Chapter 28
Daniel
I knew I should have gone after Heart, but I didn’t. My feet felt like they were glued to the floor of my office as I helplessly watched her walk out the door, its slam still echoing in my ears. I sunk in my desk chair and ran my hands through my hair, frustrated.
I had never seen her so angry, or heard her voice so sharp. Granted, I was still getting to know her and all the sides of her, but that one hurt. It was a side I didn’t ever want to see, and it was one I had caused.
Stupidly, I should have known that sneaking around with her would hurt her. I kept saying it was to protect her. To protect that baby. That was true, but it was also because I wasn’t ready to face the judgment of the tabloids. It would ruin my image. My company’s image.
It had nothing to do with Heart or where she lived or what she looked like. I didn’t care about any of that. I found her to be the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I hated that my actions had brought out such ugly insecurities.
If the press found out about us and the baby, they wouldn’t just tear me apart, they would go after her, too.
I didn’t want that for her. I wished she could see that.
Our worlds were just so different. She would never understand what it was like to be splashed all over newspapers and gossip sites.
I didn’t want her to ever experience that.
I didn’t know she was coming today. I didn’t even know what day it was after the weekend I’d had.
I spent half the time going over the contracts for the London deal that had important holes in them that had been overlooked in underwriting, and the other half wondering how the hell I was going to be a father.
That was why I didn’t invite her back to my place after dinner on Friday, and I could see on her face the flicker of disappointment.
Disappointment that I felt, too. More than anything, I wanted to bring her home and get her back in bed and forget everything.
But it wasn’t that easy. This baby was coming whether we addressed it or not. And I was scared shitless.
It seemed like the only one who had faith in me was Heart, and now I wasn’t so sure.
Freddy made it clear he didn’t think he could do it.
The exact words didn’t come out of his mouth, but I saw it in the way he eyed me as he took a sip of wine at dinner.
He could smile and pat me on the back all he wanted, but deep down he thought this whole thing was crazy. And he was right.
I couldn’t be a dad. Hell, I couldn’t even be a one-woman kind of guy. At least, I hadn’t been up until this point. Now, I had just potentially lost the one woman I wanted to be with because I let my insecurities get the best of me. I had to fix this.
I picked up my phone and tried calling Heart. It rang two times before I was sent to voicemail.
“Fuck,” I said, slamming my phone on my desk.
I should have stopped her. Gone after her. I should have looked at the damn ultrasounds. There were a million things I could have done better in the five minutes she was in this office.
I just knew that if I saw the baby, and how it had grown and changed, I would have grown even more attached to it than I already was.
I couldn’t risk that, not if there was a possibility I wasn’t in his or her life.
It was more for the baby’s benefit than mine.
I would probably just screw everything up.
I sat back in my chair and looked up at the ceiling, wondering what I should do. She said she wanted space, and it seemed like she meant it. I just didn’t know if I could give it to her.
The following weeks dragged on. I didn’t try to call Heart again.
I didn’t make the drive to Brooklyn that I had grown quite fond of.
I gave her what she asked for, but only because I knew we couldn’t stay apart for long.
We were tied to each other because of the baby.
She would have to talk to me eventually. Wouldn’t she?
I guessed she had the check. The check that would change her life and allow her to comfortably take care of herself and the baby. I wondered if writing it had been a hasty mistake. I just wanted her to know that I cared. That I was there for her.
A few Fridays after our double date, I was getting ready for a fundraising event that was held every year.
As I put on my tux and tightened my bowtie, I thought of all the places I would rather be than schmoozing with the socialites of Manhattan.
I wondered what Heart was doing too. Like I had wondered every day since she walked out of my office and left a void in my life.
As Armand pulled up to the Plaza Hotel, the cameras were flashing before I had even exited the car.
I sighed in frustration before plastering on a smile as Armand opened my car door.
The cameras were blinding as I walked the red carpet, giving a wave and buttoning my tux as my publicist had advised. It looked good for pictures, she said.
The demands and questions began filling my ears as the press shouted.
“Mr. Jacobs! Mr. Jacobs!”
“Over here!”
“To your right, Mr. Jacobs!”
“When is the wedding?”
“Where is Ms. Shipley tonight?”
I just kept a smile on, one that never reached my eyes and continued down the red carpet. I breathed a sigh of relief as I entered the hotel. A cocktail waitress came by with a tray of champagne and I eagerly grabbed two, downing one and keeping the other to sip on as I prepared to socialize.
I found a few associates I had done business with in the past and made my way over.
We talked about the usual. Stocks, business deals, and the current economy.
Things I had grown accustomed to talking about.
It felt all so robotic. So ungenuine. Still, it was best to remain professional.
That was the face I had to wear, being the head of my own company.
“Look who just arrived,” said one of them, looking toward the door.
It was Kiera. I took a long sip of champagne.
“I hear you two are back together,” he said, nudging me. “Lucky guy.”
“That’s what they’re saying,” I said. “If you’ll excuse me.”
I downed the rest of my champagne and grabbed another off a tray as I made my way to a corner of the room where I wouldn’t be spotted by Kiera.
I leaned against the wall, away from the spotlights of the dance floor.
I wanted nothing more than to go up to my room, which was complimentary for the guests tonight.
I spent a few minutes people-watching, keeping a close eye on Kiera’s whereabouts. And that was when I saw her.
Heart stood across the room, talking to an old associate of mine. I had to do a double-take to be sure it was her. This didn’t seem like the kind of place she would be on a Friday night. But there she was.
She wore a strapless pink dress. The tulle skirt was fanned out just at her waist. A clever disguise for her growing belly, but also one of the sexiest things I had ever seen her in.
The blush color of her dress almost blended in with her creamy skin, and the bust was barely clinging on to the curves of her breasts.
Her hair was down in waves, sleekly parted in the center.
I wanted nothing more than to touch her. Feel her surround me.
I watched as she talked to the guy at the bar. He said something and she laughed, putting her hand on his arm. I felt jealousy bubble through my blood. I downed my third glass of champagne and strode over with determination to stop whatever was transpiring here.
“Brock,” I said loudly as I patted the guy on the back and prayed that was his name. It had been a while since we had done business together.
He turned and looked at me, registering my face before a smile crossed his.
“Daniel! How the hell are you?” he asked.
I could feel Heart’s eyes on me, staring daggers.
“I see you’ve met Addison,” I said, feeling weird about calling her that. “They’re doing incredible things over at Leading to Learn.”
“So, she’s been telling me,” he said, smiling down at her. I noticed his eyes skim her cleavage and I wanted to knock him out right there.
“Is that so?” I asked, looking at her. “I’m surprised to see you here, Ms. Heartly.”
“Yes, well, Leading to Learn has some items up for bid as part of tonight’s silent auction,” replied Addison coolly.
“It really is a great organization,” said Brock, praise dripping from his tongue. I didn’t buy it for a second. He was probably just trying to get close to her.
“That’s why I am their newest donor,” I said cockily.
“Is that so?” asked Brody, raising an eyebrow. “I was actually just about to write a check.”
He pulled out a checkbook from the inside of his tuxedo jacket. I tried my best not to roll my eyes.
“Addison, would you be so kind as to accompany me to a cocktail table so we can do this the right way?” Brody asked, offering his arm.
“I’d love to,” she said, taking it, but not before shooting me a look.
I stayed nearby and watched as he wrote out a check, but the whole time he was trying to make conversation with her, her eyes were searching for mine. The guy didn’t stand a chance. But right now, I wasn’t sure if I did either.
Heart slipped the check into her small beaded clutch, and I watched as she politely excused herself. She began making her way toward me, her face tied up in an expression that wasn’t welcoming. She grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the crowd of people.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she asked, shoving a finger into my chest.
“What do you mean?” I shrugged innocently.
“You know exactly what I mean.”
“That guy is a prick.”
“He was perfectly fine,” she argued.
She was right. There wasn’t anything wrong with him, other than he couldn’t keep his eyes off of the parts of her that I desperately wanted. The champagne was clearly going to my head.
“How much did he give you?” I asked.
“Excuse me?” she asked sharply.
“The check. How much was it for?”
“None of your business.”
“Probably not as much as mine.”
“You are a pompous asshole,” she said before turning to go.
She couldn’t be more right.
“Heart, wait.” I reached for her hand.
She looked down as I intertwined my fingers in hers. I didn’t realize how much I missed this until now.
“Let go of me,” she said.
“I just wanted to help.”
“I don’t need your help, Daniel. I’m perfectly capable of doing my job. I’m perfectly capable of doing everything without you .”
She tugged her hand away, but didn’t walk away. She just stood there with her arms crossed in a beautiful party dress, staring into the crowd of people.