No, she didn’t want his money, not even close. The thought of accepting a handout made her angry; relying on the mercy of others to be able to survive wasn’t who she was.
Darby had gotten to where she was in life because she was an independent and hard-working woman and she’d relied on her blood, sweat, and tears to get her here, nothing else. She’d be damned if she accepted help from anyone else, least of all Phoenix Denton.
Of all the inconsiderate and shitty comments to make.
He would have his assistant call her?
What the actual fuck?
This wasn’t a dentist’s appointment, or something he could take care of by throwing money at it and sweeping it under the rug. She refused to be treated as such. If he wanted to have any part of their kid’s life then he needed to shape up, or ship out.
There was no in-between.
Ensconced in her self-righteous fury, she blazed through the next few days, going through the motions of her life, trying to wrap her head around the fact that life was growing inside of her, a miracle.
But beneath it all, her anger lurked, coiling and wrapping itself around her heart, and without the right person there to absorb it, it was in general, the unfairness of it not lost on her.
Phoenix should be in this with her, not for her sake but for the sake of their baby, a little person who needed to learn the importance of taking responsibility for their own actions.
Otherwise, what kind of lessons were they drilling into him?
What kind of example were they sitting?
The callousness of his response irked her beyond belief, and she found herself itchy and restless, jumping whenever her phone rang. Her traitorous heart skipped a beat whenever she imagined him calling, apologizing for his behavior and assuring her that he would be there.
Unfortunately, it was never him calling.
Life seemed to go on as normal, but she was the one who was different, expecting the change to be evident, obvious like bold colors on a canvas, but it wasn’t. It was far subtler than that, a waterfall gaining momentum.
And she was at the center of it, trying to navigate.
She sat in the back, legs dangling off the stool, playing a game on her phone, and she told herself to stop thinking, to resist the urge to check her calls, knowing that it was unlikely he had called.
Her phone rarely left her side, and when it did, it was in her back pocket, set to vibrate the whole time just in case. Though she honestly had no idea why she bothered. She supposed it was because a part of her wasn’t ready to write him off, not just yet.
After all, people could surprise her, change in ways she didn’t expect.
She’d seen proof of that firsthand with her father, a man who rose to the occasion when her mother died, becoming the kind of man he was supposed to all along. In the face of adversity, he thrived, pushing back and refusing to bow down.
That was the kind of father she hoped for, waited for, and prayed for.
In spite of her better judgment, she switched off the game and pulled up the internet browser, looking up Phoenix on Facebook. To her surprise, she had an instant hit, and there he was, staring up at her from his profile picture.
A CEO.
Wow.
Well, she hadn’t seen that twist coming. She wasn’t delusional, fully aware of the fact that Phoenix came from money, but she had no idea just what she was dealing with. Of course, she’d heard of his company, anyone who listened to or read the news did, but it didn’t make her like him anymore.
In fact, she liked him infinitely less, resentment burning a hole inside her belly.
He clearly had everything, and he had the gall to deny their baby just the tiniest bit of attention? Of acknowledgment? She had half a mind to march over to the building and bang on his door till he had no choice but to let her in.
Then he would have no choice but to listen.
However, in the back of her mind, she knew that this wasn’t a practical solution, not long term at least. She was trying to get through to Phoenix not alienate him, and she was sure he wouldn’t take her barging in on him at work, well, not even close.
Instead, she forced herself to swallow past the bile in her throat and leaped off the chair, sprinting into the bathroom, the cream cheese bagel she had already resurfacing. Afterward, she pressed her head against the wall, leaning against the cool frame for support.
Shit.
Darby didn’t want to do this alone, had never even considered that option, even when she used to dream of having kids, but it seemed she would have to whether she wanted to or not, with her back pressed against the wall and both hands tied behind her back.
It would become her reality.
Instinctively, her hand went to her stomach, and she glanced down, a thoughtful smile on her face. “Don’t worry. We’re going to get through this.”
She ran her hands back and forth over her small bump, imagining her baby’s face, soft features blanketed in innocence. “I’ve got you, little one.”
A wave of maternal instinct washed over her, and she swallowed, overwhelmed by it all, allowing it to douse out the fire inside her heart, the one with Phoenix’s name spelled out in bold letters, with a bullseye on top.
She wasn’t going to accept any kind of bullshit from him, regardless of whether or not he was the father of her unborn child, that much was clear. On cue, her phone rang, the screen lighting up with an unfamiliar number.
Darby pushed the stall door open, and switched on the faucet, running some cold water over her face. She swished some water around her mouth then spit it out, sliding the button to answer.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Enders?”
“Yes?”
“My name is Meri. I’m Mr. Denton’s assistant. You are supposed to be expecting my call.”
Darby pursed her lips, pulled the phone away from her ear and covered the earpiece, letting out a stream of colorful curse words, fitting of the situation. When her chest felt lighter, she took a deep breath then pressed the phone to her ear.
“Ms. Enders?” Meri asked, concerned. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m quite alright. Thank you,” Darby replied, smoothly. “I’m afraid you were misinformed.”
“I’m sorry?”
“I have no idea what Mr. Denton told you about the situation, but I am not some problem to be handled. If he wants to help, he can call me himself,” Darby informed her, punctuating each sentence with a pause.
Meri paused. “Would you like me to pass along a message?”
“Yes. Tell him that he needs to grow a pair of balls and pick up the damn phone because I will deal with him and only him,” Darby said, keeping her tone light and airy.
“Yes, ma’am. Anything else?”
To her credit, Meri didn’t sound surprised or shocked. She didn’t even sound disgruntled. In fact, if Darby didn’t know any better, she’d say she sounded amused, traces of laughter in her tone.
Then again, she worked for Phoenix, so it couldn’t have been the easiest job in the world, especially on days when she was ordered to make a phone call like this. It couldn’t have been easy for Meri, who just wanted to make a paycheck, and Darby felt a strong surge of pity towards her.
“No, thank you, Meri,” Darby replied, her tone softer. “I appreciate the offer, but it has to come from him.”
“Of course,” Meri agreed. “I’ll be sure to let Mr. Denton know what you said.”
A few seconds later, she heard the sound of the dial tone, and she sighed, slipping her phone back into her pocket. Darby placed her hands on either side of the sink, bracing herself.
Apparently, Phoenix was a man of his word.
Sure, his assistant called her two days later, leaving Darby to stew for two full days, but she had called, and she supposed it was something. It appeared he was capable, in some small degree at least, of sticking to his end of the deal.
There might be home for him yet, but she wouldn’t do things
his way.
If he expressed any desire beyond disgust or disbelief then he was welcome to be a part of the whole process. Other than that, she would keep him at arms’ length. The next few months were going to be hard enough as it is without his negativity weighing her down.
A week passed by with Darby knee-deep in work, picking up extra shifts here and there to start saving up, preparing herself, to the best of her ability, to welcome a tiny person. Her phone remained blissfully silent though she half expected another call, and her dreams were filled with Meri’s voice, holding her hand in the delivery room.
Her doctor’s appointment had gone well, better than she expected, and she’d felt a surge of love course through her, powerful and potent, unlike anything she ever felt. A wistful sense of nostalgia came over her, wishing that Phoenix was there to see it too.
Her phone buzzed, and she was surprised to see his name light up her screen.
“How was the thing?”
Darby forced herself to take a deep breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth, biting back the angry retort on the edge of her helps.
“The thing?” Darby repeated, incredulously. “The doctor’s appointment was fine if that’s what you were wondering. Our baby is the size of a lime right now and perfectly healthy too.”
“That’s good,” Phoenix offered, distractedly.
“Would you like to come to the next appointment?”
“Yeah, I think I would,” Phoenix answered, reluctantly.
“I’ll send you the details.”
Five
Phoenix
Okay, he had no idea what possessed him to agree to go with her. In all honesty, he’d intended to say no, but the word was lodged somewhere in the back of his throat, along with her message.
He didn’t think he’d ever seen Meri as amused as she was when she delivered the message, playing it back word for word, her lips twitching imperceptibly. He’d asked her if that was the exact message, and she played it for him, playing out the whole thing, verbatim.
At that moment, he’d been struck with the urge to throw his head back and laugh, a deep belly chuckle that made his entire body vibrate. She’d sounded so pissed, and it was the most refreshing thing he’d heard in a while.
It had been years since someone, other than his siblings at least, had the audacity to talk to him this way. Most of the time, people saw him as Phoenix Denton, co-CEO of one of the biggest contenders in the market, a force to be reckoned with, so they treated him as such.
A titan.
Not a man.
Even the women he was seen with treated him the same way, more interested in stoking his ego and keeping up to date with the latest fashion trends than they were in getting to know the man behind the mask, the playmaker making everyone else look good.
Darby was none of those things.
She was a breath of fresh air in a stale world, one he’d gotten too used to, and he had to admit that if it hadn’t been for her message, he’d have continued to stick his head in the sand and pretend like none of this was happening to him.
Detached and removed.
The idea of being a parent terrified the hell out of him, wounding its way around his heart and reminding him of all the ways he could fail, spectacularly too. More than anything else, he didn’t want to end up one of those fathers who talked at his kids not to them, and he didn’t want to be a deadbeat either.
Shit.
There was a whole plethora of ways to mess up, a wide array, and he knew that he was teetering dangerously close to the edge, plummeting to the jagged rocks below, becoming nothing but a memory.
Now, he had the chance to step up and be there, and he was struck with a sudden renewed sense of appreciation, for the fire that drove her forward, propelling her to do something, and her sense of morality, a compass making sure she stayed true.
She was trying to make sure he was there, and for that he felt an odd sense of gratitude because it was her persistence that struck a chord, resonating in a way nothing else had.
Of course, no one else knew about his predicament.
Not even Moxley, who was back from his honeymoon. Though he desperately wanted to talk to his brother, to ask for his advice, he didn’t even know how to start, where to begin.
Besides, Moxley was sure to give him an earful for his behavior towards Darby, all things considered, and he couldn’t blame him. A part of him was ashamed of the way he was treating her, acting like some kind of frat boy in college, running away from his problems, and acting like he could find the solution at the bottom of a bottle.
Yes, he knew he needed to step up to the plate and take responsibility, but he didn’t have the first clue where to start, and he could hardly expect Darby to help. He was even willing to bet that she didn’t want to do him any favors, rightfully so.
In fact, he was just glad that she was willing to let him come, even after everything. He kept both hands on the steering wheel, stealing a glance at the GPS every so often to make sure he was heading the right way, having never driven down these particular streets before.
His sleek black BMW meandered down the street, attracting more than its fair share of double-takes and prolonged stares, wondering, no doubt, what a car like that was doing there. Suddenly, he wondered if he should’ve gone for something less conspicuous. After all, he was trying to get on Darby’s good side, to prove that he wasn’t a complete jackass, nor a coward.
Still, he didn’t see any harm in being himself, and he was sure that she knew by now, if not through Meri, then through the internet that he was comfortably wealthy. There was no sense in hiding that.
He’d worked hard to earn his position, investing a lot of time and energy in the company, and he was proud of himself for it, seeing no point in hiding behind false pretenses and assumed modesty.
There was nothing wrong in being proud of everything he accomplished, so long as he didn’t shove it down people’s throats or act entitled. Surely, Darby would be able to tell the difference.
He swerved and narrowly avoided hitting a pothole, a thin sheen of sweat breaking out across his forehead as he realized how close he was to his destination.
This is just like riding a bike.
No, it was more like a dentist’s appointment. All he had to do was go on, pretend like he didn’t feel anything, not the poking or prodding, answer some questions and then walk out, home free.
Already, he was counting down the minutes till he could leave, keeping track in the back of his mind. He took a quick look in the side mirror, the dark jeans and button-down shirt his attempt at dressing down, and nodded in satisfaction.
This was the best he could do.
He pulled up outside the car and let it idle for a few minutes, dread making his stomach wound itself into anxious knots, tightening even further when he leaned forward across the dashboard and glanced up.
It’s not too late to drive away, a voice whispered in the back of his mind, offering him an alternative. Go on. Pretend something came up at the office. You’re running a company for fuck’s sake. If you can’t use that excuse now, then when will you?
For a moment, he could picture it clearly, dredging up an image of his BMW backing out, the tires squealing against the pavement as he drove off, leaving this whole mess behind him.
On the way, he could even stop by a bar and have a drink or two, something stiff for his nerves, and if he happened to meet a woman in the process, all the better for him. All at once, the idea of having sex with another woman was shattered, replaced by an image of Darby’s disapproving frown.
Truthfully, he hadn’t been able to go near another woman since she called him almost a week ago, and it wasn’t for lack of trying. God knew how badly he wanted to, needed to get her out of his head, but he couldn’t, for the life of him, manage to do that. Her presence was everywhere, reminding him of the truth, something he couldn’t outrun forever.
Not that it was any of her business.
A
t the end of the day, they weren’t together, and if he decided he wanted to screw another woman, he should be able to, but it just felt weird, disconnected from his real experience.
Damn it.
What was it about Darby that had him all wound up?
It was as if she held his balls in the palm of her hands, squeezing them subtly, a gesture that was meant as a warning.
He leaned back in his seat and huffed, pushing an errant lock of hair out of his face. A quick look at the clock revealed that he was already fifteen minutes late, and he was sure that Darby wouldn’t let him forget, not even for a second.
Let’s get this show on the road since you’re already here and everything.
He tugged on his collar nervously and reached into the glove compartment, digging out his sunglasses. Perched on the tip of his nose, they did a good job hiding his bloodshot eyes as he stepped out into the afternoon heat, the sun beating down his back.
One foot then the other.
Soon enough, he was inside the building, pushing open the double doors only to be met with a blast of cold air. He wrinkled his nose and sneezed, looking around for someone to help him.
After a few wrong twists and turns, he finally made it to the doctors’ office and paused outside, his hands clenching into fists at his side. Terror made him stand still, his feet like cement, unable and unwilling to move.
Make a decision, Phoenix. Come on.
“Excuse me, sir.”
He glanced up, coming face to face with a small blonde nurse holding a clipboard to her chest. She was giving him a stern look and gesturing to the door. “You’re blocking the way.”
Phoenix straightened his back and cleared his throat. “Right, sorry. Is she still in there?”
She gave him a puzzled look. “Who?”
“Darby. She’s my, uh. I’m the father,” Phoenix explained, stumbling over his words. At this point, it would’ve been better if he’d just go and bang his head against a wall, for all the good he was doing.
Baby: A Billionaire Boys novel Page 3
