Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

It’s emotion, tamed.

Put to work quietly, without making a scene.

While Nick went back to dealing with his problems, I took Bella-and within two minutes, we were already heading to the car.

She claimed the backseat like she owned it.

Dropped her backpack onto her lap, glanced out the window, then studied me through the rearview mirror.

“Mom,” she called, in the same tone she’d use to ask the time.

“Hmm?”

“When is my baby sister going to be born?” I let cut a breath that was half laugh, half surrender.

“What’s the rush?”

“Because your belly is already huge,” she said, pointing with zero delicacy.

Then she added, like it was a compliment, “Like… really huge.”

“Wow.Thank you for the kindness,” I replied, feigning offense.

Bella burst out laughing.

“It’s true.”

“It is true,” I admitted.

“Not much longer now.Soon enough, you’ll get to meet her.” Her eyes lit up.

“I told Julia,” she said, like she’d made a very important public announcement.“I told her I’m getting a baby sister and she’s basically a real-life doll.” I had to bite back a smile.

“A real-life doll is… an interesting way to put it.”

“It is,” Bella confirmed confidently.

“And Julia thought it was really cool.Then she asked her mom for one too.” I laughed out loud, unable to stop myself.

“Wow,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road.

“Her mom has no idea what she’s getting herself into.” Bella nodded, clearly pleased with her influence.

“And I’m going to take really good care of Clara,” she went on, more serious now.

“I’ll hold her like this.” She demonstrated with her arms, hugging the air, far more careful than the same kid who, just last week, tried to skip bath time.

My chest tightened with a tenderness I couldn’t hide.

“I know you will,”

to be

to get jealous.” I laughed

then said with her usual straightforward logic, “That’s true.I’m small, but my heart is big.” I had the urge to pull

reached my hand back, and she grabbed my fingers tight, like that simple connection confirmed everything I’d been trying to build since she came into

got to school, I did

didn’t just

parked, opened her door, grabbed her backpack, fixed her jacket, checked that her lunch was there, that her hair hadn’t turned into abstract

it was the most important job I had all

Bella kissed my cheek

“Bye.Mom.”

watched the teacher call her name.I saw Bella raise her hand like she was answering “present”

I head back to the

chose was two blocks

wooden tables and

the window, pulled my laptop from my bag, and opened it

screen lit

if I wanted, I could spend the whole morning there, handling things that weren’t urgent just because

But I didn’t.

I called Matthew.

he said,

“You good?”

“I am,” I replied.

if everything’s okay over there.” On the other end, I heard an amused

it’s eight in the morning,” he

wrong

“Good.Let’s keep it that way.”

to enjoy your leave?” he

on the table and looked out the window at

try,” I

Matthew said, with that light firmness he only ever used

let you know if the

fire, you put it out.”