: Chapter 13

I woke early as usual and headed to my gym. I didn’t sleep well the night before. I clearly lost my mind when I entered into this deal with Sara. But it was too late to go back now. I’d fucked her without a condom and it was possible she’d get pregnant. The idea scared the shit out of me and at the same time, I’m not sure I’d ever come so hard as I did, thinking about impregnating her. The feel of her pussy around my bare cock was fucking amazing. Even so, this arrangement was causing me all sorts of discomfort, one of the biggest being the duration. It was one thing to have a short-term marriage to produce an heir, but Sara was clear, she wasn’t going to leave her child, which meant she and I would be connected long-term. Even if we divorced, she was going to stay involved in the child’s life, which meant that she’d be in mine.

I had to admire her spirit when I tried again to pay her off. She was young and naïve, but she was strong and determined. She was also an enigma. There had to be a story there. The best I could tell was that she didn’t have a very good upbringing.

I tried to work out all my frustration in the gym with a five-mile run on the treadmill and then strength training, but it didn’t work. After my workout, in the shower, images of the night before filtered into my brain. I’d seen the surprise and disappointment in Sara’s when she realized I put her in the guest room. I felt bad about, and yet, I couldn’t have her getting any notions that this was going to be a real marriage. I wanted her to feel comfortable in my home, but not in my bed. That probably made me an asshole, but she knew what she was getting into.

I dressed in casual slacks and a shirt, and headed out to the kitchen.

“Good morning, Mr. Raven,” my housekeeper, who also cooked for me, said. She stood over the stove making omelettes.

“Good morning, Mrs. Childs.”

“I’ve got omelets and bacon this morning. Shall I bring you coffee first?”

“I’ve got it,” I said pouring from the carafe of coffee she’d already made. “I’ll be out on the terrace.”

“Very good, sir.”

I made my way to the terrace. The sun was up, but the day wasn’t too hot or humid yet. I pulled out my tablet and began to check emails. I’d answered three and ignored a dozen more when movement at the French doors had me look up. Sara stood in the doorway in her robe, her light brown tresses pulled up into a messy bun on her head. I had the urge to tug her robe off and fuck her on the table. Instead I set the tablet down, reminding myself this was a business deal.

“Should I make you something?” she asked.

Jesus, did she think I expected her to wait on me? I shook my head. “No. I’ve got someone who takes care of cooking and domestic duties.” I nodded toward a chair on the opposite side of the table. “Why don’t you join me. Did you sleep alright?”

“Fine.” Her tone suggested that her night was fraught with unrest as mine was.

The door opened and Mrs. Childs came out carrying a tray. I’d told her earlier in the week that Sara would be with me although I was a big vague about the details.

“Good morning, Miss,” she said to Sara setting an omelet in front of her.

“Oh my this looks and smells delicious. Thank you.” Sara ogled her plate of food like she’d never seen anything like it.

“You’re welcome. Would you like coffee or orange juice?” Mrs. Child’s asked Sara as he she put my plate in front of me.

“Coffee.. Oh… do you have tea?”

“Yes, miss. I’ll get that right away. Mr. Raven, do you need anything?”

“No, thank you Mrs. Childs.”

She went back into the house.

“I think coffee is bad for babies,” Sara said in a low voice.

It reminded me that it was possible she was pregnant and my stomach clenched. Seriously Chase, what the fuck are you thinking?

“Wow, this is delicious,” she said taking a bite of her omelet.

I studied Sara, trying to figure out her contradictions. She was smart, hard-working, and clearly daring when it came to moving up in the world. At the same time, she was innocent and unworldly. I found myself more fascinated by her than was probably wise.

I asked her about coming to New York the night before, but hadn’t gotten much of an answer.

“Tell me more about your coming to New York,” I said, lifting my fork to eat my omelet.

She shrugged. “Like I said, I’m just trying to get ahead.”

“Your internship is through your college on Staten Island but you told me before you might want to transfer schools?”

She looked up at me. “Have you ever wanted more from life? Or to get away from your life?”

Often, I thought. “What are you getting away from? Is there something in your past that I should know about?”

Annoyance flashed in her eyes. “I don’t understand how you can think I’m innocent and naive, and then say you’re worried that something in my past will harm your reputation.”

“I never said that.” Although I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t wondered about it. “I’m just trying to get to know you.”

“Why? This is just a business deal.”

Mrs. Childs appeared with another tray that had a pot of hot water, a delicate tea cup from a set I inherited from my mother, and a wooden box filled with tea.

“Will there be anything else?”

“Not right now, Mrs. Childs. Thank you.” I dismissed her.

When she returned to the apartment, I said to Sara, “If you don’t want to tell me your history, just say so.”

She sighed. “There’s nothing to tell, Chase. I’m a disappointment to my parents even though I got a scholarship to college, which I lost because of a personal matter that I don’t want to discuss. This internship was my chance to get away and fix all that.”

I hated how much I wanted to know about that personal matter. I wondered if it had to do with a man. A man I didn’t know and yet for some reason wanted to beat the shit out of.

“You don’t have to work now, you know. Not ever. I suppose it’s all fixed now.”

She looked like she was going to be sick. “I’m not a gold-digger, Chase. This was your idea.”

I couldn’t understand how she always took what I was saying to mean something different. “I didn’t mean that. I just meant that you have money and opportunities now. I will expect you to be present in the child’s life, but you can finish school if you’d like.”

She nodded. “What are your plans for today?”

Clearly, she didn’t want to talk about her past. “I’m going to work.”

“On a Saturday?”

“There’s no rest for the weary. However, you have the day to do whatever you want.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a charge card. “This is for you. The limit is twenty-five thousand a month, but if you think you’ll need more let me know.”

She gaped at the card. She took it in her fingers like she thought it might burn her.

“Perhaps you’d like to go shopping,” I suggested.

She looked up at me with those wide blue eyes. “For what?”

I laughed. “For whatever you want. I understand women like clothes and shoes.”

“I still have money left over from the five thousand you gave me last week.”

“Then you have more to spend.” I watched her amused by her response. It was fascinating to see my world through her eyes. “Is there something you’ve always wanted, Sara?” All of a sudden, I wanted to buy her the world.

The glimmer in her eyes dulled slightly. “You can’t buy what I’ve always wanted.”

The only thing I could imagine was that she wanted love, which was the one thing I couldn’t buy for or give her.

She mustered a smile, “But I find myself eager to try to spend twenty-five thousand. Is it even possible?”

“Oh, it’s possible.” I was glad she was perking up. “I have a suit that cost nearly that much.”

Her mouth dropped open again. “One suit?”

I nodded, shifting uncomfortably. All of a sudden I felt like a glutton. I was a strong man in my world, but I wondered if Sara was right and that I wouldn’t fare as well in her world. I’d never been without money or resources. I took my wealth for granted.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a card. “This is the number for James, who’ll be your driver. Whenever you need to go out, call him and he’ll take you where you want to go.”

She took the card and then looked at me. “I feel a little like I’m in a dream.”

“Enjoy it, Sara.” While this was a business deal, I still wanted her to be content. After all, she was going to be having and raising my child. “Savor the fact that you don’t have to struggle ever again.”

She let out a long sigh and her eyes filled with tears. “That does mean a lot.”

I reached out, putting my hand over hers. “Embrace it. You’re financially free and secure.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

I sat back. “You’re welcome.”

She poured herself a hot water and then looked through the tea box with the same wonder in her eyes that she was taking in all aspects of her life.

“So much tea!” she exclaimed. “Lemon lavender sounds good.” When her tea was ready, she turned her attention to me again. “I don’t have insurance or a doctor, you know, for the baby.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“I know, I just, I wanted you to know. You didn’t use a condom last night.”

The memory of it had my dick perking up.

“I don’t know if you want to wait to see if last night worked or what.”

I stared at her, not sure what she was saying. “Wait for what?”

“To have sex again. I know you just want to do it for the baby making. I read we can find out in a few weeks. I suppose it depends on how fast you want to have a baby.”

It was odd how much thought she was putting into this. I hadn’t thought about it at all, except that I’d fuck her bare.

“What do you prefer?” I asked her.

“Prefer?”

“Have you enjoyed sex so far?” I knew she’d come, but the first time had to have hurt and I’d been rough. I’d tried to take more care the night before, but it had been hard once my dick was inside her tight pussy.

She blushed. “Yes.”

“Because if you’d prefer to wait and see if this took, we can. I meant it when I said I could go without.” But as I said it, my dick revolted. He liked being inside Sara. He might have been able to pass on other women, or be content with my stroking him off in the shower, but clearly, he wasn’t done with Sara yet.

Before she could respond, Mrs. Childs appeared. “Mr. Raven, you have a call inside from your father.”

I groaned. “Thank you, Mrs. Childs.” I wiped my mouth with my napkin. “You can let me know about the matter later,” I said to Sara.

She nodded.

“Have fun today, Sara. I look forward to finding out how much you were able to spend and on what.”

She laughed. “Okay. I’ll try not to let you down.”

I left her on the terrace and went inside to take my father’s call in my office. I wondered if he’d somehow heard about my marriage. I hoped not. I’d have to tell him and my brothers eventually, but I was still grappling with the whole situation myself and needed time to get my head around it so it would be plausible to my family that I’d married for legitimate reasons.