Page 16 of His Unexpected Heir

Maria’s eyes narrowed at the shrew’s angry tone. “Then I’ll hire others.”

Eldora shrugged. “Whatever. As long as we have an agreement, then I’ll help you.” She started to turn away, but then swung back. “But if you go back on your word, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Maria rolled her eyes. “Just leave it to me,” she promised, then sashayed away.

Eldora watched the vain woman for a moment, then sighed. “Better the devil you know,” she muttered, then headed back to her car. She was tired. Exhausted, actually. The old man might have been a bastard, but at least Ricardo had hired enough staff to clean the freaking castle. The son…he was a freaking billionaire many times over, if the news articles were correct. So there was no reason why she should be cleaning everything herself. Plus cooking and whatever else needed to be done around the castle.

Chapter 6

Astra stretched her arms and legs, then slowly opened her eyes. The first thing that popped into her mind was that she was starving. The second was that this was the most beautiful room she’d ever seen. The gothic décor and dark woodcarvings were…breathtaking! The canopy bed looked like something out of a history book. The velvet drapes and the soft bed were unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

In her world, beds were more about convenience and comfort rather than beauty. She’d put her bed together all by herself after it was delivered to her apartment in a box. She’d fitted all the pieces together and tightened the connections with those odd, painful hex wrenches that never worked very well.

Admiring the carved posts at each corner of the bed, Astra suspected this bed had been carved by hand in this very room.

There was also an ornately gilded mirror that was hung over a carved dresser with a silver hand mirror, brush, and comb set glimmering in the late evening sunshine. Everything in this room looked like it had been taken from a fairy tale.

Slipping her feet over the side of the bed, she put a hand to her stomach after a particularly loud growl sounded. “I hear ya, little one,” she whispered, more to the tiny baby she was protecting than to her stomach. “I’ll get you some food very soon.” She looked around and stood up, wandering around the room, touching the carved rocking chair with velvet cushions and the carved wardrobe that towered against one wall. There was even a soft rug on what she suspected was a stone floor underneath.

But it was her stomach growling that made her look for the door. “Priorities,” she whispered.

It took another ten minutes to find the stairs. She’d meandered down one hallway, only to come to a dead end. Making her way back, she found the stairs and then she found what could only be defined as a “great room”. At one point in history, this room was probably used as a throne room for the lord of the castle. But now, one end of the space was set up with a set of sofas and a massive coffee table in the center with a fireplace that was so large, a person could literally stand in the center with room to spare overhead.

The only thing out of place in the room was the long feather over the mantle. Wasn’t a sword or a coat of arms supposed to grace the space over the mantle? A feather seemed like an odd choice. Sure there was a reason for the feather, and it was none of her business, Astra focused on the rest of the room.

And Antonio, the man she’d dreamed about, cried about, and longed for over the past several months.

At the moment, he was laughing at something Macie said and Astra couldn’t tamp down on the wave of jealousy she felt at seeing her assistant laugh so easily with the man she’d thought…well, it didn’t matter what she thought anymore. They were business associates now.

“Astra!” Macie called out, causing them to turn in her direction. “Are you feeling better?”

Astra fisted her hands by her sides as she walked towards them. “Yes. Thank you.” She looked up at Antonio. “I appreciate your rescue.”

Antonio tilted his head in acknowledgement. “My pleasure.”

Macie’s eyes moved between the two of them, then she asked, “You rescued Astra?”

He continued to glare at Astra as he explained, “Your boss fell asleep on the garden bench. I helped her find a more appropriate place to sleep.”

“Ah!” Macie replied. An awkward silence followed. Finally, Antonio asked, “What can I get you to drink?”

Astra wished she could enjoy a glass of wine. The alcohol would help her get through this night. But she couldn’t have alcohol for a while because of her pregnancy. So instead, she shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Macie laughed, obviously trying to ease the sudden tension. “Astra stopped drinking a few months ago. She’s on some sort of health kick.”

Astra didn’t pull her gaze from Antonio, who merely lifted a dark eyebrow in question.

“It seemed necessary,” was all she said. There was no way she was going to tell Macie that she was pregnant before she let Antonio know. He had a right to know first.

Yes, she should have warned Macie before now. Her pregnancy would affect Macie as well as herself. But since Astra was still trying to figure out all of those pesky details, she hadn’t said anything to Macie. Yet.

Macie was only her assistant in name. In reality, Macie was more of a partner in the business. Her computer skills were just too valuable. However, Macie refused to accept that title, not wanting the responsibilities that went along with being a partner, but the truth was, she was essential to Astra’s business. Astra’s pregnancy would definitely impact Macie’s life – nearly as much as it would impact Astra’s.

Still, right now, in front of the father of her unborn child, wasn’t the time to mention the imminent disruption to everyone’s lives.

“Well, you are missing out on an outstanding vintage,” Macie announced, toasting her glass towards Antonio.

As Astra watched, a silent message passed between them. And in the next moment, a lance of jealousy stabbed at her heart. She tried to ignore it, but the sensation was painful.

---