Page 15 of The Don's Hidden Heir

“You’re very smart. I’m sure you will reach far enough.”

He’s about to say something when a bodyguard walks in from God-knows-where and whispers something into his ear.

When the bodyguard steps away, Mr. Vadim flashes a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sorry, but there’s something I need to attend to. If you’ll excuse me.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll be looking forward to an appointment with you one of these days,” he adds before walking away. David Peterson joins him, and I’m left alone.

My blood curdles when I glance over to the spot Dominic had been standing and see it’s now empty.Where did he go?My pulse grows weak, my insides tightening from how nervous I am.

My phone buzzes in my purse and when I take it out, my son’s number flashes across my screen.

I have to take this.

Navigating my way out of the room, I find a quiet veranda. When I step outside, I can’t tell if I’m shivering from how nervous I am, or if it’s the soft breeze that my causes my hands to grow cold.

“Hey, Mom.” Lucas sounds excited when I answer. “How are you?”

Somehow, talking to Lucas makes all my worries disappear and a smile steals across my face. I swear my son is a guardian angel sent from heaven to save me from myself. “Hey, Lucas. Mom is doing just fine. How are you?”

“Fine. Mommy, Aunt Moira won’t let me watch the chipmunks.”

I don’t feel safe leaving Lucas with a nanny at night, so when Moira offered to babysit while I attend the party, I readily agreed. It isn’t the first time though, she babysits Lucas from time to time when I’m on a business trip or too busy with work.

They are like best friends, and even though they aren’t blood relatives, Moira loves Lucas like an aunt would love a nephew. I have so many reasons to be grateful she’s my best friend.

“What does Aunty want to watch?”

I can feel his eye roll. “The Little Mermaid. It’s girl’s stuff.”

A laugh bursts from my chest. Moira’s a big fan of Halle Bailey, and she has been literally obsessed with “The Little Mermaid” since the film was released last month.

“Can you do something for Mommy?”

“Sure. Anything for you, Mom.”

“Can you let Aunt Moira watch whatever she wants?” I ask, pouting as if he can see me. “She’s doing Mommy a favor watching you tonight. We should be good to her, shouldn’t we?”

He stays silent for a moment. “I’m only letting her ‘cause you asked.”

“Are you reporting me to your Mom?” Moira’s voice comes from a distance. “You’re such a baby.”

“I’m not a baby,” Lucas protests, “I’m a big boy.”

Moira’s voice is closer and clear now. She huffs a laugh. “Yes, you are. Only babies report their Aunties to their Mommies.”

“I’m not a baby!”

“Uh oh. Someone’s getting real mad,” Moira teases him. “You see, big boys don’t get mad when they’re arguing.”

“I’m not mad.”

“Then let me talk to your Mommy.”

I imagine Lucas handing her the phone to prove he’s a big boy.

“Hey, babe,” Moira says, “having fun at the party?”

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