Now? He kept his face immobile by staring at his computer screen instead of her. “Of course. Marjorie can fill in for you today and I’ll call Betty to see if she can cover. Go take care of yourself and the baby.”
She bit her lip before saying, “Thank you. I’ll clean out my desk.”
“Suit yourself.” His own voice sounded cold to him. He covertly watched as she backed out of the room, closing the door behind her. The hurt expression on her face almost broke his heart. He ground his teeth. He wasted sympathy on a con artist? Stupid.
Ten minutes later, someone knocked at his door. Good. Chloe was back and ready to confess to this senseless joke. “Yes?”
Marjorie strolled in. “So Ms Anders is gone?”
“Seems that way.”
“All her LI electronics are out on her desk and I received a note that I get to take over for the rest of the afternoon. I have enough to do without having to do her work, too.”
“Fine.” A rational part of him felt bad for her poor choice in timing. The entire rest of him embraced the chance to take out his calm fury on her. He typed out a note to the head of Personnel and hit send. “Clean out your desk, personal items only, please, and go to HR.” He ignored her gasp. “They’re aware of your situation and will handle the rest of it.” He stood and went to his bar. “Leave the door open on your way out.”
He poured a drink, stronger than usual. Sounds of Marjorie slamming things and cursing filtered into his office and he shook his head. She’d been begging for a transfer for a long time with every little snotty remark she’d made over the past few months. The phone rang a few times in the outer office.
“I’m not getting that!”
Darian grinned at her screech, and how this was the last time he’d have to hear it. “Don’t care!” he hollered back.
“Bastard!”
“Thank you! I’ll tell my dad you send your love.”
“Save some for your mother!”
He laughed. If not for the elevator ding, he’d yell back a smart assed comment. Whatever. Darian topped off his drink and went to his desk. She’d hit HR, the new person would come up, and business would continue.
After activating his cell phone, he scrolled to Betty’s number. He paused before hitting “call.” What would he tell her? Chloe was a grifter, claiming to be his baby momma and he’d had to toss her out? Gosh, he derided, that sounded perfect. Darian watched as the small screen went dark from inactivity. A small voice in the back of his mind countered, what if she wasn’t playing him?
He shook his head and activated his phone, calling Betty before he could reconsider. “Hey, gorgeous. How would you like a vacation from retirement?”
“What’s wrong?”
The kindness in her familiar voice almost undid him. His breath caught in his throat. He put on a smile and hope it carried through into his tone. “Who said anything was wrong?”
“I know you. Might as well tell me now.”
It took him a moment before he replied, “Ms. Anders has resigned.”
Betty sighed. “Oh hon. I figured you two would get along, and thought you’d be sensible about it.”
“I was. We were…safe.”
After a long pause, she replied, “I see. Is she willing to take a paternity test?”
He swallowed some of his drink, stalling for time. “She didn’t react well when I suggested someone else might be the father.”
“Imagine so.”
“Thing is, I almost want her to be….” The elevator chime let him know Marjorie’s replacement was here. “Listen, my new receptionist is here.”
“About time you replaced that woman. I’ll be in first thing tomorrow.”
Chapter 8
He knew his eyes were clear, no dark circles, and his suit fitted him perfectly. Darian walked through his private reception area, giving a nod to the new guy. New to him, anyway. He could tell Betty had arrived already. A framed photo of her new granddaughter sat next to the monitor. They all looked the same to him, tiny humans needing something he couldn’t provide.
“Isn’t she lovely?”
He put down the photo. “She’s beautiful, like her grandma.”
She laughed. “Nice of you to say so. Your coffee is ready.”
“Thank you.” He gave her a wry grin before entering his office. Too late, he realized he’d not closed the door behind him. He heard the click and knew Betty had followed him. “Do you want a cup, too?”
“Sure. Sounds perfect.” She took the mug from him and sat on his sofa. “I told Brad out there to give us time for a meeting. He’ll hold our calls until we’re done talking.”
“Is that his name?” he asked, and she nodded. “He’d told me but I wasn’t paying attention. We need name tags around here.” They drank in silence for a while. He didn’t know how to start the conversation. Everything he began to say sounded stupid, or worse, mean, every time he thought about opening his mouth.
“Have you called her since yesterday?”
“No.” He stood and held out a hand for her cup. “To be honest, she had me fooled with the innocent act.” Darian filled both mugs with fresh coffee, adding a splash of Irish cream to his. “She played the part of innocent country girl very well.”
“What makes you think she was playing?”
“Come on. I used protection, effective protection. How much do you want to bet I marry her and maybe a week later she miscarries?”
“What if nothing is a hundred percent effective and there’s a new little Lawrence running around?”
“Mom would be delighted, dad, too, but can’t happen.” He leaned back on the sofa, the liquor relaxing him a little. “I think it’s someone else’s kid.”
“But you’re not sure without a DNA test.” She tilted her head, and gave him a hard stare. “You seem awfully upset for a guy who’s gotten rid of a scam artist. She left quickly and I assume quietly?” When he nodded, she continued, “Anyone else would be happy her plan didn’t work on him.”
“That’s because I’m an idiot.”
“Go on.”
“I fell in love with her. All those little things she did every day added up and when we got to New York? That was it. We were together, away from the office, and everything clicked.” He stared into his coffee cup for a moment before setting it down and going to the window. “I bought her a ring at Tiffany’s. Not the ring, but something she saw and liked.”
“Wow. What did she say when you gave it to her?”
“Nothing. I still have it in my desk.” He stared out at the Rockies. “I thought her birthday, but I didn’t know when that was. Then about Valentine’s Day, but that seemed too official.”
“I suppose you could save it for your next girlfriend.”
He frowned at her, at the idea of some other woman meaning as much to him as Chloe did. “No.”
Betty waited a moment before asking, “When are you planning on calling her?”
“As soon as I figure out what to say.”
“Before or after you get back from New York?”
“After.”
“That long, hm?”
He chuckled. “I’ll be back before the baby is born.” His breath had hitched on the word, “baby,” and Betty smirked. “I know. I need practice. I also need the alone time to just think about what to do. How I want to win her over.”
“Do you really need to think that hard? She doesn’t have family in the area. Who’s to say she’s not packing for home right now?”
“What she does is her business. Chloe can travel to the middle of nowhere and I’ll find her.”
Betty stood. “Fine. Just let me know what I can do to help arrange things.”
“Fair enough.”
The next morning, he greeted the pilots on his way to the plane. Both seemed happy to see him, even Chloe’s little friend Rob. Darian resisted the urge to ask about her. He settled in as they took off and connected to the outside world on his tablet as soon as it was safe.
He’d never connected to her on social media, did a bare bones search before she had been hired. Now, he wondered if she and the co-pilot spent time together. He entered her name and pulled up her profile. Photos of her and Rob skiing last weekend took his breath. It hurt, and not in one spot. He loved Chloe, loved skiing, and someone else had what he wanted. Darian glanced up at the cockpit door. No, the guy had what he needed.
Maiming the pilot of his aircraft was a bit too dangerous, so Darian decided on a less violent course of action. He speed dialed Betty. “I have a plan.”
Darian stood out in front of Chloe’s apartment. He’d waited all day yesterday until well after dark before she returned home. She’d not answered a single text or call and he seethed inside as every minute passed. He knew the baby was his, she knew the baby was his, so why didn’t she answer and chew him out again? He wanted the chance to apologize.
When she got out of her car, their gazes met. She looked past him at the musicians, shook her head, and walked to her front door. He stayed put. No need in running up and demanding to know where she’d been and why she ignored him. Especially when he knew her reasons.
He turned to the string quartet behind him. They’d fussed a little about the cold morning air and their instruments. He didn’t blame them. “All right, everyone. Her neighbors have to be awake by now. Let’s go.”
They walked up to her door. He rang the doorbell and nodded to the group behind them. As soon as Chloe opened up, the quartet began playing New York, New York. Her mouth dropped open and Darian grinned. He held out the roses to her. She took them in a daze as he continued, “Hello, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I was wrong. I love you, need you, and want to raise our child with you. Please forgive me.”
She glanced from the flowers to him as he dug the Tiffany’s box from his pocket. He held it out to her and she took it as if on autopilot. Other people living in the complex began gathering around them, the music drawing them in. Darian took a deep breath and retrieved the coup de gras from his pocket. Opening the black box so it faced her, he got down on one knee and asked, “Will you marry me?”
She gave him, the musicians, and gathering crowd a frown. “No.”
“No?” He’d planned for a refusal. Still, hearing it from her in person hit him in the chest.
Chloe crossed her arms. “The baby isn’t yours, remember? I’m marrying the father of my child.”
His heart broke at seeing the hurt in her eyes. He swallowed, his throat dry and aching. “Are you sure it’s not mine?”
“As sure as you are it’s not.” She sniffed and rubbed her nose.
“What if I changed my mind? What if I knew what kind of woman you are but let the shock talk for me instead of my brain?”
“You didn’t seem shocked. So all this is your way of winning me back?”
He heard a little crack in her voice. “I was and handled the news very badly. I want to make it up to you.”
“Not possible. You can’t do enough.”
At her words, the quartet stopped playing. He got up off of his knee, not easily since the cold had stiffened his muscles. She reached out to help steady him, her hands warming him all the way to his heart. He couldn’t help but smile a little. “Tell me, Ms. Anders, is there anything I can do so you’ll forgive and marry me? No matter how insane or dangerous?”
“Maybe.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “There’s a huge crowd who now knows our personal problems. I don’t care for that.”
He tried to not grin like an idiot at her giving him a chance. “Neither do I, not at all.”
Going on as if he’d not spoken, she added, “I think these people need better entertainment than us arguing over engagements. How about you and your orchestra put on a show for us?” Everyone began clapping in agreement. When the noise died down, she smiled. “I assume you know the words to I’m a Little Teapot?” He nodded and Chloe laughed. “Great! Let’s hear it.”
“You heard her boys.” He began signing as they began playing. “I’m a little teapot, short and stout, here is my…”
“Stop!” She put the roses inside her apartment, grabbed a jacket, and stepped outside. “You’re not doing the movements. Start over and do the movements.”
He slipped the ring box back into his pocket. Darian had been ready to promise new cars, a house, anything she wanted, but a children’s song? “This is silly.”
“It is. What’s even sillier is telling the man you love that you’re pregnant with his baby and he doesn’t believe you. I wouldn’t lie to you. Not about our child.”
His heart ached for her. She’d been in the same place as her mom, a single mother, and he was the man who had been responsible. He shook his head, unwilling to give up on winning her over. “Chloe, I’m sorry.”
She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “You’re also a performer if you want me to marry you.”
“This is all you want from me?”
“No. I want you, too.”
“All right. Let’s do this.” He began again, this time not leaving out any pouring from his pantomime spout. As the last notes died away, he sank to one knee and produced the ring again. “Please, Chloe, marry me.”
“I have some conditions.” She took the box from his hand.
Her trying on the engagement ring seemed like a win, but caution kept him back. She slipped it back off of her finger and he panicked. “Anything. Name it and it’s yours.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Number one, don’t quit your day job because you can’t sing.” A chuckle went through the spectators and the musicians covered their smiles.
“There’s a two?”
“I want these guys to play at our wedding, but only if they know Cotton-Eyed Joe. I have family to think about.”
He looked back at them and the lead violinist played a few notes of the song. Darian grinned at Chloe. “We’re good.”
“All right. Put the ring on my finger and let’s pick a date.”
He did as she said and once the jewel sparkled on her hand, he grabbed her in a hug. Everyone cheered and the strings played Here Comes the Bride as they kissed. She pulled away just enough to say against his lips, “If this is my engagement ring, what’s in the blue box you keep in your desk?”
“Your wedding ring.”
“I’m glad you’re such an optimist.” She grinned and resumed kissing him.
Anders-Lawrence Wedding
"Miss Chloe Louise Anders and Mr. Darian Theodore Lawrence were united in marriage on March 17th at seven o'clock in the evening at the Four Seasons in Denver, Colorado The ceremony was officiated by Reverend Carla Noland. Music for the ceremony was provided by Mantic Mantis. Ceremony readings were performed by Alexandra Wells, Matron of Honor, and Hayden Wells, friend of the bride. The bride's parents hosted a seated dinner and reception at the Four Seasons. On the eve of the wedding, the groom's parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at The Bistro in Denver, Colorado.
"The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Anders of Cheyenne, Wyoming. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Haus of Caspar, Wyoming, and the late Mr. and Mrs. George Anders of Glenrock, Wyoming. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Lawrence of Denver, Colorado. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. James Hall of Boulder, Colorado and the late Mr. and Mrs. Winston Lawrence of Denver, Colorado."
"Given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, the bride wore a sleeveless modified a-line Demetrious gown of white Mikado. The gown featured a sculpted v-neckline and low v-back. Buttons cascaded down the back from waist to the chapel train’s hem and was complemented by a two tier chapel length veil with Organdy bias edging by Paloma Blanca. The bride carried a hand-tied bouquet of white and pink roses.”
"The bride is a graduate of Central High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She graduated from Laramie county Community College with an Associates of Science in Business and Finance, and now works at Lawrence Industries in Denver. The groom is a graduate of East High School in Denver, Color
ado. He graduated summa cum laude from University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and now owns Lawrence Industries in Denver.”
"Following a honeymoon in the Maldives Chloe and Darian will reside in Denver, Colorado."
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About the Author
With an overactive imagination and a love for writing, Laura Stapleton decided to type out her daydreams and what-ifs in order to share her lovable characters and their worlds with readers. She currently lives in Kansas City with her husband, daughter, dog, and a few cats. When not at the computer, you'll find her in the park for a jog or at the yarn store's clearance section.
The Very Rich Man (The Very Manly Series Book 3) Page 13
