The Trillionaire's Baby mama

Eight

Asher's POV

The ride home felt longer than usual. I leaned back in the plush leather seat of the car, watching the city lights blur into streaks of yellow and white as we sped through the streets. My mind was stuck on her and I needed answers now answers only someone with the right skills could dig up. Pulling out my phone, I scrolled through my contacts until I found the name I was looking for: Clark. He was the best private investigator I’d ever worked with, and I had a feeling this job was going to require his finest skills.

The phone rang twice before he picked up. "Asher, what’s going on?"

I didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “I need you to start looking into someone for me. Her name’s Nerissa Blake. I want everything—where she’s been, who she’s been with, why she disappeared. Leave no stone unturned.”

There was a slight pause on the other end, and I could almost hear Clark raising an eyebrow. “Nerissa? Is this the same girl who ghosted you?”

My jaw tightened. “Yes.”

He let out a low whistle. “Five years ago, right? What made her pop up again?”

I stared out the window, my mind still replaying every moment of our encounter earlier that evening. “I don’t know. But I intend to find out.”

Clark’s voice shifted, becoming more businesslike. “Alright. I’ll start digging. Anything in particular you want me to focus on?”

“Her life since she left. Where she’s been, who she’s with now. Hell there’s something she’s not telling me, and I need to know what it is.”

“Got it. I’ll have a report for you by the end of the week.”

I hung up the phone, staring down at the dark screen as silence filled the room. My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle that Nerissa had left behind. Why had she run? What was she hiding? And why did I still care so much after all this time?

But even as I thought about her, a deeper sense of frustration simmered beneath the surface. I was stuck in this life with Cecilia, bound by a loveless marriage and responsibilities I couldn’t walk away from. Yet, here I was, obsessing over someone who had walked out of my life five years ago without a second thought.

“Mr. Blackwood, we’re almost home,” my driver, Marcus, said, breaking through my reverie.

I gave a curt nod, not trusting myself to speak without the bitterness seeping through. Marcus knew when to keep quiet, a skill I appreciated in moments like these. The mansion came into view. It wasn’t the house that felt cold, though—it was what waited for me inside. Or rather, who.

As we pulled up the driveway, the lights from the grand windows cast long shadows across the perfectly manicured lawn. I glanced at the time: just past 7 PM. Dinner would be set. And my wife, Karen, would be waiting. She tried everything to make me love her but I just can't. After our parents had arranged our marriage she had been stuck to me and when I was about to turn down the engagement, one night ruined everything. I would have regretted it but it gave me the most beautiful daughter who I loved with all my heart.

"Welcome home sir" Collins, my butler said as he opened the door for me.

I stepped out, my jaw tightening as I prepared for the inevitable. It was the same routine every night. But tonight, after everything with Nerissa, I felt even more disconnected. I was walking back into a life that no longer fit, back to a woman I couldn’t stand the sight of.

Inside, the familiar scent of rosemary chicken and baked potatoes wafted through the air. It was the same meal we’d had countless times, it used to be my favorite.

Karen was already seated at the head of the table, her auburn hair perfectly styled. Her face broke into a smile as she set down her glass of wine when she saw me walk in.

“Darling,” she greeted, her voice annoyingingly sweet. “You’re late today, how was office?” She stood up to help me with my coat but I side stepped her to great my daughter who was sitting at the table, her bright blue eyes—eyes so much like mine—lighting up too as soon as she saw me.

“Daddy!” Cleo's voice was warm and filled with excitement as she jumped up from her chair, running over to throw her arms around my leg.

I crouched down, forcing a smile for her sake, and pulled her into a hug. “Hey, pumpkin. How was your day?”

She beamed, her little hands clasping my jacket as she started talking about school, her friends, and some drawing she made for me. Her voice was the only thing that grounded me, the only real thing in this house. I loved her more than I could put into words, but I hated the fact that Karen was her mother. It was a constant contradiction—how could I love Cleo so much and feel nothing but resentment toward the woman who had given birth to her?

Karen's voice cut through Emma’s chatter. “Dinner’s ready. You should sit down.”

I stood, keeping Cleo close as I walked to the table. The last thing I wanted was to spend another second near Karen, but I didn’t want Cleo to see us arguing. I didn’t want her to feel the tension that hung thick between her mother and me. For her sake, I sat down, forcing myself to eat in silence.

Karen served my book, dropping her hands on my thigh.

"Darling, you didn't answer my question about your office."

I sent her a glare and she pouted, removing her hands from my laps. Then we ate our food in silence

Cleo chartered happily between bites of chicken but my mind kept drifting back to Nerissa. Why now? Why after all these years? And why did I care so much? I glanced across the table at Karen, her perfect exterior so carefully maintained, and felt a wave of disgust. How had I ended up here, in this hollow life, with a woman I couldn’t even stand to look at? The only thing keeping me from walking away entirely was Cleo. She deserved better, and I couldn’t abandon her to a life where her parents hated each other.

After what felt like an eternity, dinner finally ended. Cleo ran off to play in her room, leaving Karen and me in strained silence.

"Finally, the nuisance is gone. She just couldn't stop chattering."

"Did you just call your daughter a nuisance?"

She gave a strangled laugh, "Why did you say it like that? Besides all children are nuisances. She....."

"My daughter isn't a nuisance." I cut in coldly, standing up from the table.

"Asher..." She said, catching my hands "You.... you haven't had s*x with me for five years now. This is all for you."

I glanced back to see that she was wearing a red lacy lingerie under the silk robe but of course I felt nothing.

I turned to her, and pulled her to me. She gave me a sultry smile and tried to touch my c**k but I grabbed her hands and put it above her head and gripped her face, "You revolt me, Karen. You remind me of all my mistakes so don't ever try this again."

I pushed her away leaving her alone to go my office. I quickly dialed my business partner, Owen. He picked up almost immediately, his voice casual and upbeat as usual. "Asher! To what do I owe this call? Are you missing me?"

"About that merger," I said, not in the mood for pleasantries. "I’m in."

Owen sounded surprised. "Really? Thought you were still weighing the risks."

"I am, but I’ll move forward under one condition." I paused, tapping my fingers against the armrest. "I want Nerissa Blake as my secretary."

There was a long silence on the other end. Owen finally chuckled, though I could tell he wasn’t entirely sure I was serious. "Nerissa? You mean that girl who came inside the office as my secretary? Why her? She is not your usual type."

"Personal reasons," I replied flatly. "Make it happen."

Owen sighed. "You always have something up your sleeve, don’t you? Fine. But if this blows up in your face, don’t come crying to me."

I hung up before he could say anything else. This wasn’t about the merger or the company. I didn’t care how Owen or anyone else perceived this decision. Nerissa needed to be close to me, under my control, where I could watch her every move. It was the only way to figure out what she was hiding. She definitely had a baby bump the last time I saw her in Karen's antenatal's class.

A part of me wondered if I was going too far, if dragging her back into my life—into my world—would only make things worse. But another part, the darker, more possessive part, knew I couldn’t just let her slip away again.

I grabbed a bottle of brandy from the shelf and poured it a glass cup. I sat down back and leaned back in my chair, eyes closed, as memories of that one night played over and over in my head. Her touch, her laughter, her warmth. I smiled into my cup, the mistake she made was coming back, she was mine now.

I looked at the picture of the sea nymph before me

"I hope you are prepared for this hunt, Mielita."