Billionaire’s Secret Baby

7:28 PM Elliot Brand: A driver will arrive at nine to assist you with anything you would like to bring to the new apartment.

8:02 PM Elliot Brand: Ms. Johnson, I would like to confirm that you will be available at nine in the morning tomorrow.

8:47 PM Elliot Brand: Is something amiss? Have you decided not to take the job? Might I remind you, Ms. Johnson, that you signed paperwork this afternoon and are already a Brand Employee?

9:13 PM Elliot Brand: If I cannot reach you, I will come and speak to you face to face.

Elliot was fuming by the time he pulled into the rundown neighborhood that could only be described as the slums. Sirens wailed in the night air, far louder than any crickets had hoped to achieve.

The home looked to be held together with chicken wire and clapboard. Crumbling brick littered the front porch along with hundreds of cigarette butts.

Elliot knocked firmly on the door. There was a rustle behind the curtains and then the lights went off.

Did she think she could hide from him? He knocked louder, “We both know that you’re in there, Ms. Johnson.”

The door cracked open and the unmistakable sound of the gun being cocked ripped through his ears.

“Amanda?” Elliot’s hands tightened into fists. How dare she pull a gun on him?

The door opened a little further and he saw a woman in her fifties with a light between her yellowed teeth wearing a dirty housecoat.

“What you want with Mandy? You the fucker that put that baby there?”

Elliot could only stare.

The woman raised the gun to be level with his chest, “Better start talking fancy man.”

“What’s going on out there?” A man’s voice bellowed from somewhere inside. “Can’t a man get some sleep, damn it all to hell!”

“I’m her new employer,” Elliot stumbled over the words just as he heard a rustling behind the woman. He looked up and saw Mandy.

Her eyes were wide with disbelief, “Mr. Brand? What are you doing here?”

and unlatched the door. But rather than showing him inside, she went out onto the porch.

a tank that had seen better days. The thin material left little to the imagination and he

on high alert and tried to look elsewhere. But the tiny shorts she’d on weren’t helping. Her legs seemed to go on forever and even her baby bump was glorious and

“I’m so sorry for bothering you.”

to wrap around one of

be sorry, Mr. Brand. I apologize for my mother, she probably thought you were the landlord.”

Mandy’s cheeks. “What can I do for you?”

things that she’d no control over. A wave of protectiveness washed through him. He couldn’t let her stay here, not for another night, another hour,

that I will need your services right away,” he stumbled over

“My phone is dead, I’m sorry! My sister had an emergency at her shop, and I stayed late to help. I just got home

Elliot nodded, “Can I convince

covered her breasts, noticing how see-through her pajamas were in the porch

a few minutes to pack.”

surprised himself with the request. But he didn’t want to lose sight of her.

Mandy hedged knowing that this man had no idea how

to carry the boxes,”

was holding, “All right, Mr. Brand. But just a warning, we

a dark eyebrow, “I think I realized that the moment the revolver was

truly am very sorry.”

up a hand and placed a long finger against her

“Don’t be,” he whispered, “I’m glad that you’ve had someone to protect you.”

away from his, “Yes, well, something like

and a wave of second-hand smoke hit them both. Mandy tried to ignore the way her mother was yelling at the television. She showed Elliot

basement smelled of rot and was damp. However, the bedroom that she led him too was clean even if terribly

voice was gruff, “Where are the boxes

returned with three beat-up liquor boxes. Elliot smiled at her, “What can I help you with?”

She blushed, “I don’t have much. Please just have a

She wished that she’d a chair to offer him. He looked huge sitting on the edge of her tiny twin bed.

As she opened one of the drawers

“I can put these items in a box if you want.”