Billionaire's Lover

Chapter 8

Rainer sat in his office, staring out at the sun sinking over the city skyline. The light cast long shadows, and the steady hum of the traffic below seemed distant, almost unreal. He usually found this view calming, a symbol of everything he had built, everything he controlled. But today, control felt like a distant memory.

Alon Santos, his best friend and secretary, leaned casually against the desk, flipping through a stack of papers. But his focus wasn’t on business today. It was on the conversation that had hung between them since the moment Rainer had decided to say it aloud.

“So, you’re finally going to meet her?” Alon’s voice was calm, as if he hadn’t just asked a question that had been haunting Rainer for weeks.

Rainer rubbed his temples, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. “Yeah. I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

Alon put the papers down, crossing his arms as he regarded Rainer thoughtfully. “You’ve had a choice from the start. You could have walked away.”

“I’m not that kind of man,” Rainer replied, his tone harsher than he intended. He took a breath, trying to steady himself. “I have a daughter, Alon. I can’t just… ignore that.”

The word “daughter” still felt strange on his tongue. He hadn’t spoken it aloud often enough to become familiar with it. Three years. His daughter was three years old, and he hadn’t even seen her yet.

Alon leaned forward, his expression softening. “So, what’s stopping you from telling your family?”

Rainer looked away, avoiding the directness of the question. His family was the best example of what parenting should be. His father had always been a steady presence—strong, patient, always there when Rainer needed guidance. And his mother… she was warmth and comfort, always knowing exactly what to say. He had grown up in a home filled with love and support, where family meant everything.

And yet, he hadn’t told them about his daughter. The idea of sharing this with them felt too… real. It would mean admitting that he had kept something monumental from them. That he hadn’t been the perfect son they always believed him to be.

“I just… haven’t found the right moment,” Rainer muttered, his voice quieter now.

Alon didn’t push. He knew Rainer well enough to recognize when to let him work through his thoughts. Instead, he asked, “What’s her name?”

“Moonlight,” Rainer said, the name coming out softly, almost reverently. “Sofia named her Moonlight.”

Sofia Heaven Smith. She had appeared in his life for one night, a whirlwind of attraction and mystery, and then disappeared by morning. He had searched for her, furious at first, unable to understand why she’d left without a word. But the anger had slowly given way to a deeper emotion—something more like regret. And then, when his investigators had finally found her, they had also uncovered the truth.

Sofia had given birth to his child—a little girl named Moonlight, now three years old. His daughter.

Rainer closed his eyes briefly, trying to imagine what she looked like. Did she have Sofia’s eyes, her smile? Or did she take after him?

“You know, I think your parents would be more supportive than you’re giving them credit for,” Alon said, breaking through Rainer’s thoughts. “They love you, man. They’d want to know about their granddaughter.”

“I know,” Rainer said, his voice tight. “It’s just… complicated. I haven’t even met Moonlight yet. How am I supposed to explain this to them when I don’t even know how I’m going to handle it myself?”

Alon raised an eyebrow. “You’ll handle it because you don’t have a choice. You’re her father, Rainer. You step up, just like you always do.”

Rainer leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand across his jaw. Alon made it sound so simple. But nothing about this felt simple. He had spent three years not knowing about Moonlight, three years not being there for her. And now, he was supposed to walk into her life like he could just fix everything?

“I’ve set up everything financially,” Rainer said, as if that solved the problem. “She’ll want for nothing. She’ll have the best of everything.”

Alon shook his head. “Money isn’t the point. You know that better than anyone. It’s about being there. You know what a good father looks like, Rainer. You had the best example growing up.”

Rainer felt the weight of those words settle in his chest. He did have the best example. His father had been a constant presence, never letting his work or success interfere with family. But Rainer wasn’t sure he could live up to that. He had spent so much of his life building his empire, controlling every aspect of his business, that the idea of being a father—of being responsible for a little girl’s life—felt overwhelming.

“I want to do this right,” Rainer said quietly, more to himself than to Alon. “I don’t want to fail her.”

Alon’s expression softened, and he stepped closer. “You won’t. You’re already thinking about her, worrying about what’s best for her. That’s more than a lot of people do.”

Rainer let out a long breath, his mind racing. His parents had always been there for him, and now it was his turn to do the same for Moonlight. But how was he supposed to be a father when he hadn’t been there from the start?

“I’m going to meet her,” Rainer said, more decisively this time. “I’m going to be a part of her life.”

Alon smiled, a look of approval crossing his face. “That’s the right call. Sofia will probably appreciate that, too.”

Rainer’s stomach twisted at the thought of seeing Sofia again. He hadn’t spoken to her since that night, and now they had a child together. A three-year-old daughter he had never even met. What was she going to think of him? What would Moonlight think?

“You’ve never run from anything before, Rainer,” Alon said gently, sensing his hesitation. “Don’t start now. You can handle this. And you’ve got a family who will support you once you’re ready to tell them.”

Rainer nodded, though his chest felt heavy with the enormity of it all. Alon was right—he had never run from responsibility before, and he wasn’t about to start now. He just had to take that first step.

“I’ll set up a meeting,” Rainer said, his voice steadying. “I’ll meet Sienna.”

Alon gave him a nod, then stood up, gathering the papers he had been pretending to read. “Good. It’s about time.”

As Alon left the office, the silence that followed was thick with unspoken thoughts. Rainer remained seated, staring out at the skyline, the weight of his decision settling in. He had always been in control, always known exactly what to do.

But now, he was walking into a new world—one where control was an illusion and responsibility meant more than financial security. It meant being there, being present, being a father.

Rainer took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure what the future held, but one thing was certain: he wasn’t going to walk away from it.

It was time to meet his daughter and Sofia Heaven smith.