The Playboy's Baby: A BWWM Pregnancy Romance (6 page)

“Margarita!” Danielle shrieked.

“I’m just repeating what I heard,” Margarita said with a playful smirk.

Janie stuck her fingers in her lukewarm drink and flicked water at Margarita in response.

The waitress arriving with their food stopped Margarita’s retaliation.

“Don’t worry, you’ll make a great mom,” Danielle said once their food was delivered.

“Thanks,” Janie said as she speared an asparagus. “I guess I’m just second guessing myself. I never thought I’d have to do it alone. Do you know how much formula costs?”

Margarita and Danielle shook their heads. Janie sighed as she scooped up a spoonful of mashed potatoes. “I keep wondering, how many weeks of maternity leave should I take? How long will I be able to continue working at the same level? It is so hard to keep putting steak on the menu when the sight of raw beef makes me want to hurl all over the kitchen.”

“Poor thing,” Danielle cooed. Margarita slid her filet mignon out of Janie’s eyesight.

“What about the baby’s father? Will he be any help?” Danielle asked.

Margarita raised an eyebrow. Janie dropped her gaze to her plate as she drowned her mashed potatoes in fatty gravy. “I’m not sure,” she finally said, pushing away her plate. “I kind of dropped the news on him when I ran out, so we haven’t had a chance to talk about it.” She reached for her glass of water but set it back down. What she really wanted was a shot of Danielle’s tequila.

“Are you going to tell us who it is?” Margarita asked. “Your besties ought to know this kind of gossip.”

“It’s complicated,” Janie said. “I didn’t know he was engaged at the time.”

“Engaged? That’s nothing,” Margarita said with the shake of her head. “Married is one thing, but we can work with engaged. That means there’s still time to call it off.”

“It’s been called off,” Janie agreed. “If you believe the papers, his fiancée found out about the blonde plaything he kept on the side and flew out of state. But his assistant said the fiancée was the one who cheated first and he called it off. But now the fiancée is back and I think that means they are back together. That’s kind of why we're fighting.”

“And how does that make you feel?” Danielle asked.

Janie sighed. “Confused. Frustrated. I don’t know. Maybe a little happy? Is it awful that I feel good that they are cheating on each other?”

Danielle nodded yes at the same time Margarita said, “Hell, no.” The table erupted into laughter.

“Forget about him,” Margarita said. “You don’t need him anyway. You know Danielle and I will be the best aunties your baby could ever want.”

Danielle nodded and smiled but Janie couldn’t help but laugh.

“You don’t think Danielle and I would make good babysitters?” Margarita asked. Her voice rose with each word until she was so loud, businessmen from the bar put down their drinks to turn and stare at the trio.

“Have you ever changed a diaper before?” Janie half-whispered.

“Have I ever…?” Margarita huffed, louder than ever. But Janie noticed she didn’t answer the question.

“Soothed a teething baby? Cleaned spit up? Sung a lullaby?”

“I’ll have you know I was the leading singer in my high school’s choir. I had a solo in the annual Christmas concert that was televised,” Margarita announced.

Janie raised a questioning eyebrow.

“Locally,” Margarita admitted, and the table erupted in laughter again.

“I have to use the restroom before I pee my pants,” Janie said between laughs. “I’ll be right back, guys,” she added, pushing up from the table.

“You want one of us to come with you?” Danielle asked.

“No,” Janie said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I’m fine. You guys order another round. I’ll be right back.”

She weaved her way through the pretty blonde waitresses and the waiters laden down with expensive cheese plates and fancy French wines. She sighed as she passed happy couples, wishing she had someone special to share this moment with. While she appreciated her friends and everything they were trying to do for her, she knew they couldn’t distract her from Raymond forever.

In fact, she was distracted as she pushed open the restroom door. She was looking down at her phone, checking for missed texts or calls from Raymond in Milan. Pushing the door open too fast, she bumped into a stately woman standing too close to the door.

“Oh my gosh, I’m terribly sorry,” Janie said as the contents of the woman’s purse spilled onto the floor.

“No, that was my fault, I was standing too close,” the woman said. “I should pay more attention.”

Janie knelt down to help the woman gather her things. The woman was beautiful with silver hair swept into an elegant side ponytail. She had a regal quality about her that Janie thought she recognized. Janie wracked her brain as she grabbed the woman’s wallet. Maybe the woman had been at Raymond’s party. Her Gucci hand bag and sparkling diamond necklace said she would fit in with that crowd. Janie had just decided that she recognized the woman from Raymond’s yacht when she saw the woman’s identification through the clear sleeve of her wallet. “Oh my gosh,” Janie said. “You’re India Montenegro, the designer.”

“Yes,” India said as she placed the last of her belongings back into her purse. “Do we know each other?”

“No,” Janie blushed. “We’ve never met, but I recently wore a gown you designed. It was absolutely gorgeous. The most beautiful dress I’ve ever worn.”

“Thank you so much my dear,” India said. She stood and smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her cashmere skirt. “Was it for a special occasion?”

“It was a gift.” Janie smiled, even though she was supposed to be forgetting about Raymond. It seemed like wherever she went, there were always constant reminders of her time with Raymond. “It was mostly sheer, with red sequined flowers covering a lot of the exposed skin. Very tasteful, even though there was quite a bit of exposed skin.”

“Ah, yes,” India said. Her eyes twinkled as she pressed her hands together in a steeple. “Raymond Whitehorn’s masterpiece.”

“You remember?” Janie asked, impressed.

“Of course,” India smiled. Janie could see the pride of her work in India’s rosy red cheeks. “I generally remember my designs, but this dress I remember because it was so special. Raymond designed it himself.”

“He did?” Janie asked. She didn’t know Raymond was interested in design. She assumed he’d had an assistant like Gary pick up the first red or green Christmas dress in her size.

“Absolutely,” India explained. “Raymond was the perfect client to work with. He knew exactly what he wanted and exactly how it would look. But I am a little confused,” the designer confessed. She stepped forward and took Janie’s wrist in both her hands. Her fingers were soft and smooth. Janie blushed at the intimate contact, but didn’t back away. India was like the sweetest grandmother and Janie felt safe in her hands. “Raymond said this dress had to be perfect because it was for the girl he loved.”

Janie stumbled backwards, but didn’t break contact with the designer. India squeezed her arm harder. “Loved?” Janie managed to squeak when she regained her composure.

“Yes. He specifically said it was for the girl he was going to marry. I assumed that meant his fiancée, although I’d read in the papers that they were having trouble.” India released Janie’s arm and smiled. “Now I see why they were having trouble.”

“It wasn’t like that, I mean, not exactly…” Janie blushed, but India waved away her embarrassment.

“Please, sweetheart. You don’t have to explain it to me. People are in relationships for so many different reasons, and Raymond’s father can be a bear to deal with. I’m just so glad that Raymond found someone that he can truly be happy with. The papers be damned,” she added.

“Thank you,” Janie said as India exited the restroom, leaving Janie alone to sort out exactly what any of that meant.

The Final Chapter

Raymond sank into his leather office chair and sighed. He was relieved that Gary agreed to go to Milan alone. Gary was more than capable of taking care of a quick business transaction, and that gave Raymond time to focus on some of the personal issues he had at home. He didn’t need to run away to Milan to forget about the crisis he was in. Despite what everyone kept telling him, he wanted to take care of this once and for all.

“Mr. Whitehorn?” his secretary buzzed. “Your appointment is here.”

“Send her in,” Raymond commanded. He tightened his tie and straightened the nameplate on his desk. It was time.

Denise stepped through the door looking as impeccable as she had when she stormed the yacht and ruined the most perfect weekend he’d had in years. Why she thought she could just come on his yacht was still beyond Raymond, and he was furious that her audacity had upset Janie and ruined the reconnecting the two had done. Janie was just starting to trust him again when Denise took it upon herself to create drama that Raymond didn’t want in his life. He was tired of it all and he was about it put an end to it.

“Raymond, darling,” Denise said as she sauntered across the room. She moved in for two air kisses before plopping on the seat across from Raymond. “So you finally feel like talking to me about this weekend, and you ask me to meet you at your office like a common banker? Let’s get out of here and talk about this over dinner and a bottle of wine at La Chandeau.”

Raymond grimaced. “Look, Denise, what I have to say won’t take long. There aren’t going to be any more dinners or parties or trips on the yacht. You and I are over. Really, we never were anything to begin with, other than an experimental match between our fathers. That match failed. There’s nothing more to say.”

“Failed?” Denise cried. “I don’t think you understand. Nothing in my family fails. Now Raymond, I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but you and I have to figure out a way to make this work.”

“Why?” Raymond asked. He leaned back in his seat and tucked his hands in his suspenders.

“Why what?” Denise asked distractedly as she checked her compact mirror and reapplied her lipstick.

“Why do you have ‘to make this work?’ You and I are both obviously interested in other people, so let’s just let bygones be bygones and go our separate ways.”

Denise looked up from her mirror and leveled her smoky eyes on Raymond. “Is this about the woman on the yacht? Really? I thought she was just a little tart that you were having fun with.”

“Please don’t talk about her like that.” Raymond clenched his jaw.

Denise held up her hand in apology. “Fine, yes, whatever. I mean, if she’s important to you, then by all means, keep her on the side. As long as you are discreet, I don’t have a problem with that.” Denise clicked her compact shut and dropped it into her handbag.

“Do you hear yourself?” Raymond asked, barely controlling the anger in his shaky voice. “I don’t want to have her on the side. I want her in my life full-time.”

“Is this because she said she was pregnant?” Denise’s voice held a dark quality to it that stung Raymond. “That’s the oldest trick in the book. I sincerely hope you aren’t going to throw away the most powerful marriage in the country over some lying bimbo...”

“Enough!” Raymond shouted. He slammed his fist on the desk. Denise jumped and clutched her handbag a little closer to her chest. “I don’t know how else to say this. I want you out of my life. This is over.”

“Don’t be absurd,” Denise argued. The earlier anger in her voice had melted, leaving only a confused sadness.

“I’m sorry,” Raymond said with a shake of his head. “It’s nothing personal, but I love her.”

Denise snorted. “You love her? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!” She stood up so fast she almost overturned her chair. “If you think my father and I are going to stand for this…this betrayal, you have another thing coming. I will destroy you in the media. You’re dumping me for a pregnant, lowlife chef? I’ll crucify her. She’ll never work in this city again.”

“Don’t you dare,” Raymond shouted, his anger enunciated on each word. “If you say one thing about her I will tell everyone who will listen what a little whore the president’s daughter is. How you cheated on me and ruined this engagement with your infidelities.”

“Yeah?” Denise snorted. She snatched up her purse and turned her back on Raymond as she strutted for the door. “I have contacts in every media outlet in this city. Who is going to listen to you?” She waited, one hand on the door, for Raymond’s response.

“You’re right,” he agreed. Denise relaxed her grip on the door, a wicked smiled spreading across her face. “You might have contacts in the city, but I do quite a bit of business outside of the country. I wonder what other dignitaries and nationalities will think of our country when they hear what a whore the president’s daughter is.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Denise snarled. Her hand on the door shook as much as her wavering voice.

“Try me,” Raymond replied. His voice was as smooth as silk. He even managed a smile as he watched Denise stumble out his office door.

***

The next morning, Janie surveyed the morning bustle of the kitchen as her staff prepared for yet another Christmas luncheon. She admired the fresh caviar, dipped a tasting spoon into the lamb’s soy sauce and ginger marinade, and added salt to the leek soup simmering on the stove. Relieved that her kitchen was in capable hands that morning, Janie took her decaf coffee into her office and sank into her chair. She was already exhausted. She kicked off her heels and took a deep breath, resting her head in her hands. She didn’t know how she could continue working these crazy restaurant hours.

Before Janie could start to feel too sorry for herself, Margarita burst into her office. Janie looked up from her spot at the desk. Margarita had a gigantic smile spread across her face. Her cheeks were a rosy red as if she ran in a marathon instead of just across the kitchen. She shuffled her stance from foot to foot and cradled a newspaper against her chest.

“Not now Margarita, I’m feeling a little nauseous this morning—”

“This is important,” Margarita commanded. She plopped down in the chair opposite of Janie.

Janie shrugged. She didn’t have the energy to argue with Margarita, even if she thought that would help the situation. “At least shut the door then,” Janie said.

Just then, Danielle jumped into the doorway, startling Janie. “Have you shown her yet?” Her breath was airy and energized. She had a smile that rivaled Margarita’s for wattage. Janie glanced between her two best friends.

“What’s going on?”

Danielle giggled as she shut the door. When she was perched on the edge of Margarita’s chair, Margarita leaned forward and spread the magazine she’d been holding across Janie’s desk. It was New York City’s premiere gossip magazine. Normally, Janie didn’t take stock in those kinds of stories, but lately she’d discovered there was sometimes some truth within all the gossip and accusations. She read the headline.

SPLITSVILLE FOR RAYMOND WHITEHORN AND FIANCEE

She tried not to let too much emotion leech into her face as she looked up at her friends again, but they were both smiles and giggles as they scanned over the pages they must have already read one hundred times.

“Keep reading,” Margarita coaxed.

Janie rolled her eyes but looked back down at the paper and read.

According to a reliable inside source, the separation between New York City elite Raymond Whitehorn and the president’s daughter is no longer temporary. A spokesperson for the president said Denise separated from Whitehorn when she suspected he had cheated on her, but ended the engagement permanently when she discovered Whitehorn’s girlfriend was pregnant. The girlfriend has yet to be identified, but was sighted at Whitehorn’s yacht last weekend where the two shared a romantic tryst. Rumors suggest that the unnamed woman is a waitress and the two met during the election party where Whitehorn announced his engagement—

“A waitress?” Janie said as she threw down the paper. “I guess being a chef wasn’t sensational enough for the story.”

The room was silent for three seconds as Janie stewed. Margarita and Danielle gaped at Janie, their mouths open in matching surprise. Then they each squealed in delight as they launched into a line of questions.

“What is he like? Is he gorgeous?” Danielle pressed her hand to her heart and mock swooned.

“Fantastic in bed?” Margarita added. She bobbed her head, encouraging Janie to nod hers in agreement.

Janie smiled. She held out her hands to ward off her friends’ continuous questions. “I plead the fifth,” she murmured.

“The heck you are,” Margarita said. “We want details. We’re not leaving this office until you’ve told us everything.”

“I can’t believe you're sleeping with the city’s most powerful man,” Danielle added.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us,” Margarita snorted. “Our best friend is the woman that caused this city’s biggest breakup of the year, and we have to read about it in the newspaper.” Danielle shoved her shoulder but Margarita’s grin just spread.

“I didn’t know what to say,” Janie said. “The first time was so wonderful, and then he announced his engagement. So I thought it was a one night stand. Then I got pregnant and things got…” She took a breath as she searched for the right word to describe her relationship with Raymond.

“Insane?” Danielle suggested.

“Sexy?” Margarita quipped.

“Complicated,” Janie substituted. She drummed her fingers against the edge of the desk, brushing her knuckles lightly against the curled edges of the newspaper.

Danielle and Margarita exchanged a glance. After a few moments of silence, Danielle asked, “Do you love him?”

“More importantly, does he love you?” Margarita added.

Janie looked up at her friends. She couldn’t help but catch their enthusiasm and joy. She allowed herself to relax and found she wanted her smile to match the brightness of her friends’ smiles. She wrapped her arms around herself and brushed her fingers lightly against her belly.

“Yeah, I think I do.”

Danielle jumped up to give Janie a crushing hug. “And we know he loves you, if he’s willing to break up with the president’s daughter to be with you. Wow, you are so lucky,” she added as she pulled away from Janie. Tears glistened in Danielle’s eyes and Janie found herself matching her friend’s emotion.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” she added after a deep breath to control her tears.

“I know I’m right,” Danielle said, patting Janie’s hand. “This is the best thing that could ever have happened to you.”

“Let’s keep this under wraps though, for the time being, okay? I don’t want the whole kitchen to know my business right now.”

Danielle and Margarita nodded as they stood up and moved toward the door. Janie stayed behind her desk. She wanted a minute to control her emotions before she went back out into the kitchen to take care of the rest of the work that needed done today.

Danielle murmured to Margarita as she pushed open the door, “Can you believe it? Raymond Whitehorn.”

“Unbelievable,” Margarita agreed. “When she said he was engaged, I had no idea she meant to the president’s daughter. Just incredible.”

Janie laughed as her friends moved back into the kitchen and her door swung shut. They were right, in a way. It really was incredible.

That afternoon a courier came into the restaurant with a box of long-stemmed roses and an I’m Sorry note from Raymond. The package was followed almost immediately by a phone call.

“I assume you saw the paper,” Raymond said without preamble.

“I did,” Janie said as she stepped into her office, shooing away Margarita as she sunk into the desk chair for the first time all afternoon. “I’m sorry, but I really don’t have time to talk. Thank you for the flowers, they are lovely, but I have two hundred e-mails to answer and fourteen return phone calls to make to journalists who want to run an exclusive story on what it is like to be the baby mama to New York City’s finest screw up.”

Raymond laughed uncomfortably on the other line. “I hope that’s a joke.”

Janie smiled at the sound of Raymond’s laugh and found herself relaxing for the first time all day. “I am busy, though,” she said. “I have a lot of last minute Christmas cookies to make and box, and fruitcakes that still need delivered…”

“I understand you’re busy so I won’t keep you. I don’t want this to affect your business in any way.”

“I’m not worried about it,” Janie said. “This will all blow over in a few days. Until then, I can be very discreet.”

“Noted,” Raymond said. “Before I let you go, I thought you’d be happy to know that I realize what a big mistake I made.”

Janie kicked off her shoes and rubbed her swollen calves. “I’m happy that you decided not to marry someone for money or power or family peer pressure. And I’m impressed that you’re not too proud to admit that out loud.”

Raymond chuckled into the phone. “Well, I’m happy to hear that you are impressed with me. But I don’t consider allowing myself to be engaged to Denise my biggest mistake. The stupidest thing I did was let you leave my boat. I should have chased after you and explained.”

Janie sighed into the phone. “There’s nothing to explain. I overreacted when I saw Denise. I knew you had a fiancée, that wasn’t a secret. I shouldn’t have stormed out of there or dropped that news on you so carelessly. I’m sorry.” Silence greeted Janie on the other end of the line. “Raymond?”