New York…
Morgan was bored to tears. He’d wanted to dump some money and leave but people kept getting in his way. They just wouldn’t let him get to the door. He shook hands with the Mayor and every other dammed politician, CEO and charity queen here. He now saw his opening and to the door he headed, thinking of Ellie and her beautiful body, that warm smile. He felt as if he needed to rush back to Philly to see her and make sure she was safe.
“Morgan!” a woman called from behind him.
He sighed. Dammit, I was almost there. He pasted a smile on his face and turned around. Then his smile dropped. Fuck, why couldn’t it have been one of the charity queens?
“Well, don’t look so glad to see me,” Daphne Yearwood stated with a huge smile on her face.
His smile reappeared. Not his dazzling one as he just couldn’t make it appear. This was the woman he’d been seeing just before he went to Philly and met Ellie.
Daphne of course, looked perfect. Tall, blonde, curvy where it counted and slim where it counted.
Yes, a body most men would drool over as he himself did. Yet, underneath, she was shallow and jaded. He had bedded her several times and still couldn’t figure out why he had in the first dammed place. Oh, yes, now he remembered. Chance had shown interest and Morgan just could not resist taking her from underneath his perusal. Then...he regretted it and Chance got the last laugh.
Only because she wouldn’t let go. He tried to brush her off in so many ways, but she was part of the company he ran. In fact, she was a major shareholder. He knew she was part owner but not that her shares would sway the board at any given time. So, he’d had to place nice. Chance did get a good laugh out of it. It had been all Morgan’s doing too.
“Hello, Daphne. How are you?”
She smiled and took a graceful step toward him hooking her arm with his. “I am better now that I see you.”
Morgan bit at his lip. He needed to get out of here and back to his girl, not stand here in the shark tank with the biggest barracuda of them all. “Well, it has been a month or two.”
She nodded and her eyes glittered. “Always gone to some other country or with a new girl on your arm,” she whispered.
Morgan shrugged. He’d never promised her anything and she had fun as he did. End of the game.
“I do have to talk to you about something though.” She smiled at him.
His gut clenched. Why did she keep doing this? She’d even showed up in Japan when he was there and like a guilty bastard, he’d spotted her and gave her the slip out of the hotel before she saw him. “What is there to talk about?’ he asked innocently.
“Plenty.”
His fake smile dropped away completely. “Listen Daph. We had a fling. I am sorry if you wanted more but—?”
She raised her hand. “Well, you got more, even if you don't want it.”
He stared at her.
“I realize you have been with some girl in Philadelphia all this time. I hear it’s serious too.” Her eyes glittered even more.
“I don’t see how that is any of your—?”
“It is!”
People now stared at them as her voice had risen.
Morgan looked around. “We can't s do this…whatever it is, in public.”
Shrugging, she rubbed her belly.
His gaze dropped to see that she actually had a belly. Slim Daphne getting fat? His gaze rose up. “What the hell are you saying here?”
She tugged his arm and pulled him toward an alcove.
Morgan allowed it, as he didn't like the stares they were getting.
When they stepped behind the curtain, she grabbed him up and kissed him.
Stunned, Morgan didn’t react right away. He clicked and pulled back breaking the desperate kiss. “What the hell are you doing?”
Daphne stared into his eyes. “I-I am sorry. It’s just…”
He let out a sigh. “I am sorry too. I can't do this.”
She grabbed his arm. “I’m pregnant!”
Morgan stared at her face. “I always used a condom. So what does it have to do with me?” His heart pounded in his chest. This drama was too much. She really thinks it’s mine? No way!
“Remember Rio?” she asked in a tight voice.
He pulled his head back. He scarcely remembered. The board had thrown a retreat there and all of them had gotten sloshed. “What about it?”
“You, me, a hotel suite and lots of champagne?” She tilted her perfect blonde head at him.
He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. “I don't remember us having sex in Rio, at all.” Did we? Doubt set in. He tried hard to remember that night.
“We did.”
He shook his head as he did remember waking up hungover and very alone.
“I left at dawn while you slept,” she added as if she knew what he was thinking. “I was ashamed at throwing myself at you.”
Morgan scoffed. “You and shame? Nope, doesn’t fit.”
Huffing at the insult, she stepped back. “I just wanted you to know before…”
His eyes rose up again to her face. “Before what?”
“Before anyone else hears about it.”
His eyes widened. “So you're saying that I am the father?”
Nodding, she again looked contrite. “I only slept with you during that time.”
He sighed. He knew he would never have bedded this or any other woman in the past without a condom. “It isn’t mine.”
She gasped. “So, you're accusing me of lying?” Her voice rose again.
Morgan was livid. How dare this woman pull a trick like this? Couldn’t she see he didn’t want to be with her after 3 months of him avoiding her? “So when can a paternity test be done?” he asked coldly.
Her eyes rounded. “You dare accuse me of trying to trap you? I don't need your wealth. I have my own!” Again, she was yelling.
“Lower your voice. There are people here that don't like scandal—“
“Scandal?” She sneered. “Oh, you will get scandal if you don't—”
“What?” Morgan cut her off. “Marry you? Give the kid my name?”
Livid, Daphne slapped him.
He winced a bit but didn’t care. “Paternity test Miss Yearwood. Until you call me for one, I don't wish to hear from you.” He turned and left her in the alcove.
Marching out, he could feel the stares of everyone there. He didn’t give a fuck. He needed to get to Ellie and tell her about this before Miss Yearwood went public with this fantasy. God…tell her what? Some socialite he’d dated was pregnant by him? No. He knew better. Or did he? He had been drunk but still had no recollection of bedding her that night at all. Not a glimpse, not even a tiny image of it. He knew he’d acted like a bastard just now. But people, well most, didn't know this woman like he did. He was around her enough to see how she’d treated people. It was one of the things that had turned him off about her.
She’d fired every female under 40 in her offices and tried to do it elsewhere in the company. She treated employees like lowly servants. Manipulative and if she couldn’t get her way, she would pay to have it done. Rolled her eyes at anyone who was genuine at heart while she casually fired them and threatened to have them blackballed if they filed suit. She’d callously ordered everyone around and had expected him to tow her line as well. No…not him. Morgan Hunt bowed to no one.
His furious pace halted as he stood at his waiting limo. Except one person. His sweet, sexy Ellie. He would bow at her feet and kiss her sweet toes.
Morgan sighed. That is if she would even want him after she hears this bit of drama.