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?”

door. But rather than

little to the

and tried to look elsewhere. But the tiny shorts she’d on weren’t helping. Her legs seemed to

“Fuck,” he breathed, “I’m so

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

to be sorry, Mr. Brand. I apologize for my mother, she

cheeks. “What can

wave of protectiveness washed through him. He couldn’t let

right away,” he stumbled over the words. “I tried to

her shop, and I stayed late to help. I just

“Can I convince you to

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

a few minutes to

in?” Elliot surprised himself with the request.

that this man had no idea how they really

boxes,”

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

moment the revolver was pointed

truly am very sorry.”

up a hand and placed a

glad that

Mandy’s eyes skirted away from his, “Yes, well, something like that.

the door and a wave of second-hand smoke hit them both. Mandy tried to ignore the way her mother was yelling

basement smelled of rot and was damp. However, the bedroom that

was gruff, “Where are the boxes that you

the room and returned with three beat-up liquor boxes. Elliot smiled at her, “What can I help

don’t have much. Please just

He looked huge sitting on the edge of

she opened one of the drawers of the dresser, Elliot stopped her.

items in a box if