Billionaire's Black Secret Baby (BWWM Second Chance Romance)

by Ciara Cole

What he hated more than loose ends, were dead ends. He couldn’t believe this was it for him, Gwen, and Jonah. But he wasn’t going to settle for having just a portion of the picture. He wanted it all.

  ***

  His parents had called it high school puppy love. They’d told Trent to focus on his future. All those years, he shouldn’t have listened to them. When he realized Gwen had disappeared, he’d wanted his parents to help him find her. They’d told him maybe she didn’t want to be found.

  “You know she’s from a single-parent family. We found out her mother ran some debts with loan sharks. If you keep looking for her and raising dust, you could bring her and her mother more harm than good. When Gwen has got it all sorted out, she just might come back.”

  His father had been too persuasive. And Trent had been too easily distracted and deceived. He’d believed everything they’d wanted him to believe and he was paying for it—maybe for the rest of his life.

  He didn’t want to lose her again, and certainly not his newfound son. It ached like hell when Trent thought of lost time and missed opportunities. Now life had given him another chance. He’d do whatever it took to have his world complete by the time he made Gwen and Jonah a solid part of it.

  His secretary informed him he had a visitor. “She didn’t make an appointment and this is breaking protocol, Mr. Matthews, but she says it’s very important. Her name is Gwen Stanton,” said Edmund.

  Trent felt an instant pleasure before it was taken over by alarm. Was there anything wrong? What if Jonah was hurt?

  Trent wasted no time and permitted her to see him. She walked in moments later and Trent started forward. “Is everything okay? You’ve never come by the office before.”

  “Please drop the act. We both know why I’m here,” Gwen said angrily. Trent’s glance slid to Edmund who hovered at the doorway. He nodded and bowed out discreetly with one look from Trent.

  Trent drew in a breath and faced the fuming Gwen. He’d never seen her so furious; she was shaking as she clenched her fists to her sides.

  “Now why don’t you explain what the matter is,” he told her calmly.

  “You two-faced brute!” she claimed. “I truly believed you were different this time. But you’re just as manipulating as your parents were all those years ago.”

  Trent frowned. “Just what have I manipulated? You have me at a loss here.”

  “Oh, there you go playing innocent like you didn’t plan the whole thing. How could you, Trent? How could you make Jonah find out the truth like that?”

  Trent went still as a statue. “Jonah knows the truth? About me?”

  “Yes. Isn’t that what you wanted? Isn’t that why you somehow had the papers you’d drawn up for him to be delivered on my desk for him to find?”

  “You’re not making any sense,” Trent said, his eyes following her as she began to stalk the office to and fro in agitation.

  “I should never have trusted you,” she muttered, keeping up her pacing and barely listening to him. “You lord it up here in your huge glass tower and you think you can take over everything. Take over my life, and Jonah’s. That’s why you did it, isn’t it?”

  Trent walked up to her and took her shoulders in a gentle, yet authoritative grip. “Calm down and listen. I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. What papers were delivered on your desk?”

  “Some legal documents detailing your plans for Jonah and the financial settlements you’ve set up. Attached was a report showing the results of a paternity test which shows that you and Jonah are a perfect match. I don’t even want to think how you got hold of the means for a DNA test.”

  Trent frowned as his head wrapped around all this info. Had his team sent it to Gwen in error? Or was there a leak in the system and someone was trying to cause some kind of upheaval between him and Gwen? Who could be responsible for something as crazy as this?

  “So, someone left such a sensitive file on your desk and Jonah somehow got to view it, and saw the data where I’m named as his father?” Trent asked as calmly as he could. Gwen’s face said it all, and Trent could only bite down a string of curses. “Where is he? How did he take it?” Trent asked almost with reluctance.

  He saw Gwen pause, her gaze suddenly shifting.

  “I don’t know what you expect me to say. The boy must be traumatized but right now all he’s thinking about is how awesome it is that you’re his father, thanks to the fact you two already got close.” Gwen shook her head angrily. “By the time it really hits him it will be me facing the dilemma of seeing him go through the phases of his emotions.”

  “So far, he’s taking it well and we can work with that,” Trent said, already grabbing his jacket. “I need to get to him. Let’s go.”

  “Oh, now wait a minute, that’s not how this goes.” Gwen laid a restraining hand on his chest as he made to exit the office. “I’m not letting you a foot close to my son. Not after this.”

  “What?”

  “You need to sort out how something like this could have happened. That’s if I even believe you really had nothing to do with it,” she said stiffly.

  “Believe what you will. All I care about right now is my son.”

  “If he means anything at all to you, then please listen to me.” She grabbed his forearm and the agony on her face gave him pause.

  “You always thought it was just for the money that I took off and ran away with my pregnancy.” She sighed raggedly, and continued, “The truth is far more sinister than that. You see, I’ll confess it was my mother who went and told your parents I was pregnant. I had no clue that she suspected or noticed the morning sickness and my dizzy spells. I don’t know what kind of deal she tried to cut with them, but I found out later she was buried in debts from loan sharks who fed on her secret gambling addiction.”

  Gwen shuddered and turned away, her arms around her shoulders protectively. “My mother always had problems but I never had cause to hate her or wish her dead. So, one day your mother gave me a call and asked me to see her. I never even guessed she knew about the baby. She got me in the backseat with her and we were driving someplace. It was a seedy neighborhood with some clubs and casinos. At one point my mother emerged from one of the buildings and made to cross the road. Before I could even think, your mother’s driver sped forward and almost hit my mother as she crossed the street!”

  Gwen turned on Trent again with accusing eyes. “My mother didn’t recognize the car but she looked shook-up as the driver simply apologized and then drove off. I was just frozen in my seat at seeing my mom almost run down. Then your mother told me about the loan sharks. Told me that worse things could happen to my mother than what the loan sharks could do to her for not paying up. I knew she was trying to scare me into thinking she could hurt my family without even trying. I even pictured myself being the one with a speeding car racing towards me and the next time it might not stop. I didn’t want to hurt my baby or myself. I got scared, and took the money she offered and ran away with my mother.”

  Trent didn’t want to believe his mother would threaten Gwen or her family like that. Not his ever-smiling, poodle-loving mom. “Is what you’re telling me the truth?”

  “I knew you’d never believe me. That’s why I couldn’t tell you, even after we saw each other again,” Gwen said angrily. “Your father knew about it too, they’d planned it all to make me and my baby go far, far away from their precious son. My mother paid off the loan sharks with part of the money and followed me. The rest is history. She got cleaned up, finished her nursing studies, and started traveling to remote regions as an aid worker. In some ways, I’d say your parents did us all a favor. At least they saved me and you from the illusion that we had a future.”

  “We do have a future. And this time, we can claim it,” Trent said, yanking her close with hands biting into her shoulders. “I’m sorry for what my parents did to you. I swear I didn’t know. Just like I know nothing about how that paperwork got on your desk. I long suspected there was a spy in
my team from either my parents or my in-laws. I’ll get to the bottom of it. Just don’t tell me it’s over.”

  “So, you’re still denying it,” Gwen said with a chilling laugh. “After all but threatening me to tell Jonah the truth, you just couldn’t wait and took the matter out of my hands.”

  Trent exhaled with equal anger and let her go abruptly, turning away to shove his hand through his hair. “What do I need to do to prove I’m innocent?”

  “Then let us go,” she said, and he swiveled around again to meet her resolute gaze. “It’s only a matter of time before your parents find out about me and Jonah, if they haven’t already. I can’t live in fear, looking over my shoulder. Just please, forget about me and my son.”

  “I can’t,” Trent said, shaking his head with a tight jaw.

  “Fine. Then I’ll fight you as long and as hard as I need to. I won’t let you get your way this time,” Gwen told him with that same cold resolve in her voice. She left the office with Trent standing there wishing he could seize her back and make her bend to his will, make her see that he was there for her. But it was something she’d have to figure out on her own.

  Chapter Six

  Somehow work had always given Trent the focus he needed. When he’d lost Sara, when his marriage had started to crumble, he’d always relied on business and the hectic demands of being the CEO to numb his emptiness. This time it wasn’t doing a good job.

  There wasn’t a moment he didn’t miss having Gwen in his arms, wanting to squeeze her tight and bury himself so deep inside her honeyed heat he’d never find his way out again. He missed Jonah, his solid, warm, and shiny character and how as a child, he seemed strong enough to take on your demons and slay them with his goodness. God, Trent missed them so much. He was going crazy.

  The meeting with the board of directors seemed to go on forever. Finally, just before dusk they were done and Trent could finally exit the building. He checked his cell phone for any messages or calls he might have missed. Nothing from Gwen. Had it been three weeks since she’d stormed into his office? Trent slipped his phone back into his pocket and stood outside the entrance of his building. Max was bringing the car to the front and Trent paused, his mind suddenly elsewhere.

  And that was why he didn’t see the small figure bounding to him. Suddenly, Trent was startled by the form that propelled itself into his lower body, small arms wrapping around his legs. Trent’s heart lurched and he slowly looked down, his mind in a daze as he wondered why this moment felt so familiar, just like it had happened once before. He stared down and saw green sparkling eyes looking up at him, tears of happiness gleaming in their corners.

  “It’s me. I had to come find you. I took the bus and the train and …” rambled Jonah, holding tight to Trent’s knees.

  Trent was in shock but he pulled Jonah back gently and bent slightly to look into his son’s face. “Wow, it is you,” Trent whispered. He couldn’t believe that the joy bursting from his chest could stay contained. He felt it could have him exploding into fragments right then.

  “My mom tried to keep me away. She lied to me about you dying and now that I found out about you, she was trying to get us to leave. But I couldn’t go without you,” said Jonah soberly.

  He was wearing a backpack, a denim long-sleeved shirt over his white T-shirt, and khaki shorts, with sneakers on his feet. Trent just stared and couldn’t believe his eyes. Then he hugged his son close, his arms wrapping around the boy tightly.

  He was slow to break apart this time. Finally, he realized they were out in the open. He got Jonah into the waiting car with him, where Max quickly shut the doors after them, then got into the driver’s seat.

  “Where to, sir?” Max asked.

  “Let’s just drive,” Trent said, his mind thinking fast. He turned to Jonah who sat trustingly beside him, looking up to give Trent a grin.

  “You’re not mad I ran away from home? I had to sneak out of the window because my mom’s had me grounded until kingdom come,” growled Jonah.

  “I’m not mad, just worried. And so wondrously happy to see you,” Trent said, taking the eight-year-old boy’s small hand in his. “But, your mom will be looking all over for you. I’m going to have to give her a call.”

  Trent’s look was gentle yet determined, and he saw Jonah lower his eyes for a moment in regret then sigh, before nodding in assent.

  “No matter what, I won’t let her take you far away where I can’t find you,” he told Jonah.

  Trent didn’t want Gwen running away again, as if she had something to hide. Whatever she needed to protect, Trent would show her he could be the shield she needed for her and her son. Their son.

  Gwen shot quickly through the door of the burger place where Trent had chosen to wait with Jonah. They’d shared a burger, laughed, and talked but when Gwen arrived it was no surprise the mood went sober.

  She looked angry yet relieved, and didn’t reproach or yell at Jonah but simply hugged him and then straightened, facing Trent. “I’ll take him home now.”

  “No, you won’t,” he said, and saw her eyes flash in defiance. He added calmly, “Now that we’re here, sit and talk.”

  Gwen looked undecided, then after a moment she sighed and reluctantly slid into the booth. Only now did she round on Jonah. “Just how did you figure out where to find Trent?”

  “It was over two weeks ago,” Jonah said. “After the day you told me you went to see Trent. I simply checked your location history on your iPhone and found Trent’s office address.”

  “So you planned this during all that time?” Gwen asked, while inwardly cursing her phone’s numerous location-aware services. Good thing to know that somehow her phone knows exactly where she’d been and recorded it.

  Jonah shook his head while taking a sip from his drink. “I only decided a few days ago I was going to try and find him myself. When I saw the stuff on your desk about you trying to relocate and leave your job.”

  Gwen groaned and placed her face in her hands. Again, she’d been careless.

  Trent was staring at her. “So, you did plan on leaving with him?”

  “What did you expect me to do? Yes, I’m considering requesting to leave my school or get a transfer then move to another city. What other choice do I have?”

  “Staying and making a family with me,” said Trent.

  “I totally agree with that,” said Jonah firmly, shooting out his arm straight in front of him, in a comic way that made his dad smile at how regal Jonah seemed, like a monarch giving judgment.

  “I know I can give Jonah everything he needs,” Trent said to Gwen. “I don’t mean money or even the so-called heritage of being a Matthews. But I can offer stability and the assurance I will always be there to protect, guide, and love him. That’s all I want to do.”

  Trent gave Gwen his unwavering stare, just as Jonah added, “And I’m sorry about today, but, Mom, I can’t promise I won’t do it again. No matter how far away you take me it’s going to make me want to try harder. Because I’m my own person, too, and I need you to respect that, too.”

  Trent hid a smile thinking how his son was even more hard-assed than his father.

  Gwen shook her head. “You two—this. You know how it’s killing me?” she asked, beating a fist to her chest. She felt like she was choking but no matter how much she pounded, the tightness around her heart wouldn’t stop burning.

  Trent gently took her fist and pulled it down to the table, clasping her fingers gently. “I love you,” he said, looking deep into her eyes. “I love Jonah too. And it’s killing me to think you don’t believe I’m deserving of either one of you loving me back.”

  “Oh, Mom loves you, she just likes to hold back on herself sometimes, like she does with her favorite ice cream or pizza,” Jonah said sagely, and shook his head in wonder.

  Gwen simply gaped at Trent. Every single hair on her body prickled, and ice drops trickled down her spine.

  “I want to wake up each morning and know that the two who ar
e the reason for the smile on my face, will be there around me,” Trent said.

  “You see, Mom? It wouldn’t be fair if Dad doesn’t get to smile anymore. We have to be there to make sure he always does.”

  Now it was Trent’s turn to look shell-shocked. Had Jonah just called him Dad? Trent couldn’t believe the way his earth shook just from that, but Jonah seemed oblivious, his feet kicking back and forth in front of him. He sipped on his straw and seemed just happy and relaxed.

  Trent knew better than to draw attention to it, the way Jonah had so naturally said the word. But he couldn’t hide the way it made his face wince as if in pain, but it was all joy. And he glanced at Gwen to find she was looking at him with understanding, like she could feel it, too, the reverence.

  Trent never knew one single word could set his whole existence to purpose, just as if he suddenly realized why he was on this earth.

  He’d known he’d wanted this, but now the feeling that he’d possibly extinguish if he didn’t get it, was what made him firmly decide that no matter what, he was taking control of his—and their—future. And nothing or no one better stand in his way.

  Chapter Seven

  Gwen thought she was having a dinner meeting with a new donor. Her secretary Amy had it set up and Gwen arrived at the restaurant expecting anyone else but the woman seated there waiting.

  The last time Gwen had seen Julia Matthews, the woman had been trying to run down Gwen’s mother. Now Gwen gritted her teeth and readied to walk out of the restaurant again.

  Julia held up a hand. “Wait. Don’t leave just yet. At least hear what I have to say.”

  Gwen slowly turned around to face her. “I actually thought I’d be meeting someone from the foundation.”

  “Well, I do own the foundation, does that count?” Julia asked, with a small smile. She gestured to a chair. “Please sit down. We should talk.”

  Gwen expelled a short breath and slowly sank into the offered seat. “What are you planning? To offer me more money or more threats? Because I know it may seem like I rescinded on our deal—”