Baby By The Billionaire - A Standalone Alpha Billionaire Secret Baby Romance (New York City Billionaires - Book #3)

by Alexa Davis

  At twenty-eight, I was finally starting to feel that overpowering tick of my biological clock, but only because I hadn’t found anyone remotely interesting for me. I didn’t want to pop out ten babies immediately, but I would have liked to have someone to call my own. I just wanted that warm, comforting sensation that came from being in love. Everyone else seemed to have it. I didn't know what was wrong with me.

  Anyway, enough of that. This is no time for a self-confidence crisis.

  Three...

  “Hey there,” my friend, and employee, Laynee, burst in before I could get to three with a big smile on her face, proving that she wasn’t filled with any New Year’s Eve regret or determination for a better life. She was such a happy-go-lucky girl that I doubted anything got to her.

  “How’s it going? And why are you cleaning the place? It’s spotless; we did it just before the Christmas break, remember?” she asked.

  I hadn’t even realized that I was absentmindedly running a cloth over the place. “Oh, yeah, you’re right.” I chuckled awkwardly. “Just lost in thought. Plus, you know what Grandma always said: there’s always time to clean.”

  My grandmother had passed away during the previous year, and it had hit me very hard. I loved her, she was the only family I had, and I still missed her to this day. Luckily, Laynee knew all about it and had been very supportive the whole time. I don’t know what I would have done without her.

  “She was a great woman.” Laynee smiled kindly, rubbing my back gently. “But she would have wanted you to carry on. She would have wanted you to be happy and successful.”

  Laynee had known my grandmother well, and she was right about that. Grandma was spirited and always having a good time. She wouldn't have let anything as small as a failing salon to get her down.

  If only I could be more like that!

  “And as for the business...” We’d had a conversation before Christmas about making some changes, and it seemed that Laynee had pondered over it a lot more, too. She wanted this place to work just as much as I did; she loved being a hairdresser, and her livelihood depended on it. “I have had some ideas.”

  “Yeah, we need to make a real go of it this year. make some changes. Anything you have is welcome, really.”

  “I thought that maybe we could start doing parties,” she exclaimed excitedly. “Chic Hair parties. And, maybe we could get a tanning booth, too. You know how that's a huge craze, and I don't see it going anywhere soon!”

  “Yeah, I like those plans!” I sat up excitedly in my chair. But then I remembered that we would need to spend money to make money with that one, and I didn’t exactly have any to spare.

  My feelings rose and fell in the space of an instant; this was going to be harder than I’d thought. I would have loved nothing more than to buy a tanning booth, especially as it would lead to revenue, but I just couldn't afford it – not even close.

  “Oops, Jan is here early. I better go and let her in.” I watched as my friend bounded to the door. I needed to make this work – for her as well as me. Somehow, I was going to have to find a way to stay open, whatever it took.

  “Hi, Jan, how are things? No Tony today?” Laynee asked.

  “No, he has an appointment with Doctor Turner...”

  As they made the usual hairdresser/customer small talk, I tuned them out and took a moment to try and work out a way that I could make this happen. I had a stack of bills that seemed to be getting higher every single day and no way to reduce them. I should have thought about expanding earlier, when I could have afforded to, and I probably would have, had it not been for the grief. Enthusiasm was one thing, but it would only get me so far. I needed to get serious, too.

  “Did you hear that, Eliza?” Laynee’s voice suddenly broke through my thought barrier. “Jan just said that you’ve done an amazing job here.”

  “Yes, the place looks wonderful.” Jan grinned up at me from under all the products.

  I forced a fake smile on my face and gave her my thanks, wishing that her words could make me feel a little better, but the black cloud had settled over me now and I couldn’t shake it off. Things need to get better. I have to find a way, somehow...

  ***

  “Well, that was a good first day back,” Laynee said, trying to draw me into a conversation as we locked up the shop. “Don’t you think?” But I didn’t answer her; my mind was elsewhere. “Eliza, are you okay?”

  “Oh, God, I’m sorry.” I shook my head and tried to get my head back in the game. “I guess I’m just worried about the future of this shop. I thought it would be all right. I came back all excited to make some changes, but now I’m scared that I’m not going to be able to do it. Thinking about it seriously, it isn't going to be as straightforward as I'd hoped.”

  “I know, but I trust you. You’ll find a way,” she said innocently enough. She returned to sweeping up the hair, but I could tell that there was something swimming around in that head of hers. We’d been working together and friends for long enough for me to know that much.

  “What is it?” I asked. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “Okay...” She gave me a look, one that told me she wasn’t quite sure how to word it. “Well, I know that this is a sensitive subject, but... Well, don’t forget that you have your grandma’s cabin.”

  It was her way of helping, and I knew that she meant it because if she had any money, she would give it to me immediately, but it hurt. That cabin was the only thing that I had left from my grandmother, and much as I knew that it would make me some money, I just couldn’t sell it.

  It was a beautiful place, just outside of town in the woods. There was even a lake outside, making it the most picturesque place I’d ever seen. It would make me some serious money, probably enough to get the business rolling okay again and then some left over to buy myself a nicer home than the one I was currently renting. But still, it was all that I had left.

  It wasn’t just that; it contained all my childhood memories, or at least a lot of them. We visited a lot when I was younger, and I always felt incredibly happy there, even after I lost my parents. I couldn’t give that up just yet. I wasn’t ready, and I didn’t know if I ever would be. How can I let go of the one thing that links me to my childhood and family now?

  Plus – and probably most importantly – when things went to hell in my apartment, which was more often than I wanted to think about, I would stay there. I couldn't afford to give up that safety net.

  “I know what you mean,” I told her seriously, wanting to let her know that I wasn't just dismissing her. “But I just can’t sell it.”

  “No, I wasn’t suggesting that.” She smiled a little brighter now. “I would never suggest that. I know how much it means to you. Don’t sell the place, but you could rent it out.”

  “What do you mean? Like become a landlord?” That sounded like far too much paperwork for my liking. I already had enough on my hands, plus I wasn’t sure it wasn’t fit for permanent living.

  “No,” Laynee was excited now, sure that she was onto a winner. “Think about it. People travel all the time for business; leisure, too. Florence is a popular vacation destination, and there are a lot of people who run their companies from here. Rent your cabin out as somewhere for people to relax or stay.”

  “Hmm...” I furrowed up my eyebrows, thinking about it. That actually wasn’t a terrible idea. Maybe I could do that; maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the entire world. Plus, that wouldn't be a permanent thing, so I could still stay there when I needed to.

  “You could be right,” I told her slowly. “Maybe that’s what I’ll do.”

  Chapter Three

  Milo – Wednesday

  So being all adult about it didn't exactly work out for me. I almost called Justin a million times, and I even went online to see if I could find out any clues from his website. I just needed to know.

  It was the first thing that I'd been interested in for a very long time, and I didn't want to let that sensat
ion go. It was much better than being numb and sad – that didn't suit me.

  “Okay.” I slid into the seat next to Justin, handing him a cup of coffee. “I’m here, what do you want?” I was only teasing him, winding him up, but there was a lot of truth in there, too. If he didn't tell me soon, I was going to go insane. “Come on, spit it out!”

  “Ha ha, very funny.” He laughed wryly at me. “You know, you used to be a lot less serious before you became a hotshot in Vegas.”

  That actually hit me harder than I thought it would.

  I always thought that I’d been fun loving in the last few years, but I probably was a lot easier to get along with back in the pre-Vegas days. I hadn’t been so focused on having fun; it just happened more naturally. Maybe I'd been forcing myself to have fun to cover something up. I wasn't quite sure what, but it did get me thinking.

  “Yeah, you’re probably right,” I half-heartedly laughed, not wanting to be on this topic. This wasn't the time for any kind of self-evaluation. “I don’t know what happened to me.”

  He gave me a funny look before speaking out again in a much kinder tone of voice. “You know, I heard what happened to you. I know that you’ve been sick. I hope that you’re much better now.”

  I felt all mixed up and sickly at the thought of everyone talking about me behind my back. I would have much preferred to be more private, but in the small world I circled in, it was impossible. When you started spending time with other billionaires, everyone seemed to know everything about one another.

  Of course, I had been out of the loop for a while now, so that put my nose out of joint, too. I felt like I was twelve steps behind everyone else with everything.

  “Yeah,” I replied hoarsely. “I am – much better, thank you. I got the all clear yesterday, just before you called, actually.”

  “Well, I’m very glad to hear it; that must have been rough.”

  As he spoke so kindly to me, I wondered why I didn’t hang out with Justin more. He was a good guy who seemed to care. I'd drifted apart from all the guys from my younger days because I'd been so wrapped up in myself. Now, I could see that was a silly mistake on my part.

  “Thank you.” We sipped our drinks in silence for a moment before I realized that it was up to me to get the conversation rolling again. After all, I was the one who'd been through the trauma. Justin probably didn't know what to say to me “So, seriously, why did you call me here?” It was time to get down to business.

  “Well, I wasn’t too sure if you were investing anymore because I know that your casinos are doing so well. I went to one the other day, and wow... It was so damn busy! But if you are, or if you’re thinking about getting back into it, then I might have an opportunity for you.”

  “Tell me more...” I leaned in. This sounded huge, something incredibly exciting, and I couldn’t wait for it. It was a new year now, a new start for me, and this could be great. In a way, I needed this to be the thing that I'd been looking for. I needed a start, a kick up the ass, and I wanted this to be it.

  “It’s a fishing company in Oregon.”

  Huh, what? “Fishing?” I asked, allowing my confusion to shine through. “I don’t know anything about fishing. Or Oregon.” I couldn’t stop the disappointment from sitting like a heavy weight in the pit of my stomach. “Where in Oregon? Portland?” I knew Justin had his investment business there, so it made sense. “And, have you invested in this company?”

  “It’s a small town called Florence, and I know that might sound a little crazy, but trust me, there is a lot of money to be made there. This fishing trade is huge. I haven’t invested in the company myself, but I do think this is for you.”

  “Are you kidding me?” I gasped in shock. “Do you realize how sketchy all this sounds? If there is something going on here, I would rather you be totally honest with me.” This was all so weird. I didn’t want to think badly of Justin, but there didn’t seem to be any good explanation for this one. Nothing about it made any sense.

  “I know. I totally understand your reservations, but would you at least think of taking a trip down there to see? I can’t explain it. It would be much better if you saw it for yourself. You could probably use some time away anyway, couldn’t you? After all that you’ve been through?”

  Okay, that cinches it. There was no way that Justin would be a dick to someone who had suffered all the health conditions that I had. He had to be serious, and I needed to trust him. I had to just push all my instincts aside and listen to him.

  “So, what’s so great about Florence?” I asked curiously, just trying to stall him for a few more moments while I sorted out my thoughts. “Have you spent a lot of time there?”

  “I have, actually,” he surprised me by saying. “Recently, I’ve been there a lot.”

  “For investment?” If he was invested in this random little town, then maybe there was something about it that I needed to know.

  “Not really.”

  He had that dreamy, faraway look in his eyes that could only mean one thing: love. He’d found someone and that twisted my stomach up in painful, twirling knots. Jealousy. I actually felt jealous. I wanted someone to feel that way about. I wanted someone to love. I never had before.

  “It’s for a woman,” he continued unnecessarily. “I’ve met someone there, and she makes everything seem different.”

  I thought about all the women in my life and how none of them were the wholesome sort of girl I wanted to settle down with. Maybe if Justin had managed to find someone in Florence, then I could, too. Not long term, necessarily, because then she would have to move, but someone to get my engine revving again. I did need to get back in the game. Maybe if I could find someone to get excited about, then my spark would come flying back.

  I needed to feel like myself again before all this ate me alive.

  “I’ll think about it,” I finally confirmed, smiling. “Thank you, Justin.”

  ***

  I didn’t feel comfortable with just sitting around after my meeting with Justin. He’d stirred everything up in my mind and I needed to do something, so I hopped in the car to make the trip to Vegas.

  I wasn’t exactly up for a night of gambling and drinking, but I did want to check in on my businesses. They ran themselves these days, with amazing managers to keep on top of things, but I felt like it was good to drop by every now and again. Showing my face proved I hadn’t dropped off the face of the Earth.

  As my car whizzed through the city of lights, I recalled the days when I saw this city as something to get excited about. I loved my trips down to Vegas, which was why I’d brought the casinos in the first place. The parties, the strippers, the lights, the never-ending fun – it had seemed like a dream to me.

  I had come from a small town where nothing exciting ever happened. I'd grown up with fairly strict parents, which was maybe why I went so wild when I first got the chance. This place was a playground for me, and I took full advantage of that.

  Now, though, I saw somewhere empty and hollow. The tourists loved it and always had a great time, but I found the permanent residents sad, always wanting to escape. It took the sheen off things, made everything that much less shiny. I was grateful that I didn't live there all the time or I wasn't sure that I would ever be able to enjoy it again.

  And there it was: my casino, the romance-themed one people adored. We didn't have a wedding chapel in it like most of the others, but it was requested over and over again. I didn't see it as a good money spinner, though; it wasn't necessary, so I didn't have it.

  The noise tore through my ears the second I stepped inside: the music, the machines, the chatter... it was intense. I flickered my eyes everywhere, trying to see anyone I recognized, but all I found looking back at me were scantily-clad girls, flashing lights, and cash being spent at every angle. It was so fast paced, so crazy, it left me a little dizzy. It must have been because I was getting old. I couldn't handle it anymore.

  “Hey, boss.” I felt a clap on my back and turne
d around to see Bill, the manager. He was dressed in a full suit and tie, looking far more capable than I did. I probably shouldn't have come down here in such a rush, after all. “I didn’t expect to see you today. How is it going?”

  “Yeah, good, just checking in. Looks like you have it all under control.” I nodded slowly and smiled. “Is there anything you need from me?”

  “No, no, it’s all good. Did you see the reports? Business is great, profits are up, events are doing well.” He was so excited to tell me this that it made me grin brightly at him, despite the weird sensation that I had inside. “Our sister casino is doing great, too.”

  What was going on with me? Why wasn’t I so happy at that good news? Why did nothing cheer me up anymore?

  I guessed that if anything was wrong, it was that I felt useless. They didn’t need me here; there was nothing for me to do. I wasn’t needed, and I had no idea what to do about that. That sense that I was still hanging on a loose end came flooding back.

  “Okay, well, great. I might pop over there in a minute.” I stepped backward as one of the security guards raced to Bill’s side with an issue. “I’ll see you later, okay?” But he wasn't listening. Why would he? He knows more about this place than I do!

  When I got back into my car, I thought about Justin and his offer once more. Maybe the idea of an investment opportunity in Florence, Oregon was a ridiculous one, but the chance of a vacation, the thought of hanging out somewhere much quieter, with a totally different atmosphere, was an appealing one. I needed a timeout from my life before I made all these changes I wanted to make. I couldn’t just do it without a break.

  Justin was right. I had been through a lot, and I did need an escape. This sounded like the perfect way to do just that.

  Chapter Four

  Eliza – Wednesday

  “Okay,” I muttered to myself as the door swung open. “Today will be a better day.”