The Billionaire's Secret Baby

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Hope's POV

"Harvey, I am going to need you to take me to the airport later on," I said to him as we walked into the lift to my apartment. I decided to knock off early, Dustin will handle things.

I didn't think that I would make it but I did, it has been a long week but it is finally Friday and I am going to see my little munchkin. Work has been intense and more challenging than I thought, I am glad that I have an assistant like Dustin. I have now found my feet and even with all the hard work, I am thankful for the opportunity.

I have been so worried about my job that I didn't even take time to appreciate the huge opportunity I have been granted. The fact of the matter is that Xavier could have chosen anyone, as far as he is concerned, he doesn't really owe me anything, taking this job is the right thing to do. I will say though that even though I have been working like a dog, I kind of been expecting Xavier to pop up.

It is not like I wanted him to come but the man shows up like a ghost sometimes, just like when he came to my house unannounced. I was still very much shaken by what I saw in his office and I think part of me is that I didn't think he would do something like that.

I swear that I don't get men, I know that I have been blowing him off and that I have made it very clear that I do not want to be with him, but the man was flirting with me, he even went as far as buying me my favourite literature book, an expensive and thoughtful gift, so why would he court me if he was sleeping with other women? Why show interest only to ignore me afterwards?

I am guessing that he proved me right that guys like him don't change. He was still the same guy he was five years ago. All that he saw in me was my looks and the fact that he had a one night stand with someone who looks like me. He was interested because he wanted to relive that moment, the fact that he completely ignored me all week proves it.

" You are leaving New York?" Harvey asked me as we walked inside.

"Yes I am, don't worry, I will be back Sunday evening," I said to him.

Mrs Jones was talking to the chef, she saw me and smiled at me, she walked towards me. Mrs Jones and I haven't been able to talk like I wanted and if I am going to bring my son here, I am going to need her help. This means that I have to tell her some things and since I am leaving soon, this might be my only time.

" Hope! you are home early, is everything okay?" She asked me.

" Yes, everything is fine, I just need to pack a bag , I am leaving for New Orleans in a few hours," I said to her.

" Missing your friends already?" She said to me.

"Something like that, infact I wanted to ask you something, Harvey tells me that you have been doing this job for a long time," I said to her.

" Yes, it has been quite some time," She said with a smile.

" Which is why I need your help, I am in need of a nanny, a full time nanny! Can you help me find one? " I said to her.

" A nanny? For what? Are you pregnant? " She asked me.

" Oh God No! You misunderstood me, I am looking for a full time nanny for my son!" I said to her.

" you have a son? " Both Harvey and Mrs Jones both asked me.

" Yes I have a son, I suppose I should have mentioned this earlier on," I said to them.

"So where is he? Is he with his father in New Orleans?" She asked me.

" Actually his father died just before he was born, we were not married so I am raising him on my own," I said to them.

"Oh I am sorry dear, I am sure being a single mother is not easy, especially being so far away from your child," Mrs Jones said.

" Yes, I wanted to bring him with me but New York is all new to me, I wanted to see if this would be the right fit for him, which is why I need a nanny." I said to her.

" Well I don't see why you would need a nanny, I can take care of him," Mrs Jones said.

" I appreciate your help Mrs Jones and I am thankful that you offered but you already have so much on your plate and having an energetic four year old is not going to be easy, my son is litterally the most hyper active kid on the planet," I said to her.

I am thankful that she offered but I know my son and he needs someone who will keep an eye on him at all times, I have a beautiful apartment and I would like to keep it intact.

" Xavier was like that growing up, trust me, I can handle him, tell you what, bring him over and we will take it from there, if I need help, I will let you know," She said.

" You were his nanny?" I asked her, this was news to me, I had no idea she knows him that well.

"Yes, I practically raised him," She said.

"Oh I see... Mrs Jones are you sure that you can do this?" I asked her.

"Yes I am sure dear, I would be delighted to have a little kid running around this big apartment," She said to me.

" I sure do hope so," I said to her.

"Ahhh before I forget, there is something that came for you earlier on, I signed for it," She said to me.

"That is strange," I said.

" Why is it strange?" Harvey asked me.

" I didn't order anything, I am not expecting any deliveries if I did, I would have told Mrs Jones." I said.

Mrs Jones came back with a box and put it on the coffee table. I went to the box and opened it. There was an invitation card and a black masquerade mask inside. I took the card.

" Dear Miss Bethany Sande, You are invited to the launch of Carl Gin, theme of the party is sexy mystery." The card read.

" This is not for me..." I said and looked at the address on the side and it was not mine, it was in the same building but the wrong floor and the wrong apartment, this was addressed to one of the apartments on the floor lower than mine.

" Who's is it then?" Harvey asked me.

" I don't know yet, I will be right back," I said to Harvey.

" Where are you going? " He asked me.

" I will be back in a few minutes," I said and went to the lift. I punched in the code and went to the floor of the building. The apartment numbers were written on the doors which made it easier for me to find the apartment I was looking for. I went to the door and knocked.

"Just a minute..." A voice came through the door. A few seconds later the door opened, a beautiful blonde woman stood there in her bikini, also I noticed the green face mask.

" Hi my name is Hope, I live upstairs, I think that this is yours, my house exec signed for it by mistake, " I said and held out the box.

" You are staying upstairs in the King Royal apartment?" she said to me. She looked and sounded surprised.

" Yes, I recently moved in," I said to her.

"Oh, thanks... I am Bethany by the way, would you like to come in? I also just recently moved in, I don't know about you but I could do with a friend," She said with a smile.

I was not planning on staying here, I just wanted to return the package and go back upstairs but I am new here, my best friend Kim is miles away, even though we talk on the phone everyday, it is not like seeing her. I do need someone to talk to who doesn't work for me. I need to make friends, New York is my new home, it's time to adapt.

" I suppose I can stay for a few minutes," I said to her.

"Great... Come in, I made Mimosa do you want some?" She asked me.

Her apartment was not as big as mine but it was just as exquisite and just as stylish, if I didn't know better, I would say that they were designed by the same person. It's in the details, the paintings on the walls, the marble tops, the porcelain tiles and the expensive furniture.

"Sure, I will have a glass." I said and made my way to the couch. There was a magazine on the table, I took it, there was a picture of hers on the cover.

" You are model?" I said as she gave me my drink.

" Yes, I was actually in Paris for the last six months and now I am back, well at least until my next gig," She said to me.

"Wow... I have never met a real supermodel before," I said and took the drink. The more I looked at her, the more I realised that I have actually seen her before, I litterally pass a billboard with her face on it every morning when I go to work. It also explains the perfect body and the perfect tan.

I could never wear something like what she is wearing on the cover. I have a baby and a lot of changes happen to a woman's body when she has a baby. Things like stretch marks and cellulite.

" So where are you from? " She asked me.

" I am from New Orleans, you? Are you also a city girl?" I asked her. I do not talk about my real home, too many painful memories I would rather forget.

" Nope, I am actually a country girl, I am from Georgia," She said.

" So how did you end up in New York?" I asked her.

" A man honey, I wanted to be close to him, you? What brings you here?" She asked me.

" A man but not like that, this man gave me a job, an offer I possibly couldn't refuse," I said to her.

" Well here's to the men who brought us here!" She said and raised her glass.

" Here, here!" I said and raised mine.

A glass turned into two, then there, before I knew it, we were talking like old friends. Two hours went by like nothing. I looked at the clock on the wall.

" Oh my God, I need to leave, I have a plane to catch, " I said and stood up.

" We have to do this again, you said that you are coming back on Sunday evening right?" She said.

" That's the plan, " I said.

" Then let's do lunch on Monday," She stood up and took her phone, give me your number.

" Okay... I guess I can do lunch," I said to her and put my number in her phone. I hugged her and went to the lift, I punched in my code and went straight to my apartment. When the doors opened, Xavier was inside shouting at Harvey.

" This is on you!" He said to Harvey in an angry tone. They both turned and looked at me as I walked in. Xavier made his way to me.

" Are you hurt?" He asked me in a panic.

"No I am fine, what the hell is going on? What are you doing here Xavier?" I asked him.

"You have been missing for two hours! Where the hell where you? " He asked me.

" Excuse me? Xavier you are my boss and not my boyfriend, my whereabouts are not your concern out of work and as for you Harvey, do you work for me or do you work for him? Make your choice!" I said.

" I had to call him Hope, you left your phone! You said you would take a few minutes, it has been over two hours now!" Harvey said to me.

" Anything could have happened to you! You are from New Orleans and New York is nothing like New Orleans, this City is a dangerous place, especially for you!" He said to me.

Okay maybe he was right, I don't know the city well enough to wander off all alone, which I didn't, even if I did, why is he so bothered? As for Harvey, I know that he is employed by the enterprise, but the fact remains that he works for me, he needs to be loyal to me. I don't need him calling Xavier everytime he thinks something is wrong. He needs to get his priorities straight.

"As you can see, I am perfectly fine, you can leave," I said to Xavier.

"Fine, I will go and next time, don't leave your phone when you decide to leave, if your turn up dead, at least your phone can give us a clue where you died!" Xavier said.

If he was trying to scare me then it was certainly working. I find it ironic that he didn't even come to see me or pop in at my office the whole week and he turns up now just because he thinks I am in danger.

" Bye Xavier!" I said and walked past him, he grabbed my hand and pulled me, I landed on his hard chest. His lifted my head with his fingers, I was so close to him that I could feel his breath.

" You are lucky you are not mine, very lucky!" He said in a low and deadly tone. I know that I was looking at Xavier but it was like I was looking at a different person, I could see it, the rage in his eyes, the relief when he looks at my face, he was really worried about me. Xavier's face came closer, we were only inches away from touching.

"Hmm!" Harvey said clearing his throat.

I had forgotten that he was still standing there, I wanted to move but Xavier grabbed my face and kissed me. His kiss was like a tall sip of cold water on a hot day, like the air I needed to breath, his lips were soft and warm. He pulled away from the kiss and walked away leaving me wanting for more.

" What the hell just happened?" I asked myself.