Page 11 of The Billionaire's Baby Betrayal

“The story now, please,” said Lydia.

“Story?”

“Yeah, the story of what you and Felix discussed, and the reason why you aren’t at the farm right now, cooing and cuddling your favorite horses.”

“I didn’t like his attitude yesterday after the race.” Piper stared at her glass. “Not only the way he spoke to me but his attitude toward our team as a whole. He has my resignation, which is why I’m not at the farm.” She looked up to see her colleagues slack-jawed, their eyes fixed on her.

“I can’t believe it! What will we do without you?” exclaimed Lydia.

“I think the question should be, what is Piper going to do,” said John.

“You all will be fine, and John, I recommended that you be selected as the head trainer. As for me, I’ll find another opportunity in time.” Piper hid her emotions behind a brave smile and took another swallow of vodka.

“How long did you give him?” asked Lydia.

“My resignation is effective immediately.”

“I need another drink—a double, in fact.” Lydia left the table and went to the bar.

John reached over and squeezed Piper’s hand. “I know you’re doing what’s right for you, and I can’t say I blame you after yesterday. Thank you for the recommendation, but wherever you land and an assistant trainer is needed, call me.”

Piper grinned. “You got it.” She realized she might eventually be asked about taking the Olivera job so soon after her resignation but would worry about that when the time came.

Orders were made for fish and chips, and it was decided that they ought to share a mini trifle for dessert. They said farewells after dessert and a nightcap and promised to keep in touch.

When Piper returned to her room, she saw an email alert on her laptop and discovered that Felix had wasted no time signing the conditions document, but there was no response to her resignation. She was emotionally exhausted from the day’s events and sat cross-legged in the middle of the queen-sized bed, her mind twisting and turning over all that had happened. From the intriguing surprise of Olivera’s offer to the earth-shattering surprise of Felix knowing she was not Piper Marshall, her life had turned upside down.

“He knew this for almost four years, never a word said, and now he uses it as a threat to hang over me,” she whispered. The thought of what she had to do to keep the threat at bay made her sick to her stomach.

Piper could feel the mental exhaustion seeping into her bones and decided to take a hot shower and get some sleep before her next call, to Andrés Olivera.

* * *

Piper did sleep soundly, and by the time the morning rolled around—and after several cups of coffee made with the in-room coffeemaker—she was ready to call Olivera. She sat at the desk with her notepad, the contract and list of questions in front of her. She recognized the number on the card as a Chelsea exchange, and Piper guessed Olivera must have a place in London in addition to his ranch in Uruguay. She took a deep breath, tapped in the number, and was startled at the rich baritone of his voice when he answered.

“Hello, Andrés speaking.”

“Mr. Olivera, this is Piper Marshall. Is this a convenient time to talk?”

“It is, Ms. Marshall, and I’m happy to hear from you. Do you have questions for me about the position or the contract?”

“I do, but more about your training methods, staff, and property than the contract.”

“What’s your first question?”

Piper asked her questions and was impressed with his answers and how he talked about his expectations for the future. She was somewhat amazed to find that she was excited over the chance to work with him.

“Thank you, Mr. Olivera, for your openness.” She hesitated, hating the reason for what she was about to say. “Mr. Olivera, I believe I’m a good fit for your program. I accept your offer.”

Piper could hear the smile in his voice. “I’m glad you feel that way. When would you like to join us at the ranch?”

“Today is Monday, and I need to get to my flat in Windsor and give notice to my landlord. I don’t need much time to pack my belongings, so I thought of checking the airline schedule for flights on Saturday. Is that too soon?”

“Not at all. Please send me your flight schedule, and I’ll arrange transportation from the airport in Montevideo. Also, let me know if your landlord expects you to pay for the full term of your lease, and I will ensure that they are paid.”

“That’s very generous of you, thank you. Mrs. Landry won’t expect any further rent than the end of this month. Should I call you with the flight information, or would you prefer an email?”

Andrés chuckled. “You’ll need it in the future, so I’ll text you my email address. I think you will be a perfect addition to our team and look forward to working with you. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any difficulty with the airline or have further questions. Good day to you, Ms. Marshall.”

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