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?”

mother and unlatched the door. But rather than

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

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

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

to wrap around one of her breasts and exposing part of

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

filled Mandy’s cheeks. “What can

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

need your services right away,” he stumbled over the words.

at her shop, and I stayed late to help. I just got home a few

Elliot nodded, “Can I convince you to

herself. She squeaked and covered her breasts, noticing how see-through her pajamas were in the

just need a few minutes to

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

man had no idea how they really lived.

to carry the boxes,” Elliot added with a smile.

breath she was holding, “All right, Mr. Brand. But just

“I think I realized that the moment the revolver was pointed through the

was mortified, “I truly am

hand and placed a long finger against her bow lips.

whispered, “I’m glad that you’ve had

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

smoke hit them both. Mandy tried to ignore the way her mother was yelling at the television. She showed Elliot to the back stairs and then descended.

of rot and was damp. However, the bedroom that she led him too was clean

are the boxes that you can use?”

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

just have a seat on

looked

drawers of

put these items in a box if you want.”