The Billionaire Affair, page 8
“You and Dylan spoil him,” his mother says but her tone is fond.
We all watch as Ryder pulls a T-rex headlamp from the colorful bag. “Wow,” Ryder says. His excitement is palpable and it makes me want to be a kid again.
“It can shoot water too but you can only do it outside,” Jace explains.
It’s touching to see this side of him. It reminds me of the way he held and whispered to Sarah’s baby showing that he was good with children. A lot of people in the clinic find him a little bit intimidating and not as talkative as his brother, Dylan. But he is, in the right setting.
We follow Alec and Ivy into the living room. Ryder runs upstairs with his gift. The adults sit in the living room and chat. They are a fun and warm couple and they are careful to include me in the conversation.
“I’m sorry that Alec teased you when he opened the door,” Ivy says as I help her carry the dishes of food to the table.
I laugh. “It’s fine. It was worth it to see the look on Jace’s face. He looked like he wanted to kill his brother.”
Chapter 11: Olivia
“How did you two meet?” I ask Ivy and Alec during dinner.
They look at each other and laugh, increasing my curiosity.
Jace is on my right side and I look at him questioningly. He shrugs and chuckles. “Not my story to tell.”
“The first time we met, we hated each other,” Ivy says. She rakes a hand through her wavy dark brown her and her eyes gleam. Not only is she intelligent, but she is also very pretty.
I’ve always had this image of authors as extremely introverted. People who don’t shower for days on end and spend all day in their pajamas. Silly, of course, but I don’t know any authors. It’s an odd thing coming from a magazine writer but journalists are a different breed. None of my colleagues have aspirations to write a book. They love writing short articles and stories. So do I, actually. I can’t imagine working on one project for months or years. It would drive me insane. So you see, even if we both earn our living from writing, they’re different professions that attract very different personalities.
Ivy is very friendly and chatty while Alec is reserved but very observant.
“I did not hate you. I was attracted to you,” Alec says mildly.
Ivy shakes her head. “Trust me, he hated me and to be honest, it was mutual. I disliked his superior attitude. To be fair though, he’d never been to that part of town. I was a struggling writer.”
I’m surprised by that. Ivy looks posh but I suppose years of good living will do that to you. “He came to your place before you knew each other?” I ask.
“Yes. I was a surrogate for a family friend and her husband. I got pregnant but it turned out that the clinic had used the wrong sperm.”
Shock reverberates through me. The information is given so casually that it hides the seriousness of it. I’m horrified. I glance at Jace. He doesn’t look happy that Ivy is telling that story. I don’t blame him. It’s the kind of that would damage the reputation of the clinic.
The kind of story that brought me to the clinic.
“Our one and only mistake,” Alec says. “Ivy, you really shouldn’t tell that story; it will give Olivia the wrong impression about the clinic.”
“I don’t go repeating it to everyone,” Ivy says, unaffected by the irritation in Alec’s voice. “Only to people I trust.”
Guilt grabs me by the throat. I push it back down. I’m only listening right now. Like any other guest would. I have so many questions. What happened to that baby? Is he Ryder? If so, does that mean that Alec is not the biological dad? But what about the resemblance I saw between Ryder and his parents, especially his dad?
I can’t believe I almost shied away from coming to dinner. “What happened?”
“It turned out that they used Alec’s sperm. Don’t ask me why he had stored his future family.” She turns to Alec and they both chuckle. “So that’s how I ended up pregnant with Alec’s baby,” she says.
“Then you fell in love?” I ask.
“Eventually,” she says.
“It’s a beautiful love story.” I mean it. “I wish I could write it.” The words come out without me thinking.
“Oh, you’re a writer too then?” Ivy asks and then turns to her husband in confusion. “I thought you told me that Olivia was Jace’s temporary PA?”
“I did,” Alec says.
“A wannabe writer,” I say quickly. “I hope to write such stories someday. Real-life stories.”
“You can do it,” Ivy says. “You just need to believe in yourself and just start. Don’t overthink it. Tell you what, write it down as a story and send it to me. I’ll read it and give you some feedback and if you like, some pointers.”
“Would you really?” I ask. It’s exciting to have Ivy Martin read my work. It’s one heck of an opportunity to get feedback from a professional author.
“I’d be happy to,” she says.
“Thank you.” I fish my phone from my purse and she gives me her email address. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the article after I’ve gotten feedback from her. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
“You should be flattered,” Alec says. “I’ve never heard my wife make such an offer to anyone.”
“I am,” I say. “Really. Thank you.”
“I like you,” Ivy says. “You’re so open and wholesome, plus you’re dating Jace. That counts for a lot. We’re practically family already. Besides, you’re not planning on submitting that story anywhere, are you?”
“Ivy!” Jace says sharply.
“Ivy!” Alec says to his wife.
“Calm down guys,” Ivy says. “Olivia knows I’m only joking, right, Olivia?”
I can hear the sound of my heartbeat thrashing in my chest. “Of course,” I say.
***
Jace can tell something is wrong and he asks me about it on the way home. “Are you okay? You were very quiet for the last hour. Did someone or something offend you?”
I’m too upset to keep quiet. “You shouldn’t have told your family we are dating without discussing it with me first. I’m an employee, Jace. It’s awkward to have people knowing about us.”
“Are you serious? That’s why you’re upset?” he says, his voice incredulous.
“Yes. I’m not ready for anyone to know,” I say, clenching my fists on my lap.
Jace is quiet for a while and when he speaks his voice is laced with hurt. “You prefer to keep me as your dirty little secret?”
“What?” I ask him. “No, that’s not it, Jace. But what we have is not serious. We’re just messing around. You don’t go telling your family who you’re sleeping with all the time do you?” I’ve made things worse. That sounds horrible. Like I’m a total bitch. I inhale deeply and force myself to calm down and think.
“Is that what young people do? Sleep around and keep it a big secret?” he asks in a cold voice.
Young people? Now I’m boxed in with young people. My anger stirs up another notch. “That’s not what I said. Please don’t twist my words.”
Calm down, Olivia. Be rational.
I look out the window. I can’t get out of my feelings enough to be rational. The rest of the ride to my place is quiet. My chest aches with physical pain. I hate that we’re already fighting but the truth is that he shouldn’t have said anything about us when we ourselves haven’t defined what we’re doing. It’s confusing enough without other people being involved. Jace brings the car to a stop in front of my apartment building and I unbuckle my seat belt. “Thanks for a great night.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean,” he snaps.
“I did have a great night,” I say, stunned by his response. “Well, I did before I knew that everyone was aware that we were sleeping together.” Tears fill my eyes and I have no idea why. I can’t let him see them. He’ll think I’m an emotional wreck and I feel like one right now.
“Goodnight.” I open the door and hurry out without waiting for his response.
I glance back at him when I’m safely inside my building where he can’t see me. He stays a minute longer and then drives off. It hurts to see his tail lights disappear. What a disastrous evening. I go up to my apartment, drop my purse on my bed and strip off my clothes. Then I get in the shower and under the cover of the water, I allow the tears to fall. I feel like a baby, crying over a disagreement. I’ve always hated fights and not being on good terms with someone.
After the shower, I towel off and slip into a comfortable night shirt. I get in bed and mercifully, I fall asleep fast. The following morning, I wake up feeling light and cheerful, until the events of the previous night come back to me. My good mood evaporates. I get up and head to the kitchen for coffee.
While it brews, I go back for my phone, forgotten in my purse the previous night. I don’t want to admit it even to myself but I’m checking if Jace has texted or even called. Nothing from him, but I do have two messages. One from Marcus, asking me to for dinner. I text back, saying I’ll be there. The only way to convince my big brother that I’m okay is to have him see me.
The other is from Chris. Delivery service. Want some breakfast?
That makes me smile. Chris is special like that. He does random kind things that make me feel cared for. Before my brother got used to my friendship with Chris, he was sure there was something between us. We’ve never been attracted to each other and he’s a good sounding board for my guy problems. I do the same for him. I give him pointers from a woman’s point of view.
I text him back, glad for the distraction. Last night is playing like a video in my head over and over again. I can’t change what happened and brooding over it is definitely not helping.
Chris rings my bell and I buzz him in.
“Hey.” My stomach growls as the scent of food hits my nostrils.
Chris kisses my cheek and enters. “I was sure you’d be with lover boy.”
For some reason, the words offend me. “Don’t call him that. His name is Jace, as you very well know.”
“I was teasing. Relax. What’s up with you? Why are you so irritable?”
“We had a disagreement.” I can’t say fight. That implies an intimacy that Jace and I don’t have. I have to keep reminding myself that even though it feels as if we’re close, we’re actually not.
We’re practically strangers. Sex, even hot sex does not make you close to someone. Time spent together does. I go to the kitchen and return with two plates which I place on the table. Chris has brought Starbucks coffee as well. I don’t care how awesome your coffee machine is. No homemade coffee can top Starbucks coffee.
He opens the breakfast packages. There are pancakes, sausages, and bacon. I salivate at the food and right now, I feel like I can eat the whole lot. I know myself though and I only serve myself a single pancake, a sausage, and a slice of bacon.
“Tell Uncle Chris what happened?”
I laugh. “That sounds so lewd.” I recount for him the events of the previous evening. He interrupts me when I tell him about Ivy and the story about how she met Alec Anderson.
“I’m impressed, Livia. You hit the jackpot in less than two weeks,” Chris says. “Amelia will shit her pants when she reads that story.”
I frown. “I don’t plan on sending it to Olivia. Ivy told me that story confidentially.”
Chris stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Don’t be stupid. All this is a job. It’s work. These people are not your friends. Do you think she would have told you that if she knew you were a journalist who worked for a magazine?”
“Of course not.” I’m so conflicted. Chris is right. The only reason I’m in their lives is because of my work.
“You have to send it to her,” Chris continues. “You want that column, don’t you? Then show her what you can do.”
Chapter 12: Jace
It’s been one hell of a weekend. The only thing that’s kept me sane is the clinic. It’s been my refuge when I can’t stand my own thoughts. I spent most of yesterday at different parts of the clinic helping out. Alan, one of the reproductive endocrinologists, who has been with us for years accused me of not having a life outside of the clinic.
“Why would you come in on a Sunday if you don’t have to?” he asked me.
I murmured something in response instead of saying what I really wanted to say: I had a fight with my girlfriend. Except that it’s a lie. Olivia is not my girlfriend. I feel like a fool every time I remember the last heated conversation we had. According to Olivia, we had just been messing around and no one needed to know.
And there I was behaving as if we were in a relationship. I feel so fucking old. When did people become so casual about sex and relationships?
I head straight to my office, glad that I don’t share the floor with anyone else. I tense as I enter but Olivia hasn’t arrived yet. I power up my computer, take off my jacket, and settle down. I check the reports from last night, even though I was at the clinic for half of the night. Nothing major happened after I left but there are emails with requests for equipment and such. I’m occupied but every time I hear a sound, I jump.
Olivia eventually comes in at seven-thirty and I listen to her every move. I wish that my walls were made of glass so that I could observe her. At eight, a knock comes on the door and she walks in carrying my coffee.
My pulse quickens as I watch her. God, I’ve missed her. Suddenly I don’t care about what she said. I can’t summon my anger. Not when I’m confronted with her loveliness. She’s wearing pants and I feel cheated of the view of her legs.
She keeps her gaze away from me as she sets the coffee on my desk.
“Morning,” she says. “Do you want to go over the schedule now?” She’s so formal and serious. Like a stranger. Pain grips my chest. “Morning. Yes, let’s do it.”
She sits down and starts reading from her iPad. I don’t hear a thing she says. My eyes are glued to the movement of her mouth. I want to taste her again. Hold her in my arms and lose myself in that soft, hot body of hers. She finishes and looks at me expectantly.
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
“You’re welcome.” She stands up and leaves my office.
I want to follow her out and demand that we go back to the way we were but I can’t. Sanity prevails. I won’t force myself on someone who obviously doesn’t want me. All I need to do is ride this out. My feelings will slowly dissolve to nothing.
Still, it’s a torturous day. When I go to the cafeteria for breakfast, my brothers dig at me over my bad mood and Alec, and his big mouth tells Dylan that I had dinner at his house with my girlfriend.
“Don’t call her that,” I snap.
“Trouble in paradise,” Alec says mildly. “I told you it wasn’t a good idea to sleep with someone you’re working with.”
Dylan grins. “Way to go, bro. I never actually thought you’d go through with it. I guess wonders never cease.”
I eat as quickly as I can and leave.
Back in the office, Olivia only speaks to me when it’s necessary and it cuts me like a knife. I do my best to concentrate on my work which doesn’t care if I feel like crap.
The last straw, however, comes in the evening when Olivia’s day comes to an end. She peers into my office and cheerily says, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” And just like that, she leaves.
I stare at my door, expecting her to come back and tell me it was a joke. How can she act as if there’s nothing wrong? How can she be so okay? After she leaves, I work for another couple of hours, determined to get her out of my system. I’m exhausted when I leave the office for home.
My car, however, has a mind of its own. How else can I explain why I’m parked outside Olivia’s apartment building? I try to imagine what she’s doing up there but I can’t. I don’t know her routine. I should go home, my rational mind tells me. But I can’t bring myself to start the car and drive away. I will only leave when she tells me to fuck off.
I get out of my car and walk to the entrance. What the fuck am I doing? I hit the bell before I chicken out.
“Yes?”
“It’s me, Jace.”
She’s silent.
“Can I come up?”
“Okay.” Her voice sounds breathless or is it my imagination? I don’t care. She’s invited me up and that’s the first step.
The elevator would take too long so I take the stairs two at a time. I knock on her door and she opens it. I stare openly, my hungry eyes raking over her shorts and tank top. She’s got no bra on and if I’m not wrong, she’s not wearing panties under her shorts. I can make out the outline of her pussy.
“Do you want to come in?” she says.
My mouth is dry. I nod and step in. I’m obsessed with the thought that she’s not wearing panties. My dick hardens by the second. She closes the door and stands in front of me.
“Are you wearing any panties?” I ask her.
At first, I think that she’ll slap me but her features soften. “Why don’t you find out for yourself?” she says in a husky voice.
With a growl, I pull her into my arms possessively and kiss her. She makes a strangled noise and wraps her hands around my neck. I ravish her mouth and neck. I can’t get enough of her. God, I’ve missed this. I’ve missed her. Her lemon scent feels like returning home after a long trip.
I make space for my hands to explore her breasts, slipping them under her top. I inhale sharply when I come into contact with her bare breasts. I squeeze them, then rub her nipples. She whimpers with need and without interrupting what I’m doing, Olivia pulls her top over her head.
“Let’s go to my room,” she says after a few minutes of frenzied kissing and groping.
I don’t remember ever being as hard as I am right now. In her room, clothes fly everywhere as we tear them off each other. I sink to my knees and spread her legs open. I inhale her musky scent, before diving between her legs. Olivia grips my head tightly as I pleasure her. She comes undone several minutes later and almost pulls the hair out of my scalp as she orgasms.
