Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27565 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27565 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
But Avalon’s not apologizing for her furniture, nor does she offer me libations.
“So why are you here, Liam?” she asks in a flat voice. “This is certainly a surprise.”
I raise my brows at her.
“Well, frankly, I’m surprised that you’re here,” I say. “And I’m not sure why you moved out either. I mean, you were welcome to stay at the mansion for as long as you like.”
The curvy blonde stares at me through a narrow squint.
“You’re joking right?” she asks in a slow tone. “You send your attack dog to talk to me, and then expect me to stay? I guess there are some women who are that desperate, and who have an addiction to luxury, but that’s not necessary for me and my child. The baby and I will live here, and it’s fine.”
Now, I’m the one who’s surprised.
“My attack dog? What are you talking about? I didn’t send anyone to attack you.”
The beautiful blonde snorts derisively, the color on her cheeks high.
“Don’t pretend not to know, Liam. Nothing happens without your say so. Your lawyer, Jimmy Warren? That’s who I’m referring to. He called me the day after I discovered my pregnancy, and made me “The Offer.” Fifteen million for the baby, and a slot at your breeding farm. Thanks, but no thanks, Liam. Me and my child are better off here, as living, breathing humans as opposed to being cogs in your disgusting reproduction project.”
Slowly, things are beginning to make sense, and I lift both hands to get a hold of the matter.
“Hold on,” I say in a deep tone. “There’s been a misunderstanding because I never sent Jimmy Warren to talk to you.”
“Oh really,” Avalon snorts derisively, two spots of color on her cheeks. “Then how did he know? Let me guess, he read your mind, right? You guys are working on some kind of sicko mind meld, and that’s how things get done at your company. Bullshit!” she rages. “This is your fault, and you’re the mastermind behind it all!”
I keep my right hand raised, palm out.
“No, I’m not, and I swear to you that I never asked Jimmy Warren to talk to you. Yes, I had a conversation with the attorney after I found the positive pregnancy test, but I never gave him approval to reach out to you. I don’t even know how he found your contact info, but I assure you, none of this was supposed to happen.”
Avalon snarls derisively, her pretty face anguished.
“Oh really? So the breeding farm is fake? It was just a figment of his imagination? You know, the place where all the mothers live with the children you’ve impregnated them with. Or do Belinda and Magda actually live independently, and that was all made up?”
I take a moment to pause, hoping to defuse the situation.
“No, I do own a vast estate on the outskirts of St. Cloud. And yes, Magda lives there with Madison, and Belinda with Ellie. But it’s not a farm, nor is there any pressure to relocate. Magda and Belinda moved to the estate willingly with their daughters because they have luxurious homes on the property, complete with every amenity. I make sure everything is paid for, and the two women are able to spend their days relaxing, although actually, both Magda and Belinda still work.”
“Really,” Avalon snorts. “So your two babymamas are there of their own accord. You didn’t force them to move with a promised fifteen million dollar payout.”
Oh shit. This is going from bad to worse. Why did Jimmy Warren call Avalon without my permission? What the fuck?!?! Yes, I had a conversation with him that morning about Avalon’s pregnancy, but I never gave him permission to contact my girlfriend. Goddamn, the situation’s blown up, and I can only hope the injury isn’t permanent. In the meantime, I take a deep breath in the hopes of doing some damage control.
“Yes, Belinda and Magda received fifteen million dollar payments from me, but the payments weren’t conditional. They received the money as a gesture of my gratitude for bearing my two daughters, and they earned every cent of the fifteen million. But I want you to know, Avalon, that I never authorized any payment to you, nor did I ask Jimmy to ask you to relocate. He spoke to you on his own, and I had no knowledge of it.”
Avalon puts her hands on her hips, her chin jutting out.
“And I’m supposed to believe that,” she says in a sarcastic tone. “That your number two just went out on a limb and decided to contact me.”
I nod slowly, blue eyes serious.
“Yes, and I’m not sure why. Jimmy’s been my right hand man for a long time now, but everyone errs on occasion, and this is a big lapse of judgment. I had no idea that he contacted you.”