Page 20 of Billionaire's Baby Mistake

“David Connelly?” My mind races, but I can’t quite figure out what the issue is here. Who the hell is David Connelly, and why does he matter? That wouldn’t be a secret, anyway, because we haven’t exactly discussed our family history with one another.

“As in David Connelly… the man who started the company with your father…”

“No, she can’t be,” I shake my head rapidly. “Her surname is Webber.”

“I think the woman he had a baby with, shortly after he left International Pharma Co., was called Webber… Betty, maybe?”

“But… but…” This makes no sense. If Zaya knew about this, she would have told me. If there’s one thing wehavediscussed it’s the starting point of this business. It would have come up. “That’s not possible. She would have told me…”

“Son, I would recognize that striking blonde hair, those eyes, and that face shape anywhere. She looks exactly like her father. I could pick her out in a line up. That is David Connelly’s daughter, and there’s no denying it.”

“Okay, so maybe she doesn’t know.” There has to be some explanation somewhere; otherwise, this doesn’t make sense. “Maybe her mom never told her.”

“Her mom died in childbirth and her dad raised her. She knows exactly who she is, and I worry that she’s here for the wrong reasons.” She holds my hands and stares lovingly into my eyes. “I just don’t want to see destroyed what you and your father have worked so hard for.”

My heart beats quickly as this sinks into my brain. This is insane, absolutely mental, but maybe, just maybe, Mom is right. However, even if ZayaisDavid’s daughter, that doesn’t have to mean anything. She has worked for the business for a while, and nothing has happened. Maybe she did start with revenge plans in mind, or maybe she just inherited her father’s love of the business…but I don’t think there’s anything to worry about at any rate.

“Okay, I understand your concerns,” I force a smile on my face to calm her down before she makes a mountain out of a mole hill. “Thanks for bringing it to my attention, but I’m sure everything is fine. She hasn’t shown me any signs of betraying me…”

“Just because she has seduced you, it doesn’t make her trustworthy…”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Mom thinks I’ll do anything for a bit of fun… which isn’t thewholetruth.

“I know, but it’s more than that. We’re more than just physical. There’s something between us, and it’s real.” Mom’s look says she isn’t quite convinced, so I quickly realize that I need to shut this down before she continues. “I need to get back to the office now, so I’ll see you later, okay? We can talk about this another time…”

Or maybe never. Hopefully never. I don’t want Mom going on about this. I would much prefer to figure things out on my own, but she senses that I am shutting down. So, we hug and I go on my way, with her words circulating through my brain. It’s obvious that Zaya hasn’t shared everything with me, but I don’t think it’s enough to be worried about. Even if she is this man’s daughter, that’s our parent’s feud and not ours. I don’t think it has anything to do with us…

Ring, ring…I answer my cell phone quickly. It shakes me from my thoughts, and I instantly noticed that Nina is calling. I feel a bad because I’ve not even thought about her since she left to look after her brother. I probably should have sent flowers or something…

“Hi, Nina, are you okay?”

“Yes, everything is fine. I’ve just been doing some research on the founding of the company, and I think there’s something you should know.” She talks rapidly as if she’s desperate to get the next words out. Even though I suspect what she might be about to tell me, I know that I can’t stop her…not when she’s on such a roll. Her words are practically tripping over themselves in urgency. “It’s her dad, Zaya’s dad; he was the one who started the company with Peter. I knew there was something suspicious about her, I can tell that she doesn’t care about the business. She’s here to tear it apart…” Fuck, everyone is against Zaya. How did that happen.

“Okay, thank you, Nina. I have been informed of this already,” I interrupt calmly, needing to shut this down before it spreads any further. I will deal with this, but I need them all to back off.

“So, you’ve fired her? She’s gone?”

“I don’t think you should worry about the business at the moment. I think you need to concentrate on your brother. How is he?” I cannot get into this conversation right now. How can I make Nina understand why I trust Zaya without discussing it face to face?

“He… he has lupus,” she tells me, changing the subject. “It has been causing everything. He’s going to be fine; he just needs to get stabilized before they let him go.” She sounds very confused, which I understand, but this is just the way that it needs to be for now. “But what about…”

“Okay, well, please let me know if you need anything, and take all the time you need. Things are running fine at the moment, so there’s absolutely nothing for you to worry about.”

It’s all going to work out… I just know it… it’s just going to be a little harder to make other people understand.But that doesn’t stop me from wanting check all the security measures at the office, just in case. I trust Zaya, I do, but at the same time, it can’t be too safe, even if it’s just to get everyone else off my back. If I can just confirm to that I’m totally on top of things, then I’m sure that they will eventually relax.

I’mthe boss here now, I make all the decisions. The sooner they get that, the better. As I walk through the building, expecting to be greeted with silence, I find a few people, working away as if I hadn’t told them to take the day off.

“What are you doing?” I ask the receptionist, bemused. “Didn’t Ryan tell you to take the day off?”

“He did, but a lot of us have too much to do… that’s why we didn’t drink too much last night.”

A part of me is super proud of my workforce and the environment I’ve created, which makes people want to work when they don’t have to; but another part is wondering if Zaya is here and if I should confront her. With that thought in my mind, I stalk toward my office with determination in my step. If I can just ask Zaya and get to the bottom of it, it’ll all be put to bed where it belongs. She isn’t there, of course because I have the only key, but with a racing heart I put a call in, and relief floods through me when she answers on the first ring.

“You couldn’t keep away either, huh?” I joke, trying to hide the strain in my voice. “If you have a second, can you come to my office?”

“Of course,” she says, sounding a little bewildered, but I don’t detect any worry. She has no reason to be worried. She hasn’t done anything wrong! “I’ll be there in a moment.”

While I wait for her, I grip the side of my desk, preparing myself for what is about to happen. This moment could change absolutely everything, and I admit just how wound up I am. If she’s fooled me, I don’t know how I’ll ever recover.

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