Chapter 35

Evan

I was currently halfway through clearing all my personal belongings from the hotel suite. I had not kept many things there, just enough to run the business and to make myself comfortable. It had become a home away from home, but without any personal connection.

The hotel staff were sad to see me go, especially the manager. I had provided them with a year-round booking for nearly ten years. Out of all the people I had been involved with, it was probably the hotel who knew more about my operation than anyone else.

They had seen no end of women coming and going over the years, so they must have a good idea that something was going on. At least they had the next six months covered for the suite. I had paid in advance and would let Tyler use it for his benefit. I was sure that he picked up enough women. He could bring them here to fulfill his needs.

While I’d been moving all of my things, I had plenty of time to think. I had made a real mess of the whole thing. I had followed the agreement to the letter, and it had caused more friction than if it had not been used at all.

Because of my rules and a stupid piece of paper, I had put my foot in it all the way. Since Monday, when I had walked out of Piper’s apartment, it had dawned on me. I truly felt the gravity of the situation I was now in. I had not left perfectly, and Piper was sure to have misread my emotionless reactions.

After hearing the news, I had a blank expression, a real stern poker face. It was not through lack of concern, excitement, or interest. Over the last ten years, I had heard hundreds of women tell me they were pregnant, but that was business.

This time, Piper was involved so things were truly different. She was not business. Piper was personal. I’d been scared from the moment she got dizzy in the shower. I’d been worried she was ill or something. Then she said to get a pregnancy test. Whoa, it was finally real. I had run to the pharmacy to get the test; adrenaline had been building up inside me for what the result would be.

The waiting, the god-damned waiting; my heart had raced like no one would believe. I felt like I was in a dream. Nothing seemed real apart from Piper and her pregnancy test. Time had gone into slow motion and anticipation had risen to such a crazy level. I couldn’t control any of my bodily functions, facial expressions being one of them. My brain was in such a state of shock and awe, I thought it was going to implode. A black hole could have opened and swallowed me up, and I would have barely noticed.

I loved Piper so much, ever since we had first dated in high school. Fuck, she had been the love of my life. She always had been, and for her to come out with those words, “I’m pregnant.” Wow. My mind just went through a whirlwind of emotions in a split second.

For the first time in my life, I sat with the woman I loved, held her hand, and listened to her say the very words any loving man wants to hear. The moment she opened her mouth, I had become numb. The only thing I said was that I couldn’t deal with it at the moment. This was what Piper had probably misunderstood me saying. Rightly so, but it didn’t mean I was unhappy.

When I heard the news, I wasn’t capable of anything. My mind had frozen, and that sentence had been the only thing I could manage. In truth, it might have been the worst sentence I’d ever spoken in my entire life. Piper had done the one thing to me no other woman could have done. She had humbled me by those simple words. I had left her apartment and walked to my car. I had put the keys in the ignition, but I had not started the engine or driven away.

I had cried. I’d sobbed like a baby with joy and happiness. The whole situation overwhelmed me in the best way possible. I had banged the steering wheel and the dashboard. Jubilation flowed through every particle of my body. My baby. I was proud to say, my amazing baby. I had screamed and shouted at the top of my lungs. I was ecstatic at the thought. Ten lonely years and she had come back to me. I had dreamed of this moment, on those countless nights alone in bed. I had wondered how it would all go down.

My Piper, who had saved me from myself and a lifetime of self-imposed loneliness. I had vowed to myself that if this situation ever arose, I would cherish every moment with Piper and our child. I would make sure nothing ever harmed her or the child and I would take care of them as if we were in a true relationship. We had gone through hell from missing each other, but it had all been to get to this part of our lives.

And what did I do when I heard the news? I left the woman I love alone in her apartment. How dumb was that? I should have sat in silence and waited until it had all sunk in. Not me. Not stupid, emotionally broken me. I grabbed my things and walked out the door.

She probably thought I’d be the world’s worst father, with no concern for our child’s welfare. One of the real shitty ones.

You’re a real idiot sometimes, Evan. You always have been when it came to loving Piper and treating her right.

Piper would have come to her senses by now. Over the week, she would have realized she could do this without me and be the proud parent she always wanted to be. How fucking wrong could I get it?

I grabbed my last belongings from the bedroom and walked to the living room. A knock at the door startled me. I was not expecting anyone. I walked to the door and checked the peephole. A woman stood there with her back to the door. The body didn’t look familiar. Maybe it was one of the hotel staff checking the suite.

I slowly opened the door to the room. The woman turned to face me. It was Susan Reynolds.

Fuck. What does she want now?

“Surprised to see me?” she asked.

“I thought I said to never contact me again?”

“I don’t really give a fuck what you want!” she said.

“So, what have you come for?” I asked.

I hope she doesn’t throw herself at me and start begging.

“Guess what?” she asked with a wicked smile on her face. “I’m finally pregnant, and it’s yours, you fucker.”

I shrugged my shoulders. I didn’t even know why she came to tell me this. As far as I was concerned, it was all finished. We were done.

“So, what? It has nothing to do with me.”

“That is where you’re mistaken, sunshine. One pregnant woman with none of your fucking contract bullshit.”

And you’re trying to say what exactly?

“As you so kindly voided the contract, this means you’re legally bound to provide for your baby,” she snarled.

“I think you may be slightly mistaken as to the extent that the contract was voided,” I explained.

Does she think I would be that stupid and leave myself open?

“You can’t worm your way out of this one. I’ve checked with a lawyer. And he told me that if I had the money returned, the contract basically never existed.”

Susan had a grin on her face. I could imagine the dollar signs that were flashing before her eyes. I was not stupid. I had one of the best lawyers in town draw this contract up for me. I knew it was iron clad and would stand up in any court of law.

“Do yourself a favor,” I said. “Forget this ever happened before you make a fool of yourself again.”

“It won’t be me looking like a fool. I’ll sting you for child maintenance plus anything else I’m entitled to.”

“Did you check the money which was returned?” I asked.

“Yes, I got it all,” she said. “Three checks returned. It’s all in black and white. Take that, you arrogant fucker.”

“It all looks in order then. Apart from one little thing.”

“What is that?” she asked.

I was going to relish this moment for the rest of my life. There was no person I’d rather stick it to than her. She had humiliated Piper, and I was not going to have that. Not for one moment.

I leaned towards Susan. “What about that little thing called a deposit?” I asked with a grin.

“What?” she screamed.

That’s right Susan; your deposit was outside of your three checks.

“I’ll ask again. Did you check that all the money was returned?” I asked.

“You cheating motherfucker!” she screamed.

Susan lunged forward and threw herself at me. She grabbed hold of my hair and began kicking and beating me with her fists. I tried to grab hold of her to restrain her. She was as much a wildcat now as she had been in bed.

I heard the elevator open and was shocked to see Piper slowly step into the hallway. Susan continued to rain blows on me. Piper looked horrified and hit the security button on the wall. She ran down the hallway to where a whirling Susan Reynolds was screaming and kicking.

I managed to grab one of her wrists. Piper approached and tried to catch hold of Susan’s flailing arm.

“You!” Susan snarled, looking at Piper.

I could see Susan was enraged that Piper was here.

“It’s as much your fault as it is his,” Susan screamed. “If it weren’t for you, he would be mine.”

“Calm down!” I yelled.

You have no idea what you’re doing.

“I’m not going to calm down. You have fucking cheated me, and I bet she helped you.”

Susan swung her fist toward Piper. Piper ducked out of the way. Susan drew back her arm for another blow, and Piper leaned in to catch it with her hands. Piper took one step forward, and Susan let loose with her foot. Her leg swung and caught Piper right in the stomach.

Piper reeled from the kick, and her back slammed against the wall. She took a few steps away from Susan and let her body slide down the wall. I watched as Piper held her stomach and started to cry.

“That will fucking teach you,” Susan snarled. “You think you can take him away from me?”

“What have you done, you crazy bitch?” I yelled.

I managed to wrap my arms around Susan, preventing her arms from moving. Her legs lashed out at Piper, but they couldn’t quite reach her. Piper huddled on the floor, holding her stomach.

“Evan,” Piper cried as she looked at me. The anguish in her voice broke my soul into a million pieces. The fear in her eyes broke each of those pieces into a million more.

“We’ll be okay,” I said. “I’ll make sure of it.”

I dragged Susan away from Piper. The elevator opened. The hotel manager ran toward me and informed me the cops were on their way. Susan continued to kick and scream. The elevator opened and out rushed two officers. The officers saw me and rushed to restrain the crazy woman I held tightly in my arms.

I held Susan until they managed to cuff her. She screamed and bawled as they led her down the hallway. She continued to look over her shoulder. The elevator doors opened, and Susan vanished. For good I hoped.

I rushed to Piper, who laid on her side. Tears flooded down her face. Her hands held her stomach. She gazed up toward me.

“I’m scared Evan,” she said. “I’m really scared.”

“It will be okay,” I said. “Everything will be okay.”

Oh God. Please let everything be alright.