The Billionaire's Dance(5)

Suddenly the lights turned back on and stayed on. Jessica was happy to  see him standing there, fully clothed. He had a look of guilt and regret  on his face. The elevator started to move downward. It must be standard  procedure to return to the lobby after a power failure.

"Look, Jessica … " he began when the door whisked open. She didn't want to  hear him make excuses about how sorry he was and how he wouldn't be  calling her. She couldn't take that kind of rejection. What had been  amazing and wonderful for her had most likely been a disappointment for  him. She couldn't listen to him try and downplay what had happened.

Jessica jumped out of the elevator into the crowd milling around the  lobby and quickly was lost from Alex's sight. He thought about chasing  her down but decided to let her go. He'd never felt more excitement in  the arms of a woman. It had been passionate and thrilling and he wanted  to do it all over again.

It was obvious she already regretted what had taken place so it was  better to try and forget all about the incident and move on. He quickly  cut through the crowd and headed up to his room where he fell into a  deep sleep.

The next morning Alex grabbed his things and checked out, thinking his  time in the elevator with Jessica wouldn't be something he'd forget  about anytime soon. He knew that she'd been scared and if he tried to  chase her she'd run away even faster.





Chapter Two

One Year Later





Joseph was meeting his good friend John for lunch. It'd been far too  long since they'd gotten together. "Joseph, so good to see you," John  said as he grasped his friends hand.

"Great to see you too. Tell me how things have been."         

     



 

"Everything is great. I have a new grandson who's the light of my world.  Here, I brought some pictures. Look how handsome he is," the proud  grandfather said as he handed over several photos.

"Congratulations, he's a mighty fine looking boy. Did Jessica get  married?" Joseph asked, knowing he hadn't heard of any nuptials but it  could've been done privately. Joseph was still upset that she and Alex  hadn't ended up together. He'd been so sure they were a perfect match.

"No, she won't discuss the father. I've tried on several occasions to  ask her about it and she closes right up. She said it was a one-time  thing. The father didn't know and she was keeping it that way. I tried  to bribe her, threaten her and beg her, all to no avail. She's being  tight lipped about the whole incident," John said with frustration.

"Was she seeing anyone around the time of her pregnancy that you could  possibly question?" Joseph asked with sympathy towards his friend. He  knew that if one of his sons got a lady pregnant he'd expect them to do  the right thing. Hell, he hoped he'd raised them well enough that they'd  do the right thing because it was what you did, not because it was  expected from you.

"She hasn't been in a relationship for a few years that I know of. She's  been hurt pretty badly. Her last serious relationship ended when she  found the guy with another woman. She found out he'd been like many  others before him and only after money," he said with pain. John loved  his daughter and it killed him to see her hurting.

"How old is the baby? Maybe somehow I can help you figure this out,"  Joseph offered, although he didn't have a lot of confidence in the plan.

"Jacob is three months and father or no father, he's amazing. I'm so  grateful he's been given to us. Jessica adores him. She loves being a  mother and it's lifted her out of the depression she was in for so  long," John said, instantly brightening up.

"She was in a depression?"

"It all started after that big fundraiser dinner last year at the  Fairmont. She came home for a while and was so sad. I was actually a  little relieved when she announced her pregnancy because she started  taking better care of herself," John said with a sigh.

Joseph sat up, on instant alert. "Can I see those pictures again John?"

John was more than willing to share the pictures as many times as they  were requested. This time when Joseph examined the photos before him he  looked closely at the features. There was a real possibility that he was  Alex's son.

"John, has she given you any clues about the father?"

John was picking up on Joseph's changed demeanor. "Do you think it could  be one of your boys?" he asked with hope. John knew if it was either  Alex or Mark, they'd step up and do the honorable thing.

"I think there's a chance that he could be Alex's. He was at that  fundraiser and I'd asked him to look after Jessica since she was there  alone. After the event, he came home and wasn't himself not even going  out. Then after a couple of months he went completely the opposite way  and it seemed like he couldn't get far enough away, like he was trying  to outrun some demons or something," Joseph finished softly.

"The only time she ever let something slip was to say that it was only  one night and the guy hadn't mistreated her in any way. She told me  she'd made a mistake and wouldn't make him sacrifice his life due to her  indiscretion. I told her the father at least had the right to know and  he certainly should own up to his responsibilities but she closed down  after that and wouldn't make any more comments on the subject."

"I think we can get the answer of whether it's Alex's or not if I can  see her and the child. I think we'll be able to tell, from her reaction  alone," Joseph said with excitement. The possibility of having another  grandchild was exhilarating.

"She's coming over to dinner tonight. Why don't you and Katherine join us?" John spoke with eager excitement.

"It's a plan. John, if Alex is the father please don't say anything  tonight. Let me tell my son. I know he'll do the right thing and I don't  want Jessica to think you or I forced him into it," Joseph asked of his  longtime friend.

"I can respect that and honor your wishes. I have no doubts Alex will  take responsibility for any child of his," John said with sincerity.  "Joseph, I'm really sorry if he's the father and she didn't say  anything. I'm sure she believed she was doing the right thing," John  finished sadly.         

     



 

"I've known Jessica since she was a little girl John and I know that she  would've had valid reasons for keeping this to herself. She most likely  thought she was doing Alex a favor, since he hasn't exactly portrayed  himself as the stay-at-home with babies' kind of guy," Joseph admitted.  "But I know if he's a father, he'll make a good one. I have to admit I'm  really hoping the baby is his son because that means I have my first  grandson," he said with a smile.

They finished their lunch and went their separate ways, both  anticipating the evening ahead. They'd receive answers to questions too  long unanswered.

Joseph made sure to arrive before Jessica. When she walked into the  dining room and saw Katherine and him sitting there, her face gave her  away. She only took about two seconds to compose her features again and  then greet his wife and him but in that unguarded moment, John and  Joseph both had their answer.

Joseph and Katherine both admired the baby, taking turns holding him.  Katherine didn't know what was going on but she was drawn to the boy.  She was reluctant to release Jacob at the end of the evening.

Jessica had a few tears in her eyes as she collected her son and left  the house. She'd made a joke about post pardon blues. Joseph figured she  was feeling some guilt about keeping the baby away. He knew if they all  stood back and waited she'd come around on her own. She was simply too  kind a person to keep her child away from grandparents that would love  him.

Neither Joseph nor John were patient though and they weren't going to  wait for her to come around. Alex was going to find out he was a father  as soon as Joseph summoned him home.





Joseph had been hopeful last year Alex and Jessica would have an instant  connection. He'd been disappointed when his son came home and didn't  say one word about her.

He'd then gotten his hopes up once more as he'd watched his son moping  about and not in a hurry to travel off to faraway places. But after a  month Alex started disappearing again and seemed to return to normal.

After lunch with John, Joseph knew why his son had been so down and out.  Alex still had that void look about him but that was about to change.  Alex walked in the door, not looking pleased that Joseph had asked him  to rush home.

"You better sit down Alex. I have some news that's about to change your  life," Joseph informed him. He wanted to get right to the point and  didn't try to ease into things by making small talk.

"Just spit it out dad. I had a twenty-hour flight and didn't get any  sleep. I want a hot meal and to fall face first into bed," Alex spoke  wearily.

"You're a father," Joseph stated without adding anything else.

Alex stared at his dad, waiting for the punch line. They stayed there; eyes locked together, neither speaking for a full minute.