The Baby Contract ((The women of Landry's Landing and the Fabrizio men)) (3 page)

One of the men caught her attention more than the others, the one standing between two of the shorter men. He was a bit taller and he looked older than two of them but not by much and maybe the same age as the one standing on the end to his right.

His grey eyes shined brightly, as he flashed his pearly whites at the camera. She read the caption underneath the photo out loud.

“
The next generation of Fabrizio’s inherits family Empire.”

“You have got to be kidding me?” she said staring unblinking at the computer screen.

India urged her on. “Click on it so we can read the article.”

“Yeah, come on we want to hear what it says.” Asia said excitedly.

Clicking on the caption the article opened and she begin to read.

The four men are very close and look forward to running the company together as

“Well that was interesting.” Asia said.

“Yeah but it still does not explain why
he was here, talking to Gigi.” India replied.

“You're right, it doesn't
.”
Asia added.

“Okay Gigi, spill it why was Mr. Too-sexy-for-words here and what were you two talking about.” India demanded.

Egypt pulled her bottom lip between her teeth wandering if she should tell her sisters what Pierce had told her about the baby. She remembered what happened the last time she kept something from them. Deciding she'd better tell them before they found out some other way.

“Pierce was he because he wanted to talk to me about the baby.”

“What does he have to do with your baby?” India asked looking very confused.

Egypt looked at both her sisters for a moment before averting her eyes as she rubbed her large stomach.

“Well it seems that it was
his
sperm that the clinic used for the insemination procedure.” Both India and Asia jumped to their feet as they yelled simultaneously.

“What? He's your baby's father?”

“Yes, he's my baby's father, and he wants me to marry him.”

Chapter Four

“He wants you to do WHAT?” India exclaimed loudly, as she stared down at Gigi.

“This is awesome, when is the wedding?” Asia asked excitedly. Gigi and India both turned their wide eyed gaze to their little sister.

returned her gaze to the images on her laptop. Both sisters reclaimed their seats on either side of Gigi.

“So what are you going to do about your baby daddy?” Asia said with a very ghetto accent as she giggled.

India and Egypt began to laugh uncontrollably.

“That's not funny.” Egypt said once she stopped laughing. “I don't know what to do about him I mean I'm not sure why he wants to marry me. We don't even know each other.”

India took Egypt's laptop and placed it on the coffee table.

“Well at least you know that he's not after your money, one because you don't have any and two because he's a billionaire tycoon. I'd say you have a lot to think about.”

“Think about, what's there to think about. Your baby’s father wants to marry you. He's fine as all get out and he's rich.” Asia said in a serious tone, which earned her a hard stare from both her sisters.

“What
I'm
saying is the only thing Gigi
should
be thinking about is what she should wear to the wedding, and about the wedding night.”

“Okay you need to stop talking now, Asia.” India replied. “Let's give Gigi some time alone, why don't you go take a warm bath so you can soak those swollen feet of yours.” Gigi smiled at her big sister who was always trying to take care of her and Asia. Every time she or Asia got into trouble it was always India who was there to bail them out. She was the best big sister anyone could ask for.

When she'd told her about wanting to get the artificial insemination, she’d understood her desire to be a mother, and her not wanting to get involved with another good-for-nothing, man in order to have the baby she wanted.

“Thanks Indy a warm bath would be great, even though I just had a quick shower that didn’t help my swollen feet.”

India looked at Asia. “Would you be a doll and go run Gigi's bath, remember don’t get the water too hot.” Asia hopped up from her seat on the couch, and headed to Gigi's suite to run her bath, stopping halfway there. She glanced back over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes at India.

“Oh, I get it send baby sister out of the room so that the grownups can talk. Well I am not a baby anymore, India so stop treating me like one.”

India stood from her seat on the sofa, crossing both her arms over her chest. She raised one of her eyebrows as she looked at her little sister. “Look here little girl, I was not treating you like a baby, but if you keep acting like one I can change that. Now go run Gigi's bath.”

Asia turned away mumbling her displeasure as she left the room. Gigi and India giggled as they heard her mumbled complaints.

“We love you too, Asia.” They both said in unison.

“Whatever!” Was the only comment she tossed over her shoulder before disappearing into Gigi's suite.

India seat down next to Gigi, taking one of her hands in both of hers, she gently squeezed. “I have always stood behind you and I always will, whatever you decide I will support you.”

Gigi pulled India in for a sisterly embrace. “Thank you, Indy that means a lot to me.”

Pierce was meeting with Giovanni, the man that was not only his cousin but, he’d been raised as his brother and was also his best friend. If it hadn't been for Gio's keen detective work, Pierce would have been tricked into marrying a lying, little gold digger. Being forever doomed to an unloving, cold hearted, conveying, selfish little witch, whose only concern was for herself.

Pierce had promised to let him know what happened with Egypt Landry. After finding out all he could about the Landry sisters, Giovanni had given him photos of Egypt and her sisters and as much of their family as he could come up with. He'd even found information on the low-life ex-boyfriend that had stolen money from her and her sisters.

Pierce planned to deal with that situation at his earliest convenience. That little detail Gigi didn't need to know anything about. Pretty sure that she wouldn't approve of the way he intended to handle the little thief. Needless to say he wouldn't be conning any more innocent women anytime soon.

Gio was waiting for him at a table near the back of the Italian restaurant with a glass of wine in hand and a plate of chicken Marsala in front of him. He stood when he saw Pierce approaching; they greeted each other with their usual brotherly embrace as Gio asked.

“So did you talk to the mother of your baby?”

Pierce took a sit in the empty chair across the table. The waiter was there at his side to take his order as soon as he sat down. “I'll have what he's having, thanks Marco.”

“Yes, I spoke with her.” Pierce replied.

“And how did that go?” Gio responded as he used the cloth napkin to wipe the corners of his mouth, before replacing it on the table next to his plate.

“I'm not sure yet, she was tired from waiting tables in the dining room of the Inn, so I told her that I'd see her tomorrow.” Pierce answered, placing a linen napkin over one of his muscular thighs.

“This is probably a stupid question but why was she waiting tables in her condition?”

“She said that they were short staffed so she was filling in.”

Gio glanced at Pierce with a raised brow as he slung one arm over the back of his chair. “I hope you plan to do something to make sure that doesn’t happen again. She is seven months pregnant she doesn’t need to be on her feet all day like that. ”

Before Pierce could respond Marco brought his order to the table after he thanked the young man he turned his attention back to Gio. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his wide chest.

“Hell, don’t you think I know that, but there’s not much I can do until she agrees to marry me.” Pierce snapped.

“Well I suggest you stop getting mad at me and figure out how to make that happen.” Gio said not bothered the slightest bit at Pierce snapping. He was the only one that could handle Pierce no matter what mood he was in. Everyone else ran for cover when Pierce was in one of his less than pleasant moods. Of the four brothers he and Pierce were the closest growing up the two had been practically inseparable even now they the best of friends.

Giovanni and Pierce had similar facial features high cheekbones, a perfectly shaped nose, a handsomely squared jaw line and sexy cleft chin. But unlike Pierce, Giovanni’s skin tone was much darker almost bronze in color. His eyes were a mixture of green and gold with flecks of blue, the color was very unusual. His raven black hair was extremely wavy unlike his brothers whose hair was just as black but silky straight.

Pierce glanced up at Giovanni before taking a sip of his wine as he placed the glass on the table in front of him he spoke to his brother and best friend in much calmer tone. “What do you suggest I do to convince her Gio?”

“Hey you’re a smart man I know you can think of something. Think about it, what’s important to her?” Gio said with a smile as he lifted his wine glass to his lips.

Pierce thought for a moment before a smile spread across his face. “Landry’s Landing Inn, that’s pretty important to her and so are her sister’s.”

Gio laughed. “Now you’re thinking big brother.”

Pierce didn’t waste any time pulling his cell phone from his pocket he went to work on his plan.

Egypt lay in bed later that night unable to sleep. Her mind was filled with images of Pierce Fabrizio every time she closed her eyes she could see his grey eyes staring back at her. He had to be the sexiest man she’d ever seen. Well except for Dwayne “the rock” Johnson, but that didn’t count because she’s never had the pleasure of seeing him in person.

What she couldn’t seem to figure out was why would a man that fine and that rich want to marry her? Even if she was carrying his baby that didn’t mean they should get married, this was not the old days women raised children alone all the time. In her case she had her family so she wasn’t alone.

There had to be more to this story. Why else would he want to marry somebody like her? Before she agreed to anything she needed to know the whole story. It didn’t matter that she was attracted to him. What warm blooded woman wouldn't be? She was pregnant not blind. Even so this time she was not going to let attraction dictate her actions.

“Darn you Pierce Fabrizio for turning my life upside down.” Gigi said to the empty room. Just then the baby picked that moment to do a tumble and roll in her belly. She rubbed her stomach in an attempt to calm the baby down which was a waste of time because it didn’t work. The more she thought about Pierce the more the baby moved within her womb.

“What the heck is going on little one? You’re really having a field day in there tonight.” She said laughing. “This is just wonderful I’ll never be able to get to sleep with you doing cartwheels in there.” She dropped her legs over the side of the bed placing her feet on the floor as she sat up. She thought having a snack and a glass of milk would help calm the baby. She was about to head for the kitchen when her cell phone rang.

Frowning at the phone on her bed side table she wondered who could possibly be calling her. She glanced at the clock before picking up her phone it was twelve forty seven, not recognizing the number but she answered with curiosity.

“Hello!” Egypt said softly into the phone. There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

“Egypt, What are you doing up this time of night?” Pierce asked in a demanding tone.

She frowned again. “Hello to you too sunshine and excuse me but you called my phone at twelve forty seven in the morning remember?”