The Billionaire's Bundle of Joy

Chapter 9

JUSTIN

I knew he would wake up late this morning due to his exhaustion from last night. Besides, when my mother was pregnant, she often felt sleepy and woke up late too. I don’t remember much. My stepfather used to say that my mother had mood swings that he had to be patient with. Since I couldn’t sleep last night, I ordered some pregnancy books online. While waiting, I also purchased a few e-books and started reading. I went to bed late, but my body is used to waking up early, so I got up at six.

It has become a habit for me to run in the morning, and when I’m in Batangas, I do it outside. None of these gym equipment can satisfy me. There’s nothing like fresh air and the natural warmth of the sun. But my life has changed since I took over the business, and now I mostly run on the treadmill. I think the last time I visited Batangas was over three years ago.

“Cat got your tongue?” Riz could be passive-aggressive sometimes. That’s what I’ve noticed about her. There are times when she is meek, but when she feels annoyed, she can be sharp-tongued. Feisty. That’s what she’s like.

“Why don’t you just stay at your own house if you want? I have no plans to—” She suddenly stopped, unsure of what to say next.

“Plans for what?” I teased her. Dealing with her was like dealing with a child throwing a tantrum. I never imagined myself being involved with a much younger woman. Twenty-six is fine. But twenty-one? When I turned eighteen, she was only nine!

“Plans for— Just! You know what I mean!” she replied, rolling her eyes.

“Plans for s*x?”

She turned beet red and narrowed her eyes at me. “You said that, not me.”

“How do you make a baby? You said it yourself, we spent the night together. You also said I’m the father of your child. So what’s wrong if you slept with me again?”

“You are an asshole.” She looked pissed, her fist clenched on the table.

Okay, my joke has gone too far. She’s annoyed now, and tears were quickly welling up in her eyes that she wiped away. I fell silent at what she said. I’ve heard people call me an asshole one too many times, but hearing it from the mother of my child stung. It shouldn’t bother me since it hasn’t been proven that the child is mine, but why did I feel a pang of hurt?

“I’m not a promiscuous woman who you took advantage of that night we both can’t remember. You’re the first in my life. If you can’t respect me, then we have nothing to discuss. Forget that I came here and go on with your life as if you haven’t met me. After all, you can’t remember everything, so don’t torture yourself. Excuse me.”

She stood up and grabbed the plate with utensils and the glass of milk along with the coffee cup. Manang suddenly approached.

“Ma’am, I’ll take care of that.” She stopped Riz, who was about to wash her dishes.

“I’ll do it, Manang. Thank you.”

I signaled Manang to let Riz be. One, to give her time to cool down. Second, to give me time to ponder.

I don’t want to apologize to her. It’s not in my character to say I’m sorry. Asking for forgiveness is a sign of weakness for me. I estimate that she’ll go back to Batangas since it’s expensive to stay here in Manila. I waited for her to finish washing the dishes. The whole time, my f*****g phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. I have a meeting with an investor in ten minutes.

I am torn between attending the meeting and staying here to talk with Riz.

Damn it!

I called my secretary and told her to have the VP talk to the investor. I don’t like explaining myself to people, and Diana knows never to ask why. She has served my stepfather for a long time, and we get along just fine. I don’t care if she doesn’t like me as her boss as long as she does her job well. We don’t need to be friends.

“Are you done wa—” She looked at me, but my cell phone rang again. This time, it’s Tony. When Rowan isn’t around, I ask him for help. “What?”

“Sir, I received your message. The house is ready.”

“Good. Anything else?” I asked him a few questions, and I want results this morning.

“Ms. Consigna is telling the truth. You met her at Club Pyre, and I have the footage.”

“Send it to me.” I hung up just as Riz finished in the kitchen.

Instead of talking to me, she didn’t even look at me. In fact, she walked past me and headed toward the guest room. I followed her, and as she neared the door, she suddenly turned to me.

“Why are you following me?” she asked me grumpily. I thought by the time she finished the dishes, her annoyance with me would be over.

“We’re not done talking.”

“I have nothing to say to you.” She closed the door behind her before I could say anything. I was about to knock when I received an email.

I leaned against the door of the guest room and opened the email. It was from Tony. It was the CCTV footage from Club Pyre. Usually, the owner doesn’t provide this, but money can do wonders. All I wanted to know was if Riz was telling the truth. These days, many women claim a child to have someone to help them raise it, even if it’s not the man’s child.

When I played the video, I saw that I was the first to approach her. She was telling the truth. Even the credit card I used at the hotel we stayed at was sent by Tony in the email. It made sense because Royal Valley wasn’t too far from Club Pyre. I also had a bit of information about her—where she graduated, what she studied, who her parents and friends are. Tony is truly reliable.

When the door opened, she was dressed and had wet hair. She looked the same. No makeup, not even lipstick on her lips. Her eyes looked cold as she held the handle of her luggage. She didn’t say anything and instead squeezed herself between me and the door. No “excuse me” or “let me pass.” She was a handful, alright.

“I’m ready to go if you are,” I said to her.

She didn’t answer me and continued walking toward the front door. I followed her, and when she opened the door and stepped out of the penthouse, I sighed in exasperation. If this is how living with pregnant women works, I don’t want to get anyone pregnant again.

But it’s too late for that, isn’t it?

She pressed the down arrow button and waited for the door to open. What she didn’t know was that she needed a card like Manang and Rowan to open it. She kept pressing the button, clearly impatient. I waited for her to ask for my help, but instead, she headed for the fire exit.

I rubbed my face and quickly followed her. There was no way she was using the stairs. My building is tall, and we’re on the penthouse floor. And for Pete’s sake, she’s pregnant.

“Get out of my way.” She was trying to push me aside.

“Let’s take the elevator.” I grabbed the handle of her luggage, but she didn’t let go. In fact, she even tried to pull it toward her.

“I am not going to share the elevator with you.”

“You’re pregnant. You can’t take the stairs whenever you want. If you faint there, I’ll be the one responsible for you.”

“I’ll take my chances. Move.”

“Don’t be stubborn.” I stepped aside, but I had another card I could play to get her to comply. “Take another step, and I will call Carlos.”

When she heard what I said, she immediately stopped walking but didn’t look at me.

“You’re Carlos’s child, aren’t you?” She didn’t answer me. The truth is I don’t know much about Carlos. All I remember is that he was one of the businessmen I used to see at bidding events. And I haven’t lost a bidding event whenever I go to one. Aside from a few casual pleasantries, I had no other interaction with him.