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Where’s my phone?I pondered as I retraced my steps back into the bedroom and was shocked to find Jared lying on the bed with one leg hanging off the edge, hands behind his head, silently staring at the ceiling and looking like a delicious piece of heaven. My mouth salivated. I wanted to devour him—allofhim.
“You’re still here?” I bit my lip, wondering if he was ticked off at my little naked display earlier. “Have you seen myphone?”
Jared untangled his hands before sliding it across a pillow and casually handing me the device. “Jack Yatescalled.”
Shit.
“Thanks,” I murmured, grasping the phone into my hand. What did Jack want now? After that explosive confrontation we had, he hotheadedly walked out the second we moored off the coast of the Adriatic Sea, only to be never heard of again…untilnow.
Unlocking my phone, I stared dismayingly at his name, weighing in if I should bother with him again. He and I had tons of fun…up until his arrogance surfaced and when I caught his phone unguarded…and the plethora of liesdiscovered.
“Is that the same man those empty condom packets belonged to?” he asked in a manner where I wasn’t sure if he was merely asking or if he was piecing a broaderpicture.
Jared’s question caught me off guard. “Seems like it.” A deep frown crossed my face, speculating what else he managed to analyze being in the yacht’s bedroom in such a short amountoftime.
His mercurial eyes seared into mine, staunch and unrelenting. “You’ve been using protection every time?” His tone was soft, but it had something to it, a darker edge…something that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand incommand.
I nervously licked my lips, disconcerted. “I would like tothinkso.”
“Then how did you get pregnant,Gisele?”
Steady my heart.You can’t fold now. His question held too much. Answering it entailed confessing the truth, and I would rather die than reveal my dirty little secret. I nibbled on my bottom lip, tepidly eyeing him. “I don’t know? Shit happens…I guess…”Such eloquence. Welldone,you.
“Was there any other maninvolved?”
Fuck…Did he guess IwasLexi?
My throat bobbed. It constricted so much I was almost in pain. “Once…” I made a barely audible whisper, hoping he hadn’t deciphered my secret. With Jared, I found it challenging to predict what ran in that brilliant head of his. He was brilliant at unmasking other’s thoughts but never revealing his. How did he manage that? It was beyonddisconcerting.
“So, what happened with him?” His eyes glowed. Ever so persistent. Ever sounyielding.
If he had aimed to unnerve me, he had undeniably succeeded it. My breathing turned ragged. My ears intensely burned. With a pointed tilt of my chin, I decided to answer him. “He didn’t want to bewithme.”
Blue eyes flickered once as if something significant briefly occurred to him, but his eyes remained thus, still gravely trained on me. “Were you in lovewithhim?”
My, he was hitting close to home—tooclose for comfort. I began to break out in a sweat, my body filled with trepidation. “What makes you ask that?” Try as I might, my voice slightlyshook.
“There’s a tremor in yourvoice.”
I nodded before disconnecting from him, screening my eyes away from his severe probing ones. “Yeah, I suppose I am...very much.” I licked my lips, trying in earnest for my breathing pattern to go back to normal. What was with the twenty questions? I loathed that game for areason.
He surprisingly slid out of bed and began to make his way towards me. He stopped short several inches away from my face. Instinctively, I lifted my face to meet his. Turbulent gray clashed with burning blue. “I’m here for you and the baby; that’s all that matter now. The rest of them can gotohell.”
There was a time in one’s life when they found themselves falling, madly, deeply, and irrevocably in love with someone. This was it—this was the moment for me. How could I not after he vehemently stated noble proclamations with suchtenacity?
My father was right; he was a good man. Having him in my life as a guardian, as my protector, and as my fake husband would be an honor. “Thank you for saying that. It means a lottome.”
He bestowed a genuine smile on me, one where it reached his eyes. One where it probed straight into the very heart of me, to my very soul. “Come on, Peter’s been waiting too long. He’s exhausted as it is, so it’s cruel for us to make him waitforfood.”
He was quite right. How had I lost track of time? Leaving my phone behind, Jared and I exited my bedroom. We strode side-by-side, heading straight towards the elevator. My father’s bedroom was on the third floor, occupying the entire level. We reached the floor in under a minute. The large white double doors were already opened, so we need not knock. It led into a lounge area. On the left lead to his bedroom, and to the right was his breakfast room where six screens lined the walls, each television running different things to update him—news; US, EU, and Asian stock markets; video updates from the company’s current projects detailing and curated by our top inventors; one connected to a drone parked in the headquarters so he could spy on everyone even at home. His real time updates. My father ran his company with an iron fist but wasn’t shy in rewarding those who tirelessly worked hard. It was a well-oiled machine. His employees equally feared and loved him. He’d callously point out if one didn’t please him and would sing high praises if pleased. But everyone knew working under his umbrella wasn’t something to take lightly; it was an honor to workforhim.
After striding towards my father, who was already situated at the cozy table, I bent over and kissed his forehead. “I apologize for being tardy. I fell asleep. If it weren’t for Jared, I’d still beinbed.”
“Ah, it’s all right.” My father cupped my cheek with his hand, pleased to see me. “You two look marvelous together. Such a striking couple. Don’t you agree, Thomas?” Effortless pride shone through his eyes as he glanced at me thenJared.
Jared quietly trod next to me before dipping his head to kiss my father’s cheek. “Looking well, Peter,” he murmured as he gazed down at my father with warmth andaffection.
Thomas, who closely followed behind us, granted us a beam of approval. “The epitome of perfection, sir. Their offspring guarantees excellent genes and asuperbIQ.”
Peter Weber nodded as he directed us to take our seats. “It would’ve been lovely if I lived long enough to see my grandchildren. But, alas, my time is almost running out, and I can only dwell on the blessings I havebeforeme.”
“Have you two discussed yourmarriage?”
Jared cleared his throat, glancing at me before my father. “We have. We’re both pleased the wedding’s taking placetomorrow.”
