Page 27 of Mr. Kelly

The other woman gets called first. I try not to fidget. I’m not scared of Helena, but I’m not interested in the headache. Knowing Theodore, he didn’t tell her I was one of the potentials and I know she’s going to act like an idiot. I don’t want Helena to raise my child any more than I want her to still be married to Theodore, but I’m not here for her. I’m just going through the motions because I don’t know if she has any hold over him, but the baby could expedite their end since I’m almost one hundred percent sure he’d pick his child over his nightmare.

It takes about an hour until I’m walking into the lion’s den. It’s a simple room within the lawyer’s firm. They sit side by side in two chairs while one chair faces them. A small table sits between them.

Helena sees me first and grabs Theodores hand and kisses his knuckles. I shouldn’t feel territorial, as he is her husband, but part of me hopes she chips her tooth on his elephant ring. Theodore takes his hand back and sits back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. He clasps his hands together and rests them in his lap.

Their looks are polar opposites. Helena glares at me so hard she fails to notice how her husband bites his bottom lip between his teeth while his gaze rakes over my bare legs. I catch his wink just before his wife starts her interrogation.

“What the hell are you doing here? Why would you think I’d allowyouinto our lives this way? If you think-”

“That’s enough, Helena. Be quiet unless you’re asking an actual interview question.”

She snaps her head in Theodores direction. “Why would you allow this, knowing I wouldn’t like it?”

He shrugs and looks her in the eyes. “I didn’t care about your opinion. I have to spend more time with the surrogate than you do. She had to walk away from her job because of a lie; surrogacy is a job. Plus, she meets all the criteria set by you.”

Helena huffs, although her cheeks tint in embarrassment. “I doubt that,” she mutters.

Theodore starts the interview, and I answer questions about my health and eating habits. Helena reads the questions but doesn’t listen to my answers or take notes on anything I’ve said. I’m not surprised because I’d be the same if I had to interview her for something. I know it’s not the last of her jabs. The next one comes towards the end of the interview.

Theodore is trailing his fingers across his bottom lip while he makes dirty promises with his eyes. I shift my weight by recrossing my legs. I’m stuck between being turned on by him and being pissed off with Helena.

“Any more toxic relationships that have you hiding from dangerous men? You can't be pregnant and on the run,” she adds, like it’s a normal situation to be in often.

“No,” I respond firmly, trying to hold in my temper.

“Think about this, Theo, I’ve read that babies get their intelligence from their mother.” Helena looks at me with judgment shining in her eyes, and I’ve had enough.

“Then it’s good that you’re seeking surrogates.”

Theodore keeps a blank face, but his lips twitch slightly with amusement. I didn’t come here to battle with Helena or amuse Theodore, but this is part of the process.

“You don’t know anything about me, you street rat.”

Of course she’d go to insults. “No. Your bio is online. One of the perks of being famous.Youdon’t know anything about me, and it shows. I received my undergrad in Engineering from Princeton, then went on to get my MBA at Berkeley.” I wave the folder filled with my accomplishments. “With Distinction,” I add. “I have the bills to prove it. Corporate life is soul sucking and draining. Ichoseto leave to follow my passion. I moved here specifically to work for Mr. Kelly since it’d be excellent real-world training. In case you don’t know anything about your in-laws, the Kelly family is one of the most successful winemakers in the United States. Who better than the son of that empire to test my wine knowledge before taking my master sommelier certification test?”

This is not news to Theodore, as we covered it in my bartender interview. That’s why he allows me to make wine suggestions all the time. He only steps in if he disagrees, then we discuss it later. If Helena showed more interest in her husband’s business, she’d know my employment was practically a paid internship. He and I had only talked about work and my wine classes until the day I hid under his desk.

Done with the interview, I stand and drop my folder on the table between them. Theodore still looks like he’s ready to pounce.

“Unless you can solve complicated mathematical equations, I suggest you never question my intelligence again,ballerina.”

I’m not saying ballerinas are stupid, I’m not even saying Helena is stupid. She must have had some level of intelligence to have strung Theodore along so long, but what she needs tounderstand is that she didn’t take the path of a scholar and shouldn’t act like she’s smarter than everyone.

I don’t stick around for her rebuttal. The process is stupid anyway. I can hear the arguing from the other side of the door, but I don’t attempt to listen. I’m halfway down the hall, when the door slams and Helena storms off in the opposite direction.

"River."

I turn to see Theodore standing outside of the room. His sexy body is covered in a navy suit with a matching vest. I tried not to focus on how good the suit looks with the contrasting white tie, but now I can’t help but stare openly. He crooks his finger in a ‘come here’ motion, then disappears back in the room. I shouldn’t feel excitement shooting up my spine. I should turn and walk away from the drama, but part of me feels it’ll make it worse. I try to run possibilities through my head to keep from being disappointed if I’ve read the situation wrong.

Fully believing that he’s going to lecture me on keeping my cool with Helena, I push open the door.

“Lock it,” he orders me without looking my way.

I do what he says. He’s still looking out of the window, watching Helena speed off in her Supernova Red Aston Martin Vantage. Theodore’s jacket is gone, and he’s rolling his shirt sleeves up to his elbows.

Satisfied, he turns to me and is in my face in two strides. I’m pressed against the door with his hand gripping my thigh to pull my leg up to his hip before I can take my next breath. My senses are assaulted with everything Theodore; the feel of him, his warmth, and his scent.

“You’re such a tease,” he growls.

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