A Billionaire's Baby

Will there be a wedding?

Maximillian Forest The Third was leaning casually against the frame of the front door which was left gaping widely open. He was dressed in his usual formal suit, a royal blue one this time that brings out his dazzling blue eyes, with a striking silver tie. 

He was a sight to behold. Even Jane drew in a sharp intake of breath at the vision he presented but she quickly got over it.  

“Well, we finally meet, Maximillian Forest The Third,” Jane said, standing up and walking over to him. Jane’s lanky frame meant that she was only a few inches shorter than him so she need not crank her head up too much to look into his eyes.

“Nice to finally meet you, baby daddy,” she offered her hand as a greeting. 

“I’m glad I can finally meet you too, Ris has told me so much about you,” Max shook her hand and seemed to have dismissed her as he walked past her and headed straight to Clarissa. 

“Ris, you should have told me you needed help to pack,” he said before hugging her and giving her a chaste peck on her lips. 

He linked his hand with hers and sat down next to her, pulling her close and placing their linked hands on his lap. 

“So, what’s this I hear about a wedding?” he asked, looking at her and then at Jane. Jane had walked back to them and sat across them on the armchair. 

Clarissa’s heart was pumping so loudly and fast, she was having a hard time trying to calm it. The sight of him brought back memories of the hot steamy nights they spent together. In her room, in her bathroom. 

Calm down, he’s here to talk about the move, she told her excited heart.

Her lips tingled from the kiss and she felt a warmth spreading from their linked hands into her heart and down to her toes. His hand was so large it covered hers entirely and she blushed remembering how expertly he used his hands on her. 

Stop it, stop being such a slut, she admonished herself. She turned back to the conversation at hand. 

“I feel that Clarissa deserved a wedding at the very least!” Jane was saying. “She is carrying your baby and you are forcing her to marry you because of your antiquated ideals, so it is only right that you give her a nice wedding,” 

“I see,” he replied, non-committal. 

“Well? At the very least, a private small wedding if you are so worried about publicity or papparazzi due to your position in the tech world,” Jane pushed. 

If anything, she was persistent. 

“Is that what you want, Ris?” Max turned to her. 

Clarissa blushed under his gaze. In the one month they’ve not seen each other, she had almost forgotten his piercing blue gaze that seemed to bore right into her heart and soul.

“Well…er…” she stammered. 

“Of course she wants a wedding! Every woman in this world wants a wedding. Even I want a wedding, both of us in gorgeous gowns or tux, if she’s into it, but a wedding there must be!” Jane interrupted. 

“Ris?” he ignored Jane and gazed at Clarissa intently. 

“Yes, maybe a small one? At the very least, my parents and close friends should attend,” she finally said. 

He released her hand and stood up. Then he started pacing the floor silently. Brooding. 

Jane caught Clarissa’s eyes and raised her brow questioningly. “What’s up with him?” she mouthed silently. 

Clarissa shrugged. This is the third time she met him in person. They may be having a baby together and getting married soon but she barely know him, except physically. In bed. 

It is almost like an arranged marriage, except they had already consummated before getting married, and having a baby soon. She has got this marriage business all upside down. People normally get married, have s*x and have babies but it’s the other way around for her. She almost laughed aloud at the thought but stopped herself. 

Clarissa and Jane both looked at Max pacing the floor. He looked like a caged panther pacing its cage, powerful muscles coiled and ready to pounce. 

He finally stopped and took out his phone. He tapped on it a few times and then made a call.

“Get me John,” he barked into it. 

“John, can you arrange flights and hotel rooms in Hawaii for 50 people next week? What do you mean no? What do you mean next week is too soon? What do you think I pay you for? Should I get someone else do this for me? Am I supposed to do this myself?” he spoke into the phone in a steely quiet tone. 

Jane and Clarissa exchanged looks. 

“Yesss…Hawaii” Jane mouthed silently and did a half celebratory jiggle while still seated. Clarissa grinned at her. A wedding in Hawaii is beyond her wildest dreams. Her dad would probably think she’s joking and crack a very bad dad joke.

As for her mom, she has not seen or spoken to her mom for years…she wondered if she should invite her. They were barely on speaking terms. Not after what her mom did to her dad. 

“Get it done John. And don’t give me half assed excuses,” Max said before hanging up abruptly and sliding his phone into his pocket.

“Although I don’t want a wedding, as I’ve told Ris before this, but I suppose I can arrange a small one for close family and friends,” he told them. 

Jane was beside herself. She jumped up and pulled Clarissa up with her and did a celebratory jiggle and dance.

“Yesssss!!! I’m gonna be the best maid of honour ever,” she shouted and whooped. Clarissa laughed along with her and looked at Max. He looked bemused. 

“But wait! Did you say next week???” Jane stopped her dancing and stared at Max. 

He nodded.

“I checked my schedule and I can rearrange some of the meetings to have a few days free next week, it would suffice to have the wedding in a private resort in Hawaii and fly back after that,” he said.

“But…but…that’s only one week to prepare!” Jane spluttered, aghast. Who gets ready for a wedding within a week?? This is insane. 

“Are you forgetting I have, to quote a certain physician, money coming out of my ass?” he raised an eyebrow. 

Jane huffed. “Even so, we have to plan the logistics of it, the guests, and Ris’ gown! That’s the most important part!” 

He took out his wallet and handed a card to Clarissa. “Here, there is no limit on this card, use it for whatever you need,” he told her. 

It was a Platinum card. Clarissa gaped at him and at the card. She has never heard of a limitless card. Jane snatched it from her and gawped at it. 

“No limit you say? Ooo…this maid of honour will take you on a bridal shopping spree Ris! You will have a whole new set of trousseau and something naughty for the wedding night,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows cheekily before handing it back to Clarissa. 

Clarissa blushed at the phrase “wedding night”. They already had their “wedding night” the first time they met, she thought and blushed an even deeper red at the thought of that first steamy night with him.

“It’s yours to spend. You can buy anything, no limit. You will need to give me a list of your guests by tomorrow so John can book the air tickets and hotel rooms,” Max said. He went to sit down on the sofa, lounging comfortably on it, eyeing them, amused at their reaction. 

“What?? Tomorrow??” Both Clarissa and Jane shouted in unison. 

Who can come up with a guest list and confirm attendance within a day?

“Too soon? You wanted a wedding and I gave you one, so I assumed you already know who you want to invite,” he said.

“But…but…wait, you didn’t even mention what day is the wedding!” Jane said. 

He took out his phone again and jabbed at it. After a few jabs, he looked at the two women standing before him. 

“Okay, today is Saturday, the wedding will be on next Sunday, May 16, exactly a week from today. We will have to fly out there on Friday evening so Ris has a day to settle down,” he said.

  “Oh great. A week. I think even throwing money at everyone and everything might not work, how the heck am I gonna plan a wedding in a week!” Jane said, almost hyperventilating. She started pacing the room, muttering under her breath. 

Clarissa was equally nervous. Now she had no choice but to tell her dad. Tonight. They don’t have time! And a guest list. They barely have any close relatives that she wanted to invite, maybe a few cousins she was close with. 

“No, no, no, this won’t do. We need more time!” Jane finally said and glared at Max accusingly. 

“Fine. I’ll give you some of my assistants to help you and you can hire a wedding planner,” Max said. He took out his phone again and jabbed at it. 

Then he made a call. “John, get Kat and Lisa to call Dr Jane Cho, they are to help with planning a wedding. My wedding. No, this is not a joke. Get to it,” he said. 

“There, you have two assistants to help you. They can help you get a wedding planner, just don’t bother me with any of this planning,” he told them.

Just then, Jane’s phone rang. She picked it up. “Hello, Dr Cho here…who? Kat? Wait…how…” she looked at Max, amazed. 

“Okay, I’ll take this outside, you lovebirds can have your private moment,” she told them and then walked out, closing the front door behind her. 

Max stood up and pulled Clarissa to him. “I actually came to check on how you’re doing. You weren’t telling me much over the phone,” he said to her and bent to kiss her, his tongue flicking into her mouth, his arms circling her, pulling her body close to his. 

An electrical current passed between them and her heart skipped a beat. She missed the feel of his lips of hers, his tongue duelling with hers and the warmth of his body pressed against hers. 

How could one even miss someone they’ve only met for the third time? It was crazy. Insane.

She kissed him back. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered, pressing herself against him and buried her hands in his thick soft hair. 

 He groaned against her lips and cupped her butt, rubbing his arousal against her. She gasped and pressed closer to him, desire sparking within her. 

It was a few moments before they finally pulled apart, breathless and fully aroused. He walked away and went to stand at the balcony. 

“I can’t believe you still have this power over me,” he said, not looking at her. “I thought I would be over you by now,” he added and turned to look at her, his eyes dark with desire. 

“I feel the same. Maybe we,” she hesitated. 

“Maybe we are soul mates and meant to be together,” she blurted out.