“Why can’t the baby stay somewhere else, with this nanny?” Max asked, again. He tried his best not to snarl, but the level of testosterone in the foyer had saturated the air, and he could barely see past the red spots in front of his eyes. “In Seattle alone, I own five different hotels.”

“Because we can’t trust anyone, and as I said, it’s only for a limited time. The more people we involve in this mess, the higher the chances someone is going to sell your little secret—” Wilson cut a glance down at the carrier “—to the highest bidder. Imagine how much Mrs. Catalani’s lawyer is going to pay for a story that depicts you as a bastard who would get rid of his daughter without second thoughts.”

“My daughter?” Max wondered if they were all playing an elaborate prank on him, the kind of stunt that would see them immediately fired. “What are you even talking about?” He pinched the bridge of his nose before he started screaming again. “This can’t be mine because I always, always, with no exception, wear a fucking condom. A monstrously super-sized, industrial grade rubber to keep all my swimmers contained. There’s no way that—” he pointed at the now-cooing baby “—could’ve happened.”

Max liked to fuck around, quite literally, but would never have unprotected sex. Never. Abandoned when he was a newborn, he had vowed only to have kids when it was the right time and not a moment before. When he finally had children, they would be loved and cherished, and he would raise them as any doting father should.

“I know, but accidents happen all the time,” Wilson said, looking at the baby again.

“Does she have rabies?” Max asked, staring at the white foam forming at the little monster’s mouth.

“It’s quite normal, sir,” Hugo said. “Babies do that.”

“Another reason to avoid having one of them here.” Max’s sensitive nostrils caught a whiff of a foul aroma that seemed to arise from the carrier. “Hell, no!”

Strangely enough, Max’s dragon remained quiet in his head, whereas he was about to blow a gasket.

Hugo had the good sense to pick up the carrier and scurry out of sight.

“No accidents.” Max stubbornly stared at his friend, who dared to shrug.

“They happen,” Wilson repeated. “To the best of us.”

“Not to me, they don’t.” Massaging his temple, Max wished a looming headache away, but the throbbing pain had only started, and he knew it.

“Then you won’t have any problem donating a drop of blood for a DNA test.” Wilson’s lips curved into one of those odious smiles he reserved for those rare times when he won an argument against Max.

“I was going to suggest it myself to shut you up once and for all.” Max smiled back, white teeth glistening in a way that was more predatory than reassuring.

Wilson played with his phone for a moment before raising his eyes. “I’ve scheduled an appointment with a private lab, first thing in the morning, so we can move on quickly.”

Hugo came back into the foyer, looking like he had seen a ghost. “The baby needs to be changed,” he proclaimed.

“And?” Max stared back at him.

“And we don’t have any diapers handy—” Hugo’s face was becoming an unbecoming shade of rotten-egg-green.

Max took exception to the royal use of “we” but let it slide, this once.

“We can’t leave her like that,” Hugo pressed the argument.

“Okay, let me make something crystal clear,” Max said. “There’s no we. And you better remember that before I kick your ass from here to Bellevue and back.” He dismissed the man with a wave of his hand. “Go and buy diapers and whatever else it needs.”

“And you are going to stay with the baby?” Wilson asked in a sweet tone.

“Of course not.” Max looked at Jack.

His security detail chief shook his head violently. “I apologize, sir, but I can’t. There’s nobody else tonight to patrol the building. And what if some paparazzi gets through the gate and shoots some pic—”

“He’s got a point.” Wilson nodded. “And I’m leaving. I need to sleep. Tomorrow is the big day, remember?”

Max cursed. He had completely forgotten about the lawsuit starting the next day.

“I can’t stay with it alone.” Max hated that it sounded very much as if he was begging.

“Then leave Hugo with the baby and you go grocery shopping,” Wilson said, moving toward the elevator.

“Wait!” Max followed him. “A nanny. You were talking about a nanny. Where can I find one now?”

“Now, you won’t find anyone—” Wilson started, but Jack interrupted him.

“I can help with that,” the man said.

“Can you?” Max asked.

Jack nodded. “I can call my sister. She’s been babysitting since she was ten years old and is very good with kids. And she’s discreet and can keep a secret.”

“I don’t know about that,” Wilson cautiously said.

“Can she come now?” Max asked.

“I think so—”

“Then she’s hired.” Max strode toward the elevator, finally feeling in control for the first time since he had set foot in his penthouse.