by Katie Dowe
“What’s the occasion honey?” he asked her as they sat down to dinner.
“Why do you think it is an occasion?” she asked lightly as she passed him the salad bowl.
“You have prepared all my favorites.”
“You are right,” she took a deep breath and continued. “I have something to tell you.”
“Go ahead.” He looked at her curiously.
“I am pregnant.”
He stared at her, the fork suspended halfway to his mouth. “How? I have never seen you with anyone. Why wasn’t I introduced to this person?”
Allison braced her hands on the table and took another deep breath. “I have something to tell you that you will probably not like but I want you to hear me out.”
“Go ahead,” he said with a slight frown.
She plunged into the story and told him everything. The dinner was forgotten as he stared at her in shock, a heavy frown on his forehead.
“I wished you had not done something like that,” he said slowly as he finally spoke.
“It was my only way out and it turned out fine.” She hastened to assure him.
“How do you figure that baby girl?” he asked her softly. “You are being paid to have this man’s children and at the end of the day you will not be wearing his ring on your finger. I wanted the best for my little girl.”
“This is the best thing for me. I get to have these three children and Dad I am in love with him.” She cried.
“I already figured that out honey,” his dark brown eyes searched her face. “But he does not feel the same way. Men like Phillip Anderson do not marry women like you. I am proud of you and I don’t think because a person has more money; then he or she is better than a person who does not but that’s high society for you.”
“I have done a lot of research on the men from his club and there are literally dozens of women like me who found love with men who belong to that club.” She said passionately. “He is hard and pretends that he does not care but I know better. He is trying to push me away and I am not letting him.”
Her father reached across the table to hold her hands. “I want to be happy for you baby girl. I am certainly happy that you are carrying triplets but I also want you to be happy and I really don’t see that happening with a man like that.”
“You don’t know him Daddy,” she said softly as she squeezed his hands. “I do and I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is coming around!”
******
Paulette Anderson stared at her son as if she was just seeing him for the first time.
“I would appreciate you not saying anything to anyone just yet.” He said as he sipped the aperitif that a maid had handed him. He had figured that it was time he told her and had called her and told her that he would be coming over for dinner. They were in the living room sipping the before dinner drink when he told her.
“I would never dream of doing so,” she told him stiffly. “I cannot believe that you would actually go through something like that Phillip.” She put away her glass and stared at him. “What were you thinking?”
He looked at her in disapproval. “I am an adult Mother and free to do what I please.” He told her coolly.
“I am sorry but I just had to say it. What woman would agree to something like that?”
“You would be surprised,” he said sardonically. “I thought you would be happy that you will be getting grandchildren after all.”
“I would be happier if I was getting them the conventional way.” She pointed out.
“Does it matter?” he asked her as he downed his drink. “You got me the conventional way but there was no happiness there.”
Phillip-“she reached out a hand.
“Don’t worry Mother, I have no idea how you did it but I applaud you. “He got to his feet as he saw the maid hovering in the doorway. “I think it is time for us to eat. Shall we?” he asked her politely as he held out an arm for her to take. Paulette held his arm and allowed him to lead her into the dining room, her heart heavy.
Chapter 7
“I want to meet her.” Paulette said as soon as he had finished signing the document. Every three months he was required to sign off on the amount of money she received as a stipulation in the will his dad had left. He had tried to do something about it for his mother’s sake but the will was iron clad. It stated that if she got married to someone else then she stands to lose everything. But he had a feeling that even though his father had been such a miserably cold man that his mother had been in love with him and still was.
“No,” he said briefly as he folded the document and handed it back to her. He had stopped on his way to the office. He strode to where his jacket was hanging and pulled it on with the intention of leaving. He had not seen Allison in two weeks and other than the polite calls to find out how she was, that was it. Her telling him that she wanted them to be together had triggered a warning bell inside his head and he had decided that he should stay away from her.
“Why not?” she demanded, getting to her feet and following him to the door.
“You know why Mother,” he told her coolly. “You need to sign the document as soon as possible so that the board can get it.”
“She is the mother of my grandchildren,” her tone was desperate but she did not care.
He stopped at the door and looked at her. “I already told you that the situation is a very strange one. You will be able to see your grandchildren when they come but as for me and the mother there is nothing there except an arrangement. How can I make this any clearer to you?”
“Don’t do this Phillip,” her voice was sad and quiet. “Don’t put her through that.”
“The way Dad put you through your misery?” he asked her sardonically. “Why do you think I have done it this way? So that there will be clarity. So that she will have no misleading hope that I am going to fall in love with her. If she does, it is not on me. You kept hoping that Dad would fall in love with you and it never happened. At least with this arrangement I am up front from the beginning.”
Paulette stared at the son she had carried for nine months and never thought it possible that she could despise him so much! “Okay Phillip. You win.” With quiet dignity she turned and walked away leaving him staring after her with a frown on his brow.
*****
“What do you prefer? Two boys and a girl or two girls and a boy?” Allison said dreamily as she leaned her head back against the butter like upholstery. They were on their way back from the appointment with the doctor and had been told that the three babies were doing very well. She had started showing a little bit but had been wearing clothes to hide the slight bulge.
“I want you to stop working,” he said ignoring her question as he glanced briefly at her. He had started depositing the money into her account but apparently she had not touched it much.
“What?” she turned her head to look at him.
“You certainly do not need the money. I am looking into an apartment for you. I want you to come and have a look at it.”
“Yes, to stop working because I would not want to do anything to jeopardize my children but no to the apartment. I am not moving from my father’s house unless it is to move in with you.”
She jumped as he slammed a palm on the wheel. “Do you think this is a game?”
“I am carrying three babies inside my womb so I of all people know that it is not a game.” She said her chin lifting. “I already told you what I am willing to do Phillip. I want us to raise these children together-“
She let out a startled gasp as he swerved the car and pulled off onto the side of the road. She shuddered at the look on his handsome face as he unsnapped the belt and turned to face her. “Listen to me very carefully,” his voice was soft and menacing. “I am not interested in taking you to be my wife or for that matter shacking up with you. The sex is very good and I appreciate you availing your body to me when I have the need. If and when I need a wife I know where to look. It will not b
e you.”
Allison had braced for the hurt but she felt as if he had slapped her in the face hard! She took a deep breath and looked at him, her eyes shimmering. “I love you,” she said quietly. “I did this thing with you for the money because I thought there was no other option to give my dad the money he needed for the operation. I had no idea that I would have been selected and when I was I had no idea that I would get pregnant with triplets. It happened and when you touched me I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I had fallen in love with you. I love you Phillip and no matter how despicable you are that will never change.”
He stared at her in silence and Allison wished she knew what he was thinking!
He started the car and made his way back into traffic. “The apartment will be there for you to look at whenever you want to,” he told her coolly.
“I won’t want to.” She placed a hand on his thigh and he jumped at her touch. She ran her small hand up and down his muscled leg and he was finding it hard to concentrate on the road! “I want to come by on Saturday. I miss you-“
He clamped his large hand over hers and for a moment he kept it there and then forcibly remove it. “I have plans. A date,” he told her cruelly.
Allison was determined not to let him get to her. “You are wasting your time Phillip.” She put her hand back on his thigh and he closed his eyes briefly. “You are doing this to try and prove something but you are failing-“
“I am taking her back to bed with me,” he interrupted her softly. “I will be screwing her the way I screw you.” His eyes slid to hers. Her hand went still on his thigh.
“Just try it,” she whispered softly, her throat sore with tears. “You will never be able to make love to another woman the way you make love to me. You think because I was a virgin I don’t know that what we share is something unusual? When you touch me, when you are inside me I feel your body changing. The first time you touched me I knew that you were shocked and every time you make love to me I know you fight what you are feeling but it is not working. That is why you avoid me. But how long can you do that baby?” His gut clenched when her hand drifted further and jumped when she cupped him. The movement was excruciating and he felt himself hardening immediately. She kept her hand there and squeezed a little. A groan escaped him and he shuddered. He almost ploughed into the back of an SUV when she unzipped his pants and reached into his underwear to take out his erection. His eyes glazed over when she slid the skin up and down with her fingers. His heart hammered inside his chest and he felt as if he was having a heart attack! “Stop!” he said between his teeth.
“Why?” she challenged him.
He could not think! Dammit she literally had him by the balls and he could not think or say anything. He was on fire for her! He put the left indicator on and searched desperately for a side road. They were too far from his place and if he did not have her he was going to disgrace himself! He found one just in time and driving the car slowly into it he stopped and opened his belt. He pressed the seat back and pulled her to him. His grey eyes were stormy and Allison felt a measure of fear at the intense look on his hard handsome face. “You have no idea what you are doing,” he whispered as he hauled her on top of him. She sank down onto his erection and clasped her hands around his neck.
“I don’t care.” She whispered and bending her head she reached for his lips. He sank into her, his body raging and out of control. His fingers bit into her flesh thankful that she had worn a dress. He destroyed her underwear but he could not wait. Allison tore at his fine cotton shirt to get to his chest and moaned as his fingers pushed her dress around her waist. She rode him so hard that her heart slammed into her breast. He released her mouth and used his teeth to move aside her bra, his mouth pulling at her nipple. She arched her back and cried out his name as the passion slammed into her. “It’s been too long!” she muttered. “Phillip I need you!”
*******
For the rest of the journey he did not say anything and neither did she. Their coupling had been rough and explosive and it had taken them some time to recover. A smug smile played around her lips. She had proven her point and she knew that as stubborn as he was he was going to continue to fight but so was she! Her dad had not raised a quitter and each time she saw him she fell deeper in love with him. She had a wonderful time talking to her children when she went to bed at nights and telling them about their father. She sang to them and made them listen to classical music. She was looking forward to motherhood. He stopped the car in the lot where she had left hers and did not turn to look at her. She unhooked her belt and hesitated before leaning forward to plant a kiss on his hard jaw. He stiffened but did not look at her even then. “Drive safe,” she told him softly.
He nodded curtly and she got out of the vehicle. He made sure she got into hers okay before he drove away.
*******
He dove into work! The hotel was almost finished and the reopening was due just before Christmas Day. They had full occupancy and there was a buzz of excitement downtown to see the towering building unfolding in its beauty! It had been his father’s first project and he was determined to make it as good as or even better than it had been before. He had added a section for an in hotel shopping where they carried Romano’s exclusive line where the ordinary working people could afford to shop and people visiting from out of town could pick something up. The opening was going to be grand with Diana Rowe performing and a few other well-known artistes. “Get me the PR department now.” He told Maura in a clipped tone. He had come in and had tried his best to get her out of his head but he was having a damned hard time doing so! He had gone straight to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a stiff drink. His lips lifted in a smile as he grudgingly admire her determination and spunk. He had said things to hurt her and she had combated it with soft words that had torn at his heart.
“Jerome is on the line Phillip.”
“Tell me the plans you have for the ads.” He said abruptly.
******
She quit her job. She had no intention of telling Daisy or the agency the real reason but she handed in her resignation.
“I want to go back to school,” she told them both which was in fact true. She had always wanted to be a nurse and she figured with the amount of money Phillip but into her account she stood a good chance of doing just that. She could do courses online and when she had the baby she could do the final courses at a nursing school.
“What are you doing honey?” Her father wandered into the living room and peered at the brochures she had spread out on the table. It was almost Thanksgiving Day and would also be his birthday. She and Elena had plans to throw him a birthday party. He was going to be seventy-one and they were going to celebrate it in style.
“Trying to decide if I can actually manage this course,” she said with a wry smile. “I have not been to school in so long that I wonder if I am able to manage all of this: anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, statistics, chemistry-“
“Stop,” her dad pulled out a chair and sat next to her. She had stopped working for the past two weeks and had spent the first week wandering around the house and tidying up everything. He had not called her and she had not seen his pictures in the paper going out with someone else. “Your mind amazes me.” He told her gently. “You used to sit up in bed and study when you had a test for the next day. You always got A’s and I always regretted you not being able to follow your dreams because I got sick. Although I hate how you acquired the money I want you to take it and put it to good use.”
“Thanks daddy,” she said softly as she looked at him. She started to get to her feet. “I will make you something to eat-“
“How about I make you some pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries?” he said getting to his feet.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He walked over and planted a kiss on her forehead. “You go right ahead and figure out that school stuff and I will get to work.”
“I love you daddy.”
&
nbsp; “I love you too baby girl and I am proud of you.”
“I know you are concerned about the way I went about this but it will work out. I just know it.”
“You have always been very determined.” He said gently. “You take that from your mother.”
She watched him amble away and felt the tremendous love she had for him gripping her. She turned her eyes back to the leaflets and with a determined look on her face she went back to work.
*******
She called him later that night. “What do you want Allison?”
Allison grimaced at his tone. “You sound tense. Does it have anything to do with the opening of the hotel downtown? I have seen the ads and they look fantastic! I understand that it was the first project your dad took on when he started. That’s very commendable of you to want to maintain it Phillip.”
He was silent for a moment. “Is that what you called to tell me?” he asked her coolly.
“That and the fact that I want you to come to my Dad’s birthday party on Thanksgiving Day. There will be a few of his friends there and you could always pretend that you had something to do with his getting the surgery that saved his life.”
“I have plans.” He told her abruptly.
“Okay then. When am I going to see you Phillip?”
“Why do you want to see me?”
“You know why.”
“I will give you a call when I have the need to slake my thirst,” he told her baldly. “But otherwise from that I have no need to call you.”
Allison felt the sharp pain of the hurt darting through her body. She knew it was not going to be easy but every time he said something like that to her it brought her pain. “Aren’t you tired?” she asked him softly.
“Tired?”
“Yes, aren’t you tired of trying to go against your feelings? I think you are but you are not admitting it. I told you that I love you Phillip and that is not going away. However nasty you want to be with me so that you can put across your point, it is not working. I am here for you when you stop the nonsense and realize that we belong together.” She hung up on him, her heart racing!
