Page 56 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

Dion looked at Tara for a long moment before he seemed to realise that she wasn’t leaving.He took the pram and pushed it down the hall to an office at the end.She followed.There were lots of empty offices, all visible behind glass walls.

And an empty anteroom outside Dion’s office, presumably where his assistant worked.

Dion’s office was vast and impressive.Windows on all sides, giving amazing views of the city.‘This is really cool,’ Tara breathed, standing at one of the windows.

‘Would you like something to drink?Coffee?’

Tara turned around to see Dion at a sideboard that contained very futuristic-looking tea and coffee facilities.

‘Yes, please, black is fine.’

Tara went and checked on Niko.He was sleeping.He’d been due a nap anyway.She pulled a muslin net over the pram to shield him from the sun coming in the windows.

Dion handed her a small cup.She took a fortifying sip.Dion had a cup in his hand.He leaned back against his desk.‘You wanted to talk?’

Tara swallowed.She could see how daunting it might be to face up to Dion.He was formidable.She had to try and remember that only hours ago their naked limbs had been entwined, skin slick, hearts racing…

Not helpful, Tara.

She cursed her imagination and had every intention of launching into a demand to be recognised legally asNiko’s mother, but instead heard herself blurting out emotionally, ‘I want us to try and be a family.I’m lonely in the apartment.’

Dion was like stone.But she knew he was flesh and blood.

‘You know that’s not what I want.’His voice was like steel.Unyielding.

‘This chemistry doesn’t seem to be fading.You said it would burn out.’Tara couldn’t help but sound accusing.

‘It will.’

‘What if it doesn’t?’

Dion’s eyes flashed.‘Not possible.’

‘I think you had Niko because deep down you want a family, not just an heir.’

‘I told you why I had Niko and you know why I won’t go down the road of risking him being abandoned by his mother.’

‘I’m not going anywhere, Dion.I’m not your mother.’

‘You just said you’re lonely.’

Tara gripped the coffee cup.‘Yes, but that’s because I’m used to being around a lot of people.I have four siblings.Just because I’m lonely doesn’t mean I’m going to walk away.I know I’ll build a community here.

‘But,’ she said, ‘I think we owe it to Niko to try and see if we can make it work.’

‘And when it doesn’t?And he’s devastated?’

‘And what if it does, and he’s not devastated?’

Tara’s phone had been vibrating in her back pocket for the last few minutes and she couldn’t keep ignoring it.She took it out and looked at the screen.Thirteen missed calls.Her stomach tightened.She looked at Dion.‘Sorry,I have to answer this.It’s my sister Mary.Something must be wrong.’

Tara put down the cup and answered, walking away a little.Then she stopped dead.‘Okay, Mary, calm down…just tell me what happened.’

She listened to her sister, her blood running cold.‘I’ll get a flight home as soon as I can.’

She turned around to face Dion.‘That was my sister.My brother Daniel has just come back from backpacking in Asia, and he was taken ill.They think it’s a tropical bug.He’s in Intensive Care in a hospital in Dublin.I have to go to him.’

Dion stood up straight.‘Of course, I’ll arrange it.’