Stroked by my Dad's Best Friend_A Billionaire Secret Baby Romance

by Natasha Spencer

  “I didn’t want to say this in front of the others, but I think that Barbara might be underplaying this. Of course, I know there’s always a method to your madness, but this time you might have bitten off more than you can chew,” Jack Arnold, his second in command, said. “This company deals with diamonds and has taken an interesting turn from time to time. This latest adventure into the adult arena of movies is going to cause some skepticism.”

  “Jack, when have I ever cared about others perceptions? I’ve always gone by the beat of my own drum,” He turned to Jack and put his two hands on his shoulders like they were sharing something quite momentous. “There’s always going to be somebody that’s not going to like what I do. I’ve had some interesting debates with my wife, Michelle. She’s been quite vocal on this subject, but knows when to cut her losses when it comes to arguing with me.”

  “I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t tell you what I thought. You probably know what you’re doing and there’s no point in second guessing you.” Jack felt like he was castrated and finding his voice was the only way that he was going to be heard.

  “I’ve been carving my existence in my image for as long as I can remember. This company wouldn’t be where it is today without my influx of cash,” Eric said. “I know most of you thought that I was a rich and over indulged rich kid playing business. I’ve always had a knack and a sort of gift for seeing things differently when it comes to business practices.” This was an emergency Sunday meeting and he was missing out on the market a few blocks away.

  “I have seen the numbers and they are quite impressive. Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend, but porn will always be a lonely man’s best friend. It’s also the dirty secret of a married man who feels stagnant in his relationship. Marrying the two is a bold move. I look forward to seeing your vision come to life.” Jack had the broad shoulders of a football player and could sing the song of seduction like no other.

  “We can’t take anything for granted until the paper is signed on the dotted line. It’s a matter of great importance this merger is never made public. Hiding it in plain sight under a lot of red tape will help us to avoid public scrutiny.” Eric felt this heavy feeling on his chest and he ignored it like always. He believed it was his conscience trying in vain to get his attention.

  “I don’t know how you’re going to keep this quiet for long. Pillow talk and drinking excessively has become the bane of any company’s existence.” Jack turned to leave and he was responsible for the red tape. It was going to be interesting to keep the jackals from their front door.

  “I depend on you more than I should, but you always find a way to make it work. This merger will help us to fly higher than we’ve ever flown before. I would hang on tight for the bumpy ride, but I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.” Eric surveyed the landscape below on the street and placed each person between his two fingers. He could easily crush them without having a second thought.

  His black, knee-length leather jacket was behind the door and he snatched it from the hook on his way out. The Sunday market was calling his name. The art of the deal was what he lived for. He was able to fine tune his negotiating tactics with those peddling their wares.

  Chapter Two

  The young woman was wearing expensive Gucci sunglasses and handbag to match. The many vendors, most likely crooked, had the gift of persuasion and weren’t afraid to make the initial approach.

  Her long platinum hair from all the sun that she had been receiving in tropical settings was in a ponytail over her shoulders. The natural beauty of her body wasn’t lost on those spectators giving her the careful once over.

  She had gone out of her way to accentuate the positives, including a couple of buttons undone to show just a modicum of skin.

  Those milling around her stopped momentarily as if their interest wasn’t like a neon sign over their head. She dressed with the confidence of a woman who sold herself at night, fueling their looks of hunger.

  “I hope you know that I wouldn’t ask you to do this unless I thought it was necessary. I hold you in high esteem and this business will always have its ups and downs. I apologize for how fast we blew through the money. It was not my intention of losing it at the tables in Monte Carlo.” Nicholas was a notorious womanizer, drunk, and gambler.

  “I don’t want to hear it. We’ve been over this and it’s not like we can go back in time to change things. I wasn’t expecting us to live high off the hog forever. I just thought that we had some breathing room. Money will always be the root of all evil.” She found herself interested in some of the homemade items for sale.

  “Claire, you’ve known from the moment we met that I have issues.” This statement was vastly under-exaggerated. He believed the world owed him something and had found a way to use people to prevent him from drowning in a 9-to-5 existence.

  She could literally feel his hot breath on the back of her neck. His voice was grating on her last nerve. It reminded her of those days in Catholic school where the scratching of the blackboard would send chills down her spine.

  “I’ve accepted you for all of your faults. We don’t have to beat this thing to death.” She gravitated towards one of the tables with high-end scarves in a multitude of colors.

  “I’m probably going to apologize a few more times before I figure it’s enough. Getting drunk was one thing, but losing our nest egg was unforgivable.” It wasn’t the first time that he had done something foolish and it wasn’t going to be his last. “I really don’t know what I would do without you and I don’t want to find out.” Nicholas felt deeply about their connection, but he understood their relationship was primarily platonic.

  They would enjoy each other’s company in the bedroom from time to time to get one out of the chamber. There was no emotional connection. He wasn’t even sure that she was capable of such an emotional outburst. She was cold and calculating. There was a wall to make sure nobody got close enough to hurt her physically or otherwise.

  “I’m not going to dignify that with a response. Leave me alone. It would be best that we don’t talk for some time. Do yourself a favor and make some time with a lonely housewife looking to get laid.” Claire turned off the Bluetooth and took a breath of relief of not having to listen to him anymore. She wondered why she hadn’t cut him loose and the truth was painfully clear.

  Bouncing from one orphanage to another had denied her the right of what having a family was all about. Meeting Nicholas had given her a purpose and a reason to trust somebody besides herself. They were both damaged souls looking for somebody to cling onto as a lifeline. She was a little bit more subtle where he was practically screaming for help.

  The smell of overpriced cologne had her looking around for the source. It was an aphrodisiac and the name of the cologne foiled her senses. There was the aftertaste of sophistication in the air. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end.

  Claire turned her 5’2 and 110 pound frame in a circle. She looked over the crowd and felt the tediousness of their lives crushing her from afar. It was the same old story with different characters within the pages of the chapters.

  Bumping into him was an accident and felt like she had made contact with a brick wall. She stumbled backward, losing one of her high heels in the process. She found herself knocked off balance.

  Eric was slightly startled, but he managed to reach out to prevent her from falling in an unladylike fashion. Her hand was soft as butter and her eyes bore into him from the moment they looked at each other.

  “It was my fault… I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Claire shielded her eyes from the sun. The feel of his hands on the small of her back was causing slight tingles to run up and down her lower extremities.

  “We could call it kismet and what are the odds of us bumping into each other. I don’t mind saying you have the face of an angel. Heaven is missing one of their flock and I can almost see the wings sprouting from your back.” He was never comfortable with the ladies and
his wife wasn’t the exception to the rule.

  “You are one silver-tongued devil in disguise. The suit is Armani. Don’t even get me started on the cologne. You’re not afraid of standing out from the crowd. Humble doesn’t do you justice. I don’t like anybody that feels they are better than everybody else.” She was putting him on the spot and using the shield of her sunglasses to run her eyes down over his frame.

  “I’m not bad once you get to know me.” Eric tried to hide his wedding ring digging into his skin. He could only hope that the symbol of love would not deter this young creature from pursuing more of their banter.

  “That’s a matter of opinion.” She brushed past him, purposely touching the fabric of his pants below his waist.

  Losing him in the crowd would’ve been like taking candy from a baby, but she didn’t want to lose the hold she had over him. The taste of his aura made her hungry to learn more, but she wasn’t going to be obvious about it.” Claire had on a purple suede jacket and the eyes of those prospective suitors would be drawn to her like a moth to the flame.

  Window shopping was a natural high and a pastime that Claire could never get enough of. The market was abuzz with electricity and the sound of proprietors making their sale gave her a necessary jump start.

  “I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but the price is firm. I know the quality of my merchandise and you can’t find anything better at these prices. I’m practically giving them away as it is. You’re robbing me blind. Should I close my eyes and let you take whatever you want?”

  “You wouldn’t be here unless there was some wiggle room in the price. Nobody in their right mind would price things at market value. There’s always going to be a markup and you can’t convince me otherwise.” They shared a knowing glance. This dance was meant for two people to play.

  “I am offended by the accusation. I’ll try and meet you halfway, but don’t take my generosity as weakness.”

  “I’m not accusing you of anything. This is your life and I won’t condemn the way that you handle your business. I will give you $10 for this one and not one penny more. It’s more than fair and you’re still going to make a profit. You claim these are one of a kind, but being manufactured from China doesn’t exactly instill confidence.” Claire dug around under the fabric until she found the hidden tag.

  “You do drive a hard bargain and I’ll even throw in another one as a bonus.” The money was a mere pittance of what he would need to bring his family over from Iraq.

  “I might look like I fell off the back of the turnip truck, but I can assure you that you won’t be able to pull the wool over my eyes. There are only a few here who legitimately are using their own hands to make what they are selling. You are not one of the few. Quality doesn’t come from mass manufacturing from sweatshops overseas.” She handed over the $10 bill and then felt the shadow of someone familiar behind her.

  “I don’t know that much about you, but maybe I can rectify that over dinner. I don’t normally go out of my way to approach strange women in the market. There’s just something about you.” Eric’s main purpose for coming down here was to haggle with those in the business of doing just that. He had no interest in something of the female persuasion.

  “It bothers me that a married man like you feels like you have a chance with me. Take your pompous blue blood attitude and waste your time with someone else. I’m not that gullible to fall for your charm and dimples.” Claire gave him a tongue lashing with a cheerful smile on her face.

  “I don’t want to give you the wrong impression. I don’t go out hunting for available women. I’m married to a woman of considerable taste and refinement. I’m going to share with you a little secret.” He moved within earshot to be heard quite clearly over the noise of the crowd.

  “Before you say something that you’re going to regret, I have to say that you are barking up the wrong tree.” Claire stood her ground with her arms crossed defensively. She wanted there to be no mistake about her being some kind of home wrecker.

  “I would like to know you and all I’m suggesting is to have a bite to eat with me. What harm could there be?” He said. “I know you might see me as a cad and I feel like I have to prove to you the kind of man I can be. Have dinner with me. Give me an address and I’ll have a car pick you up at precisely 7 p.m.” He could tell that she was fighting her natural instinct and then her address suddenly appeared on the palm of his hand.

  Chapter Three

  The white stretch limousine was easily a focus for those of curiosity. They would want to know who was behind the tinted glass and have their phones ready to secure their 5 minutes of fame.

  “I can’t believe you convinced me to do this. You don’t know how many times I was about to pick up the phone and tell you to go straight to hell. It would serve you right to have your wife show up unexpectedly.” Claire was wearing her secret weapon. The Donna Karan little black dress had the subtlety of a Mack truck running down a small sports car.

  “I never put a gun to your head. You could’ve said no at any time, but you didn’t.” They were sitting at a red light on their way to an exclusive restaurant catering to those who liked privacy.

  “I would be remiss if I didn’t say that you certainly know how to dress to impress. The Armani suit was something, but it doesn’t even compare to the tuxedo. Not many men can wear a bow tie, but you pull it off.” Claire had a string of pearls draped around her neck gleaming underneath the lights of the limousine.

  The smell of champagne was on their breath and they were having a few cocktails before dinner. It loosened them up and made them susceptible to more than just words. The caviar was a nice touch.

  “I haven’t worn this in over a year.” He remembered the last time and how he stole the room with one glance. His attention to detail with the cuff links and the pressed material had made him a noteworthy attendant. He wasn’t the only one.

  His wife mingled amongst the crowd at the fundraiser carrying a conversation from one to the other. She was quite adept at reading a room and immersing herself into a conversation without anybody realizing her interruption.

  “It still looks like it fits and the material is quite soft to the touch.” Claire proved her claim by running her hands down over his chest. Remarkably, he was well put together and there was something of a desire to see him without his clothes.

  “It’s not a good idea to be poking the bear unless you want its claws.” He grabbed her and held her wrists with the grip of a lion applying his teeth to his prey.

  “Such forcefulness can be foreplay in the right hands. I would be very careful and you might be close to the fire.” Claire felt powerless and the look of determination in his eyes brought their lips a little bit closer.

  “I have a firm hand in business and sometimes it translates into the bedroom. There is no better feeling than making an acquisition. I get hot and bothered. Touching you like this brings back that feeling 100 times over.” Eric saw that she was breathing heavily and her chest was rising and falling with each labored breath.

  “You might have found my Achilles’ heel without even trying. I like a man who takes what he wants. It has been a long time since anybody has shown me the kind of man that can leave me breathless with anticipation.” She could smell his aftershave and it made her smile while closing her eyes to the fragrance assaulting her nostrils.

  “I would like to take a moment to say how sexy you look tonight. The dress is a design that is only seen in high-end boutique windows. I don’t know that much about fashion, but I have some unique insight. We haven’t even discussed what you do for a living.” He knew the subject of occupation was going to come up eventually and decided to ask the question.

  “I’m a realtor for very exclusive properties with $1,000,000 price tags. I specialize in foreclosures and those properties on the water. Living in paradise is a prerequisite for those with money. I wonder if you have any interest in setting up some viewings. I have a few tricks up my slee
ve which you might find appealing.” Claire pulled out her phone and brought up several listings overlooking the ocean with one catching his eye. She saw the way that his pupils dilated.

  “It’s been a long time, but that one seems familiar. I could swear it’s a place that I have spent a fair amount of my childhood. I never thought there was a way to pry it from my friend’s family’s hands.” The wall of windows with the white painted façade was nothing without the wooden steps leading down to 200 feet of private beach.

  “I could easily give you a tour of the place tomorrow morning. I have the keys and the view from the master bedroom is to die for,” Claire said. “The bathroom is a wet dream for a woman of refinement. The oasis of the quaint claw tub with a skylight above is a perfect ambiance for romance.” She had him on the hook and was using the bait of the property to reel him in.

  “My wife is away on family business. It wouldn’t be the property for her, but I can’t say the same thing for myself. I think it might be a good idea to cut this evening short. Dinner will have to wait. I know you’re disappointed, but I will make it up to you.” He had spied a text message from Jack and his attention was needed elsewhere.

  “I’m not disappointed and I’m quite anxious to get my hands on the commission of selling that property. I can be quite tenacious. Think of a Pitbull and then you might have a good idea of how hard I’m going to sell you on the place.” Doing her due diligence and finding something familiar was easier than expected.

  “I wouldn’t get your hopes up and the property will have to sell itself. I’m just not sure it’s a good idea to delve into acquisitions concerning real estate at this time.,” Eric said. "I could be convinced, but only if this place ‘blows me’ away.” There was an unconscious double meaning behind his words.