Page 52 of The Damaged Billionaire

“If I run for president, I will need her working on my campaign,” Harrison adds, and my chest warms with pride for her. Willow would be excellent on his team. He would win, for sure.

“I didn’t hamper your opportunity then?” I ask him, because that was a major concern of mine too. I didn’t want my fuckups to impact his opportunities.

“No. Willow says this news is contained to Baltimore at the moment. Depending on the paternity of the child, that will determine if it reaches further afield. My run for president is still a few years away, so we should be okay. Are you sure you used a condom?” he asks me, hope in his question. He has asked me this almost every day, and my answer remains the same.

“One hundred percent certain. The only issue is if it broke and I didn’t know.” I have thought about this. I have thought over and over about that night, trying to remember it. But I can’t. All I can think of is Willow.

“Good. Willow has it handled. Beth said she was good, but I didn’t know how good until I worked with her this week,” he says, still admiring my woman.

“You've seen her?” I sit forward, eager for any information he can give me.

He looks at me and nods. “Every day.” It is now my turn to be surprised.

“Every day? What do you mean every day?” I push. Why can my brother see her, and I can’t?

“We are having a touch-base meeting every day, trying to not only get a handle on this situation, but also get in front of it. It isn’t easy out there. Willow is getting phone calls and messages; your social media is running rampant. It feels like Dad all over again.” The air in my lungs leaves me. When Dad died, the amount of work us boys had to put in to stop the media, their stories, their lies, was astounding.

“Shit. I didn’t know…” I murmur, as the familiar feeling of failure wraps around my throat again.

“It’s fine. Willow is containing it. I wish we had her for all Dad’s affairs. It would have been much easier.” Harrison sits back and looks at me.

“How is she?” I’m almost scared to know. Hoping she isn’t baking every day and is taking care of herself.

“She looks about as shitty as you, if that's what you want to know. The fact that the public isn’t aware of your relationship is a blessing, really; otherwise, she would be struggling, I think. But she remains laser focused. She said she has only failed one client in the past and has no desire to make it two. Her commitment to you is unwavering.” Harrison's voice is full of confidence, any hesitation he had about Willow before now gone. She has yet another Rothschild who wants her in his life, albeit professionally. Thank God Harrison is already taken.

“She hasn’t failed,” I murmur, my brow furrowing, not liking her thinking that way.

“She thinks she has.”

“Bullshit. She is amazing. I am the one who fucked up, not her.” I may have made a huge mistake, but I own it. I’m not perfect, nor have I ever claimed to be.

“She is taking it personally.” Harrison watches me like a hawk.

“I knew that she would, married to the job and all that.”

“What if it is yours?” Harrison asks the question everyone seems to dodge.

“What do you mean?”

“What if the baby is yours, Tennyson?” he reiterates firmly.

“I don’t want to think about it.” I dismiss him, really hoping it isn’t.

“But you need to.”

“I don’t even want kids. Don't get me wrong, I hold the trophy for best uncle to Rosie, a title I plan to carry over onto your kids whenever you and Beth get there. But I am not father material. I wasn’t wired that way. I am happy to look after them, feed them sugar, and hand them back, and that is the extent of my desire,” I say with complete honesty. Having kids was never my mission. If it happened, I would deal with it, but it was never something I wanted. I am happy without that level of responsibility. If nothing else, having Bob to look after these past few weeks has taught me that. I quickly look out the window and spot him digging up the new posies in the garden. Emily won’t be happy, but at least Rosie will get a laugh. She loves that dog already.

“Maybe you will feel differently once you see a baby and it is yours,” he offers with a shrug.

“If this is my baby, I will do the right thing. I will pay all expenses. I will spend time with it. I will do everything I can and be the best father I am capable of being. But I am not marrying Katerina. This will never be a perfect family situation. I will never go against any of her parenting wishes. She can raise this baby as her own. I will love it, of course I will, but there is no happy family here.”

“Why are you so against having kids?” His brow crumples at me, trying to figure me out.

“Mom and Dad were not the best example,” I mumble, pretty sure I don’t need to explain that one.

“But you see Ben and how happy he is now?”

“Yeah, but you also feel the pain when your parent dies,” I snip. Harrison’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline.

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