Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Grayson
I shook my head and placed my phone back in my pocket—girl drama. I rolled my eyes. After I left the office, I met Julius at Edward’s in Tribeca. He wasn’t there yet, so I grabbed a table and ordered a couple of beers.
“Sorry I’m late,” he spoke. “Traffic is a bitch, and the cab I was in almost got in a fucking accident.”
“Traffic is always a bitch, my friend. You know that. We’ve lived here our whole lives. Besides, I’ve been telling you to get your own driver. I’m sure Yasmin would love you for that.”
“She already loves me. Besides, I’m not extra like you.” He smirked as he picked up his menu. “Thanks for the beer, bro. I really need it today.”
“Bad day at the office, dear?” I smiled.
“Just a shit show. I had to fire one of my employees for incompetence. He mixed up someone’s sperm samples, and the woman who came in to get inseminated almost ended up with the wrong sperm. It’s a good thing Cassie noticed it first. So, I’m afraid to ask. How are things going with Harper?”
“I slept with her,” I spoke with an arch in my brow as the corners of my mouth curved upward.
“Why am I not surprised.”
“She’s mine now. She’s all in, and everything is going perfectly according to plan. My grandfather wants to meet her as soon as he returns from his trip. Once he does, and I show him I’m in love with her, all that nonsense about signing the company over to Alfie will disappear.”
“And you’re not developing any feelings for her at all?”
“No. How could you even ask that? You know me, Julius, and you know where I stand with women and relationships. Harper already called me today all upset because she had a fight with one of her best friends, and she wanted to talk.” I sighed. “It’s that kind of shit I can’t stand.”
“I hope you were nice to her about it.”
“Of course,I was. I listened and offered her a piece of advice. I have to play the concerned boyfriend, don’t I?”
“Oh. So now you’re official?” His brow raised as he took a sip of his beer.
“Not yet. But we will be before my grandfather gets back. I’m having her over tomorrow night for dinner, and I’ve asked her to spend the night. Of course, she was more than happy to accept.” I smirked.
“You, my friend, are a cold-hearted bastard. I’m not sure why I even associate myself with you.”
I rolled my eyes as I picked up my beer.
“You seem to have forgotten that you were exactly like me at one time. The only difference is I’m not stupid enough to fall in love.” I gave him a wink. “I was thinking that maybe the four of us can have dinner Saturday night at Per Se. Are you and Yasmin available?”
“Yasmin left for Chicago this morning, and she’s going to be gone for about a month. Her aunt is very ill, and she’s going to take care of her. I’m flying there and spending the weekends with her starting next weekend.”
“Then it’ll just be the three of us.”
“Bro, I don’t know. I know you said she won’t recognize me, but what if she does?”
“She won’t. And whatever you do, don’t tell her you’re the director at the cryobank.”
“So, you want me to lie to her as well?”
“You have no choice, or she’ll get suspicious. She’s a smart woman. Don’t you think she’ll start running scenarios in her mind if she knew her baby came from your sperm bank? Do you think she’ll think it’s a coincidence?”
“Then what should I tell her I do if she asks?”
“I don’t know. Tell her you’re a financial guy or something.”
“I hate every second of this, and you know it.” He pointed at me.
“You worry too much. We’ll meet for dinner Saturday night, and then you really won’t have to see her much after that.”
By the time I got home, it was nine o’clock. I told Harper I’d call her tonight, so I poured myself a bourbon, sat down on the couch, and dialed her number.
“Hello.”
“Hey there, beautiful girl.”
“Hi there, handsome. How was your dinner meeting?”
“It was good. How are you doing? Feeling any better than this afternoon?”
“Yeah. I guess. You’re right. We’ll work things out.”
“Good. I’m happy to hear that.”
“I don’t think I told you, but I had a doctor’s appointment this afternoon.”
“Why? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. It was my monthly appointment. I had an ultrasound done, and I heard the baby’s heartbeat. I can’t wait to show you the ultrasound picture tomorrow night.”
I gulped, and suddenly, I started to sweat profusely.
“That’s great. I can’t wait to see it. Did Curtis send you those projects?”
“He did, and I’m working on one of them as we speak.”
“Great. You can fill me in tomorrow. Listen, I just got home and have a few things to do. I’ll see you tomorrow when I pick you up.”
“Looking forward to it.”
“Me too. Goodnight, Harper.”
“Goodnight, Grayson.”
A picture. She had a picture she couldn’t wait to show me of her baby, my baby. Shit. That’s the last thing I wanted to see. I sighed as I finished offmy drink, went upstairs to change, and then headed down to my study to check my emails.