Seduced by the Heir(36)

       
           



       

"I told you this would happen, but you just wouldn't listen." He marched  inside her suite and slammed his briefcase down on table. "I hope  you're happy. Thanks to you, I'm the laughingstock of the Washington  Country Club."

"What's the matter?" she asked, wondering what he was ranting about. It  didn't take much to set him off-a tardy client, slow-moving lines at the  bank, rain-but Paris didn't have time to listen to his grievances. Not  today. "Why are you so upset?"

A frown wrinkled his face. "You don't know?"

"I don't know what?"

"You've gotten yourself into a fine mess...." Mumbling, he snapped his  briefcase open and scooped up a stack of newspapers. "Baby Makes Three  for Morretti Millionaire!" he read, then flung the paper clear across  the floor. "Shipping Heir Delivers his Own Baby! Morretti Secret Love  Child! Wedding Bells for Washington Bachelor..."

The room flipped upside down and the walls closed in around her. That's  impossible. It can't be. Rafael loves me and only me.... Paris couldn't  breathe, couldn't think straight. Her thoughts were jumbled and nothing  made sense.

Bending down, she picked up one of the discarded newspapers and stared  at the bold black headline. Baby Makes Three for Morretti Millionaire...  Her stomach heaved and her heart lurched inside her chest. The story  was shocking, impossible to believe. As she read the article a headache  pulsed in her temples. Her mouth dried, and for the second time in  minutes, tears pricked the backs of her eyes.

Realization dawned, and suddenly everything made sense. Rafael didn't  come to the Women's Business Expo yesterday because he was with Cicely  and the baby-his baby, the child I knew nothing about. A crippling pain  stabbed Paris's heart. Choking back a sob, she willed herself not to  break down in front of her father. Her knees buckled under the weight of  her sadness, and she dropped down onto the couch when her legs gave  way.

How could Rafael be dating me and Cicely at the same time? There are  only twenty-fours in a day, and when he's not at work, he's with me.  They spent every available moment together, and Rafael treated her like  his number one priority, as if their relationship was all that mattered.  That's what made his deception all the more shocking. Rafael's a lying,  cheating snake, just like my ex. I'm better off without him.

"We need to release a statement to the press." Her father glanced at his  gold wristwatch. "You can write something up in the limo on the way to  the airport."

"The airport?" Paris raised an eyebrow. "Where are we going?"

"To Atlanta, of course."

"Seriously?"

Mr. St. Clair nodded his head. "I want to spend some time with my  grandkids, and if Kennedy and Anthony will have me I'd like to attend  their anniversary celebration, as well."

"Dad, I'm glad to hear you say that. That's great news," Paris said,  mustering a weak smile. "They're going to be thrilled to see you. I  wouldn't be surprised if Kennedy bursts into tears. She talks tough but  deep down she'll always be your little girl."

"Really?" Hope sparkled in his eyes. "Even though I haven't been a good father?"

"Your heart is in the right place, and that's all that matters."

Mr. St. Clair crossed the room and sat beside Paris on the couch. "I  took the rest of the month off work, and I rescheduled the charity gala,  as well. It was the right thing to do."

His announcement blew her mind. Paris was shocked by the news, and for a  split second thought he was pulling her leg. Her father lived and  breathed work, often slept in his office and hadn't taken a day off in  years. "When did you have a change of heart?"

He sent her a wry smile. "After you walked out on me."

Feeling ashamed, Paris cast her gaze to the floor and fiddled with the belt on her robe.

"I gave some serious thought to what you said," he confessed, his tone  solemn. "I didn't want to admit it, not even to myself, but you were  right. If your mother were alive she'd be angry with how I've treated  you and your brother and sister...."

Paris turned and faced her father. Talking to him helped take her mind  off Rafael, and as he spoke she found herself hanging on to every word  that came out of his mouth.

"I never expected to be a single father, and I screwed up a lot after  your mother passed away." He blew out a deep breath and dragged a hand  down his face. "When your brother dropped out of college and your sister  got pregnant, I lost it. I didn't want you to go down the wrong road.  So I shipped you off to Spelman and purposely isolated you from them."                       
       
           



       

They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the distant sound of morning rush-hour traffic.

"Dad, I'm not a nineteen-year-old girl anymore," Paris said softly. "I'm  a grown woman, and you have to start treating me as such. I have my own  hopes and dreams for the future-"

"I know. That's why I made you my second in command." Mr. St. Clair gave  her a one-arm hug. "When I retire in a few years, Excel Construction  will be yours. I'm expecting you to take the company to the next level."

"I don't want to be a senior executive for the rest of my life. I want  to start a beauty salon franchise." The truth fell easily from her  mouth, shocking them both. But as she spoke, her confidence grew and her  fears dissipated.

"Why? You opened a shop several years back, and it failed miserably, remember?"

How can I forget when you keep reminding me?

"It's too risky, and besides, doing beauty treatments is beneath you.  You're a college graduate with a great mind for business. Not a lowly  nail technician."

"But I love doing it," she argued. "I'm damn good at it, too."

"What makes you think this time around will be different?"

His tone was filled with doubt, but Paris didn't let his response dampen  her spirits. It was time to spread her wings, to live her passion, and  she refused to let anyone-even her father-kill her dreams. She believed  in herself. "I'm older and wiser now, and I have twelve years of  management experience under my belt." Paris lifted her chin, meeting his  gaze head-on. "I have what it takes to be a success."

Mr. St. Clair stroked his chin reflectively. After several moments he  slowly nodded. "Send me your business proposal, and I'll look it over  next week."

"Really?" Paris raised an eyebrow and dropped a hand on her hip. "Who are you and what have you done with my father?"

Throwing his head back, he laughed long and hard. "I'm always looking  for exciting new ventures to invest in, and if you have a  well-thought-out plan, I'll be your first backer."

"Thanks, Dad. I really appreciate your support."

Paris settled back into the cushions. Her gaze fell on The Washington  Post and she again zeroed in on the salacious headline. She wanted to  call Stefano to find out if he'd heard from Rafael but knew better than  to do so when her dad was around. For the first time in years they were  having an honest-to-goodness talk. She wouldn't dare ruin the moment.

"The charity gala has been rescheduled for June, and I want the entire  family to be there." Mr. St. Clair patted her hands. "It's a big night  for Excel Construction and the Soldiers' Angels organization, and I want  us to present a strong, united front."

"Speaking of family, I would like you to consider hiring Anthony to work  in our IT department. He's a hard worker with a wealth of experience,  and I think he would be a great asset to our Atlanta office."

"Good idea. I'll discuss it with him this weekend."

Mr. St. Clair stood and pulled his cell phone out of his suit jacket.  "You better get cleaned up. Our flight leaves at noon and it's almost  nine o'clock."

Paris didn't know what to do. She was supposed to fly to Miami with  Rafael first thing tomorrow morning. But now that he had Cicely and the-  Paris's mind tripped over the word baby, and tears stung her eyes once  again. She had believed with all her heart, with every fiber of her  being, that her old college sweetheart was The One. Rafael understood  her, knew her inside and out and brought out the very best in her. Paris  often dreamed of them being together forever. But how...when he has a  new family?

Deep in thought, she failed to hear the door open, but when a spicy,  piquant scent of cologne filled the air, her eyes widened in surprise.  Rafael! She glanced over her shoulder, spotting him standing beside the  end table, and blinked back tears. Relief flowed through her body, and  all the stress and tension of the past twenty-four hours evaporated into  thin air.