Page 54 of The Billionaire's Fortunate Accident
Socking me in the shoulder, she huffed. “No way. You’re my boyfriend. I don’t want to tell anyone that we’re expecting because it might jinx the pregnancy. So for now, this is our little secret.”
“Aw, you’re excited about having this baby, aren’t you?” I hadn’t pegged her for wanting a baby.
“It’s grown on me. And yeah, I’m excited. And I’m happy that you’re happy about it too. We’re going to be alright. I think. I hope.”
“We’re going to be much better than just alright.” We entered an enormous room full of people. I smelled some amazing smells, too. “There’s food?”
“Lots and lots of food. It’s how southerners deal with grief. People send all sorts of things to help the bereaved. A good thing for me, as I’m finally hungry, too.”
We made our way through the crowd of people, with Jessa introducing me to the majority. I couldn’t have recalled a name if I’d tried, so I just smiled and nodded, gave the usual nice to meet you too thing.
Then I heard her say, “This is my boyfriend, Mr. Langford. Allow me to introduce you to Stone Nash from Austin, Texas. He and his brothers own a resort there.”
I gave him my biggest smile as I held out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Langford. Jessa’s told me how important you were to her father and his family.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” He shook my hand. “Say, what’s the name of your resort?”
“Whispers Resort and Spa.”
“I’ve been there. I took my wife there about a year ago. That is some nice place you’ve got. State of the art, I might say.” He looked pleased that it was my arm that Jessa was resting on. “Ray and I had been talking about something a while back.”
“Ray’s my dad’s name,” Jessa told me.
Nodding, I asked Mr. Langford, “What were you talking about?”
“Well, this estate is large. Much too large for just a couple of people to live in. There are so many empty bedrooms, you know. And the ballroom hasn’t been used in years. We had the idea of turning this into either a resort or bed and breakfast. Many people seemed interested in staying at this historic home. And the staff could keep their jobs, too, so that would be nice. Miss Lily could stay right where she is staying now, in her suite of rooms. If that’s what she wanted to do. Not much would change, except there would be more people around. But I think it would be good for this place.”
Jessa looked at me with wide eyes. “That’s some idea. What do you think?”
I wasn’t sure what to think. “If you wanted, we could add it to our sister resorts. It could be called Whispers of North Carolina or something like that. That would make you and your sister our partners, if you wanted to do that. Of course, I would have to get our board’s approval. But I think I could get that. There are a lot of perks if you join us, too. Tons of them, actually.”
Jessa looked at her father’s most trusted advisor. “That would take care of this place. But what about my father’s business dealings? Who would handle them?”
“There’s not much to handle. There’s a law firm that handles the investments. They pay the taxes and deal with paying the employees as well. Your father had a check directly deposited into his account each quarter with the leftover revenue. You and your sister will need to give them your banking information so they can now split that between the two of you. Once a year, you should attend a meeting with them, just to keep yourselves abreast of what they’re doing for you.”
Jessa’s jaw hung open. “Hang on. You are telling me that neither me nor Lily has to take over everything our father did to keep this place going and keep money making money?”
“He’s been set up for years now. I mean, the man has kept himself busy with side investments in other companies. But you don’t have to do that. Those were his pet projects. They don’t have to become yours or your sister’s.”
Jessa still wasn’t sure about things. “So, I don’t have to quit medical school? And I can go back to Austin?”
“Of course, you can. Jessa, your father was extremely proud of you. He told everyone about how you were going to become a doctor. He would never leave you with so much to care for that it would get in the way of what you want.”
She looked at me with tears in her eyes. “Stone, I’m coming home with you!” She looked back at Mr. Langford. “We’re having a baby.”
“Well, congratulations!”
Looks like our little secret is out!
Epilogue
Jessa
One year later…
Lily had come to Austin for our first board meeting since adding the estate to Whispers Resorts. She held our son, Liam, rocking him gently. “He’s so handsome. I’m glad I finally got to come down to spend a week with you guys. But honestly, working at the resort back home has been a blessing to me. I love it. I love hobnobbing with all the guests, planning events, and my social status has gone through the roof. I tell you what?” She rubbed noses with the baby. “Little Liam, your Auntie Lily is having the time of her life.”
“So no cousins for Liam in the near future?” I asked as we stepped off the elevator at the resort in Austin to sit in on the first meeting we’d been invited to.
