A playboy's proposition

CHAPTER 1 Kelly Armstrong took a step back to appreciate her diligence. A fleeting expression of contentment appeared on her visage. She had somehow pulled off the seemingly miraculous feat of turning the drab meeting room on the fourth floor into a gorgeous pink fantasy. Given that she wasn't particularly skilled at decorating or organizing parties, she was very pleased of herself. Of course, working for one of Atlanta's top advertising companies did a great deal to help her sell the image of the expectant mother that any baby shower guest would want to see. She c****d her head and saw that It's a Girl banner hung a little off to the left. When everything was adjusted, her fingers glided over the light pink tablecloth that held snacks and gifts wrapped in bright colours for the new arrival. She attempted to push a stray strand of her auburn hair back into the knot at the nape of her neck after blowing it out of her face. Yes, if I ever get to hold a baby shower, this is precisely what I would want. A searing sensation that passed through her chest and into her heart. Her thirtieth birthday was approaching, hanging over her like a black cloud, and she was become all too acquainted with this feeling—motherhood and Mr. Right eluded her. Her parents' deaths made being childless and without a spouse all the more difficult. She had vowed to find a spouse and have a kid in order to make up for the love she had missed when her mother passed away two years prior. Regretfully, nothing in her life seems to go according to her mental plan. She flipped over her mother's watch, which she was struggling to shake off, and looked at the time. It was only fifteen minutes before the visitors, most of whom were her colleagues, began to arrive. It's time to put on your game face, Kell. The shower hostess must resist giving in to her green-eyed monster of envy and letting it turn her into a crazy person who throws gifts and flips tables in a fit of wrath akin to the Hulk! Take a hold! The motivational speech didn't really calm the tumultuous feelings she was experiencing. She held onto the table so tightly that her knuckles whitened. She brushed away the silent tears that were streaming down her cheeks. She thought to herself, "Please help me get through this," and raised her deep green eyes to the ceiling. You know, if you want to cut your wrists, I have a nail file in my desk drawer. It would happen far more quickly than you're now doing! Kelly grasped her chest and leaped. She turned to find Ashley, her closest friend, grinning at her. She quickly used the back of her palm to wipe the last of her tears from her eyes. "You really scared the s**t out of me, Ash!" Regrets. I suppose you were so engrossed in self-hatred and suffering that you were oblivious to my calling out your name. Kelly ducked her head and said, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Before everyone arrives, I simply wanted to make sure everything looked okay. Ashley furrowed her brow. What were you thinking, Kelly, to agree to this? Its emotional suicide done slowly. How was I unable to? I got this job here because of Therese. I learned all I know from her. Three rounds of in vitro fertilization have been performed on her. "She is deserving of a baby shower, if anybody is.” Yes, but it didn't have to be thrown by you. She would have understood, after all, given all that has been going on with Michael recently. The phone beeped on Kelly's table. She gave the ID a quick check and winced. "Discuss the devil." "Is he still phoning and messaging constantly?" With Ashley, what? "Yes. I'm lucky. Let me respond. I'll inform that asshat that you will either receive a restraining order or something similar. "Ash, he's harmless." "He just needs to grow up, get a pair, and give you some sperm," you say. Kelly let out a little laugh. "I'd best pass, as tempting as that would be. This whole problem was first caused by the whole sperm/baby situation. Ashley grunted with frustration. "It's absurd that you're even thinking about having someone donate sperm." She touched Kelly's shoulders with her hands. "You are far too amazing, charming, and gorgeous to give up on dating in order to start a family." "Nice pitch there, and thanks for the praise. Have you ever considered a career in advertising? Kelly pondered. "Lol, what a smart ass. I had no intention of selling you anything. The truth be damned. I'm not sure when you'll accept it for real. Above all, I'm curious as to when the males in this city will finally take their heads off their butts and realize it as well. Kelly became enraged and raised her fists. "Ash, I think it's a little late for all that, considering my biological clock is clanging, rather than ticking." "However, you're not even thirty," said Ashley. "That's true, but ever since I was twenty, I've wanted a child." I need, no, I want to have a family once more. Being without siblings and losing my parents— Her voice broke due to intense passion. Ashley gave Kelly a sympathetic arm rub. "You still have a lot of time to spend with babies. And the spouse may still make an appearance. "May I remind you of the i***t parade I have had the misfortune to go out with in the last six months?" Kelly asked, rolling her eyes. "Oh, really, they weren't that horrible." Are we grading using a sharp curve or something different? First, there was Lucas the almost separated accountant whose wife followed us around on our date and then went crazy on him at the Cheesecake Factory," she said, drawing imaginary quotes with her fingers. "Oh sh*t, I see him now. Did the police not get a call?" Oh yeah. Due of their arrests for disturbing the peace, I had to phone Michael to come fetch me. Ashley countered, "so there was one bad seed in the mix." The undertaker was another person who entertained me with stories about the ins and outs of embalming over supper. In addition, I believe he had an unhealthy relationship to some of his dearly departed clients. Ashley let out a gurgling sound. "All right, I'll concede that n*********a may discourage someone from dating for a while." "A bit? Ash, how about a whole stinking lifetime? Kelly trembled. "Thank heavens, we only went on one date, and he didn't touch me." Thus, two nasty apples. Kelly, there are males all around the city. With her hands swept to her hips, Kelly rose. "And it seems like you're forgetting certain things about Barry the dentist?" Ashley furrowed her brow, clearly in agony. "Is he still facing those charges of voyeurism?" Kelly gave a head nod. "Thank goodness, the state takes very harsh action against those who install covert cameras in the men's locker room at the gym!" "Those are the extreme cases, then." "To be honest, a few other girls in our department believe I should write a book about horrible dating experiences!" "Now, give it a moment. You've also had dates with respectable men." Kelly exhaled. "And they ran out the door the moment they saw I wasn't going to bed with them before the appetizer arrived. If we managed to get through supper at all, it was because of the smell of my marriage and my desperate infant." Emily smiled. It appears that you are approaching this incorrectly. To get pregnant, you have to give in to the notion of squandering caution and engaging in thoughtless intercourse. "I don't believe so." Kelly gave a head shake. "I'm not giving up just because Michael abandoned the plan to donate sperm. I'm going to adore a child someday, somehow. **** Mason O'Connor dabbed at his dilution-causing blue eyes. He peered at the computer screen's clock through his fingers. Oh my, it was past seven already. His mind was too fried to complete the assignment, even if he wanted to. He was having trouble reading the words in front of him. With a sense of security that his recent elevation to Vice President of Marketing meant he could wait till morning without having someone chastise him for being a slacker, he shut off his computer.