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I motioned her into my office. She came in and shut the door.
"Mikael is not the father of my baby."
She arched a brow. "But there is a baby?"
I sighed as I sank down in the chair behind my desk. I was so tired. And it wasn't just being pregnant. Emotionally, I was exhausted. "Yes, there is a baby, but I'm not ready to talk about it right now." I looked up at her, hoping she could read in my expression that I really needed her to respect my desire not to talk about Todd right now.
She studied me. "Okay. Does Analyn know?"
I didn't want to lie to Naomi and tell her no. But I worried that by telling her yes, I would make her feel bad. Analyn and I had been friends since childhood, so we were close. But Naomi and I worked together.
"I hope she does. I hope you're talking to somebody. I know for a fact that secrets and lovers and babies can make a toxic combination if you don't have someone to support you."
Relief filled me. "Things are difficult right now, but I am dealing with them."
"Well, if you need anything, you let me know, okay?"
I nodded.
"The other thing I want to talk to you about is this charity event Todd has contacted Pierce and Reed about. It sounds like he and his son are organizing it, but knowing Todd, it's going to be some crazy marketing ploy. I figured I'd check with you to make sure you knew what was going on."
I had forgotten the discussion of the charity event, and for a moment my heart filled with warmth that Todd was following through and working on the event with his son. But then I remembered that he'd called me a cheater and walked out.
"I am aware of the event, but I don't know the details. I'll make sure somebody looks at them in marketing. I imagine since Pierce and Reed are going to be involved, they'll have some input as well."
Naomi nodded. "You're right. Well, I've got to get back to the team. I have to say you worked miracles on Mikael, so I can see why people are speculating."
"Mikael's a nice kid, but he’s not my type. I am glad to hear that things are going well between him and the team."
When Naomi left, I set out executing my plan of putting out the proper press releases that had a hint of a threat of legal action, although I wasn't sure I had any legal leg to stand on.
Once I had taken care of everything at the rink, I left and returned to the corporate office in Las Vegas. I headed to the marketing executive’s office and explained to him everything that was going on and the information that I had put out on behalf of the team.
He was a long-time marketing person, so he knew how stories could be skewed. I was grateful that he understood. He called an impromptu meeting with all the marketing staff, and I was able to share the information with them as well.
With that out of the way, I made my way up to Todd’s office. I didn’t bother checking in with his secretary. I just opened the door and walked in, not caring what he was doing.
He looked up from his desk and scowled. “I’m not interested in talking.”
“Good, because I’m not interested in what you have to say. You’re just going to sit there and listen.”
He sucked in a breath.
“The baby is yours."
For a moment, I thought I saw emotion swim through his eyes. But very quickly, it dissipated and was replaced with a sneer. "Why should I believe you when you've been cheating with Pete this whole time?"
Well, that told me I was correct in thinking he believed Pete was the father. "Pete is not my boyfriend. I went to the wedding with Pete, and I didn't see him again until yesterday. He found me crying after that stupid man took a picture of me and asked if Mikael was the father. Pete was a friend when I needed one." I wondered why I couldn't like a man like Pete. "And since you clearly don't ever want to have a family and can barely be a father to the son you have, it occurred to me that I would be raising this baby all by myself. Pete told me his sister had a place to rent that was a little bigger and had a yard, and he agreed to show it to me. You're the only man I have been with, and you are the father of this baby."
He studied me for a moment, but it was clear he still wasn't believing me. "Is that true? I mean Pete seems like a nice guy, but life with him would be a financial struggle, right? Me? I've got a lot of money. You wouldn’t be the first woman to deceive me or take advantage."
I could only gape. He looked like Todd, but this wasn’t the man I knew. Or at least, not the man I thought I knew.
"Is that what this is all about? You found out you were pregnant, and when you figured out that I was attracted to you, you saw the answer to all your problems? I’m older and richer."
I couldn't decide whether I was more hurt or angry by his words. Both emotions threatened to knock me to my knees.
When I was finally able to suck in a breath, I found the strength to say, "I accepted a long time ago that you are not a family man. I hope that things go well between you and Dean, but you don’t have to worry about me or this baby. I don't want anything from you, ever. Except maybe for you to sign away your rights."
