Maid To The Billionaire(21)
“Nothing really,” he said. “I just heard your voice today and you sounded so distraught. It tugged at my heart and I realized how badly I wanted to be here for you. I didn’t want you to be alone. I wanted to wrap you up in my arms and hold you and make it all better.”
“I don’t get it,” I said.
He kind of laughed and said, “You don’t get what, Vick?”
“You’re not angry that I slept with Alexander and that I’m not sure if the baby is yours or his?”
He pulled me into him again and said, “Everything that happened between you and him was that one day, right?” I nodded and he said, “It was my fault. That’s why I’m not mad, Vick. I pushed you into his arms. I doubt that the baby is mine since you and I weren’t doing so well for a few weeks before we took our break, remember? We hadn’t really been having sex.”
I thought about it then. He was right. If this was his baby, I’d be close to three months along at least. I don’t think I could be that far along and not be showing any other signs, could I? “Jason, I’m sorry that I got you involved in any of this. I just didn’t know who else to call. You’ve always been there for me…” He kissed me on the side of my head and shushed me.
“Don’t apologize for calling me, babe. I will always be here for you and the little man, mine or not, okay?”
I wanted to ask who he was and what he’d done with Jason. I couldn’t believe he was being so easy-going about any of this. He stepped back and looked down at my face and I said, “Thank you. I don’t mean to seem ungrateful, I’m just a little confused.”
“I understand,” he said. “Let’s get some food in you and then we’ll take a look at those papers. You need to keep your strength up.” I wasn’t sure if I could eat, but I was willing to try. My poor stomach was bone dry.
We sat down and ate and drank cider. I thought it was thoughtful of him to bring something without alcohol or caffeine. Maybe he really did care… just a little bit anyways. When we finished eating he helped me clean up which was also out of character and then he said, “Okay babe. Where are these papers?”
We went over to the couch and sat down, side by side with our knees touching. I hadn’t really thought much about Jason lately, not until I called him about the pregnancy. I thought I’d lost all feelings for him, but it was nice today, him being here like this. I didn’t know how badly I needed someone to lean on until he showed up.
I handed him the papers and he read through them. Jason was a physical therapist; not an attorney but he was a smart guy. After a few minutes he said, “Yep, basically what he wants is for you to agree to an abortion and to never speak to anyone about this… so a gag order to all parties involved. In exchange for that, he wants to pay you a hundred thousand dollars. It’s a bunch of crap.”
“I’m glad someone else thinks so. I’m not having an abortion.”
He kissed the side of my face again. It was really nice. “Of course not, babe. I know you don’t believe in that. Had it turned out to be mine, I would have never asked you to do that.” How did he suddenly know for sure it wasn’t his? My hackles were back up just a bit. “But he’s not even just asking, he’s pressuring… almost blackmailing. He doesn’t want to take any responsibility for this. He wants to hide behind his rich boy shield and let you take all the heat for a paltry hundred grand. Vicki, do you know what this guy is worth?”
“A lot,” I said.
“Yeah babe but really, do you know how much?”
“No.”
“Forbes magazine estimated his net worth at two billion last year.” I nearly spit out the cider I was drinking.
“Damn! How does a thirty year old man make that kind of money?”
“For one thing, he started with money. But he’s an astute businessman too. He started making investments when he was still in college, the article says. He owns a piece of every major electronics company in the world. Every time someone turns on their cell phone or computer, he gets a check, basically.”
“Oh, wow. I knew he was rich, but I guess I just can’t really wrap my head around that kind of money.”
“He owns houses in Europe and two more besides the one he lives in in the U.S. He has a private jet, a helicopter, seven luxury cars, a yacht…”
“Why are you telling me all of this, Jason?”
“Because I want you to see how ridiculous it is that he is offering you a hundred grand. That would be comparable to me handing you a dollar and saying, “Here, now go away.” He not only wants out of this, he wants out of it cheaply. It makes me furious.”