Page 27 of The Billionaire's Off Chance

“Oh, my God, Sheryl! When did I ever act like a child?”

“You almost cried when we couldn’t get your favorite ice cream? The time you screamed your heart off at the rollercoaster. Should I go on?”

I laugh and she joins me, guffawing even louder. “Sure, I get the image. Those were good times. To better times.” I say as I pick up the glass of wine from the tray beside me; she does the same. We clink glasses and drink.

I get back to the company in time. I find the lobby filled with people, mostly employees dancing to slow romantic music. I pick out a lady, asking her what’s going on.

“Oh, it’s Walter Shaw, the HR manager. Today is his birthday, and the guys from the HR department are throwing a surprise birthday for him.” I give her my thanks, and she moves to her colleagues.

I walk forward, passing tight clumps of people, who are drinking, laughing and dancing. I see Lance on a podium sharing a drink with Walter Shaw. Walter always has a severe look on his face; but today he smiles like a child, shaking Lance’s hand. Lance sees me and raises his glass in my direction and winks. The crowd takes it that he’s cheering them, so they raise their glasses to him.

A while later, the crowd disperses, and Lance walks over to me. “You must have had a good time with your friend. I only saw the faces of old men all day.” He almost hugs me but holds back due to where we are.

“We should return to your office so I’ll show you how well I enjoyed myself,” I say in a low voice. He smiles, his eyes lighting up. We are so close that I can imagine people already fabricating up a new round of rumors about us.

We return to his office; as soon as the door closes, he kisses me, pressing me to the door. I gasp, feeling his hands cup my breasts. “Shh. Not too loud. Someone might hear us,” he says with a serious voice, but his hands grow more unruly. they go past my bra and rub my nipples. He kisses my neck, sucking on it delightfully.

I shiver, clinging to him while biting my lips to stop moaning loudly. I hook my leg around his waist, crying for more. I hear his belt coming off; at the same time, a knock comes from the door, startling me. I jump away, pushing Lance to the ground.

He hugs me tight, and I’m unable to roll off him. He laughs. I press my hand to his lips and he bites it. “Let me go. There’s someone at the door.”

“Brother!” It’s Igor’s voice. He lets me go, and we quickly arrange our clothes. Lance is more nonchalant about it than I am.

“Please, get me the new contract I need to sign from the acquisitions department. It’s slow in coming.” He is about to open the door.

“Wait,” I hiss, walking quickly to the connecting door that leads to my office. His laugh follows me.

I head to the acquisitions department to get the contract. I step into a very busy room. Everyone is shouting at each other. There’s a safe path through the moving crowd, which I take to the supervisor’s office. His door is ajar, and I hear his voice. He is talking to someone. I knock, and he stops talking. When he does talks, he uses a commanding voice. “Enter.”

I enter the office. It’s smaller than mine and cramped with shelves and documents. The supervisor is sprawled in his chair, his legs on his desk. Lazy and arrogant is my impression of him. “Miss Burrows, it’s nice having you join us. I know why you’re here, and I’m sorry for the delay. Please, check in with my assistant. I’ve asked him to make the contract available.”

“I see.” I turn to leave, not paying mind to a guest trying to button up her shirt.

Someone shows me to the assistant by the printer, and I head towards him. He’s saying something to a guy by his side. The assistant is a head shorter than me. He has a bald head and a small frame. I hear him say, “Her name is Chasmin. I hear she doesn’t talk to anyone who doesn’t have status in the company. Even when she was an intern, she was cold and distant. The COO has only emboldened her…”

“I need the contract, Mike. The COO requests it this instant,” I say behind him. I hear him gasp and gag on his spit. He turns to see me and nods like a chicken. Although I have my anger in check, I’m still annoyed at all this talk about me. It seems that no one respects me in the company. The last thing I want to do is inform Lance. He might be heavy handed, choosing to punish them. That will only make things worse for me.

“It’s with the supervisor. I have to hand it to him,” he replies, looking nervous.

They are all toying with me, and that isn’t cool in my book. “You will go to his office and bring it out here to me. You have one minute. Go.”

He jumps and runs to his supervisor’s office. The printer is suddenly devoid of people. I fold my arms, acting oblivious. Mike returns quickly, handing the contract to me. I smile and mutter, “Thanks, Mike.”

He blushes, looking at his feet. I leave the office. There’s nothing I can do to stop these rumors. It seems that I’ll have to deal with the jealousy of my colleagues while at work.

I hand the contract to Lance. He collects it and asks, “Is there a problem?”

“No. It’s all fine.” I smile, taking a seat beside him on the couch. He rubs my thigh, humming, then goes back to reading the contract.I can’t tell him yet. He has better issues to focus on.

Chapter 14

LANCE

ChasminandIarriveat the hospital. We are getting the result of the DNA test. I insisted on getting it without Claudette being aware of it. She had begged to come along. I relented. We are in the office of the doctor, waiting for him to return. Chasmin looks at ease and doesn’t seem to be bothered about the result. She’s been this way for a while now – supportive and strong. She seems to be taking everything in stride. I smile, taking her hand. “You didn’t have to come.”

“You make it sound like we’re here to get a result, showing that you have cancer or something. I’m here with you because I want to. I can’t wait to have Eric with us. It’ll be a good look to have you and him together. I think being a father will make you look even hotter.” Her cheeks grow red, and she looks at our linked hands.

“Really? What about you? Being a mother will be a good look on you, I think. What do you say we give Eric a sibling? Well, that’s if the results say he’s mine.”

---