Page 50 of Beautiful Desire

“What’s up, old man? Age catching up to you?” he asks in jest.

“Stronzo, last time I checked, thirty-seven isn’t old. You’ll be my age someday soon, and then you won’t be laughing,” I reply.

“Do you want to stay for dinner? I’m sure there’s enough. It’ll be just like old times.”

I’m grateful for the invite, but I’ve already taken up enough of his time after turning up unannounced. And I don’t think Elle would be all that keen to see me outside of the office if it’s not necessary.

“Thanks for the invite, man, but I’m going to head on out.”

We exit the office, and I head straight for the door.

“Tell Gia I said goodbye. We’ll organize something next time instead of me just arriving on your doorstep,” I say with a smile on my face.

The thought of spending time with my friends sends a comforting warmth through me.

I open the door and quickly make my way down the steps and jump into my car. The Boston summer sun is still shining down as I start the engine, reversing out of their driveway and making my way back to my home in the sky.

* * *

It’s Monday morning, and since I came into the office at six a.m., I’ve been working nonstop trying to familiarize myself with more clients. I push back from my desk, lift the handful of files I’ve finished with, and walk out to Elle’s desk, finding it’s empty.

I’ll just leave them on her desk for when she gets back so she can file them back where they belong. As I’m about to leave, I notice a small picture frame beside her computer screen.

Lifting it up, I see Gia holding Nico, and Elle holding a smaller baby with a pair of blue eyes similar to my own.

What the hell?

My hand holding the frame starts to shake, and I pull at the collar of my shirt, suddenly too hot.

Did someone turn the heat on?

I know it isn’t Fabi and Gia’s baby. They only have Nico. So, who does this baby belong to? Is it Elle’s?

This photo looks like it was taken recently. The baby in Elle’s arms can’t be any more than five, maybe six months old. I think back to the last night I saw her before my return to Boston. It was at Fabi and Gia’s wedding just over a year ago, and if my math adds up, then that means she would have already been pregnant the last time we slept together. That is, if this baby is hers.

My body instantly relaxes as a wave of relief washes over me at the thought of not being a father.

That relief quickly vanishes when I’m hit with a surge of anger at the fact that Elle could possibly have a child with another man. Come to think of it, the idea that Elle could be with another man hadn’t even entered my mind until right now.

The phone on her desk rings, bringing my attention back to where I am. Putting the frame back where I found it, I look around to see if anyone has seen me. Thankfully, I don’t see anybody. I step away, walking into my office and closing the door behind me. I need some space to be alone with my thoughts.

I can’t believe I never even considered that Elle could be with someone. And surely that baby can’t be hers. It most definitely isn’tours. The timeline doesn’t add up, and she would have said something.

Wouldn’t she?

I mean, even if she had a baby, she would have said so, right?

Fuck.

The thought of Elle spending her nights wrapped in the arms of another man enrages me. Memories of how fucking phenomenal she looked writhing beneath me and the way her body responded to me make my dick twitch as our night in Italy plays in my mind, clear as day.

No. Stop. You can’t think of her like that. She’s your employee. Your PA, and a damn good one at that.

Plus, she doesn’t see me like that. That’s all in the past. She’s made it more than clear that all we have is a strictly professional relationship. Nothing more.

A gentle knock on my office door pulls me from my thoughts.

“Come in,” I reply, shuffling some papers around, trying to make it look like I’m busy. I don’t want to talk to anyone right now.

---