Page 10 of Billionaire's Baby Mistake

“Wait a minute.” I prop myself onto my elbows to give him a stern look. “Are you telling me you hired me because of my appearance?” I wouldn’t have bothered trying so hard if I’d known that. I wouldn’t have stressed out over this damn party and just cruised on my looks. I began fluttering my eyelashes and pouting my lips.

“No, no, I don’t mean like that,” he laughs happily. “I mean because I could instantly tell that you’re a go getter.”

“Oh… right…” I don’t know if I can fully trust his words, but I don’t want to start arguing now that I’m inside the office as planned. “Well, I suppose that isn’t too bad. Iama go getter after all.”

He grabs my ass and gives me a kiss, which makes my heart flutter a little too wildly for my liking.

“Not too bad,” he jokes. “Don’t you like it here?”

“I do; it’s fun…” That part is true. If it wasn’t for the fact that this should be Dad’s company, I would enjoy the challenge of raising the profile of International Pharma Co. a lot. It’s the sort of challenge IknowI’m good for.

“And it pays well. Look at all the incredible stuff you have in this office.” I scan around, pointing toward the antiques and artwork. I’m getting to the massive portrait of Peter Bryson hanging above his desk. “So, who is that man?”

“That’s my dad,” he sighs deeply, looking a little hurt. “He died a while back, leaving the company to me.”

“Oh… he owned it before you?” I’m putting on my best acting skills, pretending I don’t know anything about the business. “Did he build it all himself?”

“He did,” he confirms, nodding slowly. “He and Mom did it all, until she had me.”

My temper boils, and I start to feel a little sick. Is he just writing Dad out of the business history, or does he not know anything?

“Oh, yeah?” I grit my teeth, trying my best to keep my temper inside. “Just the two of them? That’s impressive.”

“Well, no,” he admits, much to my surprise. “There was another guy involved in the beginning, but I don’t know much about him - who he was or anything. Dad just told me there was someone with him and others investors, and he left because of that.”

Hmm… that’s weird. I was told that there was a petty row over a woman, and he was unfairly kicked out. No investors were ever mentioned. Alex had been told a glossier tale to stop him from asking too many questions.

“Ah, I see.” It’s hard not to reveal the truth, but I can’t… not yet; it’s far too soon. All I have to do is keep playing it cool…

“Do you want to go back to the party?” he turns to asks me with a smile. “Or do you want to stay in here all night?”

“I e…” he throws at me, and I don’t know what to say for a second. I don’t want to return to the party. There’s no way I’ll be able to act normally, and I would love to stay and have some fun… but of course, I know that option is only a joke.

It’d be good to wait until Alex falls asleep to look for the formula, but I also know that isn’t practical. However, I’m confident I’ll get invited back here again soon enough, so I’m not too worried.

I don’t want to think I might be putting this off because I don’t want to leave Alex as yet. After all, that opens a new can of worms I’m not ready for. I must think logically and use that as my excuse. Iwillbe back. It’ll be fine.

“I think I better go home,” I tell him regretfully. “I have a lot of work to do over the weekend after this party.”

“You do, huh?” he asks, looking at me curiously. “Well, if you’re going to start working over the weekend, I’ll have to pay you more.”

I can tell he’s joking, but oddly enough, I am touched. I get the impression he’s a good employer and treats his staff well, but that isn’t the point. I can’t let that distract me even for a second. What this business did right at its origins to Dad wasn’t fair, so whatever came afterward really doesn’t matter.

“Come on, Zaya, let me drive you home.”

We slide our clothes on in a much slower, calmer way with a weird silence surrounding us. It’s almost as if we both have something we want to say but don’t know how to express it. I know the secrets I’m keeping inside, but I have no idea what Alex is keeping back, and it intrigues me.

If only I could just ask him. But what if it ruins everything? As we leave the building, I notice Alex’s hand hanging by his side. I wonder if he wants me to hold it. Of course, I wouldn’t because I wouldn’t want everyone to start gossiping about us, but things like that don’t seem to bother him – probably because he’s the boss. Who’s going to make the boss’s life hard?

I feel a little anxious as he drives me home; it suddenly hits me that if he starts to research me, he will eventually discover that my surname is Webber-Connelly, which would, of course, tell him everything he needs to know. I quickly shut my fears down. That won’t happen unless I give him reason to suspect me, and if I begin acting like a paranoid idiot, he actually might.

“Let me give you my cell phone number,” he bursts out suddenly, making me jump, “just in case you need any help with the work over the weekend.”

I was only lying about the work, trying to escape, but now I might have to do something.

“Oh sure,” I reply quietly, nodding. “Let me just grab my phone.”

As I type in the digits, I can’t help but wonder if this has more to do withusthan work for him. Maybe he thinks I’ll call him and invite him over. I probably should to keep up appearances, but if I have sex with him anywhere other than his office, it’ll feel a little too personal. I want to keep this as professional as possible. It’s all about the formula. I won’t forget that no matter what.

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