Page 48 of Working For A Billionaire

When I wake up, Riley is still asleep. I watch her for a while, admiring her beauty. She looks peaceful and happy, which makes me feel better.

I get out of bed and strip, jumping into the shower. After I'm done washing, I towel off and dry my hair. I throw on some clothes and go downstairs.

I find Gloria in the kitchen, putting away the dishes from dinner. She turns around when she hears me and smiles.

"Good morning," she says. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, I did. How are you feeling?"

"I am good. How about Miss Riley? How is she feeling this morning?"

I nod toward the stairs.

"She is sleeping."

Gloria chuckles.

"She was a little worn out yesterday," I add. "The further along she gets the more tired she feels. I will be working in my office. If she needs me, please go get me."

"I will."

"Thank you."

An hour later, as I sit in my office going over paperwork, I receive an unexpected visitor.

"Harrison, I must speak with you," My mother announces, barging into my office.

"Why don't you ever knock?" I ask, annoyed by the intrusion.

"Why? You don't look busy." She walks right up to me and slaps her hands on my desk before sitting down in one of the chairs facing mine.

"I was just working on a few things here," I reply as I sit back in my chair. "What is it you need to speak to me about mother?"

"Harrison, I met with the lawyer I was telling you about. He says gaining custody will be no problem. You don't have to worry about anything. I will take care of everything. Now that Shawn Anderson has signed the papers, you can drop this little charade. You’re not fooling anyone, but him of course."

My mother sits looking pleased with herself as she tells me about how easy gaining custody of my son will be. She gloats that by next week it will all be settled, and I have heard all I can take.

"Mother," I say standing up from my chair. " I didn't ask you to meet with a lawyer. I have no intention of fighting Riley for custody, and this is far from a charade. This is the most important thing in the world to me."

"Harrison, you can't be serious. Riley is hardly the woman you should raise a child with. If it weren't for your money, she wouldn't even bother with you. What would your father think if he saw you now?"

I am feeling angry at her for saying such things but more than anything I am scared. I know what she is trying to do to get to me, but I won't let her succeed.

"Don't talk about my family like they aren't here. What if Riley heard you talking like that? Do you really want to put the baby through that stress? I would hope that my father would be happy that I have chosen to raise my child with the woman I love and hope to marry."

She looks at me with an expressionless face but doesn't say a word. As always, when she doesn’t like something and when there’s nothing she can say or do, she just leaves. This time, she just gets up from the chair and heads for the door.

"Mother, where are you going?" I ask, shaking my head.

She slams the door behind her, and I know this is a disaster.

Chapter Nineteen

Riley

The sound of the door opening got my attention. I get up from my chair to see who it is. As I walk out of the nursery, I see Mrs. Rutherford go into Harrison's office with her usual look of disappointment. Her voice is loud, and I can hear her clearly.

"Harrison, I met with the lawyer I was telling you about. He says gaining custody will be no problem. You don't have to worry about anything. I will take care of everything. Now that Shawn Anderson has signed the papers, you can drop this little charade. You’re not fooling anyone, but him of course."

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