by Holly Rayner
“Do whatever damage control you can. I’ll talk to Vicki and she and I will decide what we want to do. I’ll let you know.” I hung up, pissed that my good mood had been blown out of the water just like that. Vicki was looking at me with big eyes waiting to hear what had happened. “Variety did a story about my supposed infidelity and the birth of Michael. They named you in it and said that you were my maid when you got pregnant. I guess they made it all sound pretty seedy.”
Vicki looked like she was about to be sick. “I’m sorry,” she said.
“You’re sorry? For what? You didn’t seduce me… I was separated at the time and you and that bozo you were with were “on a break.” We didn’t do anything wrong and you have nothing to be sorry for. We have Michael and we have each other and the rest of the world can go…”
She smiled and put her fingers on my lips. “I get it. Thank you. You’re so sweet. I just worry all the time, Alex… I worry that I’m not going to fit into your world. I worry that I’m going to embarrass you, or cause trouble for you…”
I took her hand and I looked into her eyes. With every last bit of sincerity in my body I said, “First of all, you could never embarrass me. You’re beautiful, intelligent, and you have more class in your little finger than most of the women I know. Second of all, if anyone thinks that you don’t fit into my world… they better keep it to themselves. They will be very, very sorry if I ever hear them say anything of the sort… okay?”
She nodded, but I’m not sure she believed me. We finished out picnic, but the mood was much more subdued than it was. When we made it back to the house, Amanda was there. I wanted to choke her for showing up and not just calling me. I had a feeling that she was about to say something to make Vicki feel even worse… and I was right.
“Who is Rita Lawton?”
“I have no idea….”
“She’s my mother,” Vicki said. Suddenly I was the one who felt sick.
CHAPTER FOUR
VICTORIA
“Excuse me!” I turned and ran for the stairs. I could hear Alex calling after me but I was feeling like I was about to be sick. I ran up the stairs and vomited all of that beautiful food I’d just eaten on our picnic. I don’t know how long I sat there in front of the toilet, but by the time I finally dragged myself up, brushed my teeth and drank some water, Alex and baby Michael were waiting for me in the master bedroom.
“Are you okay?” he asked me, as he bounced our baby up and down. My heart swelled. I am so in love with him.
“I’m fine,” I lied. I still felt sick and I wanted to cry. “What did she say about my mother?”
He patted the bed next to him. I went over and sat down and took Michael out of his arms. I hugged him to me. When my baby was in my arms I felt like I could take on the world. “She said they interviewed her. She left me a copy of the article. I haven’t read it yet. I’m not sure what you’re afraid she said but it doesn’t matter Vicki, I promise you. I will have my staff do damage control on this. I’ve already called Noel, my attorney and I’ve called my PR guy Vic… we’ll get through this.”
“How will this affect Michael’s future?”
“It won’t. It’s the twenty-first century. Babies are born out of wedlock more often than not. He’ll have every advantage, I promise you.”
“What about your parents? What must they think of me?”
He rolled his eyes. “My parents are in Tuscany and were barely fazed when I told them they were grandparents. Being parents was inconvenient to them. I hardly imagine they plan on putting themselves out to be grandparents. They’re not planning on returning here for anything other than a visit now and then, so it’s not like anything can really hurt them at this point. Whoever leaked this to the press is petty and vindictive but we’re not going to let them win. I want you in my life… in my bed… you’re in my heart, Vicki and I hope that I’m in yours.”
I was crying… again. “I’m sorry. I can’t seem to control these tears lately.”
“You just had a baby, from what I’ve read, I think it’s normal.”
I nodded and said, “You are in my heart Alex. That’s why I worry so much. I’m so afraid that all of this mess is going to ruin what we have together.”
“Then stop worrying, now. This is not going to affect you and me and I am never going to let anything hurt Michael… so we’re good, no matter what the article says.”
I put my sleeping baby up on my shoulder and said, “I’m going to lay him down and I’ll be back. I know it’s a form of self-torture but I have to read the article.”
He smiled sadly and nodded. I think he expected me to say that. He leaned in and kissed the baby and I went and laid him down in his crib. When I got back, Alex was reclining against the headboard of the bed. I sat down next to him and he put his arm around me, kissed the side of my face and handed me the magazine, open to the article. The headline read:
“Billionaire Alexander Reigns steps out on wife to have a torrid affair… with his upstairs maid!” I knew that I should stop there, but it was like watching a train wreck… I couldn’t. I read on:
“A source close to the couple states that while Mr. Reigns was still married to his wife, Cassandra, he became involved with his upstairs maid. The maid is a twenty-four year old woman by the name of Victoria Lawton. Our source also tells us that Miss Lawton was involved in a serious relationship with another man at the time… in fact, she was engaged! Last week, Miss Lawton gave birth to a baby boy. Mr. Reigns was quick to dump his faithful wife Cassandra and rush to Miss Lawton’s side and meet his heir apparent….”
I handed the magazine back to Alex. “I can’t read anymore.”
He nodded and took it. “You don’t want to know what your mother said?”
“I can imagine. I never told her you were the father of my baby. I’m sorry Alex. She’s a mess and money means more to her than anything… looks and money, that’s what makes her world go around. I’m so ashamed.”
“Please don’t be,” he said, pulling me into his side tighter. “We’re going to be okay… all of us, I promise.”
***
I slept in Alex’s bed that night. Nothing happened between us, he just held me all night. It only reaffirmed my belief that he is nothing but a good man. Everything he does and says makes me fall deeper in love with him, and as much as that makes me happy, it makes me worry more as well. If I were to lose him at this point I’m not sure how I would recover.
Alex got up early and went into work. I was already up feeding Michael when he left and he came in and kissed us both and told us to have a great day. He left me with a warm feeling and an optimistic one. Waking up in his arms made me want more than ever to believe that everything would be okay.
After I fed Michael and put him down for his nap, I showered and dressed for my day. I was about to go down for breakfast when my phone rang. I nearly threw it out the window when I looked at the face of it. It was my mother…I had a feeling she would be calling soon.
“Hello Mom.”
“Victoria. I can’t believe that a stranger had to tell me about the birth of my first grandchild.”
“Really? I can’t believe you gave an interview to a stranger about your daughter.”
“I didn’t say anything bad. Did you even read it? I was completely supportive.”
“You shouldn’t have spoken to them.”
“Well if my daughter had informed me of her affair with a billionaire and subsequent pregnancy by him… I would have known not to talk.”
“Give me a break mother. When you thought this was Jason’s baby you had no interest in him whatsoever… I quote: “I am too young to be a grandmother.” All of a sudden because you know he is Alex’s son, you’re interested. You should really be ashamed of yourself.”
“That’s no way to talk to your mother Victoria.”
“Then you should act like a mother every now and again.”
“I’m going to write your attitude off as post-partum depressi
on. When can I see my grandson?”
I sighed. She wasn’t going to give up easily. “He’s too young to take out yet. I’ll bring him by to see you next week.”
“I can come see him at the Reigns estate… that is where you are living, right?”
“How do you know that?”
“You really didn’t read that article, did you?”
“It said that I was living here? Jesus!”
“There’s no shame in landing a rich, good-looking man Vicki. I’m proud of you. What time shall I come see my grandson?”
“Today is not a good day, mother. I’ll let you know.”
“Victoria…”
“Good-bye Mother!” I hung up, cutting her off. It wasn’t like me to defy her. No matter how much she’d annoyed me over the years I have gone out of my way to be as respectful to her as possible, but she’d pushed my last button. She would have easily turned her back on both me and my son if he had been Jason’s child. She can feel the brunt of rejection for once this time. I was finished.
I had breakfast with Cook and it was like the old days. He and I talked about everything and nothing and it was relaxing to get my mind off of everything and just be silly and normal for a while. He told me stories about the people who came into the shelter he ran. He seemed like he loved his work so much and I knew that he did it all with his own money and out of the goodness of his heart. He is truly an amazing person and I have so much respect for him.
After breakfast, Michael was awake so I bundled him up and put him in his stroller. He and I went for a walk through the gardens and I think it relaxed and awed him almost as much as it did me. The grounds of the estate were as beautiful, if not more so, than the inside of the house and I felt very blessed to be a part of it.
When we got back to the house, I was delighted to see that Alex was home. I fed and bathed Michael and tucked him in for his afternoon nap and then I sat down for coffee with Alex. I could tell there was something troubling him and when I asked he said, “There was an industrial accident at my plant in Kentucky. Five of my employees were killed and another twenty seriously injured. I have to fly over there… right away.”
“Oh no! Alex that’s terrible, I’m so sorry. What happened?”
“They’re not sure yet. It’s being investigated. I’ve been told on a preliminary basis that there was some type of electrical malfunction. I have to go and make sure the families of the victims are taken care of. I also have to make sure the rest of my employees are safe and that we get the plant back up and running as soon as possible.”
“How long will you be gone?”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry Vicki. I just don’t know. I know this is a bad time, but I thought maybe you and Michael could come with me…”
“Oh no Alex. I’m sorry, it’s not that I wouldn’t love to be with you and I know that Michael will miss you, but I worry about him so much, taking him out so soon and putting him on a plane and in a hotel; so many different environments. I’m just afraid of him getting sick or just… maladjusted.”
“I understand. I’m going to miss both of you, a lot.”
I put my arms around him. “I’m going to miss you too, and so will Michael.”
He grinned and stretched his lips out for a kiss. I kissed him and he said, “Will you miss me enough to maybe give me a big send-off while our son is sleeping?”
I smiled, “What type of send-off did you have in mind?”
“Well, it involves some physical effort and both of us naked…”
I kissed him again. I felt a thrill in my belly at the thought. “I think that can be arranged. But hurry, before your son wakes up.”
Alex took me by the hand and led me up the stairs and straight into his room. I had yet to think of it as “ours,” but I was working on it. He undressed me and I helped him undress. I lay down on the bed and he looked down at me and said, “You have no idea how beautiful you are,