The Greek Billionaire's Secret Baby (Contemporary Romance) (5 page)

He gazed up at her, his black eyes glittering. “I would think that after living with me you know I’m not a man to cross. I only want what’s best for the child, and what’s best for you. The simplest solution is for you to marry me. We were good once. We had passion. We had it all. And I would not cheat on you me…” He paused before he finished the rest of that tangent. Regrouped. “You stubbornly refuse to see that this is the best solution for everyone. For once I wish you weren’t so selfish and stubborn.”

“Me? You dare say that I was selfish? When was I ever a priority to you?”

Her baby kicked, reminding her of what was important. 

“You don’t love me, Alex, and never did. I was a pretty plaything, a novelty. I was a female with brain cells, unlike all your other bimbos who simply simpered and preened in your presence. Have no fear, Alex, I am what is best for the child. I am its mother and it will have a great life free from the horrible constraints of your world, shackles you misguidedly call family heritage.”

Alex’s face contorted and Lauren knew she’d scored a direct hit. She yanked open the door to her office. “Please leave and do not contact me again. I do not wish to see you ever. The shares won’t be voted so you have nothing to worry about.”

Alex stood, his long body uncoiling as he rose from the chair. This was a man who held more power in his pinkie than most men did in their lifetime. No wonder why Alex, while working for his father, had been the one who had single-handedly helped change the family olive oil business into a worldwide foods conglomerate with a variety of popular products.

Lauren trembled slightly as he came closer. She’d loved this man, held him in her arms. She’d soothed his brow, made love to him until both of them had drifted into a contented and satiated sleep. She’d ached for him, and she’d wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of her life by his side. She’d wanted to be his wife.

And now he’d offered her marriage, but for all the wrong reasons. He had no idea the things she’d been through, the real reasons why she’d left him. But some things were best kept secret, and this was one of those times.

She faced him as he walked toward the door. His breath felt warm on her cheek, almost like a lover’s caress. “This is not over, Lauren. I’m leaving tonight. When you become reasonable, I’m living here. My direct cell phone line is on the back.”

He’d moved? He’d let their apartment go? He attempted to hand her a business card, but she averted her face, clenched her fist, and let the white cardstock drift to the worn wood floor. And with that he was gone.

Lauren waited until she heard the outer door slam before slumping against the doorframe.

“Senora!
Esta usted bien
?” Concern laced her assistant’s voice.

“I’m fine, Lupe.” Lauren managed a small smile designed to reassure the older woman as she came forward.

Lupe’s Spanish came rapidly, and Lauren shook her head in attempt to reassure her worried secretary. “No, you’re sweet, Lupe, but I don’t want to take the rest of the day off. It’s only a few more hours and I have work to do, things to wrap up. I can’t leave Christopher’s dissertation undone. I must finish and ship it to
New York
before I have the baby and transfer to
Peru
.”

Lupe’s face radiated sympathy. She picked up the business card and placed it on Lauren’s desk. “At least he is gone. You will not have to deal with him again.”
             

Lauren didn’t answer. She wasn’t a fool. Unlike last time when she’d relaxed her guard, she wasn’t making that mistake again. The situation was far from over.

*****

Chapter Four

The call from the executive director of the IBF came through two days following Alex’s departure. “Lauren, hello. This is Vincent Gravini. How are you?”

“Mr. Gravini.” Lauren twisted the peeling spiral phone cord around her left index finger as she debated her answer. In all of her time working for the IBF, she’d never spoken personally to its executive director, even after Christopher’s death. Now Vincent Gravini had personally called.

“I’m doing fine. Thank you for asking,” she said.

“You’re welcome, and I’m glad to hear you’re doing well under such tragic circumstances. First, let me offer my sincere condolences. Christopher was one of our finest employees, and from his constant ravings, it was obvious to all of us how much he cared about you. I know you were unable to travel to
New York
because of your condition, so take my assurances that it was a lovely ceremony and burial. A packed church. You would have approved and you were very much missed.”

Despite the vast distance between
New York City
and
Central Mexico
, Lauren heard the sincerity in his voice. “Thank you,” she managed, fighting to keep the tears back.

“Which brings me to the other reason I’m calling. Lauren, you have many people worried about you, right now, including me.”

Vincent’s tone attempted to soothe but instead mental warning bells resounded in Lauren’s head.

“I’m sorry,” she said automatically.

“Lauren, let me first tell you that you have done a wonderful job for us over the past four years. Your time in
Rwanda
three years ago was phenomenal. But you’re twenty-seven and pregnant. As I’m sure you’re aware of company policy, it’s time for you to leave the field.”

“What!” Lauren tightened the cord, the end of her fingertip turning an ominous shade of red.

“I know this seems harsh, but you’re a
United States
citizen with a little one arriving soon. IBF policy states that single mothers may not remain in the field once a child is born. The repercussions in some areas of the world are too grave, and it’s also a blanket foundation policy that we pull all expectant mothers from the field so that no one employee feels discriminated against.”

Lauren let the cord go before the tight plastic permanently damaged her fingertip. Instead she twisted the small heirloom ring she wore on her left hand, the only piece of jewelry that still fit. Since they’d never contacted her, she’d assumed IBF headquarters had forgotten about the policy. Once more her assumptions had been mistaken.

“I’m sorry, Lauren, but we’re canceling your upcoming Peruvian posting. Instead, we’re reassigning you to the IBF headquarters here in
New York
. We have a wonderful opportunity open. You’ll be in charge of training our new field operatives. With your extensive field service and real world experience, you’ll be even more invaluable to us here at IBF world headquarters.”

“I have to finish Christopher’s work.”

“My dear, in some areas, the work will never be finished. However, if you’d like, we can let you complete the paperwork portion of it here in
New York
. I can’t wait to read what he’d had so far.”

The baby moved, and Lauren put her palm on her stomach. A foot or a hand pressed against her. There was no way she could return to
New York City
and the Pappas family. That was not an option.

“I understand you must follow policy, Mr. Gravini. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity you’ve offered me, but if I may, I’d like some time to consider all my options. At this juncture, perhaps a career change might be in order. I need to at least think about all this. It’s all rather sudden.”

There was a slight pause.

“Lauren, we would hate to lose you, but I must admit that you’d be doing the right thing in taking some time to consider. You need to do what’s best for you and your child. Either way, we’re making travel arrangements to bring you back to the States at the end of the week. If you choose to leave us, we will provide you with the separation package outlined in your employment contract.”

When Lauren didn’t say anything, Vincent quickly continued. “However, let me stress again that we hope you won’t quit. We have a wonderful onsite childcare facility in our building and with the Pappas family here, you’ll have all the support you need. In fact, I’d like for you to be one of the first people to know that Maria Pappas has donated an unrestricted five million dollars in Christopher’s name. You know they never did donate while Christopher was alive so you can imagine our surprise and how much we’re thrilled with the gift. The IBF can use the money however it wishes. We have many ideas and if you are here, you can be a part of them.”

“That’s wonderful.” Lauren clenched her hands together to keep from clawing her eyes out. Alex hadn’t been able to bend her to his will, so instead he had bought her job.

Miles away, Vincent remained oblivious to Lauren’s inner turmoil. “It is a wonderful gift. I can tell you that Maria Pappas is thrilled that you’ll be relocating to
New York
. This is her first grandchild.”

“Mr. Gravini, is it okay if I give you my decision by tomorrow afternoon?”

He was more than agreeable. “Of course. We can discuss terms of your position then if you’d like, but at least let me whet your appetite about the job we have for you here. It’s rather exciting.”

Vincent then went through her new position and then named what to Lauren sounded like an outrageous sum. Did one really need that much money even to live in pricey
New York
? Life wasn’t about getting rich, but being happy and fulfilled. If she’d wanted money and grief she could have stayed with Alex.

She could call and accept his offer.

She concentrated on what Vincent was now saying about the job in
New York
, but the fact that she’d been signed, sealed and delivered made focus near impossible.

“You’ll find it’s a very generous offer,” Vincent said, “and one that more than compensates for
New York
’s higher cost of living. Until tomorrow, Lauren,” he finished.

“Tomorrow.” Lauren hung up the receiver. She’d known IBF policy moved single mothers out of the field, but not once in the past seven and a half months had anyone said anything to her about a transfer to
New York
. Perhaps Christopher had stymied them.

The key was relocating to
New York
. The IBF could have sent her anywhere, like the
Sydney
office, which oversaw
Australia
and Asia; or the
London
office, which oversaw Europe and
Africa
. Instead she’d been called to
New York
. While she was American,
America
had never been her real home. The world was. With her missionary parents, she’d lived in five different countries and three continents by the time she’d been ten.

She had no desire to ever live in
New York
or anywhere else where the American legal system could lay claim to her or her child. The decisions confronting her seemed so enormous and so overpowering, that to ward off tears, Lauren made the rare gesture of burying her head in her hands. The baby moved again.

“It will be fine, I promise,” Lauren whispered. She prayed the words weren’t a lie.

#

“Lauren Andrews?”

“
Si
.” Lauren shaded her eyes and glanced up from the book she’d been reading. From underneath the tilt of her straw hat, two policemen came into view.

The taller one on her right spoke to her in Spanish. “We’d like it if you came with us.”

Lauren set her book down into the pristine white sand of a secluded
Yucatan
beach that few tourists frequented. It had been three days since she’d left the IBF and since Alex hadn’t contacted her, she’d been looking over her shoulder ever since expecting him to pop up the moment he learned she wasn’t returning to
New York
.

She assessed the officers. Her training had invisible chills creeping up her spine. This wasn’t a social call. “May I ask what this is about? And may I see some identification?”

The shorter man shifted his weight and quickly flashed a badge at her. “You need to come back to the hotel with us.”

At this point, Lauren knew the wisest thing to do would be to rise to her feet. She was in clear view of the small cottage hotel, and already curiosity seekers stared. She wiggled her feet into her sandals and reached for her canvas beach bag.

“I’ll take that,” the shorter policeman said as he removed it from her fingers. Flanking her, they escorted her back toward the tiny hotel room she’d rented. After leaving the IBF, she’d wanted the opportunity to escape and decide what to do. Obviously she hadn’t disappeared well enough.

Fear rooted itself in her stomach when Lauren saw that her hotel room door was already open. Had she been robbed? Using Spanish, Lauren again asked what was going on. Neither man answered and panic overtook her. Years of training told her this was more than a break-in.

A longhaired Mexican woman came down the hallway and pointed at Lauren. “That’s her! Blond,
si
? Just like I told you! You believe Angelina now, don’t you? Hiding behind her pregnancy. For shame! Smuggling the stuff back with her. She offered me some! Good stuff, she said. Small fortune in
America
.”