Julian (Members From Money Book 31)

by Katie Dowe

  “Where else would I be?” she asked him with a forced smile. He'd been trying to fix up the place a little bit and she could see the improvements, especially on the porch and in the kitchen. He'd stopped talking about Alyssa and Sydney dared to hope that he was on his way to being over her. If only it was that simple for her. “I was thinking that instead of turkey I could bake a chicken and make some collard greens and potato salad.”

  “Mama’s recipe?” he asked with a light in his eyes. He looked so old and drawn, she thought with a pang. As if the light had gone out of his life.

  “Mama’s recipe. I dug it up out of the can she put all the recipes in. Remember how we used to sit in the kitchen and watched her work?”

  “She used to make potato pies as if it was nothing,” Brian mused. “They were the best I ever tasted.”

  “I'm not sure I could go that far but I think I have the chicken down pat.”

  “I'll make the pie.”

  Sydney looked at her brother in surprise. “She taught me how,” he told her with a grin.

  “Well, come on then.”

  They worked together in the kitchen and it somehow felt like old times. They talked and laughed as they prepared the meal and the sense of comfort and camaraderie was rich in the atmosphere. Sydney could almost believe that things were back to normal. Everything was going on fine until she decided to go outside. A light snow had started falling and it had gotten dark, even though it was only after six. A loose board that Brian hadn't gotten around to fixing was the cause of the accident and had her falling down heavily before she could catch her balance. She hit her head on the porch and was out for a moment before she opened her eyes to see him standing over her. “Syd, are you okay?” he asked her anxiously.

  “Yes,” she whispered as she tried to get up but gasped at the pain in her head.

  “Don’t get up. I'm going to get a doctor.”

  *****

  “Would you mind stepping out while I talk to your sister?” Doctor Elermore asked Brian politely.

  “Of course,” he said and left the room, closing the door behind him.

  “I hope you're not going to tell me that I'm dying,” Sydney said with a shaky laugh.

  “Far from it,” he said with a smile. “You have a slight concussion and I'm going to advise you to get some rest, but the baby is fine.”

  “What?” Sydney stared at the man as if he'd gone crazy.

  “You're three months pregnant, Ms. Manchester and I'm telling you that the fall didn't affect the fetus.”

  “I'm not pregnant.”

  He looked at her with a smile. “I'm afraid you are.”

  “There were no symptoms and I had my period a month ago.”

  “Was it heavy or light?”

  “It was light but I thought it was because I was stressed because of work,” she said slowly. A numb feeling was coming over her and she felt her world crumbling all around her.

  “It’s natural. You're three months pregnant and I'm going to leave some folic acid and other vitamins for you to take. I'm also going to give you the name of a good obstetrician you can see during the pregnancy.” He scribbled the name down for her on his pad and handed it to her. “I suggest you start eating your vegetables and drinking your milk.”

  “Thank you,” she said numbly. “If you don’t mind, I would like to tell my brother myself.”

  “Of course.” He left and closed the door behind him. Within minutes there was a knock on the door and Brian came in. “I'm so sorry sis. I'm going to take care of that loose board right away. Are you okay?”

  “I am,” she said with a forced smile. “He said I needed rest so I'm going to take advantage of that. Would you mind going out and closing the door?”

  “Of course. Get some sleep.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead before leaving. Sydney lay there staring into the darkened room. She was pregnant with his child. She had become one of those awful clichés: a black woman getting pregnant from by one night stand. She was pregnant with a man’s child, a man who would never want her. A man who was not in her league and would probably tell her to get rid of it.

  She sat up on the pillows and her hands wandered to her flat stomach. She was three months pregnant and never knew about it. He hadn't come back to the bank, hadn't even called her. They'd had unprotected sex and he hadn't been interested enough to call and find out if there had been any consequences to what they'd done. She heaved a sigh and closed her eyes as the medication kicked in. She had no idea what to do.

  *****

  He was back.

  Sydney had spent the remainder of the holidays wondering what to do, but so far she hadn't come up with any solutions. She was going to start showing soon and she had to make a decision shortly.

  She took a deep breath and went into the office Julian used. “Is he busy?” she asked Greta with a smile.

  “No, he just got off a call. You can go right in.”

  She knocked on the door before pushing it open and going in. He looked up and his grey-green eyes were expressionless as they looked at her. “Sydney, I was just about to call you in. How was your holiday?”

  “Enlightening,” she told him briefly as she took a seat. “What do you need me for?”

  “I am officially handing over the running of the place to you. I'm leaving for good. I have to be in Costa Land to see to the arrangements there.”

  “Will you be coming back?”

  “Maybe. Why?”

  “You made love to me Julian, and then left. It never meant anything to you at all?”

  He looked at her with a slight frown. “It shouldn't have happened and I'm sorry I put you in that position.”

  “So that’s it?”

  He inclined his head. “I don't get involved with my employees so it was a lapse on my part. I truly apologize.”

  She got to her feet and quelled the misery she was feeling. “Is there anything else?” she asked him politely.

  “I wish you all the best and have every confidence that you will run this place the way it is supposed to run. I will make sure you are fully compensated for your new position.”

  “Thank you.” She was fighting tears. This should have been the happiest day of her life! This was what she had been working for her entire career, except that she had messed up.

  He nodded again. “Please close the door behind you.”

  Sydney waited until she had reached the privacy of her office before she gave in to her tears.

  *****

  “Would you like to know the sex?” the ultrasound technician asked her with a smile as they looked at the grainy monitor.

  “Yes,” Sydney nodded. She was six months pregnant and had started showing a little bit. She'd told Lorna and Greta that she was having a baby but hadn't told them who the father was. Lorna had asked her and she'd told her friend that it had been a one night stand and the man wanted nothing to do with it. Her brother had been shocked but had gotten on board, saying that he wanted to be there for her. She was starting to bond with her child. It had been more than just sex for her and her child would know that he or she was conceived in love, at least on her part. “All right then.” She moved the instrument around and stopped. “There it is,” she pointed at something on the monitor and Sydney squinted, trying to identify what she was pointing to. “It’s a boy.”

  “How can you tell?” Sydney asked in wonder.

  “By his little penis right there.”

  “I'll take your word for it,” Sydney said with a laugh.

  “He is healthy and his heartbeat is very strong. I'll leave you to get cleaned up and see the doctor.”

  *****

  “Dominick Matthias, this is going to be your room,” Sydney rested her hands over her bulging belly as she wandered around the room. She knew nothing of her son’s Swiss heritage other than what she'd read on the internet but had chosen names with his heritage in mind. She was seven months pregnant and was planning to take her leave close to the time o
f her delivery. Her son was due in June and she was hoping that it wouldn't be on her birthday, which was the fourth. Doctor Miller had told her that it should be closer to the fifteenth of the month.

  She'd started shopping and had bought so many things that she couldn't believe it. Her brother was there for her and had been helping with the heavy stuff like the crib and change table. Lorna had been by to help her set up the nursery and it felt like a baby’s home. She hadn't heard anything from Julian but had seen his pictures in the papers. He was going out with some socialite from Switzerland but as much as it pained her to see him with someone else, she knew that she had a part of him that no one else had. She had his son in her womb. You're going to have to tell him, the voice popped inside her head. “I know but not now,” she whispered. She curved her hands over her belly and wandered over to the crib. She touched the mobile hanging over it and turned the music on. A lovely melody filled the room and she felt relaxed just listening to it. She went over to the chest of drawers that was a match to the crib and pulled out the drawers as she stared at the tiny clothes there. She was having a baby, she thought dazedly.

  Albeit without a father around, but still she was so excited. “I am going to be the best mother to you Dom,” she whispered to her son. “I'm going to be loving and protecting and I will teach you a lot of values. I have a feeling that you're going to do very well with figures,” she said with a laugh. “I cannot wait to see you.”

  *****

  But Julian found out before she could tell him. She was out at her doctor’s appointment when he called.

  “Mr. Gessner how lovely to hear your voice!” Greta said enthusiastically.

  “Nice to hear yours too Greta,” he said politely. “Is Ms. Manchester available?”

  “She went to a doctor’s appointment I'm afraid. She's getting ready to go on maternity leave. We're looking forward to throwing her a baby shower before she leaves in a few weeks.”

  There was silence on the other end. “Mr. Gessner?”

  “When is she due?”

  “Next month in June.”

  He hung up on her.

  *****

  “Mr. Gessner called while you were out, Sydney. He seemed surprised to know that you were having a baby.”

  Sydney stopped short. “What did he say?”

  “He didn't say anything come to think of it. I think he was in shock or something. Anyway, he hung up without saying goodbye.”

  Sydney felt her heart thudding in her chest. “Thank you, Greta.” She walked with trembling legs into her office. He knew! She clasped her hands in front of her. If he was the financial wizard he was he would do the math and know that she was carrying his child. She took a deep breath and went about what she needed to do. She'd been meeting with the VPs and had decided to leave them both in charge during the time she would be away. She had meetings to attend and had no time to think about what Julian Gessner was going to do.

  *****

  The minute the doorbell rang that night she knew it was him. Taking a deep breath she went to answer the door. He stood there looking at her, his eyes going to her belly. She had on a simple blouse and a loose sweat pants and the bulge was evident.

  “Julian,” she said politely.

  He came into the room and she closed the door behind him.

  “When were you going to tell me?” he asked her coldly as he faced her.

  “I didn't have your number,” she said evasively.

  “Are you really going with that?” his eyes narrowed dangerously. “You're pregnant with my child and you tell me you have no number for me? I was here several months ago! Did you not know then?”

  “I came into your office to tell you but you told me that you wanted nothing to do with me and what we had was nothing to you!” she cried out.

  He approached her and she backed away. “I had a right to know that you're carrying my child no matter what you were feeling. I had to hear it from some employee. We are three weeks into May and you would have had my baby without me knowing! What the hell were you thinking?”

  “I'm sorry,” she muttered as she stared at him. “Your son has a right to know who his father is.”

  His expression changed as he stared at her. “I'm having a son?”

  “Dominick Matthias,” she placed her hands over her belly.

  He stared at her. “You gave him Swiss names?”

  “Yes.” She caught her breath at the expression on his hard, handsome face. He approached her and placed his hands over hers. The baby moved just then and he jumped slightly.

  “He does that a lot,” she said huskily. Julian lifted her blouse up and pulled the pants down, exposing the bulge that was his son. He went down on his knees and kissed her belly, moving from one side to another. Sydney felt the familiar stirrings and her body trembled. He used his hands to cup her belly and rubbed it slowly. He pulled down her panties and the pants, exposing her further. His hands went down to cup her sex and Sydney felt her knees buckling. His fingers dipped into her and her breath hitched. It had been so long and she didn't care that he didn't love her, she needed to feel him. “Julian,” she whispered. He looked up at her as he thrust his fingers into her. “Please.”

  He got to his feet and she could feel the disappointment as he stopped. She stepped out of her clothes and pulled the shirt over her head and stood before him naked. He looked at her, from her face which had gotten fuller with the pregnancy to her breasts which had gotten a little bigger down to her belly that held his son. He turning her around and bending her forward slightly he entered her from behind. Sydney sobbed as she felt him inside her. She wrapped her hands around his as he held her just beneath her breasts and when he started moving she welcomed it with the moans coming from her throat.

  *****

  Julian felt his heart hammering inside his chest as he pounded into her. He'd tried to forget her, going out with several women he'd been intimate with but it hadn't worked. She was pregnant with his son! His control broke and with a feral groan he bent his head and bit down softly on her shoulder, pulling the soft flesh between his teeth.

  Sydney sobbed and dropped her head back against his as she felt the tidal wave rushing through her body. His fingers found her sensitive nipples and immediately it set her off. She came with a fury that had her knees buckling and dragged her down to the carpeted floor. He was right behind her, his testicles going tight as he poured his seed into her. Sydney shuddered as she cried out his name, her body trembling from the aftermath of the storm that had taken them over!

  He lifted her weak and trembling body from the floor and into the bedroom where he placed her onto the bed. He wasn't finished with her yet. How could he be when he'd been so starved before? He opened her legs and bending his head he tongued her, licking up their mingled moisture. Sydney shuddered as his tongue dipped inside her. She clenched her hands on the sheets and felt her son move inside her. Julian brought her up and over again and this time she wasn't sure she would be able to move. He undressed and came behind her. Wrapping his hands around her belly he entered her again, his movements languid and slow at first and then rapid as he picked up speed.

  *****

  She heard when he got off the bed and went to the bathroom. She had no idea what he was thinking because as usual he didn't say anything to her. He came back in and the light from the bathroom threw his magnificent frame into relief. It was the first time she was seeing him totally naked and she found herself admiring his lean frame and his muscled body.

  “We need to talk,” he said abruptly as he came towards the bed.

  She raised herself up on the pillows. He was sitting on the edge of the bed and facing her. “I want you to see the nursery,” she began.

  “My son isn't living here.”

  “I live here Julian.”

  “I'm trying to find a way around this.” He frowned at her a little bit. “I have a house and I think you should move in. As soon as the press finds out that you're carrying my child
they're going to be all over you. I have to be in Costa Land most of the time but I'll be here for the birth of my son.”

  “That’s it? You are going to put me up in your house and visit us every what? Few months?” she asked him heatedly. After what they'd just shared she had expected something more permanent.

  “I'll be there for you and my son. Don’t worry about that,” he told her arrogantly. “I would like you to move in as soon as possible. I have to fly back to Costa Land tomorrow but I'll be back. I'll hire movers to take the stuff from your apartment or you could get some new things.”

  “I like the ones I bought,” she told him stiffly. She wanted him to leave. She had no intention of allowing him to see her crying. “Will I get to meet your mother?”

  He looked at her in surprise. “I haven't thought about that. She's going to want to meet her grandson.” He shrugged a little bit. “I'll have to apprise her of the situation.”

  “Do you care at all, Julian?”

  He looked at her and then looked away. In a few minutes he got up from the bed. “Get some sleep.” With that he put his clothes back on and within minutes she heard the door close behind him. She pulled the sheets up around her and gave in to tears.

  Chapter 8

  “When do I get to meet her?” Lina asked, her green eyes sparking with excitement. He'd come first to tell her and was heading to his mother’s place to let her know as well. He'd called and found out that she was enjoying several days of lucid thinking so he wanted to take advantage of that.

  “We're not exactly in a relationship,” he told his sister abruptly. “I just wanted you to find out before the press got hold of it.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and wandered over to the fireplace. It was almost June but the weather was still cold in Switzerland.

  “Oh.” He could hear the disappointment in her soft voice and he turned to face her. “The relationship I have with her is pretty complicated.”

  “She's carrying your son,” Lina pointed out.

  “Yes,” he bit out. “I didn't plan for this. I'm just trying to figure out the next step. She's moved into my place and I'll be there for the birth of my son.”