"Right now I'm not sure that I like you."
He chuckled. "I'm used to that. Don't worry, you'll grow to like me. I'm the same guy."
She bit her lip, taking another sip of her water. He was pleased he hadn't allowed her to have wine. At this rate she would be having way too much to drink.
"Where do I fit into all this?"
"You don't have a partner. No lover. We get along well. You put up with me, and I think we'd make a good team for my child."
"Wow." She sat back, and stared at him, her green eyes open and wild.
Figuring it was a good time to grab the waiter's attention, he ordered for them both, keeping their beverages to water. He didn't want her drinking. This was a serious discussion for him.
The waiter left them.
"I know you're thinking I'm crazy."
"That's the nicest thing that I'm thinking right now."
He smirked. "I'm serious."
She suddenly sat up, leaning a little closer to him. "So say I agreed. What would I have to do? Sign a contract? Will we separate? I don't want to be away from my child. No matter what, I will love him or her. Also, my parents will be a little shocked by this arrangement. I always imagined that my life would take a different path."
"I would expect you to be with me. You'll live with me, be part of my life, and the mother to my child."
"So … like a couple?"
"Yes."
"How do you expect us to get pregnant?"
"The usual way."
"Through a clinic? Insemination?"
He chuckled. "No. I intend it to be traditional, with sex."
"You want to have sex with me?" She went a little pale, which wasn't doing any good for his ego.
"I'm good at sex, at fucking." He stopped as the waiter put their orders down in front of them.
"Thank you," Anya said.
He watched as she lifted up a fork and started to pierce her dinner but not actually taste it.
"You're a man-whore! I, just, I don't understand what you want from me?"
He took a bite of his beef and reached out, taking hold of her hand. When she made to pull away from him, he held onto her hand a little tighter.
"I want us both to have a baby. There won't be any more women, I can promise you."
She let out a breath. "This morning you were just my boss. I listened to you be mean to Becky. What if you change your mind? What if I end up out of a job, and with no way to support myself, and I'm pregnant. I just-" She dropped the fork, and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't eat. I can't. I need to walk."
For the first time in his life a woman walked out of a restaurant. She didn't wait for him, nor could he rush out to stop her. Cursing, he threw down plenty of money, apologized, and followed her outside. Looking left and right, he saw her approaching a cab. "Anya!"
She stopped, waiting for him.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm going to head home. This is all just too much. Your idea is ridiculous."
"Let's walk." He closed the door of the cab, linking her arm between his. Walking across the street, they passed several shops that were still open. "I want you to consider this. I've been thinking for a while."
"And now you've decided that I'm the best option for you?"
"You're perfect." He meant every single word.
"How is this going to play out? Take it from the top."
"I want us to try for a baby. When you get pregnant, you'll move in with me, and we'll raise the child together. You can still work for me, and nothing will change."
"We'll be in each other's life for longer periods of time."
"We're rarely apart now."
She stopped. "I don't know if I can handle a relationship with you seeing other women."
"I wouldn't."
"You'll just stop seeing other people."
"I'll be with you. I won't need other women."
"What about after the baby?"
He reached out, stroking a curl behind her ear. "What do you think is going to happen? We're going to be together. I like you. For the most part, you like me."
"Like is really far away from attraction."
"Sex is easy."
"For you. I'm not attracted to you."
He took hold of her face, and pressed his lips to hers. "I can change your mind."
She pulled away from him. "I've got to think about this. You're asking me to sign my life away. Give up on the chance of finding a man who could love me."
"Love is overrated. Believe me, I have yet to find a woman who could be so loving and loyal when money isn't involved."
"I find your attitude disgusting. You can have love. Money doesn't have to mean everything. Yeah, it makes life easier not having to worry about it."
Xavier shrugged. "Then prove me wrong."
"How can I do that? You have money. Ugh, look, I will think about this, okay? I don't want you rushing me, nor do I want this getting out. The last thing I need is for our colleagues to start spreading vicious rumors." She pulled out of his arms, and rubbed her own. "Can you take me home?"
"You don't want to eat?"
"Not with you. I need my space."
Xavier wasn't used to a woman wanting space. They were usually all over him, and this was a new turn for him. "Sure."
They made their way back to the restaurant where the valet was waiting with a bag of food, and his keys. "You may not want to eat, but I do. I'm starving."
Climbing behind the wheel, he made his way toward her apartment, and parked outside.
"I'll be by tomorrow morning to pick you up."
"Okay. I won't be late." She climbed out of the car, and he watched her round ass walk toward the door.
He was going to own that ass, and he was going to make her fall in love with him. Xavier liked a challenge, and Anya was going to be his biggest conquest yet.
Chapter Three
The following day, Anya was waiting for Xavier as he pulled up outside of her apartment building. She didn't linger, and climbed into the passenger side.
"You're in a rush to get to work?" he asked.
"Yes. You can't say too much. You're here in good time. I guess we're both ready to go to work."
Last night when she finally got home, she had called her mother to ask her advice. Of course, her mother thought it was strange, but if it was something she wanted to do then full support would be provided. They wanted to be grandparents long before they passed.
Their overall excitement at the prospect of being grandparents hadn't helped her in her decision. They wanted her to have a baby. For her, she didn't know how it would work between the two of them, Xavier and Anya. They were totally different. Where she was happy with a home cooked meal, he wanted the glorious high life, living with quality chefs. She wouldn't want to go out every single night, nor would she want to go traveling all the time. The traveling she did with Xavier for work was more than sufficient.
Then there was the fear of what would happen if he grew bored. Would he push her to one side, only visiting their child when he liked it?
"What made you change your mind?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"This whole baby thing. I don't－ why me?"
"I like you."
"You've liked a lot of women."
"I've fucked a lot of women. Doesn't mean I liked them."
"Do you get off on being this hard-assed man?"
"It's just who I am."
"Are you happy?" she asked.
"What makes you think I'm unhappy?"
"This sudden swift decision. It makes no sense to me. One moment you're happy sowing your wild oats, or whatever it's called. Now you're saying you want to have not one, but maybe two kids with me, where we live together?"
"I think it's a sound decision. Did you talk to your parents about it? I know you're still in touch with them, and they mean a great deal to you."
"Yes, I talked to them."
"And?"
"And they like the idea of being grandparents. They also think you'll be a good father."
"See, even your parents are seeing sense."
"They also said it had to be my idea."
"What does that mean?" he asked.
"It means if I'm not happy sharing this … thing with you, then they'll accept it."
"Why wouldn't you be happy?"
She turned toward him, and glared. "Yesterday I was a mere employee. Now I'm the future prospective mother for your children? A woman I know you've slept with was there yesterday talking to everyone. She would gloat about how you were so in love with her, and intended to marry her."
"That I didn't know."
"No? She would tell everyone who would listen how hot you were for her, and now you're telling me you want me. Not only do you want me as a mother, you want to do it with sex. What if we get to the bedroom, and you don't find me attractive? How the hell am I going to live with that?"
"That wouldn't happen."
"You don't know that."