Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Harper
In the full-length mirror, I stared at my naked body and placed my hands on my belly. I couldn’t believe I was pregnant and had a living being inside me. I didn’t think it would happen on the first try, but it did, and I was the happiest I’d ever been in my life. I was six weeks along, and it was time to put my plans in motion. I had to hunt for a new apartment, and I also needed to secure some more accounts for my graphic design business.
I had three apartment tours lined up for today. After stopping at Starbucks and grabbing a decaf coffee, I headed to my first appointment. I wasn’t impressed at all. The pictures online were much more appealing. My second apartment tour was an apartment I fell in love with, but it was way out of my budget, and the third—same as the first. I wouldn’t allow myself to get discouraged just yet. I’d find the perfect apartment for me and my child. All I needed was a little patience and more accounts.
“Have you considered just going to work for a company?” Charlotte asked. “I know how much you hate that kind of structure and office setting, but I’m not sure you have a choice now.”
“I have, but nobody will hire me being pregnant. Shit. The two-bedroom apartments in this city are so costly, and I refuse to raise my kid in a sketchy neighborhood. I’ll have todrum up more business.”
When I got home, I was exhausted, so I laid down and took a three-hour nap. When I awoke and checked my phone, I had a voicemail from the director of a marketing firm I’d been steadily doing work for.
“Harper, It’s Connie. Listen, I have some bad news. Things right now aren’t good for us, so we have to scale back and cut costs. Unfortunately, we won’t be needing your services anymore. I’m sorry. You’re so talented, and your work is exceptional. I’m sure you won’t have a problem finding another firm to dowork for. I’m putting your final check in the mail today. I’m so sorry about this.”
A sickness formed in my belly as I listened to her message. That marketing firm was my bread and butter. They were my top account. Without them, I had just lost half of my income. Tears started to stream down my face as fear crept inside me. This wasn’t only about me anymore. I had a baby to think about. This couldn’t have happened at the worst time. But at least they owed me a chunk of money that would get me through at least another month.
Grayson
I took my bourbon over to my piano and set it down. Taking a seat on the bench, I placed my fingers on the keys and began playing. What the fuck was I going to do? I had never hated my grandfather more than I did at this moment. I wasn’t a relationship type of guy. I gave all that up in college. Women were too much of a problem for me. They didn’t understand that I had a life outside of them and that I was working hard for my future. All the fighting and the yelling because I didn’t spend enough time with them or pay them enough attention was exhausting. It was then that I decidedto stay single. I was better off without all that complication in my life, and my grandfather couldn’t understand that. He couldn’t understand that I was better off being single. I liked women for one thingand one thing only: the pleasure they provided me with sex. It was all I needed. I was a happy man living the bachelor life and doing whatever the fuck I wanted to do without someone trying to control me. But now, he was the one controlling me. He was in control of my future, and I didn’t like it one bit. But I’d never let Alfie take control of the company I worked so hard to make mine.