Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“I was raised by nannies and have great respect for them.” His words were fierce and revealed a new layer to the annoying agent. “Second, this isn’t just a few months, Sasha. We’re talking one to two years. At least.”
“At least?”
He nodded. “Yes. I’m not ruining Alex’s brand on some shotgun wedding and divorce. Like I said, you will be well compensated, however you choose. Think about it.”
Alex stood and blocked my path. “Please Sasha, just think about it. Seriously think about it.” He pulled out a sheet of paper. “She’s mine. Dixie is my daughter and I think this plan is the best way forward.”
I nodded.
“I don’t want her to grow up and see the shitty things people write about her or her mother’s relationship with me.”
Double dammit. “Yeah, okay. I said I’ll think about it.” I reached for Dixie and Alex stepped back.
“Think long and hard,” he instructed. “No distractions. Just think of being married to all this for the next couple of years.”
I laughed. “I might be getting the better end of the stick,” I joked. “If I agree so don’t get too excited.”
His smile fell and his gaze darkened. “Agree to disagree.”
Uh oh.
Warning bells went off and I stepped back. “I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow.”
Chapter 13
Alex
Iwoke up earlier than usual the next day, anticipation of Sasha’s answer sat like a weight on my chest.
Had I done enough to convince her to get on board with Jack’s crazy plan? Should I have done more, fattened the pot like Jack had recommended, or applied a little pressure with my charm? I didn’t know, but I wanted her to come to the decision on her own, not necessarily under coercion.
I stared at the ceiling for about fifteen minutes before I sat up, smacked the switch to open the blinds and bathed the room in sunlight. It was still early, and though I wanted to hit the gym, I stepped out of my room and stared at the other end of the hall. On the other side of that door was the woman who held my future and my continued wealth in her hands. I smiled and headed in that direction, not to pressure Sasha, at least not overtly. Instead of knocking, I turned at the last minute to Dixie’s room, figuring that I could help Sasha while spending some time with my daughter.
My daughter. I didn’t doubt it, but now that I knew it for certain, it all felt right. She was mine. I frowned at the empty crib. She was also gone.
I figured she was in the kitchen having breakfast so that’s where I headed next. “Morning, Henrietta.”
She looked over her shoulder at me with one eyebrow arched and a grin on her face. “Dixie’s in the room with Sasha. Been in there all morning.”
All morning? “It’s barely past eight,” I insisted at the implication that I was late to rise.
“Dixie woke up early with a tummy ache so Sasha got up with her, soothed her and brought her to her room. Been there a long time,” she said slowly. “You know anything about that?”
I shrugged because telling Henrietta the truth was something I’d gone back and forth on since last night. There was no way to keep her in the dark, but I didn’t want to tell her anything until I had Sasha’s answer. “I do.”
“Well, you want to tell me or should I guess?” She nodded for me to take a seat and turned back to the stove.
I sat and let my mind wander. Of course Sasha wanted time to herself and that was why she was holed up in her room. It was a big thing she’s been asked to do, which put her in the position of getting anything she wanted, and that was scary as fuck to think about. Yeah, I needed a sounding board.
“The tabloids are all over me and Sasha being a couple, and Dixie is our love child.”
“Oh, I know all about it. You look good together, like a real couple.”
“Yeah I noticed,” I grumbled and told her all about Jack’s plan for us to get married for real and stay married. “Is it ridiculous?”
Henrietta turned from the stove with a plate piled high with food, and since training started soon, it was all healthier alternatives. “That depends. Are you planning to be married in name only, or will it be real in the bedroom too?”
I laughed and shook my head. “No,” I admitted even though I would love nothing more than to take Sasha to bed.
“Why not?” She set the plate down in front of me with a knowing smile. “You might as well go for it since you can’t keep your eyes off her, and since you’re determined to wander the house shirtless, she can’t keep her eyes off you either.” She laughed and shook her head.