A night with my daughter's billionaire father

Prologue After a very honest conversation with Eric her colleague, Matilda felt lighter and very furious at Iris. How she had ruined her life on the basis of friendship. All she wanted to do, was to leave London and return to LA to accept George’s proposal. She got to work as ecstatic as she has never been, she was almost over doing it. But she looked genuinely happy and carefree. It was obvious that the weight in her heart had disappeared. “Have you spoken to George?” Eric asked as he approached her two weeks after their previous conversation. He had suspected she had and was surprised when she shook her head. “I left the phone where I stored his number at home” Matilda sighed regretfully “LA?” he was alarmed for her “Yes” “Wow! That’s a big one, any E-mail address?” he asked hopefully and she was touched by his concern, she had never been sensitive to such emotions in the past. “I don’t have it but not to worry, I’m leaving at the end of the month” she said to cheer him up. He shrugged “I hope it’s not too late by then” he said and regretted it the moment he saw the dismay on her face. He hadn’t mean to make her panic, “I’m sure it won’t be too late” he added quickly.But it didn’t help, she had never thought about the possibility and she was worried. “What if it is?” “I hope not” Eric said as he took her hand “but if it is, you learn the important lessons and move on. I promise you, another man will come your way. That is if you maintain this winning attitude you now carry about” he said as he looked at her. Lately, her relationship with Iris had been strained. Iris was her best friend they met at a party. Iris had actually walked up to Matilda and called her by her name and they became fast friends. Iris influenced her life negatively and was responsible for everything her life had turned out to be. *** When she finally travelled back to LA. Her top priority was to call George. She had decided not to tell him her response to his proposal on phone but to surprise him. She had bought him two Tom Hilfiger shirts, a belt and a pack of ball pens, something she knows he would love.Her driver met her at the airport and they drove home. Her mum Clara Hudson was ecstatic to see her, although Matilda spotted some mistakes on her mother’s part while she reflected on her life in London.She got home, freshened up and ate. Suddenly her phone began to ring as she was staring at her bloated reflection in the full length mirror in her room, she desperately took the call as the caller was from her company. “Gosh! This can’t be happening to me!” Matilda let out a loud scream, she soon scrolled through the news and she saw an article about how her company had gone bankrupt. She grew even more annoyed. “Iris that b***h! I can’t believe she has been using me all this while”Matilda muttered harshly as she recalled how she recklessly left her company in the care of Iris. She didn’t do anything because she didn’t want anything to ruin her meeting with George. George was the only man still proposing marriage to her. She lived her life as a promiscuous woman and has finally decided to settle down.She quickly scrolled through her phone and found his number. Her heartbeats quickened as she dialed it. George answered not too long after it started ringing and he sounded excited to hear from her. “My God Matilda where on earth have you been?”Matilda was smiling from ear to ear now. At least he was still available, he sounded like that. “Hi George” she said, she was bursting with love for him “nothing happened me. I’m fine, I travelled I’m sorry I didn’t let you know” she said pleasantly and he sounded surprised. “Can we see tomorrow” she asked him, she could detect the hesitation in his voice and almost panicked. “Tomorrow?” he sounded surprised “actually I’m supposed to travel, I mean we are supposed to travel tomorrow. But maybe I’ll have to shift it till the day after tomorrow. I’ll ask Iris” “All right then, I can’t wait to see you” she replied and was surprised at what she said. She could hardly sleep all night as she thought about George. She looked through the gifts she had got him and smiled satisfactorily like a teenager in love.There were butterflies in her stomach when she woke up the following morning. She looked through her wardrobe, trying to select something sensual to wear. It was a special day and she had to dress for him but she ended up with a pair of jeans and black T-shirt to look less her size.She arrived at the said venue quite early, so she decided to wait while she played with her mobile phone. “hello!” a deep muscular voice greeted and she looked up to see George she grinned but her grin turned into an angry grimace as she saw Iris her best friend by his side. “Hello Matilda!” Iris greeted “What’s going on here?” she asked harshly Iris rudely stroked the gold band on the fourth finger of her left hand. “You’re married?” Matilda asked “Yes Maltida we wedded on Saturday and we were actually supposed to go for our honeymoon today but for this meeting” George responded with no scintilla of emotion. While iris, gave matilda a smug look as she clings unto George’s arm.Maltida felt as though a thousand bees were swarming in her head. She felt sick to the stomach and as though a knife had been pierced through her heart, shattering it into several pieces. She sat there, staring at them too shocked to speak. “You didn’t expect me to sit around waiting for you to make up your mind, did you?” George continued “I tried matilda I really did love you, but apparently I couldn’t force love from you; and you disappeared into thin air I thought you didn’t just want me bothering you with my proposal.” Maltida just stared at them willing the ground to open and swallow her. She shifted her gaze from George to iris and wished she had never met Iris. The news of her company’s bankruptcy and now her best friend’s betrayal, the pain was too much for her to bear she rose slowly from her seat suddenly her phone began to ring she wanted to decline the call, but when she saw the name ID of the caller she immediately answered. “Mom, what’s up?” “Mom? Are you there?” Matilda asked when she didn’t receive any reply from her mom who called.The sudden wailing caused Matilda’s heart to skip a bit. “Mom? What is going on? Please speak to me!” Matilda’s loud voice caused George to be alarmed for her as he looks at her in shock but iris was indifferent. “Mom…please speak to me “Tilda it’s…it’s your father!" “What happened to dad?” Matilda asked as her heart beat fastened. “Your father collapsed!” Matilda’s mom announced before wailing even more. “Father collapsed?! Calm down mom, just stay where you I will come to right now.”Although Matilda was not in her best state emotionally, as the heart wrenching news she already got had shattered her heart into a thousand pieces. She tried to encourage her mom. Matilda hurriedly left George and Iris without a word she also forgot the gift bag on the floor where she kept it earlier to take her father to the hospital. Her parents were the only ones she had left. It was an half an hour ride before Matilda arrived home, she saw her father lying unconscious on the floor while her mom sat beside him wailing incessantly. With the help of her driver, they rushed him into the car and then drove to the hospital. He was declared dead on arrival. “I’m so sorry, his COPD (-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a disease that causes respiratory arrest and immediate death-) got really worse. We lost him!” the doctor declared. As Matilda and her mom stood agape, to take in the news from the doctor they hadn’t taken into consideration her mom’s heart condition. But it was too late now, her hands flew to her chest as she scrunched her face in pain. “Doctor!” Matilda called out as she held her mom from falling.The nurses arrived instead and she was assisted into a room but unfortunately she suffered ventricular fibrillation (-a condition which is the most frequent cause of sudden cardiac death-) and passed. Matilda was lost in her thoughts, she couldn’t believe her whole life totally turned upside down in a day.Her company had gone bankrupt, her parents were no more, and there was nothing left for her in LA. Every nook and cranny of the city reminded her of the painful memories of her reckless and futile life she lived so she decided to leave the city to another to start up a new life. CHAPTER ONE Leo hopelessly wandered the street, Claire was already fast asleep in his arms as he gently patted her back.He was confounded, puzzled and didn’t even know where to start from. Everything was just too much for him to take. It felt like he was the only one going through all these, as it just seemed the whole world was revolving around him and the entire universe was against him. “Why me?! Why me lord?!” he cried out softly, careful enough to not wake Claire. He would be incapable of answering her questions if she does wake up, the kid was way more mature than her age.Suddenly a loud screeching sound echoed across the bustling street. Instantly, five Ferrari, two limousines, two Bugatti, two G wagon and a Rolls Royce phantom appeared in front of Leo in a straight line, before he could blink his eyes. The sound woke Claire up.Leo stepped back in fright, he brought Claire down to her feet but she was too dazed to speak.With what happened to him 5 hours ago, he despised wealthy people for always taking his girlfriend away from him, making him fail at love and he hated women for being so cheap and materialistic. He narrowed his eyes at the twelve exotic latest models cars in front of him. But compared to him, the people on the street, were greatly astonished as they had never seen anything like this! It was rare and astounding, it was really rare to see such cool cars together at the same time and definitely not in an unkempt environment, hence everyone’s attention focused on the cars and Leo.Leo got more upset but before he could do anything, the first limousine door opened, a beautiful elegant lady wearing an apron stepped out. Leo was shocked as she began to walk towards him. “Young master Declan” she greeted with a bow as she reached the point where Leo was standing. Instinctively she carried Claire in her arms and then stepped aside. Two seconds later, a complete body dressed in a fashionable tailor made suit came to view. The able bodied man got close to Leo clasped his hands behind him. “Young master Declan I’m your loyal man, we are very happy to have finally found you” he cried out. Leo took few steps backwards subtly, shaking his head. He felt oppressed and thought today wasn’t a day for him. Within how many hours he had encountered too many strange things and now this! Mutterings of the passersby began to surround him. He had never in his life seen or experienced something like this.He couldn’t fathom why they were showing him great respect neither could he understand their great display.Claire on the other hand resumed her sleep in the arms of the lady who carried her, the poor girl was very tired. “Please leave me, I don’t know any of you” Leo said as he started feeling embarrassed as none of the men dared to lift up their heads when he didn’t acknowledge their greetings.After a minute of silence, the man dressed in a well-tailored suit requested. “Your loyal servant asked that you please show your benevolence by granting us permission to rise or we won’t” Leo looked aside perplexed “Yo…you all can rise” he said with in a confused tone. “Young master I’m Felix Grey, your fathers right hand man, he ordered me to find you before he passed”. At this point all the other men in the cars dressed in this same well-tailored suit stepped out of the car like they were being ordered to do so. They were an army of them now. “Hold on “Leo held up his hand not wanting to sound rude “I’m Leo Declan and I don’t know you” “Young master can you please enter the car” “I’m not your young master, I’m simply Leo Declan and that’s my daughter Claire Declan” Leo said as he points his forefinger in the direction in which the lady who carried Claire was standing. “Why don’t you just leave me and go” he was getting infuriated at the man. “I understand that you’re confused and oblivious, but you’re not simply Leo Declan” “Excuse me?”“Yes! You’re Leo Declan D Second, the heir of Declan Group of Companies and you’re the son of late Alexander Declan D First” “What nonsense are you spewing about first and second?” “I’m being honest, you’re the sole heir of all the companies owned by Declan D First and all other assets and properties home and abroad estates inclusive, he ordered me to find you to take care all he has willed to you and the company needs you.” Leo wanted to jump in shock, he couldn’t believe his ears. But he felt his feet were glued to the ground, he was replaying all the words of the man in his head.Declan Group Of Companies, it rang a bell in his head upon realization, he had heard so much about the companies affluence and capacity and had wanted to apply for a job there. H couldn’t believe that the man right in front of him was addressing him as the sole heir of Declan Group of Companies and the exotic cars in front of him and many other luxury were all his. **** Matilda arrived New York City, she was able to sell some of her expensive belongings in LA. She was able to get a small apartment in New York.She was dressed as a simple homely girl but the clothes didn’t hide her curves and beauty.She walked into the apartment she had earlier paid for, it was a small furnished old house, it was like a studio apartment, everything from the bedroom to the living room and the kitchen was all arranged together, it looked more like the servants quarters tucked away at the back of the compound but at least it looked nice and tidy .she had lived all her life in mansion or well-furnished standard apartment. After taking in the state of the apartment, she walked towards where her suitcases were sitting. Opening one, she looked for a towel. After undressing she entered the bathroom. The bathroom was not as spacious as the ones she used over the years but she had to make do with whatever life offered now because she was almost penniless. Looking at herself in the mirror she cursed softly.“There’s really nothing worth living for anymore, I’ll just have to exist till I die” she muttered as tears rolled down her cheeks freely.She got out of the bathroom, unpacked her suitcase after which she stepped out to find a job. She still looked absolutely stunning with just a jeans and t shirt, no accessories just basically a dot ear rings and simple flip flop. As she walked down the street she took in the beaut.Few years ago, she was living her best life which turned out to be the worst. Men literally worshipped the ground she walked on and they granted her an all-expense paid to any country of her choice, whatever she wanted was at her disposal, but here she is in New York searching for a mediocre job to enable her feed and survive.Two days past and she was unable to find a job. Again, she stepped out to a different area from the place she had been.She caught sight of a massive five star hotel, she walked into the reception. “Hello ma’am how I can help you” the receptionist asked with a broad smile. “I’m in search of a job” Matilda responded calmly “Oh okay that’s the way to the manager’s office just walk straight” she directed her using her fingers to also gesticulate the direction to Matilda. After all said and done Matilda finally got the job to work at the lounge section of the hotel to attend to guest and also direct them to their room if need be, she resumed almost immediately.She felt like maybe, just maybe she would start up a new life, basically just earning and feeding herself. But fate had an entirely different plan for her.Matilda seemed very happy with her new job as she cheerfully served the customers. But things suddenly turned sour for her. “Oh my goodness! Are you blind?” one of the customers suddenly rose from her seat and smacked Matilda on the face. She had accidentally spilled drink on the lady. “I’m very sorry ma, but you didn’t have to hit me, it was unintentional” Matilda held her cheeks. “You still have the guts to talk, after soiling my outfit. Okay let’s see how far you can go when I speak to your manager, stupid!” The lady spat back. A once beloved and adored lady by many men, young and old, wealthy and poor, servings drinks to people in a hotel. No one dared to lay a finger on her or even yell at her. But now, she just got slapped by a lady. She tried so hard to keep all her emotions at bay, when a female co-worker called her to leave the scene.Matilda felt like all the wounds she was trying to heal from just opened up again she became more heartbroken than she ever was. Her father died because of her, so she thought being a rather nonchalant daughter having several engagements with men, because of her gullibility and desire to enjoy all the good things of life at such a young age. Ignoring the fact that her father had been diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – a disease that causes difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath) although her mom had carefully managed it with the aid of drugs but it got severe and the doctors had advised he undergo surgery but she was out of reach when she went on one of her multiple trips. She hardly spent time with her parents, and now they are both gone.Guilt swept through her. “I killed my parents!” she muttered under her breath,her voice shaky she walked into the lounge as she wiped tears off her cheeks with the back of her palm. CHAPTER TWO The lounge was already empty, she looked around and she caught sight of a young man in shabby clothes, sitting at the extreme of the lounge. His table was filled with a lot of expensive drinks strong alcoholic drinks. She wondered how a shabby looking young man could afford such expensive drinks. Matilda walked towards his table to inform him that she would be leaving soon and he was the only one left in the lounge, but instead she ended up drunk. “Hello sir! I’ll be leaving soon…” “How could she do this to me…” the drunk young man began. “I’m so useless, now CEO of Declan Group Of Companies?” he lets out a loud laughter. “sir…” before Matilda could say another word the young man broke down in tears instinctively Matilda quietly took a seat, and poured herself a drink from the many on the table as she sat to listen to him and as well get drunk since her evening was already ruined. “I really did love her” he continued TWO WEEKS AGO Leo lazily walked across the street of New York with a hopeless expression, little tears lurked around the corner of his eyes, but he didn’t let them flow. As events from 6 years ago became fresh in his memory. He had returned from job hunting frustrates and he met an unexpected scene, his girlfriend the mother of his child in bed with another man. He was shattered and she left him alone with the responsibility of catering for there 6 years old child. He fell in love, he wasn’t expecting the same thing to happen again.He was at the verge of giving up, as he was short of what to do anymore. He had been trying different interviews, after graduating as the best student. Unfortunately, he was always getting rejected without a genuine concrete reason. He thought being the best graduating student would bring a lot of opportunities, but guess he was wrong. Then suddenly, he recollected that today was his anniversary with his girlfriend. “I hope Tracy doesn’t get disappointed” he muttered to himself, glancing around, as he patted his pocket at the same time. Quickly he rushed to the nearest mall to get something. Although, he didn’t have any penny on him except his transport fare and some money to get dinner for Claire his daughter when she gets back from school. His cleaning job paid him that much, but he had no choice but to get a gift for his girl. Making her happy, was the only thing to relieve him of his sorrows and also compensate her for taking care of his daughter.It didn’t take long before Leo got out of the mall, things were too costly so he could only afford an anniversary cake. He still had mixed feelings, because he wasn’t sure how his girlfriend would react to the cake he got. Leo took a deep breath and trekked to his girlfriend’s house.After about an hour, he arrived at her place with so much anxiety, his heartbeats fastened. He took few tentative steps towards her door post what he heard caught him off balance, but he wasn’t sure as he got closer to her room the moans got louder. “Oh… you’re so wild baby I don’t know what your wretched boyfriend would do if he… arrrrrrrrghhh” He heard a deep voice coming from the room, his brain summersaulted. He knitted his brows instantly, as his heart leaped in fright.He didn’t know why, as his brain already processed different thing.Without wasting anytime, he swiftly pushed the door open. What he saw next made his jaw drop, he blinked his eyes repeatedly, finding it hard to process what he was seeing. instantly the cake in his hand dropped down. “Tracy!!” Leo yelled in shock Tracy and the man beside her were startled after realizing that Leo was back. “Leo you're back! How was your job hunting” Tracy asked completely unashamed as she strokes the man’s bare chest. Leo just stood like a statue and watched them like his senses had flew away. He was only quivering like a thin lost leaf.The man on the bed was calm as well, and from the look of it, it seemed like he was from a noble family. “The nerve of you Tracy! The f*****g nerve of you! Where did I go wrong? Tell me! After all the ways I have tried to prove my love for you! Why?”Leo spoke as he recovered from his one minute trance. His face was filled with nothing but rage, annoyance, irritation and disappointment. Hurt! He cried out as he turned his back.At this point he was not himself anymore. “Leo who do you think you are?!” Tracy spoke bringing Leo back to the present “for rich sake, do you ever sit down and think about your wretched miserable life you bloody fool?! It seems you don’t know anything!” she seized Leo and clapped her hands together in an amusing manner before hissing loudly, twitching her lips at the same time. She laughed derisively and got up from the bed clad with just panties, her c sized boobs were on full display.“Do you think I am going to wait and starve with you and your daughter?! What do you take me for?! I was only doing you a favor by dating you and I cared for your child while you were out there job hunting and roaming around the street like an i***t! Best graduating student my foot! Tell me Leo Declan you don’t have a future, a good life, job, family, money, cars, inheritance, investment, nothing! You are nothing!” She spat angrily at him pointing at him as she yelled. Then she moved closer to the man on the bed.“This! Is what you call a real man” “Tracy why? What about Claire? Don’t you care about her at all” he rambled, trying to hold himself from bursting. “She’s not my child, so why should I worry about her. Shut up I’m busy, if you don’t mind use the door and get your miserable self out of my house and I don’t want to ever set my eyes on you or your daughter” The truth was really heartbreaking, but at this moment Leo could hear the tiny voices of Claire as she approaches the door.Instinctively, he opened the door to welcome her. He said thanks to the school nanny who brought her home. The school was just a stone throw from Tracy’s apartment. “Daddy… why are you standing outside?” Claire asked as Leo squatted to reach her face and kiss her forehead, as he did he began to hear moans from the room and he quickly carried Claire as they exited the building.Tears rolled down his eyes, this time he couldn’t stop them as he thought about the rough childhood his daughter was going through, he wiped his face with his palm to prevent Claire from seeing him while the other hand held unto her. ~~~ BACK TO PRESENT ~~~ Matilda and Leo were both very drunk now and very much in tears as they both reminisced on their life. “Please le…lead me to my room here’s the key” Leo managed to be stabled enough to give his keys to Matilda as they both headed to his hotel room. “Was there anything, more degrading than looking for your underwear?!” Matilda cursed quietly at herself. She picked up Leo’s pant and shook them but there was nothing, she knelt and looked under the bed but there was no sign of her underwear. She was starting to sweat and couldn’t look up to see the man on the bed. The last thing she recalled was walking towards his table. “Are you looking for this?” Matilda overheard what Leo said, when she looked up he was holding her underwear with the tip of his thumb and forefinger. “What the hell! Really?” she bit her lower lip as she yanked it from his grasp.She was full of regrets and she felt like a w***e again but she couldn’t bring herself to crying in his presence. “He was crying like a baby last night and now he’s mocking me?! I shouldn’t have let alcohol and pain put in me in this mess” Matilda considered this and rose to her feet. She tightened her grip on the towel wrapped around her body and she began to walk towards the bathroom. “I’m Leo Declan D Second, CEO of Declan Group of Companies” Leo spoke and and Matilda stopped in her tracks. She was shocked at what she heard but she suddenly let out a loud laughter which caught Leo off balance. “You? CEO? If not for alcohol and frustration you’re not even in the league of men I f**k with!” Matilda snapped back curtly “Take this!” Leo said stretching his arm out to her with a piece of paper in his hand that appeared to be his business card.Matilda just kept staring at him, Hesitantly, she collected the business card, then she also noticed his deep grey eyes, his messy hair still had a bit of sexiness which she would never admit to. “Look! What happened last night was nothing! We were both drunk, we had fun while it lasted so why would I need your business card?” Matilda asked shaking her head. “You’ll be my daughter’s nanny” Leo then stood up and walked to the bathroom without saying anything leaving her in disbelief as she stood agape. Her? To work as a nanny? For his daughter? What the heck! He has a child?