Baby Daddy

Chapter Eight

The following weeks come and go without a hiccup.

Maddie and I are closer than we were when we first came to the city. I actually remember it like it was yesterday and not two years ago.

Since then she'd only gone back home once and I, more times than the average adult.

She'd then grown fonder of the lavish city life while I preferred that she get a steady income job like dad wanted for her. Truth be told, she was a burden on be, immature, youngq and a high school dropout.

Something our father deemed unacceptable.

And thinking back to all of that, I become homesick all over again. I feel like a stray and a traitor.

Sometimes as Maddie and I grow closer, with each passing day, I forget what had us broken apart in the first place.

I rarely see Reilly around the apartment even whenever he comes over, I make sure to hide anywhere I can. If I could just move my bed and wardrobe into the bathroom, I wouldn't have to do much anymore.

I sigh, much to my dismay Maddie's friends, Winter and Brenda are here almost everyday. Almost as if they live here now.

"Ooh, how's the bun in the oven Kira?" Winter asks as I trudge into the kitchen.

I side eye her before opening the fridge for my diet coke. Her short hair is wet, a Bridal magazine in hand, cup of steaming coffee in front of her and grinning at me like she just won the lottery.

"Ah!" Maddie screeches, taking the coke from me before I can take a sip. "That's not good for the baby." She says.

"Says who?!" I narrow my eyes at her, disbelief weighing on me.

"It's true. I read it somewhere," Winter interjects, shrugging. "Besides, that diet coke won't do your belly any justice. Jesus Christ Kira, you look like you're about to burst."

Oh that little b***h did not just. . .

I fist my hands as my palms start to itch. Shaking my head, I purse my lips and try to calm my nerves.

In just four weeks, my bump had grown overnight. Unfortunately with the bump, come the back pain and dizziness. Regardless of all that, I'm just happy that I have a smooth baby bump.

"You better keep her in line." I point an accusing finger at my sister. She nods andouths an apology before taking a swig at my coke.

My mouth waters and gulp making sure my eyes don't longer on it. Why am I even listening to Winter?

Or Maddie.

I should just take my drink from her and tell them to kiss my ass.

I take a deep breath and turn to leave for work. I have a doctor's appointment later on.

But I almost bump heads with a shell shocked Brenda who's loosely carrying a tablet in her hand.

She's a head shorter than me and I notice how her eyes are rather large when she looks at me blankly, her mouth wide open.

"You're engaged to Randall Michaelson." She blurts.

My heart slams against chest just as the sound of the stool scraping on the floor echoes in ears.

"What?" Winter says. "Where'd you hear that?"

I look at Brenda, panicking and she hands me the tablet. In a matter of seconds Maddie and Winter are on my sides.

And the words hit me like a thunderstorm.

Exclusive; Heir to multi-billion oil empire marrying a pregnant laundromat worker.

My eyes are as wide as saucers and I wish could disappear forever. Underneath the headline is an old picture of me -taken two months ago at Maddie's birthday party. I wonder where they got that.

Shit.

I lose hold of the phone, leaving it to Maddie and Winter. I dont remember agreeing to this blackmail marriage.

"At least you look good in the picture." Maddie says softly.

Good my ass. No way in hell am I marrying that asshole. Shares be damned.

After visiting the Michaelson residence, I had only talked to Randall twice and in all meetings, not once did I accept his proposal. Or his father's.

Fuck my life.

Brenda eyes me as I leave for my bedroom.

"Where are you going Mrs Michaelson?" Winter asks stubbornly, with a leg jutted out as she crosses her arms.

One of these days...

"I'm going to work." I tell her. "Not that it's any of your business."

I take the train to work discarding my usual route with the bus. It takes longer but what the hell. I just got exposed to prying eyes.

I'm scared half to death when I find at least five cameramen perched outside the laundromat. What the hell?

From the corner, I watch passers-by standing curiously and looking inside. I see Mrs Smith, a frequent customer, stubbornly look at the crew before pushing past them with her cane in hand to stand at the door.

After building up some courage and confidence, I use the back door entrance to get it and work as if nothing happened.

Mrs Smith collects collects her dry cleaning when I turn the open/close sign and after trying her best to consol me, she leaves.

A few journalist come in and ask me few questions which I answer with my utmost annoyance.

I throw the same words at every question.

It doesn't help the situation when Randall parks his Porsche in front of the laundromat.

"You bastard!" I punches at him but he catches my hands and my breath hitches when he pulls me closer with ease.

"Let's play hardball Kira," Randall says smoothly.

I glance at the open buttons on his white shirt and twist my wrist but he doesn't budge.

"You just ruined my life you asshole." I say. "We didn't agree on this."

"I tried to be the nice guy Kira." He lets go of my wrist and I feel that familiar burn in my eyes. "I gave you shares in my company and you threw them right back in my face."

"Money can't get you everything Randall."

"Sweetheart, today we're business right." He says, licking his lower lip. The smile that stretches his pink lips send shivers down my back. "If you don't accept the offer, I'll tell your sister you slept with her fiance."

I bite back a hiccup. "You wouldn't."

He holds a finger up, "That's all I want to do, but Michael," he laughs. "He wants you arrested for molestation."

I freeze, my feet rooted in place and blink at him. "You're lying."

This must be a joke. He can't do that.

Can he?

"I don't believe in separating a mother from her child. Let's help each other. I'll make sure you're never bothered again."

I can't go to jail. I didn't do anything. Reilly we're both consenting adults. He wouldn't let his father do this to the mother of his child.

He wouldn't.

When I finally get my bearings, I'm shaking, shivering and my nerves are all over the place.

"I'm late for my appointment." I manage to say to him.

I hold the door open, waiting for him to get out.

I'm surrounded by clicks and snaps of cameras as he comes out. He looks at me, sympathy running through his hazel eyes, then he suddenly takes my hand and pulls me flash against him.

"I'll take care of you," he whispers into my ear as he waves at the paparazzi. "Smile."

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If you walk away, everyday it will rain.

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Thank you for reading