothing for you to try. Once you’ve chosen an outfit, you can come to the main lobby and you’ll be directed to your spa appointment. This is to ensure you are looking your best for the media, whom you will be meeting with soon.”

  “Okay, but—“

  “You have thirty minutes,” Marlene said, and left the room.

  “Button, what a strange situation we’ve gotten into. Do hostages get makeovers? I sure hope not.”

  Sherry smiled a bit as she opened the boxes, each one from a different expensive store. All of the clothes were in her size, and style of the clothing matched her taste. At first, she was quite impressed by this detail, but as she tried on each outfit, she grew a bit concerned at how someone would know the style of clothing she liked or the size she wore. It reminded her of the way pop-up ads would instantly appear after she had browsed her favorite online store.

  She opted for a flower patterned maternity dress and removed the tags. She paired it with pink sandals, smoothed her hair in the mirror, and made her way down to the lobby.

  A woman with a white smock directed her to the spa room, and Sherry decided to enjoy the experience and forget about the past twenty-four hours. Stress was bad for the baby, and she was committed to feeling relaxed. She closed her eyes and listened to the women speaking to one another in a language she didn’t recognize.

  “Miss. Has something happened to your finger?” the manicurist asked, jolting Sherry from her light sleep.

  “What?”

  “Your finger,” the woman was delicately holding Sherry’s left hand and rubbing a spot on her ring finger.

  “No. Why do you ask?”

  You have a strange indent on this finger; the skin here is dry and a bit lighter than the rest of your finger. Has it been damaged?”

  Sherry was distracted from the manicurist’s question by Marlene’s stern voice behind her.

  “If you are finished here, I will escort you back to your room, and you can rest until dinner.” She spun and headed for the elevator, not waiting for Sherry’s reply.

  Marlene led Sherry to the elevator and pushed the up arrow. She stood, holding the door for Sherry. Once inside, the two women stood opposite each other, not speaking. Marlene stared intently at her smartphone, and Sherry looking up at herself in the ceiling reflection.

  The elevator made a dinging sound and Marlene looked up. She walked with intent, not bothering to see if Sherry were following. It was clear she wasn’t fond of her, but Sherry wasn’t quite sure why.

  Marlene stood holding the bedroom door open as Sherry squeezed past her. “You will be called for meal time shortly.”

  Sherry gave a half-smile and walked toward the bed as Marlene pulled the door closed.

  This woman, dressed for success with a tight bun, business suit and heels was part-concierge, part-prison warden. Sherry wasn’t sure how much of her life this woman knew, but something told her it was a lot. She felt judged at every interaction.

  Sherry sat down at the writing desk. She had watched a movie once where a woman was kidnapped and had decided to journal the experience in case she didn’t make it out alive. Sherry wasn’t fearful for her life, though. So far, they had been quite accommodating. But something strange was going on, and documenting the experience could help her sort it out. In the top drawer of the desk she found a pad of floral stationery and a matching pen. She pulled out a sheet and scribbled the first thing that came to mind.

  Enjoyed a relaxing manicure and pedicure and had my make-up and hair done. I felt like Cinderella and I’m wondering when the ball is going to start. Marlene is definitely the evil stepmother in this whole scenario. And, Richard is apparently my princ
e. Except, he is a frightening man hiding something. He is surrounded by staff and is in full control. He seems far from trustworthy and not the man I would choose to ride off with into the sunset. Yet, by some strange selection, I am carrying his child. I’m not sure how I got here, but I am determined to make the best of it …

  A knock at the door interrupted her writing. “Come in.”

  Marlene peeked her head between the door and the frame. “Dinner will be served in the main dining room in fifteen minutes. Make a left at the foyer.”

  The door closed before Sherry could reply.

  She tucked the notepad back into the desk drawer and tidied herself for dinner. The sun was beginning to set, and had painted the sky an amazing shade of purple.

  She walked toward the dining room, concentrating on remembering the way to the foyer. Along her way, she passed a few staff who smiled oddly at her, and turned to watch her walk as she passed. She could feel eyes on her as she continued down the hall.

  She entered the perfectly appointed dining room. An older, but still handsome, woman stood up from the table and walked directly to Sherry extending her hand.

  “Good evening and welcome to the Black estate,” she announced with a smile. “Please, sit.” The woman motioned to the seat next to her.

  Sherry pulled out the chair and carefully positioned herself. The woman took her seat at the head of the table and never took her eyes off of Sherry.

  “We have not met yet. I’m Evelyn Black. Richard’s stepmother. How are you enjoying your stay so far?”

  “Everyone has been very accommodating, thank you. But I’d like to know more about why I am here.”

  “Why, you’re here to have a baby, dear. You’re carrying the heir to the Black fortune; we couldn’t have you living in that ramshackle apartment of yours.”

  Sherry wasn’t sure quite how she felt about that statement, but she didn’t have any time to think about it at the moment. The rest of the dinner party had begun to file in, and she watched as Richard took his seat next to his stepmother and Marlene sat directly across from him. Marlene, it seemed, was a bit more than just staff at the Black household.

  Sherry reached for her glass of water and sipped as everyone took their seats, feeling like the new kid on the first day of school. She stared down at her belly and slid her hands over, smiling despite her nervousness when she felt the baby kick.

  “Is the baby moving a lot?” asked Evelyn.

  “All the time.” Sherry said without looking up. This was not your typical conversation, and she was not sure how to feel.

  A bowl of soup was placed before her, and Sherry was thankful for the distraction it provided.

  The long, awkward dinner dragged on, and Sherry was amazed the avoidance of the elephant in the room. Other than Mrs. Black bandying about possible grandmother titles for herself, no one else addressed her presence or her pregnancy. Marlene and Richard seemed content to stare at their food, and said nothing during the entire dinner beyond requesting a top off of wine. Sherry wondered if Marlene had children of her own, and figured she probably didn’t. It also appeared that Marlene was more than an employee but also resided here, somewhere in this sprawling mansion.

  Sherry stood up to leave and the room grew quiet.

  “I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me,” she announced, feeling like a twelve-year-old girl. She could sense them all watching her walk away.

  When she arrived back in her room, she kicked off her shoes and walked over to the writing desk. She dug her hand into the drawer where she had hidden her sheaf of papers.

  Day Two

  I’ve always wanted to live in a big fancy house and have dinner served to me on a silver platter, but not like this. I am starting to feel like a princess, but not in the way I planned. I feel like Rapunzel, locked away from the world.

  ***

  Richard, Evelyn, and Marlene lingered in the dining room, discussing their plans for Sherry.

  “Tomorrow we will need a full work up on her physical health. I’ve ordered an ultrasound, a full exam, and blood work. Marlene, you’re in charge.”

  Marlene nodded.

  “Richard, you’re going to have to initiate some kind of contact with her. The press is dying for a comment. The two of you will need to leave the house together, maybe under the guise of taking a walk.”

  “I don’t do walks,” he snipped

  “I don’t care what you do. But you will be leaving the house tomorrow with this woman you got pregnant!” Evelyn snapped, walking away.

  Chapter 4

  Sherry lay in the bed, staring at the ceiling. She rested her hands on her belly and slid them across, trying to soothe herself and her little button. She felt for her ring finger and remembered what the manicurist had said about the indent there. She turned on the light and sat up. She started the ring finger and noticed its shape and coloring was different. as if she had worn a ring there. Yet she had no recollection every wearing a ring on that finger.

  Her swollen, pregnant belly and a mysterious ring finger. It was as if there was a whole period of her life she didn’t remember. Like a dream, except the remnants were real. Except the last time she’d checked, you couldn’t get pregnant from a dream. What had suddenly brought her to this world, where she lived in a mansion and was kept under lock and key? She curled herself up on her side, rested her hand beneath her belly and felt the baby kick. A lonely tear slid out of her eye and onto her pillow.

  “Tomorrow, Button. We’ll figure it all out tomorrow.”

  ***

  She sat in the back of the stretch limo. Marlene sat opposite her, staring at her phone with intent. Sherry wished she had something to stare at, some distraction of her own.

  “Where are we going?” she dared to ask.

  “Doctor,” replied Marlene from behind her phone.

  Sherry stared out the window and thought back to her last doctor appointment. She had been the only pregnant woman in the waiting room who sat alone. She’d always tried not to let the opinions of strangers bother her, but in that moment, surrounded by happy glowing couples, she felt so alone in the world. She grew more and more anxious to have this baby so she would have someone always with her to share her love.

  They arrived at the hospital and the driver opened her door, extending a hand. Sherry spotted a few photographers hiding behind a bush, and Marlene handed her a pair of sunglasses and threw her arm around her as if to shield her as they exited the car. Once inside the hospital, Marlene walked three steps ahead and led the way.

  Soon, she was dressed in a crisp hospital gown and staring at a screen as the technician ran the wand around her belly.

  “Are you ready to find out what this little bugger is?” asked the technician.

  Sherry hesitated, realizing the decision was entirely up to her. She’d thought she’d be more excited on this day, but now she felt scared at the reality of it all.

  The door to the room opened, and Richard Black walked in.

  “Sir, are you family?” the technician asked, not recognizing Richard in the dim light. “Otherwise, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

  “Yes,” Richard said, taking a seat next to Sherry. “I’m the father.”

  “Well, then.” The technician resumed her scan. “We were just going to reveal the sex. You’re just in time.”

  Richard leaned in to get a better look at the screen.

  The wand pushed and pressed against Sherry’s skin and the technician slowed as she examined the scan. “Well, it looks like … a girl! And quite healthy, judging by how much she’s been squirming during my scan.”

  A tear fell from Sherry’s eye and Richard reached out to grasp her hand. She stared down, startled by his hand touching hers and his sudden show of emotion. She noticed again the indent on her ring finger.

  Then, as suddenly as he had come, Richard left the room without a word.

  Sherry dressed and met Marlene outside. Marlene’s face looked freshly washed, and her eyes w
ere red. She led Sherry back to the car, and they returned to the house in silence.

  Sherry spent the rest of her day feeling oddly relaxed and happy. She ordered her meals in her room settled into bed early, but as the glow from the news of her healthy baby girl—and Richard’s touch, don’t forget that—faded, fear began to gnaw at her again.

  Where would she be once the baby arrived? Would she still be living here like a hostage princess? She tried not to let the uncertainty of her life overshadow her good news, and finally sleep took her.

  She was startled in the middle of the night by a nightmare. A nightmare so real she jumped from her bed and clutched her belly. She had dreamt of a wedding. She was the bride and Richard was the groom. Mrs. Black was standing behind him like a puppeteer, telling him when to speak and when to kiss her. Just before she woke up, he placed a ring on her wedding finger that sliced her skin and left a mark on her finger like the one the manicurist had pointed out.