Page 22 of Billionaire's Baby Mistake

The hour passes in a haze, but by the time the smoke alarms start ringing, I feel ready. I am so ready to be away from all these people that I’m actually glad that the time is now. While the bells ring, I wait a few minutes for everyone to leave. The entire time my heart is pounding in my chest. As soon as I feel like the coast is clear, I peek out of my door to find the hallway empty. Once this is done, I can figure out who I am and what I will to do with my life - for me.

“Let’s just do this,” I say to myself. “Get in, get out, get it done.”

I run quickly, my emotions floating everywhere, and by the time I reach Alex’s office door, everything inside of me is shaking. My hands are trembling too. It takes me far too many times to slide my key into the lock, and by the time I manage it, I think I might be sick. This is too much - too intense. I never should have assumed that this is something I could do. A part of me is even hoping that this key is a dud and Van has let me down once more…

But nope, he’s managed to pull through, and the door swings open. “Fuck,” I mutter to myself. “Fucking hell, okay… let’s do this.”

I glance everywhere. No safe. I start tapping my fingers on the walls to see if there’s something there. I should have gotten this information before I started on this crazy mission. What the hell was I thinking? Why am I so unprepared? Oh yeah because that asshole Van decided to try it today.

The painting! Of course. I had already realized that it was a ridiculous size when I first laid eyes on it, and now I know why. It’s covering something up, it has to be… and as I tug at the frame, it swings open like a door. I’m right! Now I just need to figure out the code. Shit, of course, I have no idea about that, and why the hell would I? I grab Alex’s planner, rifling through the pages to look for important dates. I type them in as quickly as I can, hoping and praying that one will be right…

Dad’s BirthdayI see written in bold lettering, so I type that in. Of course. I should have guessed that it would be this very date. Of course, he loves his dad, but he doesn’t understand fully what he did. Mind you, nor do I at this point. None of it makes sense.

With that, I grab all the paperwork inside, no longer caring about being smart. I tuck it all under my arm. It’s going to be obvious what I’ve done, right away, especially considering that I have a note confessing everything to leave on Alex’s desk. I can’t see any point in being sensible anymore. I just wantout. Then I race down the hallway toward the fire exit, which will lead me into a dark alleyway, whereas Van had informed me, Dad will be waiting with a car.

“Did you get it?” Van hisses, catching up with me. “Did you get the formula?”

“I assume it’s in here somewhere,” I gasp. “Now let’s get the fuck out of here.”

We race until we see an old banger parked at the curb, and we jump into it rapidly. As Dad pulls away, grinning proudly as if I’ve done him a great service, I can’t stop the sinking sensation in my chest. Not only am I leaving International Pharma Co. behind, and the only job I’ve ever been good at, but I’m losing the only shot at real love I have ever had.

While Dad and Van congratulate one another, as if they have pulled off a serious criminal heist, I regret everything; but of course, there’s nothing I can do now. It’s far too late. I wish I could turn back time, but that’s impossible. I’m going to have to move away and leave all of this life behind. I don’t think I can stay here and live with what I’ve done, however much it helps Dad.

I’m sorry, Alex,I think sadly to myself.I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you. I never meant to hurt you directly. I just wanted to make my dad happy. I never meant to get mixed up in this. I hope that one day you can forgive me, even if I never will.

“So, what now?” I finally ask Dad coldly. “What is your plan for what happens next?”

I know for a fact that if he answers, he knew what he wanted all along, and I have just been a pawn in his game.

“Ah, you’ll see, my sweet little Zaya, don’t you worry. The world is my oyster now, as it is for all of us.”

As they both laugh, I allow anger to bubble up inside me. For Dad maybe, and Van too… but I feel I have nothing. That’s what you get for allowing revenge and anger to dictate your life, I suppose. You end up like this, - like me - with nothing.

Alex

Thisisbad…thisis real bad…Ever since the fire alarm first went off, my head has been all over the place. I just have this horrible feeling that something is up, and now that I can’t see even one flame flickering from the building, that feeling is confirmed. This is a plot and part of a plan, and I’ve walked right into their hands.

Whoevertheyare. Not that I really want to find out, but I have to. It’s now or never.

“Is everyone here?” I yell over the mass hysteria that has gathered in the car lot. “Is anyone missing?”

People look among themselves, trying to scan for faces that might not be there, while I do the same.

“Nina,” someone yells. “She isn’t here.”

“No, no, she’s off work,” I reply quietly, already spotting something suspicious. Where is she, why can’t I see her? Was I wrong to trust her all this time?

“Van… he’s not here, definitely, and I saw him earlier today.”

“Zaya!” I scream. “Zaya, where is she?”

When no one answers, I take off, rushing inside, shoving the fireman out of the way. One of them yells, telling me to remain outside until they can confirm that there is no fire, but I pay no attention. I already know there isn’t one. Something has happened, my business is in jeopardy, and that’s all there is to it.

I tear through the hallways, knowing there’s only one place she could go, and although I’m pretty sure I left it locked, I might have forgotten to do so in all the chaos. If this has been the plan, there was a way to get in whether I locked it or not. If this has been going on for a long while, I never stood a chance.

Why did I trust her? Why didn’t I listen to my mother, and to Nina, the people who have been in my life for years? Why did I allow my heart to rule my head? I just feel so fucking stupid. The one person that I have ever let into my heart has back stabbed me. How will I ever be able to trust my judgment again?

Of course, my office door is swung open, and as I skate inside, moving my body faster than I ever have done before. I notice that the safe is open too – the place I keep all the sensitive company information: past projects, current formulas, future endeavors… everything. All of International Pharma Co. is in that safe, and if it’s gone, I will find myself left with nothing. I will have let my father down, my mother down - never mind me and all of my staff. This really could ruin everything, and I feel sick thinking that if I’d just listened, I could have prevented this. Everything going on here is all my fault.

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