Chapter 15
Marley
“Women are more emotionally intelligent than men are. I’ll reach my full emotional maturity when I reach the age of thirty-two. You, on the other hand, won’t reach it until years later.”
“You are full of shit.” He laughed.
“Look it up. I learned about it in college. I always told myself that when I turned thirty-two, I’d be able to forgive my mother.”
“So, we’re just two emotionally immature adults with twins on the way?”
“Yep.”
“And how is that fair to the kids?” I asked.
“Maybe you should have thought about that before not using a condom the second and third time.” My brow arched. “One time just wasn’t enough for you?” I narrowed my eyes.
He tipped the glass to his lips. “You initiated it the second time, from what I can remember. I guess we couldn’t help ourselves.”
“I guess not.” I sighed.
“You really think you’re moving in?” he asked.
“I don’t think. I know. Please point me to the guestroom. I’m exhausted.”
“Here’s the thing. I don’t have any beds in the other guestrooms. They’re empty.”
“Who has a penthouse this large and doesn’t have an extra bed?” I furrowed my brows.
“I haven’t gotten around to furnishing the other rooms.”
“Okay.” I inhaled a breath and stood up from my chair.
Stepping back into the penthouse, I grabbed my suitcase and wheeled it to his bedroom. Charlie walked in as I was in the bathroom, changing into my nightshirt and cleansing my face.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Getting ready for bed.” I turned and walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.
Walking over to the side of the bed that he didn’t sleep on, I pulled back the sheets.
“Hold on a second. You’re sleeping in here?”
“Yep. You really wouldn’t let the pregnant mother of your twin babies sleep on a couch, would you?” I climbed in, set my phone on the nightstand, and pulled the sheets up. “It’s not my fault you don’t have an extra bed.”
“Fine. Well, guess what? I’m sleeping in the bed as well. This is my bed.”
“Never said it wasn’t. You stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine,” I said.
He stripped out of his clothes, and my eyes diverted to his sexy-as-sin body. Even though I wasn’t a fan of his, I would let him take advantage of me.
“Goodnight, Marley.” He rolled on his side, his back to mine.
“Night, Charlie. Sweet dreams.”
“More like a nightmare.” I heard him mumble under his breath, and I silently smiled.
I would make this as miserable for him as it was for me.
My eyes flew open, and I quickly sat up, covering my mouth with my hand. I jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom. As I was hanging over the toilet, feeling as if my insides were coming up through my throat, Charlie walked in and started the shower.
“Morning. Can I say something?” he asked.
“What?”
“If you’re going to be throwing up, please use the other bathroom.”
I couldn’t believe the nerve of this man. “How about I just don’t get out of bed at all and throw up on you.”
“Really, Marley?” He took down his underwear and stepped into the shower.
I was done vomiting but pretended I wasn’t as I stole small glances at his cock that got me in this position to begin with. God, I was horny.
I wiped my mouth with a tissue and climbed back into bed. As I lay there, I heard the shower turn off. With a towel wrapped around his waist, Charlie entered the bedroom and removed one of his many suits from the closet.
“Why does a gamer wear a suit to the office?” I asked.
“I’m a CEO and have an important meeting today.”
“But you’re also a gamer. Shouldn’t you dress like one?”
“Shouldn’t you go back to sleep?” He walked past me.
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and noticed a text message in our girl’s group chat.
Olivia: “How did McBillionaire take it?”
Penelope: Come on, Mar. We’re dying over here.”
“I’ll stop by the coffee shop later and tell you.”
“Oh God.” I placed my hand over my mouth and jumped up from the bed.
“Other bathroom!” I heard Charlie shout.
I ran into the other bathroom and barely made it. Hanging my head in the toilet, I wanted to die.
“I’m leaving now. I suppose you’ll still be here when I get home?” Charlie asked from the doorway.
“Yep,” I said.
I heard him sigh and walk away.
Climbing back into bed, I’d finally drifted off to sleep when I heard talking in the hallway.
“Oh, my God!” I heard a voice shout.
I quickly sat up and stared at the older woman with blonde hair pulled back into a bun.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Who are you?” she asked back.
“I’m Marley.”
“I’m Greta, Mr. Stone’s housekeeper.”
“Ah, I didn’t know he had a housekeeper.” I brought my knees up to my chest.
“He has two. Sylvia and I come in once a week and clean.”
“Oh. Well, then, I guess we’ll get to know each other. As I said, I’m Marley, and I’m pregnant with twins. Charlie is the baby daddy.”
“Excuse me?” Her brow arched.
“I know.” I sighed, climbing out of bed. “I’m just as shocked as you are. I’ll get out of your way so you can make the bed.”
“Take your time. I can start somewhere else,” she said.
I dressed quickly, grabbed my purse, and headed toward the elevator.
“It was nice to meet both of you.” I smiled. “I’ll see you next week.”
Charlie
“I think the meeting went great.” Chase smiled.
“Yeah. I’m confident Danbury will do business with us,” I said, climbing into the back of the sedan.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk yet because of the meeting, but you seem off today—more off than usual since you found out Marley is pregnant.”
“She showed up at my penthouse last night with her suitcase in tow.”
“What?” Chase laughed.
“She said she’s moving in. She found out she’s pregnant with twins.”
“What?” He laughed harder. “You’re not serious?”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?”
“Where is she sleeping? You don’t have any other beds in that place.”
I sat there and arched my brow at him.
“Stop it!” He laughed. “You’re letting her sleep in your bed?”
“Like I have a choice.”
“Are you sleeping in it too?”
“Damn right, I am. It’s my bed.”
“I hope you’re getting some action, at least.” He chuckled.
“Knock it off.”
“Twins. Wow. I can’t believe it. Do you want my advice?”
“No.”
“Too bad. You’re getting it anyway. Make peace with Marley and the fact that you’re going to be a father.”
“I don’t want to talk about this, Chase. You know where I stand.”
“Yeah, I do. And I can see it so clearly. You’re standing on the outside of your life, Charlie. Why don’t you take a step inside and see how great it can be?”
“I have a great life.”
“You think you do. That’s your perception. But to us, the outside world, all we see is a man who lives for his games and his company, making billions every year with nobody to share it with. I’m going to ask you something, and I want the honest to God’s truth from you. Have you had sex with anyone since Marley?”
“That is none of your business.” I glared at him.
“Ha! I knew it. It’s always been my business, Charlie. You always tell me about the women you fuck. And I got to thinking the other day that you haven’t mentioned a word about sex since Marley.”
“I’ve been busy with the launch. I haven’t had the opportunity to find someone and get some action.”
“Your hand must hurt.” He smirked. “Because for as long as I’ve known you, you haven’t gone one week without sex.”
“Shut the fuck up.” I shook my head.
My phone rang, and when I pulled it from my pocket, I saw Greta was calling.
“It’s Greta.” I looked at Chase. “Hello, Greta.” I put it on speaker.
“Mr. Stone, Sylvia and I wanted to let you know that we’re finished cleaning the penthouse.”
“Okay. Thank you. You never call me when you’re done.” My brows furrowed.
“We met your baby mama, Marley. She seems very nice. But now that another person is living in the penthouse, it creates more work for us. We’re going to have to up our rates.”
Chase busted out into laughter.
“Fine, Greta. I understand.”
“Okay, Mr. Stone. I just wanted to let you know. Goodbye.”
“Just wait until the babies are born.” Chase laughed. “She’s going to triple her rate.”
“Shut up.” I sighed.