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?”

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

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

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

he breathed, “I’m so sorry for bothering you.”

the side, causing her honey blonde curls to wrap around one of her

have no reason to be sorry, Mr. Brand. I apologize for my

cheeks. “What can I do for you?”

was apologizing for things that she’d no control over. A wave of protectiveness

found that I will need your services right away,” he

emergency at her shop, and I stayed late to help. I just got

“Can I convince you to come tonight?”

Mandy blinked and looked down at herself. She squeaked and covered her breasts, noticing how see-through her pajamas were in the porch light.

I just need a few minutes to pack.”

Elliot surprised himself with the request. But he didn’t want to

that this man had no idea how they really lived.

will need to carry the boxes,” Elliot added

Mandy let out the breath she was holding, “All right, Mr. Brand. But just a warning, we weren’t

the moment the revolver was pointed

mortified, “I truly am

and placed a long

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

his, “Yes, well, something like

Mandy tried to ignore the way

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

“Where are the boxes that you can use?”

Mandy swallowed and walked out of the room and returned with three beat-up liquor boxes. Elliot smiled at her, “What can I help you with?”

have much. Please just

She wished that she’d a chair to offer him. He looked huge sitting

drawers

put these items in a box if you want.”