Running a company was the same no matter what the business was. The models were all the same. Raising a child was a very different prospect. Madge had faith that he could do this and she knew him better than even his mother.
Damn. He still needed to talk to his mother. She wouldn’t want to find out from someone else, but no one in his circle of friends would reveal anything. Most of them didn’t know. He hadn’t been forthcoming with anyone, but Dante and Salvatore and he knew they wouldn’t want to tell his mother.
He sighed. His life was about to get even more complicated.
Then he had a thought. His child would be born out of wedlock. His child would be a bastard. No. He didn’t want that. He would have to marry Violet. Then they could divorce and she would get a settlement from him. They could have a prenuptial agreement. That’s how the paperwork would work out.
She would have to be his wife when she delivered the baby. She could be on his insurance then and he wouldn’t have to pay so much out of pocket. Why didn’t he think of that before?
Madge came in with some papers to sign. “You look triumphant.”
“I just solved a few of my problems.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t want my child to come into this world a bastard.”
She waved her hand. “That doesn’t hold any stigma anymore.”
“It does for me. I’m old-fashioned.”
“So what’s the answer?”
“I’m going to marry Violet. I can put her on my health insurance. We can draw up a prenuptial agreement and then she’ll be set when we divorce.”
Madge looked at him like he had two heads. “So you think this independent woman is going to just up and marry you?”
“Yes. Why not? It makes the most sense.”
“You think a woman wants to get married because it’s practical?” Madge said.
“We’re not in a romance.”
“What are you doing then?”
“I don’t know what you’d call it, but we aren’t in love. Violet will see the benefits of what I’m talking about.”
Madge shook her head. “She’s not going to like it.”
“Well, I think she will.”
Amedeo shook his head. He knew women. If he and Violet were married, her life would be even more secure. “I’m going to ask her.”
“I would pay to be in that room.”
“You can’t. You have work to do.”
Madge left him. Amedeo found Violet in her office. She was intent on whatever she was doing. Her face held a frown. Maybe this wasn’t the time, but he was a man of action. He couldn’t wait to put this plan in motion. It was a good one.
He waited for her to look up.
“Is it lunch already?”
“No. I have a question for you.”
She took a deep breath, then stretched. “Okay. Go ahead.”
“I was thinking about the future and I think it would be a good idea for us to get married.”
“Married? You and me?”
“Yes. I can put you on the health insurance plan. We can draw up a prenup so that when we divorce after the baby comes, you’ll be taken care of. You can consult a lawyer and make sure nothing is amiss. What do you say?”
“You think we should get married so that I have health insurance? Isn’t that health insurance fraud?”
“Not if we’re really married. We’re living together. Who would question it?”
She rubbed a hand down her face. Why wasn’t she more excited? This made perfect sense. “Okay. If not healthcare fraud then why would I want to marry you?”
He stumbled over that. “This isn’t a romantic request, Violet. This is a practical one.”
“Just what a girl wants. Let’s get married so we can be practical together.”
“This isn’t a romance, Violet. We both know this. This thing between us has an end date. You know that. I know that.”
She nodded, her jaw set. She wasn’t happy about this. He didn’t understand it. This would give her more security. Isn’t that what women wanted?
“Then there is no reason for us to get married.”
He sighed. She wasn’t seeing the point. “You get healthcare. You get a settlement when the baby comes.”
“You think I’m in this for the money?”
He stood up straighter. That didn’t sound good and he noted an edge to her voice. What had he said wrong? They weren’t going to be romantic partners. They were great in bed together and she was having his child. That wasn’t enough to base a relationship on. “Uh, no.”
“That’s what it sounds like. You’ve only talked about the money. As if that’s all I’m getting out of this.” She stood, pacing away from him. “Yes, I need you to pay for the doctor visits, but I never asked you to pay for anything else. You volunteered.”