Carrying the Billionaire's Baby: A Clean BWWM Billionaire Romance (The Billionaire Baby Mystery Book 1) (3 page)

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.

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 were 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.

She spent the rest of the night in the window seat, staring out onto the estate and watching as a new day began. With the sun lighting the sky, she finally felt safe enough to climb back into bed and slide under the down comforter. She was exhausted and hungry, but this time, tired won.

When she awoke, her mind turned back to the dream that had woken her during the night.

She sat in the bed, wiping the sleep from her eyes. “Button, that was weird. I think I had a dream about your daddy. I think I was married to Richard.”

***

Richard and Evelyn sat on the back deck staring out into the open land.

“You’re going to have to start making appearances with the girl,” she said, in between drags of her cigarette.

“The girl. You’re so cold, mother.”

“Well, it’s time. I’ve arranged a dinner date for the two of you to get reacquainted.”

“You keep saying that, and I still don’t remember the first time.”

“You will.”

Getting out of bed, Sherry saw a note that was slipped into the room, under her door.

“Let’s see what today’s adventure is, button.”

She slid the note from the oversized unsealed envelope

Dinner for two at LE Mirage

Be ready at 7 pm

She felt a twinge of excitement at the idea of a fancy date, followed by nerves and fear as it was pretty obvious that Richard would be her date. Richard, the man whom she hadn’t shared more than two words with up until now, and whose child she was carrying.

“Dinner for two, button. Ha. More like dinner for three.”

She looked down at her ring finger and thought back to last night’s dream. She had to find out more. Maybe Richard would reveal what he knew, over dinner.

***

The ride to the restaurant was quiet. She and Richard barely shared the backseat of the limousine, one at either end. Sherry was usually comfortable with people, but with Richard she didn’t feel that free and easy. She wasn’t sure what he knew, or what he remembered.

The driver helped her out of the car, and Richard immediately held her elbow as they walked, but his affection seemed to be only for the benefit of the scattered photographers who waited outside the posh eatery.

Their feet had barely hit the entrance when a maître d directed. “Right this way, Mr. Black. Your table is ready.”

Sherry was seated beside him at a small table for two. Apparently, that was the way couples ate at this restaurant. She hoped it would help her feel less awkward and avoid the need for eye contact. Each time his knee brushed hers, she felt a twinge in her gut. She stared at the menu, trying not to gasp at the prices. A bottle of champagne was delivered, and two glasses were poured. Neither the waiter nor Richard seemed to realize that Sherry could not enjoy the bubbly alcohol. She casually pushed the champagne flute toward the middle of the table and sipped her water.

“Oh my. How rude of me. It’s just a natural instinct to start every meal with a bottle. Do you mind?” he asked as he raised his glass to his mouth.

“No. Go ahead,” she said, waving her hand in his direction.

She closed her menu and surveyed the room. She wondered if there were any notable celebrities here tonight. Then realized she was seated beside one, and that people were also looking at her.

“I had a strange dream,” she started, trying to break the ice.

“Yes?” Richard said, never lifting his eyes from his menu.

“In it, we were getting married, by the gazebo on your property.”

Richard looked up, finally. She saw that his eyes looked tired, and thought that maybe this whole thing was hard on him, too. “Do you think it means something?” he asked.

“You know, I just don’t know. To be honest, I’m having a hard time piecing together events lately. Clearly we created a life. But I have no recollection of ever being married.”

The water interrupted, “Mrs. Black, the usual?”

Sherry looked confused, but nodded.

“My usual?” she said to Richard, as the waiter walked away. “If we were married and this was our ‘usual’ place, why don’t either of us remember?”

“I don’t know,” confided Richard, and I haven’t built my name and multi-million dollar career on not knowing. I will get to the bottom of it.”

“Well, I can’t wait to find out what my usual is.”

They both laughed as the tension fell away, and clinked their glasses.

“Celebrating finding out the father of your baby?” a rude woman chided as she passed their table. Within minutes, Richard’s security guards had her removed.

***

They returned to the mansion and Sherry thanked him for a lovely evening and walked to her room.

Richard headed to his study and summoned his stepmother to join him.

“I want to know,” he demanded.

“Know what, darling?” she smiled as she poured herself a short glass of scotch.

“I want to know the whole story of me and Sherry and this baby. You know something and you need to come clean.”

“What makes you think I know anything?” she asked as she looked out the tall window at the setting sun.

“Don’t play coy with me, mother. You know what happened.”

“What? What happened?” demanded Marlene as she walked into the study.

“Richard needs to know how babies are made, apparently.”

The two women laughed as Richard tapped his pen on his desk.

“Well, Richard …” Marlene whispered as she touched her hand to his. He jerked away from her and stood up.

“What the hell is going on here! This is my house! If there is information you’re hiding, it needs to be revealed. Now!” he demanded.

The two women looked at each other and smiled.

***

Back in her room, Sherry soaked in the warm tub longer than usual. What seemed like a great idea heading in soon felt like a bad idea when she couldn’t get herself out. When she finally did, she wrapped herself in her bathrobe and made her way to the bed, trying to catch her breath. “Button, you are getting so big. Whew, Mommy can’t get around so easily anymore.”

She slid her feet onto the silk slippers that coordinated with her bathrobe, all handpicked by her stylist, then wrapped her hair in a towel and ventured out into the hallway. She made her way to the kitchen where she located a teapot. She began to fill it with water when Marlene entered.

“Out of your room, I see.”

“Is that not allowed?”

“Well. You don’t have to make your own tea. Someone can bring it to you.”

“Oh. I don’t mind.”

Marlene opened a wooden box lined with velvet and a variety of flavored tea. Sherry picked one from the box and placed it into a tea cup.

“Would you like a cup?” she asked Marlene.

“No, thanks. I don’t drink tea.”

Sherry carried her cup of tea and saucer to the small table by the window. She sat down and looked around the grand kitchen.

“That table is usually for the help, on their lunch break,” snapped Marlene.

“Oh, it works just fine for me,” smiled Sherry

Sherry just felt good being out of her room, out in what felt a little more like the real world. She slowly sipped her tea and hoped Marlene would leave. There was something about her that Sherry didn’t trust. Granted, she was living in this mansion being treated like a spoiled prisoner, but her interactions with Marlene were always short and tense. She felt resented by her and wasn’t sure why.

Actually, giving it further thought, maybe she did know why. Did Marlene want to be the one carrying Richard’s baby? Was she jealous of Sherry? Sherry couldn’t imagine anyone being jealous of her current situation.

Marlene lingered in the kitchen, tidying up and typing things into her smartphone. An intercom voice summoned her to the garage and she left. With no one around, Sherry enjoyed her hot cup of tea, even propping her feet up on the chair next to her.

She could hear voices in the hallway getting closer. The chattering voices entered the kitchen, not realizing she was there. “What if I don’t love her?”

“You will. You loved her before and you can …”

Richard and his stepmother froze in their steps, spotting Sherry sipping her tea. In an effort to avoid the awkwardness, Sherry stared into her tea cup, pretending not to hear them. She fought back her emotions, looked up and smiled politely.

“Oh, hello. We didn’t know you were in here. Is everything okay?”

“Just fine. Sipping some tea before bed.”

“I always thought of tea as a morning drink,” said Evelyn.

“Oh I enjoy it in the morning, too.” They all laughed, waiting for the awkward conversation to end.

Waiting for someone to leave and pretend none of this had ever happened, a lot like my relationship with Richard, Sherry thought.

Sherry took her last sip and struggled to get out of the chair. “Well. Goodnight.”

“Here. Let me help you,” Richard offered, reaching for her arm. “I’ll … I’ll walk you to your room.”

“Thank you,” Sherry blushed, as Evelyn looked on with a pleased expression.

Richard walked beside her down the long corridor.

“Did you enjoy dinner?”

“Oh yes. I’m still full. Thank you.”

Sherry opened her door and turned back to say goodnight. Richard was standing closer to her now.

“I really enjoyed your company tonight. I’m looking forward to piecing together our past. Together.” He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

“Uh, me too,” she smiled bashfully and entered her room alone.

She tucked herself into her bed and laid the journal on her lap. She began to write.

Richard kissed me. He kissed me on the cheek, but he kissed me. I felt a spark and a feeling that I’ve felt before. Something about his kiss made him feel familiar to me. It made me feel like he’d done that a thousand times before. Who would have thought that this powerful, wealthy man could be so gentle? I wanted so badly to reach my arms out to him. Instead I ran inside and went to bed like a little schoolgirl. What if this is love? What if this whole trip to bring me here actually results in us falling in love, or falling back in love? What if we’re about to become a happy little family?

Sherry closed the journal and threw her head back on the stack of pillows. “I could get used to this life, button,” she whispered. “And so could you. So could you.”