Page 61 of Billionaire Temptations

“I don’t know. Maybe someday I was going to. But you have to understand that you left. You started a new life and company, and I wasn’t about to ruin that for you by telling you about her.”

“But I’m her father. I have a right to know that she exists!” he yelled.

“I wasn’t about to let you ruin her life like your father did yours.” I slowly closed my eyes. I spoke the words that would hurt him the most.

“That’s low, Emma. Even for you. If you want me to leave, then fine. I’ll leave. But this isn’t over.” He turned and walked out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

I flinched and sobbed as I stood in the middle of the nursery. I heard the door open, and Molly came walking into the nursery.

“Emma, I just saw Max in the lobby.” She wrapped her arms around me.

“He just thinks he can walk back into my life like nothing ever happened.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

A week passed,and I didn’t hear a word from Max. But then again, that was his usual style, so I wasn’t surprised. I finished up the last semester of school and ended it with a 3.8 GPA. The nursery was finished, and the furniture was set to be delivered this afternoon. I couldn’t wait to get it all set up. I had purchased a chandelier from Pottery Barn Kids with sweeping scrolls, life-like candles, and sparkling crystals. The maintenance man from the building, Jim, put it up for me and replaced the existing ceiling light that was already there.

As I was unwrapping some of the accessories I bought, there was a knock at the door. I looked out the peephole to see if it was the deliverymen. My heart started pounding when I saw Max standing there. I hesitantly opened the door, and he came barging in.

“I just wanted you to know that I’m moving my business from Chicago to New York so I can be near my daughter. I will be in her life, Emma. You cannot stop me from seeing her. You can hate me all you want, but I will be here for her. And regardless of what you think, I will not ruin her life. I will not make the same mistakes my parents did.”

As I stood there and listened to him and his raised voice, there was another knock on the door. I turned around and opened it.

“We have a furniture delivery for Miss Emma Knight.”

“Yes. Come in. I’ll show you where it goes.”

Max placed his hands in his pockets and stood over by the window, looking out at the view while the two men brought in the furniture and placed it in the nursery. The first was a large cardboard box with a crib in it. The second was the double dresser with the hutch, and the third was a glider and ottoman I had purchased in Valetti Silver.

“If you’ll sign here, we’ll be on our way.”

I signed the form and thanked the deliverymen. As soon as they left, Max turned around and looked at me.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“Okay. A little girl needs her daddy in her life. I didn’t have that, and I don’t want that for my daughter. If you want to be involved, then we’ll have to make it work. You can be involved in her life but not in mine.”

A distressed look swept across his face. “If that’s the way you want it, then fine.”

“Fine,” I said.

I walked into the nursery and looked at the cardboard box sitting against the wall. I sighed.

“Is that the crib in there?” Max asked.

“Yes. I sort of thought they would have delivered it built.”

Max walked over to it and asked for a pair of scissors.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“I’m going to put this crib together, so we need to get it out of the box.”

I busted out into laughter.

“What’s so funny? You don’t think I can do it?”

“Honestly, no, I don’t.”

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