Matt&The Hurricane

My life in the past few weeks had become a complete hurricane. No storm prep for me. I was just hanging on. I shared the most intimate moment with Lily and it had gotten all tainted by the news of Nadia's pregnancy. I didn't think of myself as ever being a dad. Nadia was annoying, but I hoped she wasn't going to use this baby as a pawn. Everyday since the news, she's been at my office to have lunch with me. We hadn't announced to the public the pregnancy. She didn't think it was proper because we weren't married first. Let people talk, but she insisted that she wanted to plan an elegant, quick wedding. Her words. Then when the baby came, we would say it came early. I had a lot of big decisions to make soon....

We were 3 weeks into our new arrangement. Nadia apparently had enough waiting. Page Six published an article on the pregnancy announcement. "Billionaire Will Have An Heir." Now the whole world knew and there was no going back. Nadia set up about a half of dozen interviews talking about baby plans and making us look like the perfect couple. I did my duties as a daddy to be. Besides posing for pictures, I went to all of Nadia's appointments. Heck I even hired a maternity stylist to make sure he had the best of the best. Time seemed to pass quicker than I thought it would. Staying busy with work was supposed to be a distraction. Half the time it worked, half the time it didn't. I really tried to commit myself to work and Nadia.

Nadia had a girl's trip coming up with some of her closest friends. None of which I've ever even gotten to know their names. All high society "ladies" with maybe one academic brain combined together. Spa treatments for the pregnant lady we're in store. I took the chance while I still had it to go on a guy's "fishing trip." We were going to hit up casinos, get drunk, and smoke cigars. Classic Vegas style. Nadia was 7 months at the time so I presumed it would be like a baby shower weekend. After a couple nights on the casino floor, the guys opted to play cards in our suite, drink and smoke the night away. True Cuban boggies. We consumed so much alcohol. It just kept flowing. I'm not even sure of the exact total but the next morning's trash was full with 3 empty Jack Daniels bottles, 4 empty Bacardi bottles, 2 empty Jose Cuervo bottles and at least a case worth of empty Bud Light cans. There was only 5 of us. It was insane but so much fun until Eric decided to get sappy on us. You know you have all types of drunks. Last night, Eric was a sap. I tried to soothe him until he would be quiet and go to bed.

"Matt, you have to promise me no matter what, we'll always be friends. No girls could ever break us apart," he said while slurring all his words.

"Na, man. We good. Bros before hoes."

"Will you forgive me for not being a good friend?"

"You're okay. Don't sweat it. You're a good friend."

"Nadia told me I was a horrible friend to you and I should never put her in that position."

"Ignore her. I'm not sure what you are mumbling about, but it'll be okay."

"I just need your forgiveness. Maybe one day you'll understand."

"Okay, man. Time for bed."

He was definitely an emotional mess when that intoxicated. We all survived the weekend in one piece.

In about 6 more weeks I was going to be a dad. I'm starting to get more and more comfortable with that title everyday. Will it be a boy or girl? Nadia hadn't let me know. She wouldn't let me peek when I went with her to the anatomy scan. Will it look like Nadia? What name will we finally agree on?

It would be here sooner than we expected. She started having contractions early. The doctors decided that since she was so far dilated and the baby looked fine on all the tests they ran, she was actually even further along in gestation. They would let her continue to labor. Two hours of pushing later, our little son took his first breath. Owen Matthew Bonner. 9lbs 10oz and 22 inches long. He was a big boy! He didn't look anything like me. Dark hair and features. Maybe he took after Nadia's side. He was handsome even he didn't look much like me.

Nadia had so many people come visit at the hospital over the next couple of days. She made sure her makeup was on and every hair on her head was in place. Did that lady just have a baby? True Nadia fashion. She had to keep up appearances. My buddies even stopped in for brief visits. My phone had been lighting like crazy as well. Text and calls left and right.

Eric: I'm headed to the hospital to see you.

Matt: That's fine. Nadia just fed Owen and she should be resting when you come.

Eric: Oh, okay. I just wanted to talk to you.

Matt: Okay, see you shortly.

I'm sitting in the labor and delivery hallway to get better reception. Eric approaches kind of apprehensively.

"Hey man. So glad you came."

"Can we go somewhere more private?," he asks.

"Um...how about the hospitals coffee shop in the food court?"

"Yeah, I guess."

I had known Eric since my Yale days. We had been to a party at a frat house to encourage new pledges. We thought it was lame and we went to a local bar to just shoot darts since we clearly weren't old enough to drink. He came from money too. His dad was a big shot lawyer. Our families kind of ran in the same circles. They belonged to the same clubs. Our families both had houses in the Hamptons. We were always each other's wingmen. Even though it was messed up, we had a running bet of who could get the girl to go home with them. He was the exact opposite of me in looks. So, it was just up to the particular girl who was her preference. We would both try to hit on her. I guess we were both college pigs. I knew my reason. He just seemed to be more about the attention it gave him. I guess you would call that a narcissist. I never cared because we always had fun together. You don't always see things if you aren't looking for the cracks.

We get our coffees. Eric really needed it. He's in more of a fog than I am.

"Earth to Eric. What's going on upstairs in that brain?"

"I fucked up big time."

"What's going on? I'm not following."

"You've got to promise you won't cause a scene."

"This is so cryptic. Just out with it!"

"I slept with Nadia."

"Dude, you are seriously worried about that? A lot of people have."

"No. There's more. You ever add the dates of Nadia's pregnancy and Owen's birth?"

"Not really. Why?"

"You should."

I got all these things flooding my brain at once. Now the wheels are spinning. Come to think of it, Owen was huge for his gestation. He's got dark hair and dark eyes.

"Nadia threatened me if I ever told you. Owen is mine. I couldn't stay away knowing he would be born today."

"What in the actual hell? You mean to tell me, you are the father? This was all a ploy by Nadia?"

"She wanted the status of being Mrs. Bonner. I wanted our son to know me."

I leave Eric in the food court, grasping for straws. I knew he had a thing for her, but never thought this would happen. I got up to the labor and delivery floor as fast as I could. Eric trucking behind me the whole way up. I burst into the room. I didn't care if she was was asleep or not.

"Nadia, who's Owen's father? You need to be real honest, real quick."

"Look, I can explain. Eric and I hooked up one night. He didn't want to be a father. I knew you would be the best."

"Bullshit. Eric has money and a family name as well. You wanted the Conner future because the dollar signs were bigger at the end of the day. You worked this from every angle. You deserve each other."

At this point, I wasn't short of yelling at the top of my lungs.

"You know who I feel sorry for in all this? Poor Owen. He has you two for parents. F the tabloids, the money, the name. It all boils down to if somebody is a decent human being and you two..are

lower than low."

Two nurses rushed in, looking frantic.

"Sir, we are going to have to ask you to leave. You are frightening people on the ward with your yelling."

"Fine. But first...where is the hospital clerk? I haven't signed the birth certificate papers. I want to make sure I can wash my hands of all of this."

"You're free to go, sir."

I walked out of that hospital faster than a bat out of hell. How could someone be so manipulating? My faith in humanity is lost right now. I could see Nadia pulling this stunt; but Eric...I always trusted him. Looking back I could see how he was eager to be around Nadia. If we had made a bet on which one would have picked her up, I would say you can have her man. The press was going to have a hay day. My lawyers and publicist were going to have to find a way to spin this.