THE RICH BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET

The Day

He took one look at her expression and let go of the knot. “Is something wrong with Leo?”

Daisy opened her mouth to speak, but Emma continued on in her ear. “I think I can work from home today, except for a meeting at two. I can use to stay home with him for most of the day,” she offered.

Conrad gripped her arm and leaned forward. “What’s wrong.”

“Hold on, Emma,” she put the phone on mute and told him, “Leo was sick this morning, and Emma didn’t take him to school. We’re trying to figure out what to do.”

He relaxed significantly and finished getting ready. “Tell her to bring him here. Better yet, I’ll call a driver. Leo can sleep in the guest room.”

Daisy studied him like he had two heads. “Are you sure?”

“I’ll call the driver now,” he said, already sliding his phone out of his pocket.

She watched him exit the kitchen as she turned back to her conversation with Emma. “Problem solved. Conrad’s sending a driver to pick him up.”

No response.

“Emma?”

Conrad, who had already finished his call, grabbed her phone and took it off of mute. When Daisy briefly closed her eyes, embarrassment seeping through her, Conrad squeezed her hands, placing the phone back in her open palm. “I don’t judge,” he whispered, quiet enough for the phone to miss.

“Emma—”

Conrad interrupted, stopping Daisy before she could finish her sentence. “I called Donald,” he said, loud enough for Emma to hear, “He’ll meet Daisy at my apartment, take her home, and then bring her back with Leo.”

“I’ll wait for you to get here, then,” Emma said, before hanging up the phone.

****

“Are you feeling hungry?” Daisy asked Leo, rubbing his forehead as he drank an electrolyte drink at Conrad’s counter. He nodded as he picked up another marker to color, leaning into her hand before she pulled it away.

Daisy turned to stir the chicken soup that bubbled on the stove. Leo had spent the first hour sleeping in the guest room. Of course, Leo would discover the game room tucked neatly in the penthouse’s corner, a room Daisy had previously assumed was a storage room. When she told Leo where to find the bathroom, he went in the opposite direction, instead stumbling upon a five-year-old’s dream. Now his task for the day wasn’t to rest, but to draw all the games he saw in the room.

The house phone rang twice, then stopped. Minutes later, Daisy’s cellphone rang. She didn’t answer the call because she didn’t recognize the number. Instead, Daisy checked on the Ziti baking in the oven. Her phone chimed, this time from a text. Daisy looked at it, and frowned, reading the message from Natalie telling her Conrad called.

When the same number popped up again on the caller identification, Daisy answered it.

“How’s Leo?” were the first words out of his mouth, and Daisy had to bite her bottom lip as a shiver ran through her. His husky tone sounded even sexier over the phone. “He’s doing much better,” she said, hurrying to update him as she watched Leo still coloring. “I’m sorry. He went into the wrong room and found your game room.”

Conrad chuckled. “I thought you were going to say he opened my bedroom door,” he admitted. “It’s a danger zone in there because the place is such a mess.”

Daisy laughed. I wish I could look in there, but I’m sure you have hidden security cameras somewhere in this house.

There was an awkward pause.

“Yes, well, I called to ask about Emma. I know she’s helping you out a lot. And...”

Daisy rubbed the back of her neck as she rolled her eyes. Typical. Emma’s much prettier than I am. Of course, Conrad wants to know more about her because he wants to date her. Daisy bit out a response. “She’s great, and she’s not dating anyone.”

“Well, that’s nice for her,” he dryly remarked, a hint of confusion in his voice. “I want to know how many times she stays with Leo while you’re working?”

“Oh,” she covered her face, glad he wasn’t standing in front of her. She quickly told him, “Emma takes him to school every morning and I pick him up and drop him off either back at home, if she’s working from home, or at her office. She stays with him until I get home.”

“I’ll see you tonight,” he said, the shift in conversation startling her enough that she didn’t even say goodbye.

Daisy leaned against the countertop, watching Leo while also allowing herself to daydream about seeing Conrad tonight. Until she remembered the ziti.

Her phone rang as she removed the steaming ziti from the oven. She closed the oven door and removed the oven mittens. Daisy frowned.

“Hi Natalie,” she said, cradling her phone between her ear. “I just spoke to Conrad.”

“Mr. Engel is in a meeting that will go longer than expected. He wanted me to inform you to leave his plate in the refrigerator. You may go home after you finish cooking. Oh, and have a good day.” Natalie ended the call.

Daisy’s shoulders sagged, but minutes later, after she thought about enjoying a day at home, she smiled. She looked at Leo. “Are you almost finished with your drawing?”

“Gimme a couple of minutes,” Leo said, concentrating intensely on coloring in a box.

“It’s not ‘gimme’, Leo, remember? It’s ‘give me,’” Daisy tried, already knowing it was a losing battle.

“Yes, Mommy.”

****

The next day, Conrad’s front door swung closed as Daisy buttoned her coat by the coat closet. She was running late and currently trying to schedule a ridesharing car to get home.

“Daisy, I’m glad you’re still here.” Conrad entered the living room, pulling his business shirt from his belted pants. He yawned and rubbed his stomach.

“You can make any adjustments to the menu like you usually do,” Daisy said in a rush, “I have to get downstairs.”

He waved his hand as he told her, “It will only take a moment, Daisy.”

In a huff, she stood with her hand on the doorknob and stared at Conrad. I know this can wait, Conrad, she thought, trying not to make her impatience too obvious. Not all of us have the luxury to wait around like Natalie does at your beck and call. I need to get home.

“Starting tomorrow, or whenever, bring Leo here after school and whenever you don’t have a babysitter. He’s a great kid and it’ll relieve some of the stress you and Emma are under.”

Daisy took a step back and glared at him. Her reaction caused him to frown as he slid his hands into his pockets. Are you trying to take my son away from me, Conrad? She didn’t dare accuse him, but that didn’t stop the thoughts from running through her head. Do you know he’s your son? I will not fall for this.

“Have you ever extended the offer to your other personal chefs?”

Conrad shrugged and looked confused as he responded, “I never needed to—”

“Is it because I’m a woman?” she asked coldly, trying to stop this conversation. “Do you have some crazy need to act—”

He interrupted her, his own tone harsh with anger. “I don’t have a ‘need’ to do anything. I don’t want my employees to undergo undue hardship because of their responsibilities. Trust me, if Leo was a brat, I’d find another solution to the problem.”

Daisy looked away when he gave her a challenging stare. Slowly, she turned to the door. “I have to go.”

“The offer is still open,” Conrad said as he walked away.

She nodded but didn’t respond. Instead, Daisy opened the door and rushed to meet her ride home.

Natalie walked in Monday morning and dropped a thick black folder on his desk, not looking happy about it. Conrad waited for her to speak her piece and leave, continuing what he doing without looking up at her. She started tapping her heel to get his attention, and finally Conrad glanced up.

“Maybe you need to pay me extra for doing this cloak and dagger work.” She said, giving him a pointed look.

“I would rather pay you to stop behaving like Adelaide.”

“Whatever,” Natalie said, barely suppressing an eye roll, “Is there a reason why you are diving deep into Daisy’s life like it’s the Olympics?”

Conrad knew Natalie liked Daisy, and this had to be confusing for her. But he liked Daisy too, and that was the problem. He had to know everything before he did something stupid. Something stupid like starting to care about her. Too late, a voice in his head said, but he ignored it.

“We always do employee background checks,” He replied, feigning nonchalance.

“Sure, that’s all this is.”

“That will be all Natalie. Thank you.” He said in a dismissive tone, eager to open the folder, but not willing to show his expressions to Natalie.

“Should I be worried about you? More than I usually am?” she asked gently, and he shook his head in response.

“Down the rabbit hole you go I guess,” Natalie said, a hint of annoyance in her voice as she walked towards the door. “Guess you never heard of this genius concept called asking? But I suppose you wouldn’t have. They say it’s all the rage all the way over in Europe, or for people with manners.”

Conrad looked up with a glare, and Natalie gave him a little wave before exiting. Why did every woman in his life have to have such a smart mouth? He opened the folder and peaked through the documents that were inside. He probably should have asked her to email all the documents, but he also had a feeling that Natalie had done this on purpose. She was really going to make him work for this information, especially since she didn’t approve.

There was all the general information that had been in her recruitment file, and Conrad quickly skipped that. He was looking for any details about what Daisy had been doing with her life five to six years ago. He wanted to know every place she had worked, every city she had visited, even every coffee shop she had gone to. Still, nothing special popped out to him as he went through the records, eyes beginning to cross from the sheer amount of data. Until he came to her employee records as a contractor for a large catering company in town.

Bingo, he thought, instantly recognizing the company and its position as one of the most popular catering companies for upper class parties.

Seeing Daisy’s name on the sheet made everything fall into place. She had been working the night of one of New York’s biggest private fundraisers six years ago. And he had been working too, although as a representative of Engel Enterprise, rather than a server. He remembered the waitress who had bumped into him, looking like she was one second away from a nervous breakdown. He couldn’t remember what it was exactly, but something about her had made him hold back the harsh words he had wanted to yell. All the anger had left his body once he looked into her eyes and saw the unshed tears. One minute he had been talking to another guest about a new set of IRS standards, and the next, this little waitress had barreled into him like a car without brakes. He had felt compelled to help her, to take her aside and let her have a moment to herself. He wouldn’t have done that for anyone else, but God help him, he felt like he had to do it for her.

“Damn it, Daisy!” He exclaimed, hitting his desk before running his hand through his hair.

All this time and it had been her; he just hadn’t remembered her. How could he when the waitress had been small and petite, with short hair that had been in a short bob at the time? Now Daisy was all grown up, her face and figure much fuller and healthier. Her hair hung long and curly, and there was this new confidence she emanated, as if she could handle anything. She looked nothing like the girl she had once been. The girl he had once pined after for months on end. f**k, he swore internally, a sour feeling in the pit of his stomach. It had been six years since he’d last seen her, and a lot had changed since then.

Had he been that unmemorable? He wondered, tracing his hand over his jaw. It wasn’t as if he had changed much over the years. He shook his head in confusion, distinctly remembered taking good care of her by making sure that she came before him. Whatever reasons she had for running away couldn’t be because he had been a terrible lover.

Conrad thought of how she had looked when he had finally undressed her. The slight swell of her breasts, the flat, taut stomach, and the sharp angles of hipbones that he had kissed and licked for what felt like hours. He remembered how she had trembled at every touch and whispered his name every time he kissed a particularly sensitive area. He had never found out her name, but at the time, simply hearing his name on her lips had been enough. He had never been with anyone so responsive before, and it fueled his own urgency to be with her. Even just thinking about it now brought him back to that night.

****

Conrad circled her navel with his tongue, loving how she bit her lip and raised her hips to meet his mouth. She wanted more, and he had so much more to give her, but he wasn’t in a hurry. They had all night, and he didn’t care about anything else in that moment but enjoying this woman. The fundraiser was pushed to the back of his mind, and he knew that his assistant would take care of anything that needed his say.

He moved to her small perky breasts that fit perfectly in his hands and sucked gently. She moaned and grabbed his head, keeping him in place. Not that he had any intention of going anywhere. He was going to lick her until she pushed him away after too much pleasure. He gave her breasts equal attention, squeezing one while licking the other. His movements were deliberately slow, making her control the pace when she wanted more. He obliged her every time that she tugged his hair, switching between the two nubs until she started to shake.

“Conrad!” She cried out, as if she had been born to shout out his name.

He deduced that it was time to move on other parts.

Conrad ran his hands down her legs, her skin so smooth until he got past her thighs. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been with a woman who didn’t shave her legs, probably never. Maybe he had a thing about au-natural women that he didn’t even know about until today? Who cared anyway? She was the most beautiful person who had ever walked this earth.

Conrad put his hand between her legs as he rained kisses on her thighs. She was so ready for him, and goosebumps covered her entire skin when he finally touched her when she wanted him the most. He used the wetness of her core to spread over her hard nub, drawing slow circles around it and playing her like an instrument. She gasped every time he gently pressed against her, and he should have anticipated her reaction when he finally put his mouth to her skin.

Conrad lapped at her as he first tasted her core, dipping the tip of his tongue into the depths of her. She screamed his name, and he grinned against her, moving up to mimic what his fingers had been doing earlier to her most sensitive spot. She tasted so good, and he was more than happy to increase the pace when she began shaking. Her climax hit her hard and Conrad kept at it until she finally pushed him away.

“I’ll die,” she said with a small laugh, struggling to control her breathing.

“It’s only a little death,” Conrad smirked.

He kissed his way up her body and lay by her side, touching her everywhere that he could, despite her sensitivity. It was like she had hypnotized him, and he couldn’t stop himself from touching her. He had never behaved this way before with any woman that he’d been with, always preferring to keep the affectionate touching to a minimum. She turned to face him, reached slowly down to grab him, earning a groan of pleasure.

“There’s nothing little about it,” she teased.

“Careful,” he warned, pressing into her hand and earning a gentle squeeze for his efforts. “Only do that if you are ready for me.”

Her small hand was perfect around him, and he imagined just how much better it would be when he finally entered her. She tugged her hand up and down his erection for a couple of minutes before whispering that she was ready.

Conrad got on top of her, his hand going back to her dripping core. There was nothing that he could do to prepare her any further when she was practically dripping for him, so he angled himself and slid inside her. They both moaned as her warmth enveloped him, a perfect fit. She felt so good that Conrad had to stop moving for a minute while he regained his composure. When he was finally sure that he wouldn’t lose control, he began moving. Every thrust made him groan, and it didn’t help that her walls held him so tight like a vise.

“Faster, please,” she cried out, digging her short nails into his back.

Conrad felt this primal urge to mark her too, but he was too far gone to do anything but thrust. They clung to each other as they both chased the ultimate high and just as she came, he did too. He couldn’t stop it, wave after wave of perfection. He could lie there forever and die a happy man; he was certain of it. But he would probably crush her with his larger frame, so he shuffled to the side, leaving his arm around her. Sleep crept up on him, a relief from the tiredness that threatened to overcome him, but a curse for what he would miss.

****

Conrad slammed the folder shut and loosened his tie. It was suddenly so hot in the room and his trousers felt a bit tighter. He was feeling everything that his younger self had felt, lucky bastard. He could almost taste her again, and the thought made him lick his lips. He was behaving like a teenager and didn’t even care. Maybe the embarrassment would hit him after he got home.

Fuck, how could he have forgotten such a passionate encounter? Even now, the memory made him feel as if he was back in that room again, making love to Daisy. Maybe if he hadn’t slept like a log, things would have been different? If he had been awake, maybe she wouldn’t have slipped out without leaving a note. Yet, there was no way of knowing now though.

Conrad could have woken up and gone through the weird morning-after encounter and they would have gone their separate ways, nothing having changed. Or perhaps they would have exchanged phone numbers and a goodbye kiss in the morning. The what-if game was a dangerous one, and one trip down memory lane was enough.

He looked at the folder again, Daisy was the waitress from the party. He hadn’t remembered her when they first met, but now he couldn’t get it out of his head. How would he ever look at her again? The images of her naked body and her face as she came for him would haunt him with every breath he took. If he wanted to keep his sanity, then he would have to find a way to get over this.

Conrad looked at the blue puffy jacket in his hands and wondered if he really was going to go through with this. Was he about to test to see if Leo was his biological son? If Daisy’s little boy was really an Engel? He felt a tiny bit guilty, but deep down, he knew he was doing what was right. At least that’s what he tried to convince himself of. Natalie rapped against the door before sliding in, closing the door behind her.

“What’s up, boss?”

He passed her the jacket, the small sleeves dangling in the air. “I need you to find some DNA. See if there’s a piece of hair that can be used to run a paternity test.”

He waited for a second, knowing Natalie would undoubtedly have something to say about this request. But he also knew she would do anything for him, which is why they got along so well.

Natalie’s eyes widened. “Whose jacket is this?” She turned the jacket over and narrowed her eyes at him. “Conrad, what did you do?”

“I have good reason to believe that I might have a son, and I need to make sure. So, don’t give me grief about this.”

“Does this still fall under employee background checks as well?” Natalie asked with a smirk.

Head throbbing, Conrad sighed. “I will give you an early bonus if you just do as you are told and stop with the jokes.”

“Geez, aren’t you in a good mood,” Natalie muttered, still watching Conrad, as if he would give her another clue.

He had run over the scenario a dozen times in his head. Daisy had said she had a one-night stand, and it had been the only time she had done that. The timeline fit perfectly, with Leo’s age and his spring birthday. Even Adelaide had pointed out just how much Leo looked like Conrad. She just hadn’t known how right she was. The test was a formality, but in his heart, he already knew the truth.

“A hairbrush would have been much easier,” Natalie said, carefully turning the jacket over and checking it for any stray hairs.

“I’m sorry, but the boy doesn’t live at my house. That’s all I have of his. It’ll have to work.”

“Sure thing,” Natalie said with a sigh, before leaving his office.

Conrad ran a hand through his hair and tugged at it, wondering how his life had come to this: stealing a little boy’s DNA to prove that he had a son. Although, his mind reminded him, it technically isn’t stealing, since he had left the coat at my house. If it turned out that Leo wasn’t his, then Daisy would never know. And if the boy really was an Engel, then Conrad had every right to do whatever it took to find out the truth.

I could be a father, he thought, breaths shuddering out. He already had a soft spot for the little boy, but for Leo to be his? That was a whole different scenario. Was he ready for everything that it could mean for him, and not only him alone, but for his family as well?

Conrad needed something to do to get his mind off everything that was going on, or else he would drive himself crazy while he waited for the results. He checked his watch and dashed out for a quick lunch, even though he didn’t feel like eating anything. There was nothing more he enjoyed than Daisy’s food and the extra special touches she put, that anything else seemed bland in comparison. His phone rang, steering him away from his thoughts until he saw who it was.

“Natalie?” he answered, holding his phone up to his ear.

“They found a strand of hair they can use, so I’ll let you know as soon as the results are out.” Her tinny voice sounded through the speakers.

“How long will that take?” he asked.

“Seventy-two hours.”

Conrad groaned. “Can’t you get it done sooner?”

“Sure. Let me call the specialist lab techs and tell them to expedite something they have no control over.” Natalie replied and Conrad could practically hear the eye roll in her voice. “That’s the best they can do. You have to relax.”

“Thanks.”

He hung up, then started pacing the room. What was he going to do now? Should he wait for the results, then confront Daisy about it if it turned out that Leo was his son? Or did he speak to her about it now and hear what she had to say for herself. Deep down, he knew he would never be patient enough to wait for the results. He needed to know now. So, it was settled. He would ask her about it in the morning before Leo finished school and came back to the house.

A thousand thoughts raced through his head as he thought of the positive outcome of the DNA test. What would it mean for him becoming an instant father to a five-year-old? Had Daisy lied about it all these years? What did it mean for both of them going forward? Did he want to be a father? A picture of Leo in his head made him smile involuntarily. Whether or not he was ready, if that little boy was his son, then he would treat him as such.

DNA was a funny thing. Even if they had been worlds apart, having the same strands of biological matter had made them similar in ways he was starting to see for himself.

His phone vibrated with a text, and he groaned when he saw it was from his sister. Was she sensing all the drama that was going in his life right now and wanted to be a part of it? This whole situation suited her, but again, she wasn’t a dumb man who had unprotected s*x with a stranger. Of all the stupid things that he had ever done, this topped the list by far.

Conrad was responsible. His father had been trusting him to make big decisions before he was even out of high school. He was the guy everyone came to because they could count on him to have a level head and make the important decisions. Apparently, the wrong head had been thinking on that night, and now his other head was going to explode while he thought of the consequences of his actions.

You free to meet up for dinner tonight? Adelaide’s text read.

I’m busy, everything okay? he asked.

It took her ages to respond, and Conrad felt like maybe he had been a bit too short with her. He just couldn’t deal with her right now, though. Not until he sorted out this whole thing with Daisy.

I’m good. It’s fine, let me know when you are free sometime in this century.

Conrad frowned; his sister rarely invited him for dinner just to talk. Something had to be up, but knowing Addy, it wasn’t anything serious. She would take care of it and be back to her ray of sunshine self in no time.

Why don’t you schedule something with my assistant, and we’ll see, he responded, earning a facepalm emoji in response.

He called his driver to wait for him up front, needing to go home and think. Grabbing his laptop so that he could finish what he had been working on at home, he shut his office. He was married to his work after all, and he was no stranger to finishing his work up at home.

The ride home was quick, and within minutes he was stepping through his door. He saw a small wooden truck on the couch, reminding him that this could be his new normal. He took the toy in his hand and studied it. It was worn out, soft edges blurring the chipped paint, but he could tell that it was Leo’s favorite toy.

Fuck, he had missed all of that. His birth. Watching him take his first steps. Say his first words. He had missed every little moment that father’s look forward too, a one-night stand does not a father make.

Still, he would have appreciated that choice. The opportunity to be on board or not, since it took two people to make a child. If Leo was half-his, then he would have wanted the opportunity to be in his life. He threw the toy back on the couch, watching it bounce on the soft cushions. It was too late now to think of such things. Now, he had to focus on the future. And whether that future included Daisy and Leo.