Eighteen
ALLISON
A llison couldn’t sleep.
Part of it was the excitement about her baby—her daughter. She still couldn’t quite believe she was going to be a girl mom. Every time she thought about it, her heart sped up, full of a joy she could hardly contain. She was absolutely ecstatic.
She would have been thrilled either way, of course, but there was something about having a girl that made her heart swell with happiness. She could already picture her little angel dressed in adorable outfits, hair adorned with bows, and surrounded by all the shades of pink.
She couldn’t wait to meet her.
But if she was being honest with herself, that wasn’t the real reason she was lying awake, staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night. No, the real reason was Angelo Taylor and the confusing events of the day.
She couldn’t make sense of what was happening between them.
Let’s break it down.
First, he asked to kiss her outside her car, but when they got interrupted, he just left. Then he called to apologize and insisted on picking her up, as if that would fix everything. He’d been so comforting when she was stressed, making her feel safe—only to turn around and completely shatter that feeling when he cornered her in his car.
He’d whispered something she wasn’t supposed to hear, and then he just froze like a deer in headlights. As if he regretted the words the moment they left his lips.
And that frustrated her more than she cared to admit.
Why had he said it if he didn’t want her to hear it? And why would he regret it? Those questions scorched her mind like vitriol, playing on a loop she couldn’t stop. His whispered words had struck her deeply—they had pierced her like a bullet through glass, leaving her bleeding and yearning for the comfort of his embrace to mend the wounds.
She wanted to believe his words were sincere, to find solace in the idea that there was truth in his affection.
But what if there wasn’t?
It was all driving her to the edge of insanity. Angelo was unpredictable—one moment warm, the next distant—and she was losing her damn mind.
So, Allison couldn’t sleep.
She tried distracting herself with her favorite billionaire romance on her Kindle, hoping to grow tired, but instead, she just kept twisting and turning in bed, Angelo’s face haunting her thoughts. Now it was three in the morning, and she was supposed to be up for work at seven. Her father had suggested she take the full nine months off, but Allison actually liked working—despite the challenges.
When she first started as her father’s personal assistant, she’d hated it. Oliver Lockwood was a demanding boss and an even more demanding father.
But about a year into the job, something shifted. Her father didn’t exactly become kind, but he wasn’t as harsh, either. And that small change allowed Allison to discover what it was like to work at the helm of a conglomerate like Lockwood Inc.
And she loved it.
Her heart was in finance, even though her current role kept her closer to the administrative side. She hoped that once her brother finally took over as CEO, she could move into the financial department and immerse herself in the numbers.
But tonight, all she wanted was rest.
Angelo, however, refused to leave her thoughts. He had taken camp inside the deepest corners of her mind and simply wouldn’t let her sleep .
She sighed and returned to her book.
Allison adored romance novels. In a world often lacking love, she knew she could always find it within the pages of a book.
Plus, the smut was always a bonus.
Why couldn’t Angelo be more like Dante Russo, the brooding billionaire in her story? That man had his flaws, sure, but at least he was consistent. He was taking Vivian to freaking Paris for crying out loud. Meanwhile, here she was, lying awake, going over every decision she’d made that led to that moment in his car.
She read two more chapters before sleep finally took her.
And, naturally, she dreamed of Angelo.
Allison was running late.
Obviously.
Today was her office day for the week. She’d meant to wake up at six, even set several alarms just in case. Of course, she woke up at six-forty instead, which kicked off a mad dash through her apartment—getting dressed, eating a cheese sandwich because morning sickness and simple carbs were apparently a match made in heaven, and trying to make herself look somewhat presentable.
In the end, she pulled it off with an olive green, knee-length, long-sleeved sweater dress and black pumps—while she could still wear them. She threw her hair into a low bun and skipped the makeup, tossing her mascara tube into her bag with a plan to apply it in the car once she got to work.
And that, she decided, would have to be good enough.
But, naturally, she ended up stuck in traffic, and her mind drifted to its favorite subject: Angelo fucking Taylor, businessman extraordinaire and resident hottie.
She couldn’t pinpoint exactly when her obsession with the man had begun, but lately, he was a constant presence in her thoughts. If she were being honest, the number of times he popped into her head was probably inching toward the territory of mental illness.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop thinking about him, so she chose to indulge her curiosity.
Her mind kept replaying that tense moment in his car. She couldn’t quite explain it, didn’t have the right words, but she’d felt something from him that day. Something different. Something that scared her.
Not that she thought Angelo would ever hurt her. Sure, he’d been intimidating at their little reunion in her father’s office, but she hadn’t been afraid.
Annoyed, definitely.
Turned on? Absolutely.
But never afraid.
What scared her was the power he seemed to have over her, without even trying. She’d wanted to give in to his every request. If he’d told her to jump out a window in that low, commanding voice of his, she was pretty sure she would’ve done it.
And that both terrified and infuriated her.
In that moment, she’d leaned into her anger, snapping at him even though, technically, he hadn’t done anything wrong.
I mean, he did get snappy with me for no reason, but that was nothing compared to how I reacted .
Allison realized she felt bad about it. She didn’t want to feel remorse for demanding he take her home when she did, but there it was, gnawing at her.
She’d spent so many years catering to everyone else’s needs that the moment she asked for something for her own mental well-being, she felt guilty.
Conditioning at its finest, I suppose.
A loud horn yanked her back to reality, making her jerk in her seat and bang her knee against the steering wheel.
What a fabulous way to start the fucking day.
“Fourteen minutes.”
Her father stood there, tapping his foot on the floor, arms crossed, his expression as sour as day-old coffee.
Allison froze as she approached her desk right outside his office. “Excuse me?” she asked, sighing as she set her bag down.
“You’re fourteen minutes late, daughter.”
Oh, give me a break.
She sighed again, rolling her eyes at his absurdity.
“Don’t give me attitude, Allison. You know very well that arriving late is—”
“Improper, I know,” she interrupted, a sharp edge to her voice that surprised even her. Normally, she walked on eggshells around her father, constantly trying to avoid triggering his temper. But something had changed—maybe it was Angelo’s recent kindness, his attention that made her feel valued. Whatever it was, she was done taking her father’s crap.
Allison squared her shoulders and met his glare head-on. Her voice was calm but firm as she said, “I’ve been working late every night this week, handling your clients and fixing your mistakes. Fourteen minutes is nothing compared to the hours I’ve put in.”
Not the full truth, but close enough.
Her father’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red, but before he could say a word, Allison continued. “And another thing, your micromanagement is neither necessary nor appreciated. I am a professional, and I will not be treated like a child.”
For a moment, the room was thick with tension. Her father’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. But Allison didn’t flinch, holding her ground.
Then his gaze dropped to her baby bump. At nineteen weeks, her belly was no longer just a slight bulge—it was clearly the shape of new life growing within her. She knew exactly how he felt about her pregnancy; his disapproval had been evident from the start. She braced herself for the inevitable low blow, waiting for the criticism she was sure would come.
But it never did.
The silence caught her off guard, her heart pounding as she tried to process the unexpected reprieve.
Finally, he turned away with a huff, muttering under his breath, “Just get to work.”
Allison watched him retreat into his office, a small, triumphant smile tugging at her lips. She had stood up to him, and it felt liberating. Maybe it was time she took more control of her life—starting with setting boundaries with her father.
She sat down at her desk, feeling a newfound sense of empowerment.
Allison spent the rest of her day in meetings, many of which had financial aspects that piqued her interest, even though she knew her father would never let her actually handle anything related to finance. After all, she was just his PA. In his eyes, she wasn’t supposed to be smart enough for anything more.
It didn’t matter that she had a college degree in business management and a postgraduate degree in finance. No, according to her father, she was just meant to become a trophy wife someday. That was all she was worth. If it were up to him, he would’ve arranged a convenient match for her long ago—a man with a wealthy background who could benefit him through a merger. He only remembered she had a brain when it suited his needs, like being his assistant.
Thankfully, she was too good at her job for him to marry her off. That was her only saving grace. Well, that, and the fact that Johnathan, would refuse to take over the company if their father tried to sign Allison’s life away for the sake of business. He was the only one of her brothers set to inherit everything, and he’d rather die than let their father dictate her life like that.
For once, she could thank God for overprotective brothers.
A ping from her phone pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts. She checked her messages, smiling when her best friend’s name popped up.
Amira
Hey girl how r u?
Allison chuckled at her friend’s texting grammar. Or lack thereof.
Allison
Hey! I’m just at work…
Amira
I hear u loud ‘n clear
Wanna meet 4 lunch?
Allison considered the idea. She had missed Amira. Their last reunion had been months ago and far too short. They texted regularly, but it wasn’t the same. She could definitely use some girl time. Packing her measly bagel back into her drawer, she checked her father’s schedule to make sure she had the time, then quickly fired off a reply.
Allison
Meet you at Stacy’s in ten?
Amira
Read my mind ;)
Stacy’s was a coffee shop both Allison and Amira adored. It had everything a girl needed—great coffee, delicious pastries, and cats. Her heart always felt full whenever she stepped through its doors, seeing the kittens Stacy had adopted and placed in her bright, cheerful shop.
Stacy, a forty-something-year-old woman with a sweet tooth and a softer spot for cats, had turned the money from her divorce into the best coffee spot in central Seattle—in Allison’s humble opinion. Amira and she had discovered Stacy’s during a random walk downtown, drawn in by the sight of the kittens in the window, and it had been their go-to spot ever since.
It took Allison eight minutes to walk there—much faster than the thirty minutes it would’ve taken by car due to traffic. But the croissants made the slight pinch of her pumps worth it.
When she arrived, she knew Amira wouldn’t be far behind, but she was too impatient to wait outside. Allison headed straight for the counter, stopping multiple times to pet the gorgeous kittens along the way. She ordered a latté and a pain-au-chocolat, practically drooling at the thought of the deliciousness she would soon inhale.
Seems like my little princess isn’t the only one who’s hungry.
She had just settled into a cozy corner when Amira walked into the bustling shop, spotting her immediately and waving energetically despite being less than five feet away.
After placing her order, Amira slid into the seat across from Allison, shrugging off her beige faux fur coat—because nobody supports killing animals for fashion—and revealing a stylish outfit that was the norm for her. Dressed in a white off-the-shoulder sweater that beautifully contrasted with her dark skin and tan cigarette pants, she looked ready to steal anyone’s man without breaking a sweat.
But Allison knew better. Amira was too bright a person to darken someone else’s life.
“How’s my godchild doing?” Amira asked in her British accent, skipping any form of greeting.
Allison chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. Her best friend was nothing if not direct.
“No interest in the godchild’s carrier?” Allison teased.
“My interest right now is that little bean growing inside said carrier. We can talk about you later,” Amira replied, her tone serious, though the twinkle in her eyes said otherwise.
“Well, for your information, your goddaughter is—”
“Excuse me?” Amira interrupted, her back straightening as her fists clenched on the table in front of her. “Are you…?”
It took Amira a moment to find the right words. Allison stayed silent, giving her friend the time she needed. She knew Amira’s thoughts often raced ahead of her mouth, leaving her to stumble over her words until she found the right phrasing.
Finally, Amira’s eyes widened in realization. “You found out? You’re having a girl?”
Allison nodded, her throat tightening with emotion, tears gathering in her eyes. “We did, just yesterday. It’s a girl.”
Amira let out a squeal of joy, jumping out of her seat and causing a few heads to turn. Allison didn’t care. Not at that moment.
This moment was theirs .
“I’m going to have a goddaughter! Karma has rewarded me,” Amira declared, doing a little happy dance before rushing to Allison’s side and hugging her so tightly it almost hurt. Allison didn’t mind. Those were always the best hugs.
“I always thought you’d be the first to become a mom out of the two of us,” Allison whispered as she hugged Amira back, squeezing her briefly before the waitress brought their orders and her friend returned to her seat.
“Are you kidding me? I am not settling down anytime soon, Soniye ,” Amira replied, and Allison believed her. Amira had always been fiercely independent, having learned from her mother what it was like to lack power as a woman in a man’s world.
Allison snorted. “Well, that wasn’t my plan either, babe.”
But she didn’t regret how things had turned out. Sure, the way everything had come about could’ve been more tactful, but as time passed, she found herself increasingly content with the state of things. The initial chaos and uncertainty had given way to a serene acceptance. She embraced the unexpected outcomes with a quiet satisfaction, feeling more certain every day that, despite the rough start, everything had fallen into place just as it was meant to.
Allison also knew how much Amira craved love.
I hope she finds someone worthy of it.
“So, spill, woman,” Amira prompted, her curiosity evident.
Allison’s good mood dimmed slightly. She wasn’t sure how to articulate everything that had been weighing on her mind, but she needed to vent, so she just started talking.
“I’ve had such a weird few weeks, Ami. I’ve been tossing and turning every night, unable to even read—me! And it’s all his fault, Angelo fucking Taylor. With his hot and cold behavior, those curls, and his chocolate eyes—seriously, I didn’t even know eyes could be that shade! And he just—”
“Whoa, whoa. Pause,” Amira cut in, lifting her hands to stop the flood of words. “Take a deep breath,” she instructed, and Allison did as told. “Now rewind. Start at the beginning.”
Allison huffed out a breath before nodding. “Okay. A few days before Christmas, we had lunch with my brother—Johnathan,” she clarified when Amira raised an eyebrow. “And Angelo held me against my car and things got…heated. Twice. He almost kissed me, but we got interrupted.”
“Sounds like you were disappointed, babe,” Amira teased, wiggling her eyebrows. Allison chuckled, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
“I was,” she admitted.
Amira’s eyes sparkled. “Say more.”
“There’s not much more. He’s been texting me every day since then, checking up on me, and he’s almost… warmer? His texts feel less mechanical, you know? We chat, and it’s… nice.”
“Nice?” Amira smirked. “You’re being sweet-talked by a hot guy and all you have to say is ‘it’s nice’?”
“And that’s not even the best part.”
“There’s more?”
Allison nodded, leaning forward. “So, yesterday we had the ultrasound. He insisted on driving me there. And not only that,” she added quickly, seeing Amira about to interrupt, “but he saw how nervous I was and held my hand. Just quietly holding it. Then, after the appointment, when we were back in his car, he got all growly and…”
She trailed off, taking a deep breath, relieved to have finally let it all out. Amira just stared at her, a grin spreading across her face until she burst out laughing—a loud, carefree sound that filled Stacy’s .
“Oh my Gods, you’re in so much trouble, babe.”
“Huh?”
Amira kept laughing, leaving Allison to rethink every decision she’d made up until that point in her life.
Allison’s confusion deepened as Amira’s laughter finally subsided. “What do you mean, ‘trouble’? I’m just… it’s just… I don’t know what it is.”
Amira shook her head, a knowing smile still playing on her lips. “ Soniye , you’re falling for him. And from what you’ve just told me, he might be falling for you too.”
Allison’s heart skipped a beat. “No, no way. He’s just being considerate. Maybe he feels responsible because of…” She trailed off, unconsciously placing a hand on her belly.
Amira raised an eyebrow, her expression turning serious. “Considerate? Girl, that man is holding your hand during ultrasounds, checking up on you daily, and nearly kissing you against a car. Twice . That’s more than just ‘considerate.”
Allison bit her lip, her thoughts a jumbled mess. Amira wasn’t wrong, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to believe it. Angelo was complicated. His hot and cold behavior left her questioning everything. Some days he was warm, almost tender, and then he’d pull back, like he was afraid of crossing some invisible line.
“I don’t know, Ami. He’s not exactly straightforward. One minute he’s sweet, and the next he’s distant. I don’t think I can handle being jerked around like that, especially not now.”
Amira leaned forward, her gaze intent. “Have you ever considered that maybe he’s just as confused as you are? That he’s trying to figure out his own feelings?”
Allison frowned, swirling her latté absentmindedly. “Maybe, but why can’t he just say that? Why all the mixed signals?”
“Because men are dumb,” Amira said bluntly, making Allison snort despite herself. “Seriously, though. Angelo might be trying to keep things professional or protect himself from getting hurt. Or maybe he’s just scared. You two are in a pretty unique situation. It’s not every day you find out you’re going to be a father, especially under your circumstances.”
Allison sighed, rubbing her temples as she tried to sort through her emotions. “It’s just… it’s so much. Everything is changing so fast. And then there’s my father and the business, and I’m scared, Ami. I’m scared of what happens next.”
Amira’s expression softened, and she reached across the table to squeeze Allison’s hand. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now. Take it one day at a time. And as for Angelo, maybe you should talk to him. Really talk to him. Clear the air, set boundaries if you need to, or see if there’s something more there.”
Allison nodded, though she wasn’t entirely convinced. The idea of confronting Angelo about his behavior filled her with both dread and a strange, fluttery anticipation. What if he pulled away for good? But what if Amira was right, and he was just as confused as she was?
“I’ll think about it,” Allison finally said, squeezing her friend’s hand back. “But let’s not talk about me anymore. What about you? What’s going on in your life?”
Amira rolled her eyes, but the smile returned to her face. “Oh, you know, the usual. Work is crazy, my mom’s trying to set me up with the son of one of her friends again—like that’s ever going to happen—and I’m just trying to keep my sanity intact.”
Allison chuckled, grateful for the shift in focus. “Sounds like your mom is still on her matchmaking crusade.”
“You have no idea. She’s relentless. But enough about that. I want to hear more about Angelo. What do your brothers think of him?”
Allison hesitated, the conversation veering back into dangerous territory. “Only John knows, and I’ve sworn him to secrecy. He’s been too busy with work and his own love life—did you know he finally broke up with Susan?”
Amira gasped in delight. “No way! That nosy bitch who—”
“Who always sniffed everything, yes!”
They both burst in laughter at the memory of the ridiculous woman.
Allison kept chortling as she said, “Leo is being his usual self, surfing the waves in LA. And Freddie is still with that God-awful Christine.” Her friend stopped laughing slowly. “Seriously, what is up with my brothers’ taste in women?”
Amira shrugged, a tiny smile still on her face as she scoffed. “Beats me. Anyways, the guys don’t know?”
“No,” Allison shook her head, “I want to tell them myself.”
Amira smirked. “So, they don’t know about the car incident?”
“No, and I’d like to keep it that way. They can be a little intense when it comes to me.”
Amira laughed. “A little? That’s an understatement. Your brothers would probably go full-on protective mode if they ever found out.”
“Exactly,” Allison agreed. “And the last thing I need right now is all three of them storming into Angelo’s office demanding answers.”
Amira’s laughter was contagious, and soon Allison found herself joining in. The tension from earlier melted away, replaced by the familiar warmth of their friendship. For a moment, the weight of her complicated feelings about Angelo lifted, and she allowed herself to just enjoy the company of her best friend.
They spent the next half hour catching up on everything from work dramas to the latest gossip, and by the time they finished their drinks and pastries, Allison felt lighter, as if the heavy burden she’d been carrying had been eased, if only for a little while.
As they walked out of Stacy’s together, Amira looped her arm through Allison’s. “Just remember, babe, you’re stronger than you think. You’ve got this.”
Allison smiled, leaning into her friend’s comforting presence. “Thanks, Ami. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Lucky for you, you’ll never have to find out,” Amira replied with a wink. “Now go on, get back to work before your father has a meltdown. And promise me you’ll think about what I said.”
“I promise,” Allison said, though she wasn’t entirely sure what she would do.
Maybe Amira was right. Maybe it was time to stop overthinking and start talking. But for now, she had to focus on getting through the rest of the day.
One step at a time , she reminded herself. One step at a time.