Mr Billionaires Secret Baby

Chapter 12

Today was a very important day.

| said to myself all through the morning that | had went about my routine. From taking a shower to getting dressed, it was all | told myself.

Today was the day that the company held an official sit down meeting with shareholders amongst other potential investors who wanted to buy in to the company. It was all in hopes of stabilising the stock price and getting it to a decent rate. If the demand for investment increases than that would prove beneficial for the future of the company making it desirable.

| didn’t even want to consider what would happened if the opposite case prevailed. It was all positive thoughts this morning. No matter how much my fears began whispering doubt in my head, | shut it off.

| did my face up just enough to look fresh and presentable. The stormy grey pencil skirt that | had worn sinched in at my waist where a black button front shirt had been tucked in neatly. | added a neutral shade of I*p stain to my I*ps before applying a few sprits of my perfume.

“You got this. It will all go as well as it can.’ | convinced myself then slid on a pair of heels and left my dressing room..

It was still a little early and Hayley should wake up any moment now making it possible for us to enjoy breakfast together out on to the back terrace making the most of the excellent weather while it lasted.

was once

The move in to home that my grandfather's was an easy one. It didn’t feel like a transition that needed to be adapted to, instead it had felt as natural as ever. Even Hayley had settled in well in to the room which had been right across from mine. It was ample enough for her equipment yet warm enough that it didn’t feel like a hospital facility.

| heard the sheets rustling in her room once | stepped out in to the hall way and | didn’t hesitate for even a moment to enter in to her room. Her eyes were open and, judging by the look of frustration on her face, | knew that she was awake for a little bit now. It was one of those days were the mornings were harder for her because her legs. wouldn't cooperate with her.

“Good morning, my little princess.” | greeted her gently not wanting to overwhelm her.

Hayley squealed conveying her frustration. “Mama, my legs are not moving with me.”

that she felt and it tugged at

Her sleepy voice was over shadowed by the helplessness are n

my heart.

“| know baby but that’s why I’m here. | came to get you so we can have breakfast together. The chef made pancakes with chocolate chips. They’re your favourite.” | tried to distract her while moving the wheel chair closer to her bed.

| saw her eyes lighten up at the mention of pancakes and chocolate chips and | took the chance to swoop her up and hug her tightly. | held her for a few moments longer before 1 settled her in to the wheel chair.

“Can | also have some syrup on it?” She tested the waters as | wheeled her out of the room “Just a little bit.” She quickly added before | said no.

“Only if you eat the berries and fruit with it.” | negotiated and she pondered for a short while before agreeing.

Despite her challenges, Hayley was a joy to have as a child. Her sharp wit on some days. shocked me but | knew that she had to inherit some thing from her father.

A father that didn’t even know about her existence at all. My hands tightened around the handles at the recollection of how blatantly Dante had refused my request to speak to him in private so | could tell him about being pregnant.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

It was a shame that he missed his shot and | didn’t intend on changing things at all. Hayley lived a good life with out his presence in it and | wasn’t about to make it known to him that he had a daughter. Knowing Dante in his current state of mind which was out to get me at every turn, | didn’t want a custody battle. It was the last thing Hayley herself needed.

As | drove to the office, | braced myself for the outslaugh of reported that would be present but the publicity was good for the company. According to Adam, of the public knows that things are changing with a once thriving company, it will spark interest and gain more investors.

When | had reached the office, | was surprised to have found it dead with not a single investor or camera flash in sight. My phone buzzed and | dig in to my bag for it to find an incoming call from Adam.

“Adam, hey.” | greeted him.

“Sophia, where are you? The investors have began arriving and you're not here yet.” The confusion had me frowning./

“Im at Crawford's banquet hall. Didn’t you send out an email saying that the venue was changed?” He asked sounding baffled.

| did not make any change to any venue and least of all shifting the entire venue to Dante’s banquet hall.

14:27 Sat, 27 Janu

“No, | did no such thing.” But | knew exactly who had done this. “It was a set up, Adam. Dante sent out an email without my consent.” My anger began to rise at how meddling

he was.

“What?! The email was sent yesterday and | knew it couldn’t be but | thought you had a good reason for changing venues so | didn’t question it.” Adam explained appalled at what Dante had done.

“| can’t believe he did such a thing. He had no right what so ever to interfere.” | seethed.

“Dear go d, the man really is menace.” He sighed but then inhaled. “In any case, just get over here. I’m waiting for you on the parking lot so we can enter together.” He informed me but | wanted to know if the turn out was at we had hoped it would be. “Are there any potential investors present?” | questioned and Adam chuckled lightly.

“Come and see for yourself, Sophia.” The glee in his tone was enough to have my spirits rise up.

When | had gotten to the Crawford banqueting hall, my jaw dropped at the scene on front of me. The parking lot was full and the number of people present and being ushered in to the building was thrilling. More people meant interest and that is what | needed at present.

With the eargerness bubbling inside me, | stepped out of my car and smoothed my blouse and pencil skirt before finding Adam’s car a few spaces away from mine.

“Not a bad turn out.” He grinned at me as we walked to the entrance where reporters were working their cameras.

“Not bad at all. However, | don’t know why Dante moved the venue with out any communication. He has no right to do sucha thing despite him being a major investor.” My mood was dampened further when | caught sight of Dante and Pheobe at the entrance doors welcoming guests as if it were their event to control.

“| think it’s a clear as day, Sophia. Adam threw me a sideward glance and | raised a brow at him.

“It is clear that the man wanted to have every thing under his close watch. Especially after the bet you two have struck, he is now more involved in the company than ever.” | groaned at what he said since it did sound like Dante.

The prideful, arrogant man was not going to let me win so easily or not until he knew exactly how | had secured my win.

“He is an investor not the owner. He had no right to meddle.” | gritted my teeth together as we got closer.

Pheobe had spotted me in the distance and she strategically placed her hand on Dante's chest before smugly smirking at me. “True as that may be, it works out in your favour whether he realises it or not. People are always watching the moves of a company’s current investors. If they see that the current investors, especially a major one, is being retained then they all bite the bait.” | nodded slowly taking in the people that showed up and | knew that Adam was right.

Dante thought that he could ruin me by changing the venue, perhaps make it seem like | was so unprofessional by switching locations at the last minute but all it did was show his interest to the public and it would work out well for me. His irrational judgement worked out to my benefit.

The camera flashes dragged me out of my thoughts and reminded me that we were now in the public eye. | recomposed my face concealing what ever anger had lingered. and smiled professionally for the cameras.

My eyes had locked with Dante and my heart did that stu pid thing where it felt like | was falling but | ignored it. He flashed me a challenging glare before he looked at Adam and clenched his jaw tightly.

Adam pulled me closer to his side knowing exactly what he was doing and | smirked at. Dante seeing his eyes narrow to slits. “Miss Miller! Miss Miller!” The reporters all called out to me to speak in to the many. mics shoved in my face.

“When are you and Mr Huxley going to tie the knot? We would love to witness a power couples union.” One of the bright blue eyes reporters asked excitedly like she rooted for Adam and | as end game.

Adam chuckled heartily beside me and | smiled ever conscious of the watchful eyes.

“Perhaps sooner than you might think.” Adam said vaguely and that: of questions to which we simply avoided and asked for more professional questions.

a stream

“What caused the last minute change of the venue?” Asked the bald headed make at the front.

Adam gave my arm a firm squeeze but | looked to Dante who’s eyes shined with anticipation of what | was going to say. He was probably hoping on me not being able to contain my anger at his move but | was going to one up him.

“As you all know that Mr Crawford is a major investor in my company. We thought it only fitting to host the event here, an idea that was entirely his, and | agreed. After all, Deluxe Enterprises is known for maintaining excellent relations with their investors.” | darted my eyes to Dante and saw that he was no impressed since his own plan had

GIFT

backfired against him.

A few more questions were asked before we had to be mindful of time and refuse to answer any more until later.

As Adam and | entered the banqueting hall, Pheobe looked expectantly at Adam but we didn’t even stop to speak to them. Instead, Adam leaned in to whisper nonesense on my ear just to irritate the both of them and it worked wonderfully.

Dante was clearly in a horrible mood by the time we all had taken our places but his gaze had followed me all throughout the meeting. | didn’t even have to look in his direction to know it because his gaze weighed heavy on my person and | found it unnerving.

He appeared to be specially more annoyed when Adam was next to me or speaking to me or touching me in any way possible. What a hypocrite he was. The man literally made his choice years ago yet here he was acting like he had some claim of ownership