poured them into a car and had them taken home. I never let them see my house beyond the basement and I never shared anything personal with them. Then I found Vicki crying in my hallway that day and my mindset totally changed.
I was pissed off at Cassandra that day and when I first saw her I thought, “Oh great, another needy woman.” I almost left her there and walked on by. But when her eyes met mine and I saw the genuine pain in them… the first genuine feelings I think I’d seen from any woman in such a long time, I couldn’t resist. I thought I’d take her downstairs and we’d have a drink or two and I could get my mind off of Cassandra and her nonsense. Once we were down there and we started talking, I was hooked. I had always thought she was beautiful, but I wasn’t going to cheat on my wife and I wasn’t going to come on to the staff. But that day it was different. Cheating on my wife was removed from the equation and suddenly Vicki was more to me than just “staff.” She was a vibrant, emotional, intelligent, funny, gorgeous woman and I would have had to be dead to not be affected by her. That day and night were the best of my life so far and every time I think about it now, I still get a warm feeling that floods my entire system. I still want her and every time I’ve seen her since, I’ve ached for her.
When I told my attorney about the pregnancy test and he asked me how the “affair” happened… I told him it was all me. I came on to her. I saw the surprise on her face that day. I saw that she wanted me too, but she was scared. I was the aggressor. I took advantage of her and if she had sued me for sexual harassment, I wouldn’t have been surprised. But she didn’t and she didn’t say another word about it. She was willing to leave it be and let me make the next move if there were to be one. I told him all of that, and his conclusion for her leaving the test for me to find it was “blackmail.” He said she was blackmailing me and she wanted me to offer her money to give up the baby… he’d actually said, “abort.” That word made me sick and I told him not to use it again. If she consented to “give up” the baby, it would be only to me. I would make sure of that.
I’m a smart man, some say a brilliant businessman, but I am not well known for my social skills or my ability to maintain relationships. I give away too much of my money to charity and just to anyone who I think needs it, at least I used to. My father hired Noel to oversee my legal affairs before he and my mother retired to Tuscany. He said I was “too soft” and that anything that even smelled like a legal issue should be handled by Noel. So, when I found the test, I called him and now here we are. I want Vicki. I want the baby. I want a family. Noel says I can’t have that and keep my money. The truth is, if I knew for sure that he was wrong and that Vicki wasn’t doing any of this for money, I’d gladly give it all away and take her and the baby instead. I can make more money. I doubt that I’ll ever meet another woman that makes me feel the way that she does.
CHAPTER NINE
VICTORIA
I had to stop two more times before I got home from the mansion to throw up. My head was pounding and I felt like my heart had just exploded in my chest. I couldn’t believe this. If there wasn’t something missing from the house and they suspected me, then the only other reason for this would be that Alex found the pregnancy test. But to have me fired over it, and not even speak to me himself… was I that wrong about him? I’d seen him as a man of compassion, kindness and honesty. Could I have misjudged him that badly?
As I had these thoughts, I pulled into the lot in front of my apartment complex. I parked in my usual spot and made my way around towards the door and that’s when I saw them. There was a large, black car and more men in dark suits. They were parked directly outside of my door.
Shan
Tara Fox Hall
Michel Faber
Rachel Hollis
Paul Torday
Cam Larson
Carolyn Hennesy
Blake Northcott
Jim DeFelice
Heather Webber