Page 3 of Doctor Billionaire's Surprise Baby

"Hey, Hugo, I'm ordering lunch from that deli down the street. Do you want the usual?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.

"Sure thing, Simone," he replied with a warm smile. "Turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato, please."

"Got it!" I made a mental note as I pulled up the delivery app on my phone. After placing our order – a turkey sandwich for him and a vegetarian wrap for me – I tried to concentrate on work, but my thoughts kept wandering back to Hugo.

Truthfully, it was harder than usual to concentrate today because Hugo starred in a very illicit, very decidedly not-safe-for-work dream last night. It wasn’t a rare occurrence, of course. It just made it impossibly difficult not to think about how it would feel to be pressed against Hugo, one of his hands in my hair, the other on my hips, pulling me closer. His lips dropped to mine in a promising kiss as his lips swept to my neck and…

"Earth to Simone!" Hugo's laugh jolted me out of my X-rated daydream. My cheeks burned hot with embarrassment, as I could only hope I didn’t moan out loud or anything.

"Sorry," I muttered, trying to regain my focus on my never-ending to-do list. I hoped he couldn't see the longing hidden behind my smile.

"Busy day, huh?" he asked sympathetically, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before returning to his own work. I nodded, grateful for the brief reprieve from my runaway thoughts.

I wasn’t sure if lunch saved me or just made my day a million times harder. As was our usual routine, I brought our sandwiches to Hugo’s office and we sat down at the small table to eat. He didn’t really have the time in his schedule to take a lunch break, but he made the effort, anyway.

As we chatted about work and life outside the clinic, I found myself once again fantasizing about a different kind of relationship with Hugo. One where he held me close, and whispered sweet nothings in my ear.

"Simone, are you okay? You seem a little distracted today," Hugo's concerned voice broke through my thoughts.

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine," I stammered, trying to shake off the daydreams that threatened to consume me. "Just feeling a bit tired, I guess."

"Make sure you get some rest tonight," he advised, his gaze soft and caring. "We have another busy day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Thanks, Hugo. I will," I promised, my heart aching with the knowledge that no amount of rest could cure the longing that weighed heavily on my soul.

As we finished our lunch and returned to work, I struggled to keep my feelings in check. Each touch, each smile from Hugo sent a shiver down my spine, but I knew I couldn't let him see just how much he affected me.

"What do you like to do outside of work these days?" Hugo asked later, as he was reviewing a patient referral at the desk next to mine. I loved how he used these short, quiet moments to talk to me and get to know me.

"Mostly photography and exploring galleries around the city," I replied, excited to share my passion with him. "And lately, I've been trying out some dance classes. They're incredibly fun and a great way to unwind after a long day."

"Really? That sounds exciting," Hugo said, genuinely interested. "You know, I used to love to go dancing in Italy. Here in America, you have classes for everything. I've even thought about trying it myself, but I never really found the time. Between work and setting up the medical center, my schedule can be pretty hectic."

"Maybe we could go to a class together sometime," I suggested, my heart pounding at the idea of being close to him in such an intimate setting. "It could be a fun way to relax and bond outside the clinic."

"Sounds like a plan!" Hugo agreed, his eyes lighting up. "I'll have to brush up on my dance moves, though. I wouldn't want to embarrass myself in front of you."

"Trust me, you can start from nothing and you'll be dancing in no time. You'll do just fine," I reassured him, my stomach fluttering at the thought of dancing with him.

As we returned to work, I tried to focus on the tasks at hand. But my mind kept drifting back to our conversation, replaying every word and gesture. It was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the growing chasm between my desires and reality, but for now, I had no choice but to keep my feelings buried deep within me.

"Simone, could you please bring me Mr. Thompson's hard-copy file?" Hugo asked me, his deep-set eyes focused intently on his computer screen.

"Of course, Dr. Barone," I replied, trying to suppress the butterflies that fluttered in my stomach every time he spoke my name. I retrieved the file from the cabinet and handed it to him, our fingers brushing briefly as he took it from me. It was a fleeting contact, but it sent a jolt of electricity through my body, threatening to land me on the floor if my legs gave way.

"Thank you," he said, not noticing my reaction as he delved into the patient's history. I found myself studying his face, taking in the curve of his jaw and the intensity in his eyes.

"Simone?" Hugo's voice interrupted my daydream, snapping me back to reality.

"Y-yes?" I stuttered, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"Since you love numbers, would you mind going over these billing statements for me? There seems to be a discrepancy and I feel like I've been looking at them for way too long," he said, looking up from his computer screen.

"Of course," I replied, grateful for the distraction. I forced myself to focus on the numbers and calculations, pushing my fantasies about Hugo to the back of my mind. We concluded the day and as I left the clinic, I couldn't help but wonder if my feelings for Hugo would forever remain a secret, locked away in the depths of my heart.

Chapter 2

Hugo

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