CHRISTMAS DEAL WITH THE ALPHA

TORN BETWEEN

JACE POV

I dial Cleopatra's number, my fingers drumming impatiently on the armrest as I wait for her to pick up. It's late, but I need to hear her voice. I've been thinking about her all day, wondering if she's okay.

For some reason I am drawn to her effortlessly.

The phone rings a few times before she answers, her voice husky and... wrong. My gut twists with concern as I sit up straight, my eyes scanning my study as though searching for answers.

"Hello?" she says, her voice barely above a whisper. He voice sounds kind of sad, more like cry like.

' Has she been cry'_ I wonder

"Cleo?" I say, my voice low and urgent. "What's wrong? You sound... upset."

There's a pause, and I can almost hear her taking a deep breath before responding. "I'm fine, Jonathan. Just... tired."

I frown, my instincts screaming that something's off. "Cleo, don't lie to me. I can hear it in your voice. You've been crying."

There's another pause, this one longer than the first. I can almost feel her hesitation, her uncertainty about how much to reveal.

"Cleo?" I press, my voice softening. "Talk to me. What's going on?"

" like I said I am just tired. I just need a good night sleep" She assures.

I don't believe a word of what she just said, but I don't press forward.

" Fine, how was your day?" I question concerned

" Good and yours?" She replies with a yawn, catching my intrigues.

" Fine" I answer simply

"Cleo, I like to know what you had for dinner. Tell me exactly what you ate." I question firmly.

She hesitates, and I can almost hear her thinking. "I had some pasta," she says finally.

I frown, my mind racing.

"Just pasta? What kind of pasta? Was it with meat? Vegetables?" I press

She sighs, and I can almost hear her frustration.

"Jonathan, it was just plain pasta. Okay?"

I'm not satisfied.

"And did you have any bread with it? Any salad? or fruit?" I ask unimpressed

She hesitates again. "No, just pasta."

I feel a surge of concern. She's not eating healthy. I can tell.

"And did you drink any milk or juice with dinner?"

"No, Jonathan. I just had water." She answers thoughtlessly.

I'm angry now.

She's not taking care of herself, and it's bad for the baby.

I'm not pleased.

"And what about snacks? Did you have any snacks throughout the day?"

She laughs, a soft, husky sound. "Jace, I'm poor. I don't have the money to buy snacks."

My anger boils over, and I feel a surge of protectiveness towards her.

"That's not good enough," I growl. "You need to eat more, Cleo. You need to take care of yourself and the baby. You didn't even drink any milk today"

She laughs again, and I can almost hear her amusement.

"Jace, I told you. I'm poor. I can't afford such luxury like milk."

I'm seething with anger, my mind racing with thoughts of how I can help her.

"Cleo, do you have a bank account?" I demand, my voice firm.

She hesitates, and I can almost hear her embarrassment. "No, Jace. I don't. What for?"

I feel a surge of frustration. How can she not have a bank account? How is she supposed to take care of herself and the baby?

"Okay, do you have a PayPal account?" I ask ignoring her question.

My mind racing with solutions.

She hesitates again. "Y-yes, I do."

" Send me your account details" I command simply

" What for?" She doubts

" Just do as you are told" I command.

She sighs, before reluctantly sending it.

I quickly grab my other phone, log into my PayPal account, and send her $2000, the amount transferring instantly.

"Cleo, check your PayPal account," I say, my voice firm.

She pauses, and I can almost hear her shock. "Jonathan, what... why did you do that?" she stammers.

I feel a surge of satisfaction. She needs the money, and I'm happy to provide it. "You need it, Cleo. You need it to take care of yourself and the baby. You can't survive on just pasta and water."

She begs me, her voice polite but firm. "Jace, please. Take it back. I don't need your charity."

I refuse, my voice firm. "No, Cleo. You need this money. You need to eat healthy, and take care of yourself. This is for the baby's sake, not just yours."

She's silent for a moment, and I can almost hear her shame. "Thank you, Jace," she says finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Cleo, I'm glad I could help," I say, my voice softening.

She's silent for a moment, and then I hear her whisper something. "No one has ever been this kind to me..."

I frown, my ears perking up. "What was that?" I ask, my voice gentle.

But she quickly covers. "Nothing, Jace. I didn't say anything."

I raise an eyebrow, but I let it go. I'm not going to push her to talk about something she's not ready to discuss.

"Hey, Cleo?" I say, changing the subject. "I was thinking... how about we meet tomorrow for a discussion, and go baby shopping?"

She laughs softly

"Jace, it's too early for that. I'm not even showing yet."

But I'm insistent. "No way, Cleo. We need to get ready for this baby. And I'm excited to start shopping."

She sighs, and I can almost hear her giving in. "Okay, fine. But just for a few things, okay?"

I grin, feeling a surge of excitement. "Deal!" I exclaim. "I'll pick you up at 10am tomorrow. Where do you live"

" No need for that. We could just meet in front of the hospital" She suggest instead

" Sure, whatever floods your boat" I say simply. I don't care where we meet all I care about is seeing her tomorrow.

" Ok, good night" She says

" Good night" I reply, hanging up.

I'm already thinking about all the things we need to buy. Diapers, clothes, toys... and I've even thought of some baby names. Carlson for a boy, and Caroline for a girl. I can already imagine myself holding my little one in my arms, feeling like the proudest father in the world.

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I sit in my armchair, sipping whiskey, my mind still reeling from the call I just ended with Cleopatra. I'm excited to meet her and discuss the details of adopting her baby, but my mind is quickly distracted as I hear the door open.

Diana walks in, looking contrite, and my heart skips a beat. I've missed her so much, and I'm excited to see her. I've been thinking about her nonstop since we broke up, that is except for today of course and I've come to realize that I still love her with all my heart.

"Diana," I say, my voice filled with emotion. "I've missed you so much."

She looks up at me, her eyes filled with tears. "Jace, I'm so sorry," she says, her voice trembling. "I was wrong to deceive you. Can you ever forgive me?"

I set my glass down and stand up, walking towards her. "Diana, I forgave you a long time ago," I say, taking her hands in mine. "I just want you to know that I still love you, and I want to work things out between us."

She looks up at me, surprise written all over her face. "Jace, I... I don't know what to say," she stammers.

I smile, feeling a sense of hope that I hadn't felt in weeks. "Just say nothing " I say, my voice filled with emotions as I hold her tightly in my arms.

"Diana, can I ask you something?" I inquire, after hugging her for a while.

"Of course, babe, anything" she replies, looking up at me with hope in her eyes.

"Are you willing to have a child with me, now?" I ask.

She looks up at me with wide eyes, and already know the answer. It's a No.

I just want to know if she has genuinely changed.

She hesitates, looking uncomfortable. "Jace, I... I don't know. I really want to but I need time to think about it."

I nod, a smile spreading across my face. "I appreciate your honesty, Diana. It fine, you don't have to worry about it"

"I think I've already found someone who is willing to give me what I want."

" What do you mean?" She ask intrigued with a hideous frown

" Well, I met this pregnant woman and I want to adopt her child" I confess calmly

Her eyes narrow, suspicion written all over her face. "Who is it?" she demands.

I lean back in my chair, a triumphant smile still plastered on my face.

"Cleopatra," I say, my voice dripping with excitement.

Diana's eyes narrow.

"Who is Cleopatra? " she demands, her voice sharp

"How old is she?" she asks, her voice laced with suspicion.

I shrug, not seeing the relevance. "I don't know, maybe 19 or 20."

Diana's face falls, her eyes flashing with anger. "You're going to adopt a baby with some young girl you barely know?" she splutters.

I laugh, enjoying the sight of her jealousy. "I know enough about her," I say, my voice confident. "And besides, I'm not just adopting a baby, I'm adopting a family. Cleopatra and I are going to be great parents."

Diana's face twists with anger and jealousy, her eyes flashing with resentment. "You're really going to do this, aren't you?" she spits. "You're really going to leave me for some young girl and her baby."

I chuckle, enjoying the sight of her jealousy. "Diana, I'm not leaving you for anyone," I say, my voice confident. "I have to say, I like it when you're jealous. It's cute."

Diana's face falls, her eyes flashing with anger. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" she spits. "You're enjoying watching me squirm."

I shrug, not seeing the point of denying it. "Maybe a little," I say, my voice confident. "But let's be real, Diana. I only love one person, and that's you. No one else comes close."

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