Read Online Carrying the Billionaire's Baby: A Clean BWWM Billionaire Romance (The Billionaire Baby Mystery Book 1) by Courtney King - Free Book Online
Authors: Courtney King
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later,” she said, deleting Dave’s message.
“I hope those plans don’t involve drinking,” Richard joked.
Evelyn interrupted the banter. “Let’s get back to the matter at hand. The press surrounding Richard and Sherry has turned negative. There have been a lot of negative reports about the two of you and it’s time for a positive spin.”
“Mrs. Black, if I may, why do we care so much about what the press says or thinks? Do we really have to explain ourselves to them? Do they need to know that I’m on bed rest? What business is it of theirs?”
“Their business runs our business, dear. Having a positive profile in the process can make or break this corporation. I don’t expect you understand it all, since you’ve just joined us. But know that you are being watched. We all are. What we do says more than what we say. We have to give them what they seek. It’s all a part of the game.
Richard stood up. “I was wondering the same, Mother. Maybe we should avoid the media this time. Remember, Sherry’s in a high risk pregnancy right now. I just don’t think she needs any added stress at the moment.”
“Then why is she here?” demanded Marlene.
The room sat silent as Marlene’s words hung in the air.
Sherry cleared her throat. “I’m here, Sherry, because I am a part of this family-slash-corporation now. I know that doesn’t sit well with you, but it’s a fact. I’m not sure what kind of relationship you and Richard once had, or you wished you had, but it doesn’t exist. So, as soon as you stop despising me for being Richard’s partner, the easier all of this will be.”
Richard squeezed Sherry’s hand and smiled.
Marlene grabbed her smartphone and ran out of the room.
“Okay. I think we’re done here,” said Evelyn. She gathered her things and left abruptly.
Richard sat down next to Sherry, rubbing her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Richard. Was I out of line? I just feel like it had to be said. Didn’t it?”
“I don’t know. It’s definitely what everyone was thinking. I don’t think there would really be any good time for that discussion.” He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. “Let’s get you back into bed and order you some lunch. I think you’ve had enough excitement today.”
Richard walked with Sherry back to their suite, arm in arm.
Chapter 12
That night, Marlene met Dave at a bar downtown. She sipped club soda and feigned interest in him as she gathered the information she needed to find out if he would be willing to help her get rid of Sherry, or at least make her want to leave Richard.
“Why do you want her out of the picture?” Dave asked as he sipped his beer and stared into Marlene’s eyes.
“She’s no good for Richard.”
“And you are?”
“Oh, that’s not it at all,” Marlene insisted.
“I think it is,” Dave retorted.
“No. I actually like younger men,” she said, leaning over the table to take a drink of his beer.
“Really?” Dave asked, thinking maybe his gentlemanly gesture last night had paid off.
“Yes. Things would just run so much smoother without Sherry there interrupting everything. She basically took over a meeting today. Something I’ve never seen Richard do before. He’s had girlfriends in the past, but none of them ever crossed that line.”
“Were any of them pregnant with his child?”
Marlene shouted, “Of course not! I just don’t feel like it’s good for the corporation. I don’t care what Richard does in his private life. I don’t care who he falls in love with.” She was rambling now, trying to convince herself of the words she was saying. “I don’t care that she’s pregnant with his child. I don’t care about any of that. I just want smooth sailing for the Black corporation and positivity for the future.”
“So. Where do I come in? How can I help?” Dave asked.
“Well, you can
“I hope those plans don’t involve drinking,” Richard joked.
Evelyn interrupted the banter. “Let’s get back to the matter at hand. The press surrounding Richard and Sherry has turned negative. There have been a lot of negative reports about the two of you and it’s time for a positive spin.”
“Mrs. Black, if I may, why do we care so much about what the press says or thinks? Do we really have to explain ourselves to them? Do they need to know that I’m on bed rest? What business is it of theirs?”
“Their business runs our business, dear. Having a positive profile in the process can make or break this corporation. I don’t expect you understand it all, since you’ve just joined us. But know that you are being watched. We all are. What we do says more than what we say. We have to give them what they seek. It’s all a part of the game.
Richard stood up. “I was wondering the same, Mother. Maybe we should avoid the media this time. Remember, Sherry’s in a high risk pregnancy right now. I just don’t think she needs any added stress at the moment.”
“Then why is she here?” demanded Marlene.
The room sat silent as Marlene’s words hung in the air.
Sherry cleared her throat. “I’m here, Sherry, because I am a part of this family-slash-corporation now. I know that doesn’t sit well with you, but it’s a fact. I’m not sure what kind of relationship you and Richard once had, or you wished you had, but it doesn’t exist. So, as soon as you stop despising me for being Richard’s partner, the easier all of this will be.”
Richard squeezed Sherry’s hand and smiled.
Marlene grabbed her smartphone and ran out of the room.
“Okay. I think we’re done here,” said Evelyn. She gathered her things and left abruptly.
Richard sat down next to Sherry, rubbing her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Richard. Was I out of line? I just feel like it had to be said. Didn’t it?”
“I don’t know. It’s definitely what everyone was thinking. I don’t think there would really be any good time for that discussion.” He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. “Let’s get you back into bed and order you some lunch. I think you’ve had enough excitement today.”
Richard walked with Sherry back to their suite, arm in arm.
Chapter 12
That night, Marlene met Dave at a bar downtown. She sipped club soda and feigned interest in him as she gathered the information she needed to find out if he would be willing to help her get rid of Sherry, or at least make her want to leave Richard.
“Why do you want her out of the picture?” Dave asked as he sipped his beer and stared into Marlene’s eyes.
“She’s no good for Richard.”
“And you are?”
“Oh, that’s not it at all,” Marlene insisted.
“I think it is,” Dave retorted.
“No. I actually like younger men,” she said, leaning over the table to take a drink of his beer.
“Really?” Dave asked, thinking maybe his gentlemanly gesture last night had paid off.
“Yes. Things would just run so much smoother without Sherry there interrupting everything. She basically took over a meeting today. Something I’ve never seen Richard do before. He’s had girlfriends in the past, but none of them ever crossed that line.”
“Were any of them pregnant with his child?”
Marlene shouted, “Of course not! I just don’t feel like it’s good for the corporation. I don’t care what Richard does in his private life. I don’t care who he falls in love with.” She was rambling now, trying to convince herself of the words she was saying. “I don’t care that she’s pregnant with his child. I don’t care about any of that. I just want smooth sailing for the Black corporation and positivity for the future.”
“So. Where do I come in? How can I help?” Dave asked.
“Well, you can
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