by Mia Carson
“If Belle wants to work and be a mom, she’ll have her chance to do both,” Greyson said and patted both Davis and Tim on the back. “I owe you both.”
“As long as she stays happy and keeps you happy,” Davis said, “it’ll all be worth it.”
“When are you going to show it to her?” Tim asked.
“She has her interview with Tom on Tuesday,” he told them with a grimace.
“So Monday?” Davis asked.
“Oh no, I’m going to let Tom pitch her the new job, and when she comes back to tell me all about it, I’m going to show her the new papers I had Kelly type up,” Greyson said, “and the nursery. How can she pass up all the free babysitters?”
Davis and Tim laughed with him. Greyson’s plan was flawless. He knew no matter what Tom offered Belle, his deal was so much better. She wouldn’t be able to turn it down, and if they managed to track her dad down in time for the wedding, she would have the one man who should be there to walk her down the aisle back in her life. Hopefully, for good.
“I’m going to order us some lunch in and then we can head downstairs,” Greyson told them.
“Wait, you expected us to do actual work today, too?” Tim asked and Davis shoved him with a sharp laugh.
“What am I paying you overtime for?” Greyson asked with a wink.
“I don’t know… Something about keeping your future wife happy after you screwed up again,” Tim said under his breath when Greyson reached the door.
He paused, worried for a split second that his constant screw-ups would eventually drive Belle away, but the last two nights floated back to him… How they’d held each other, and their love passed between them without even having to say a word. He kept on walking, laughing when Davis and Tim bickered again like an old married couple.
Chapter 49
Belle sat down in the chair with a sigh as Tom asked her if she wanted anything to drink. “No, thank you. I’ll just have to leave in the middle of this interview.” She laughed and Tom joined her.
“I would completely understand,” the older man said. “My, you look stunning.”
“Thank you, Tom, but flattery is not why you brought me in here today,” she said, trying to keep them on track. Greyson hadn’t said a word to her all morning, and she worried maybe she would push him away by taking this interview, but she had to do what was right for her. She needed to work, and if Greyson couldn’t see that, she’d find someone who could.
Tom sipped on a glass of water, watching her over the rim. “I’m assuming your husband-to-be does not know about this interview?”
“Oh, he does, don’t worry,” Belle said. “I wanted him to know about it.”
“And he doesn’t mind you being here?” Tom asked, surprised, his white eyebrows disappearing into his hairline.
Belle shrugged one shoulder. “I didn’t really give him much of a choice.”
“Well then, I’ll cut straight to the chase,” he said and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I have seen your work and your design capabilities, and since working with you at Greystone Games, I know how well you not only handle yourself but an entire floor of workers.”
“Thank you, Tom,” she said, her cheeks warm.
“You deserve the compliment. You are so young, yet you’ve managed to rise to the top in one of the newest, up-and-coming companies with so much promise. You’ve impressed me beyond half of my own senior staff, and just thinking about what you could do for us makes me want to offer you anything to convince you to work for me instead.”
Belle nodded, her excitement growing. “And it wouldn’t be a conflict of interest for you? Me being married to the CEO of another company?”
He shook his head and waved away her worry. “They are our partner company, so their interests and ours are aligned—for now.”
“And if they weren’t aligned?”
“Naturally, I would hope you would side with us, and we wouldn’t have to worry about going down that other, rather messy path,” he said and leaned back in his chair, studying her.
Belle glanced around his office, giving herself time to think, when the baby kicked hard and she winced. “Damn—oh sorry,” she said quickly, but Tom grinned.
“I’m a father five times over and grandfather four times over,” he told her. “I’ve seen it all, trust me, and I hear Greyson is beyond ecstatic over the baby.”
“He is,” she said quietly with a soft smile. “He’s very excited, but… I’m not sure he likes the idea of me as a working mom.”
“That is not a problem here. We have a nursery on the tenth floor if you need to bring your child to work, and as a designer, you wouldn’t always have to be in the office,” Tom assured her. “If you’re running your own team, you would be able to delegate much of the work while still keeping an eye on the overall progress.”
Belle grinned. “And these designs… How will they work with Greystone Games?”
“Greyson has the board on his side in this partnership for the moment, but we dictate where his projects go and what he is able to work on with the funding we provide. There may come a time when we disagree on which path to take his company and mine… or let’s say another large deadline is missed in the future,” he said.
Belle frowned. “You said ‘for the moment,’” Belle repeated. “And why do you assume they would miss another deadline?”
Tom smiled, and for the first time since meeting the older man, Belle spotted a glimpse of the hungry shark that got him to where he was today. “All I meant was things change. Nothing to worry about.”
Her mental gears turning, Belle kept the smile on her face and concentrated on finishing the interview as red flags waved in her mind. When she finally left Tom’s office, shaking his hand at the front door before she walked out, she realized the man had slipped up. He was so sure of the job he offered her—a great job with incredible pay and opportunities—that he’d assumed she would take it. Too bad Tom didn’t know her well enough and simply assumed she would do what he wanted. Greyson could attest to the impossibility of that—loudly.
Belle climbed into the taxi, and once they were on their way, she pulled out her cell to let Greyson know she was on her way back to the office. He only replied with one word, and her heart sank. She was pissed at him for going behind her back and trying to take care of her, and she slapped his effort in the face. The taxi dropped her off outside the office, and she walked as quickly as she could inside the building, hitting the up button over and over until finally the doors opened and she stepped inside.
If nothing else, he at least had to listen to her when it came to what Tom Bigsby was after. He didn’t want a partnership with an up-and-coming gaming company. He wanted to own them.
The doors opened, and Belle stepped out, wincing when her stomach cramped. She paused, staring down at her belly, but the pain passed and she assumed it was simply a gas bubble. She waved and smiled at everyone she passed on her way to Greyson’s office, not bothering to knock before she pushed open his door and walked in, leaning her hands on his desk.
“One second,” he said coolly, moving his mouse around on his desk.
Belle reached out and stilled his hand, not letting go until he looked at her. “We have to talk.”
Greyson removed his hand from beneath hers and leaned back in his chair, rocking as he studied her. “Is that right? You here to tell me you’re quitting my company to go work for Bigsby?”
“Are you going to keep looking pissed off at me while I’m trying to save your company—again?”
“What are you talking about?” he asked as some of the coldness in his eyes slipped away.
“I’m not going to tell you a damn thing until you get that look off your face,” she snapped and straightened, crossing her arms over her stomach. Another cramp passed through her, and she winced, holding her side.
Greyson was on his feet in a second and at her side. “The baby? You still have a few weeks, don’t you?” he asked wor
riedly.
“No, I’m fine. Just gas,” she said and patted his hand. “You going to listen to me or not?”
“So you said no to the job?”
“Will you forget about the interview for a second? Tom is going to buy your company after the game launch,” she told him sternly. “He used your company to get this newest game off the ground, and then he’s going to take it all away from you.”
Greyson tugged on his beard. “He told you that?”
“No, I inferred it from the look in his eyes when he said you were in charge of the partnership… for now.”
“Bastard,” Greyson growled. “I knew that old man was up to something. This all happened too easily.” He bent and kissed her fiercely. “I knew something good would come of that interview.”
She stared at him pointedly. “If I didn’t love you so damn much and I wasn’t going to marry you, I’d take the job he offered me.”
Greyson laughed and reached over for a stack of papers on his desk. “No, you wouldn’t. Come on, I have to show you something.” He took her hand and dragged her from his office. Tim and the others stopped to watch and then followed.
“Greyson, what’s going on?” she asked curiously, looking at the crowd of employees over her shoulder. “We’re being followed,” she added in a whisper, and he laughed.
“I know,” he said and stopped them in front of the small conference room.
“The storage room?” she asked. “Why are you so excited about that?”
“You’ll see,” he said and bounced on the balls of his feet, something he had never done before.
“Shouldn’t we be making a plan about Tom?”
“I already have one in mind, don’t worry,” he said and placed his hand on the doorknob. “Ready?”
“Ready for what?” she asked, exasperated. “I don’t know what’s going on—oh!” She stared with wide eyes as Greyson swung open the door to reveal the inside of what used to be the storage room. “What… is this… is this a nursery?”
She stepped inside, running her hands along the painted walls with their small murals. Tears stung her eyes when she reached the crib, and she laughed at the mobile hanging over it. Greyson followed her inside and everyone else crowded in the doorway. Belle’s heart overflowed. How this man continued to surprise her time and again with his love, with his caring, astounded her.
“You like it?” he asked, reaching for her hands.
“Love it,” she said and stood on her toes to kiss him. “Does this mean you’ll let me work?”
“And you can have the baby close at hand for both of us to take care of him,” he told her.
She eyed him. “What’s with the papers in your hand?”
He smiled wolfishly at her as he handed them over. “A job offer you can’t refuse.”
Belle reached out to take it when another cramp wrapped around her belly. She doubled over in his arms. Gasping at the pain, she gripped Greyson’s arm hard.
“Belle? Someone, call an ambulance!” he yelled, holding her tightly.
“I’m fine, really,” she tried to say, but another pain hit her hard, and she groaned.
Greyson walked her to the rocking chair in the corner and rubbed her lower back as she bent over, staring at the floor. Fear gripped her, and she held his hand tightly. It was too soon, wasn’t it?
“What if something’s wrong?” she whispered through the pain. “Greyson.”
“You’re going to be fine,” he said firmly. “You both are.”
She wanted to believe him, but the pain intensified. Belle placed a hand on her belly and prayed they would both be alright.
Greyson paced back and forth in the hall outside Belle’s room at the hospital, tugging so hard at his beard it hurt but he couldn’t stop. Sally sat in a chair by the door, watching him. She stopped trying to get him to sit down an hour ago, letting him continue his ceaseless pacing. Finally, the door opened, and Dr. Higgins stepped out.
“Is she in labor?” Greyson asked. “The baby, are they… Is he…”
Dr. Higgins smiled. “The baby and Belle are both fine. Just premature labor pains, probably brought on by stress. I think it’s time for her to be on bed-rest until it’s time.”
Greyson let out a breath of relief and hugged Higgins. “Thank you.”
She laughed and patted him on the back. “They’re both going to be just fine, Greyson. You can take her home as soon as I get the paperwork, and make sure she stays in bed unless absolutely necessary.”
“She’s not going to be happy,” he mumbled, but Higgins shook her head.
“Belle’s worried right now that she overdid it. I think getting her to stay in bed won’t be a problem, not anymore.” She smiled at Sally and walked away to get the paperwork so Belle could go home.
“Go see her,” Sally urged and shoved him towards the door. “I’ll wait out here.”
Greyson tried to steady his nerves. He needed to see her and pushed the door open. Belle sat up in the bed, holding her belly protectively as she stared out the window. Worry lines etched her face, and all he wanted to do was smooth them away. When he’d reached her bedside, he climbed up beside her and pulled her to him. She curled against his chest, shaking.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“For what?” he asked. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You asked me to stop working so much, and I didn’t listen,” she cried. “I could’ve ruined everything. I could’ve hurt us both, I could’ve—”
“Not another word,” he growled. “You and the baby are fine, and that’s what matters. We’ll get you home and settled in for a few weeks of bed-rest.”
“What about the game launch?”
He shook his head. “No more worrying about work, understand me? Not until our son is born.”
Belle nodded and curled tighter into his chest. “Deal.”
“But I will let you come to the launch if you’re feeling up to it,” he promised her.
“Ben,” she said suddenly sitting up. “He’s flying in tomorrow.”
Greyson pressed her head gently back against his chest, wondering how she was going to survive bed-rest. “He’ll just have to come and see you at the house. Dr. Higgins is getting your papers so we can go home.”
They sat in silence for a while, his arms wrapped tightly around her. “I really liked the nursery,” she told him.
He grinned and kissed her forehead. “I knew you would, pet. Knew you would.”
“Can you tell me what you’re going to do about Tom?”
He scowled down at her but sighed. “I’m going to make an announcement on the day the game launches.” Her eyebrows rose, and he grinned darkly. “I’m buying him out completely.”
“Can you afford to do that?”
He laughed and snuggled closer. “I’m a billionaire, remember? I might not have as much as I would’ve if my dad had actually accepted me as his son, or if I’d done what he wanted, but I have enough to do what’s needed. No one’s taking my company away from me, especially not some old, white-haired bastard who thought he could steal my wife.”
She reached up and ran her fingers down his beard. “There’s my bear,” she whispered and kissed him.
“I’m always here, pet,” he said against her lips. “Don’t ever forget that.”
Chapter 41
A deep male voice echoed through the house, and Belle’s hand froze on the quilt covering her lap. She’d played with it ceaselessly since Greyson left for the airport to pick up Benjamin Long. Brent had flown in the night before and had gone with him. Their voices moved towards her, and from the sound of it, all three men had already hit it off.
He’s not your dad, so calm down, she told herself. He just might lead you to your dad… hopefully.
“Belle?” Greyson called out before he entered the bedroom. “Benjamin’s here. You up for talking to him?”
She knew he was worried after what had happened at the hospital, but she nodded. T
here wasn’t a chance in hell she would miss this. “I’m ready.”
Greyson nodded and called over his shoulder for Brent and Benjamin to come in. She smiled at her brother, who kissed her cheek, standing by her bedside as another set of steps followed. Benjamin—wearing a black leather jacket and matching cowboy hat—appeared and smiled kindly at her.
“Belle, it’s good to finally meet you face to face,” he said and held out his hand.
She took it and grinned back. “Same to you.”
“I must say, I really like your young man here,” he said, smiling wider when he noticed her pregnant belly. “James will be blown away when he finds out he’s going to be a grandparent.”
She rubbed her belly. “I hope so,” she said quietly, and Greyson squeezed her shoulder in comfort.
“I’ll bring in a few extra chairs,” he said and kissed her.
Brent sat on the edge of the bed, and Benjamin removed his hat and jacket, holding them until Greyson returned with two chairs. Once they were seated, Greyson took a spot beside Belle on the bed, and she took his hand, holding it tightly in hers.
“So, I guess you want to hear about your dad,” Ben started in his gruff voice.
“You went to school with him?” Brent asked.
“Nah, I went to school with your mom. She was a firecracker, that one,” he said with a wry grin. “I met your dad at a summer camp for boys who needed a firm hand. Military academy type stuff.”
“Dad was in the military?” Belle asked, then gave Ben another once over. “You served with him?”
He nodded. “We joined the SEALs together. It was hard on your mom, but they loved each other so damn much, they knew no matter what happened, they’d make their lives work out for the best.” He choked on his words and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “Sorry. Penelope’s death hit your dad hard, and me. We never saw it coming.”
Belle wanted to give him a moment to collect himself, but her curiosity got the better of her. “So he left but didn’t know she was sick?”