Page 102 of Forbidden Boss (Manhattan Billionaires)

An hour later, I was on my way to beg forgiveness from the only person in my life that truly mattered. The only woman who had defended me, even when she had no power. The only woman who kissed me like she cared aboutme, and not what I could do for her.

The one who told me, clear as day, that she couldn’t work for me because she wanted a real relationship. She wanted me.

I’d been too wrapped up in my own hurt to realize she’d been offering me the world. I just hoped it wasn’t too late to make amends.

FORTY-TWO

NIKKI

When the buzzer sounded,I was in the middle of a reality TV binge, wearing my comfiest pair of sweats while curled up on my sofa with a giant bowl of popcorn. I’d spent the day journaling, walking, and spending time with the girls to try to figure out how I was going to talk to Rome about the baby.

I thought I was ready. I had it all planned out. I’d tell him that he didn’t have to be involved and I didn’t need anything from him, but I wouldn’t keep the baby from him if he wanted to be a father.

I didn’t want to open the door to a relationship with him, because I knew he couldn’t offer me what I really wanted. The past few months had taught me that I was no longer happy to accept life as the placeholder. That had become a self-fulfilling prophecy; I thought it was all I deserved, so it was all I asked for.

In reality, I deserved so much more.

Rome couldn’t offer me the kind of love that lasts decades and only gets stronger, and I didn’t want to settle for scraps.

I’d pour all my love into my child, and that would be enough. It would have to be.

I was calm. I was at peace. I was ready.

Then the buzzer rang.

Putting the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table, I groaned as I sat up. I hit the pause button then rubbed my eyes and hauled myself up to my feet. The nausea from the first trimester had passed and I was feeling more energetic, but it was late.

“Hello?” I croaked, pressing the button on the intercom.

“Nikki—”

I took my finger off and the line went dead. Wide-eyed, I stared at the speaker as my heart took off at a gallop. That couldn’t be?—

A buzz interrupted my thoughts. I answered, my finger trembling as it pressed the button. “H-hello?”

“Don’t hang up,” Rome said, breathless. “Please. I need to talk to you.”

The thumping in my breast was so violent I put my palm to my chest as if I feared my heart would jump right out. Suddenly, my throat was dry.

He knew about the baby. He was here to confront me about it.

Roseanne? She might have told her husband, and he would have congratulated Rome. Of course. I never should have met with her. I should have sent her a polite rejection email and avoided her completely.

But then I wouldn’t have reconnected with the girls, and I wouldn’t have realized just how wrong I’d been about my place in the group.

“Come on up,” I said, resignation sinking into my pores. I pressed the button to unlock the front door, then quickly tidied my front room. I fluffed some pillows and shoved the bowl of popcorn in the kitchen. I folded the throw blanket that had been wrapped around me and stacked some books on the shelves in the corner.

He knocked.

I stared at the door like it might jump over and smack me, then took a deep breath. I was being ridiculous. This wasn’t going exactly to plan, but that didn’t mean it was a disaster. Rome was here in person, wasn’t he? He hadn’t sicced his team of hotshot lawyers on me. That boded well.

I hoped.

The lock felt stiff as I opened it, the door heavier than usual.

And Rome was there on the other side. I hadn’t quite believed it until I saw him. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hair was a mess. He looked like he was wearing a tuxedo, which was strange. Had he come straight from an event? Was he drunk…?

“Can I come in?” His voice was raspy, but he didn’t slur, and he didn’t smell like alcohol.

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