Chapter 10
Liam
Oh shit. I know I’ve fucked up, and my nerves are on edge as a result.
It’s been about a week since I got home and discovered the positive pregnancy test next to my dinner plate, and since then, everything’s gone from bad to worse.
I’m not sure why, either, except I know that Avalon’s moved back to her old apartment, and I’m here to confront her on her motives.
After all, she was living in the lap of luxury at my mansion.
I get that not everyone loves having a huge place because you tend to rattle around like loose change when there’s only two of you.
Still, life at the estate is comfortable, and although the curvy girl isn’t materialistic at all, she availed herself of the pool, library, and sauna when she was home.
So why re-locate to this sagging apartment complex on the other side of town, and especially when she’s pregnant?
Avalon was welcome to stay with me, and to have every luxury at her fingertips.
Now I’m here, and I need answers. Grimly, I trudge up the sidewalk towards the complex before mounting the outdoor stairs to the second level. The place looks like a down-on-its-heels motel, with a sagging roof, crumbling concrete, and grayish lawn outside. But I’m here, and I need answers.
Stopping in front of 2F, I take a deep breath before raising my hand to knock assertively on the door.
There’s no answer, and I rap again. Still no answer.
Then, I pound on the door with both fists, wondering if she’s home when suddenly, the door opens.
Avalon is staring at me, looking a little miffed, and I can see why.
She’s dressed in a bathrobe, her skin damp and glowing from a recent shower.
Her hair lies in golden tangles, and it’s obvious that I’m disturbing her.
“Sorry,” I apologize immediately. “I should have called first.”
She stares daggers at me.
“Yes, you should have. But now, I’m out of the bath, so what do you want?”
I hesitate before holding out a package.
“I got you some fancy shampoo and conditioner,” I say. “It’s the brand that you use when you’re at my house.”
Avalon stares at the bag in my hand with suspicion, but then grudgingly takes it before stepping back to let me in.
“Thanks,” she says in a curt tone. “Feel free to come in, but make it quick.”
I wince slightly at her words, but Avalon doesn’t see my expression because the gorgeous blonde has already moved further into the apartment.
The place isn’t much more than a shabby living room with a stove, sink, and fridge against one wall, as well as a door to a bathroom still wafting warm steam.
But I don’t care because I’m not here for the furniture; I’m here for her.
Patiently, I fold my massive form onto the couch and then grimace.
Damn, I can almost feel the springs through the thin cushioning.
But Avalon’s not apologizing for her furniture, nor does she offer me libations.
“So why are you here, Liam?” she asks in a flat voice. “This is certainly a surprise.”
I raise my brows at her.
“Well, frankly, I’m surprised that you’re here,” I say. “And I’m not sure why you moved out either. I mean, you were welcome to stay at the mansion for as long as you like.”
The curvy blonde stares at me through a narrow squint.
“You’re joking right?” she asks in a slow tone. “You send your attack dog to talk to me, and then expect me to stay? I guess there are some women who are that desperate, and who have an addiction to luxury, but that’s not necessary for me and my child. The baby and I will live here, and it’s fine.”
Now, I’m the one who’s surprised.
“My attack dog? What are you talking about? I didn’t send anyone to attack you.”
The beautiful blonde snorts derisively, the color on her cheeks high.
“Don’t pretend not to know, Liam. Nothing happens without your say so.
Your lawyer, Jimmy Warren? That’s who I’m referring to.
He called me the day after I discovered my pregnancy, and made me “The Offer.” Fifteen million for the baby, and a slot at your breeding farm.
Thanks, but no thanks, Liam. Me and my child are better off here, as living, breathing humans as opposed to being cogs in your disgusting reproduction project. ”
Slowly, things are beginning to make sense, and I lift both hands to get a hold of the matter.
“Hold on,” I say in a deep tone. “There’s been a misunderstanding because I never sent Jimmy Warren to talk to you.”
“Oh really,” Avalon snorts derisively, two spots of color on her cheeks.
“Then how did he know? Let me guess, he read your mind, right? You guys are working on some kind of sicko mind meld, and that’s how things get done at your company.
Bullshit!” she rages. “This is your fault, and you’re the mastermind behind it all! ”
I keep my right hand raised, palm out.
“No, I’m not, and I swear to you that I never asked Jimmy Warren to talk to you.
Yes, I had a conversation with the attorney after I found the positive pregnancy test, but I never gave him approval to reach out to you.
I don’t even know how he found your contact info, but I assure you, none of this was supposed to happen. ”
Avalon snarls derisively, her pretty face anguished.
“Oh really? So the breeding farm is fake? It was just a figment of his imagination? You know, the place where all the mothers live with the children you’ve impregnated them with. Or do Belinda and Magda actually live independently, and that was all made up?”
I take a moment to pause, hoping to defuse the situation.
“No, I do own a vast estate on the outskirts of St. Cloud. And yes, Magda lives there with Madison, and Belinda with Ellie. But it’s not a farm, nor is there any pressure to relocate.
Magda and Belinda moved to the estate willingly with their daughters because they have luxurious homes on the property, complete with every amenity.
I make sure everything is paid for, and the two women are able to spend their days relaxing, although actually, both Magda and Belinda still work. ”
“Really,” Avalon snorts. “So your two babymamas are there of their own accord. You didn’t force them to move with a promised fifteen million dollar payout.”
Oh shit. This is going from bad to worse.
Why did Jimmy Warren call Avalon without my permission?
What the fuck?!?! Yes, I had a conversation with him that morning about Avalon’s pregnancy, but I never gave him permission to contact my girlfriend.
Goddamn, the situation’s blown up, and I can only hope the injury isn’t permanent.
In the meantime, I take a deep breath in the hopes of doing some damage control.
“Yes, Belinda and Magda received fifteen million dollar payments from me, but the payments weren’t conditional.
They received the money as a gesture of my gratitude for bearing my two daughters, and they earned every cent of the fifteen million.
But I want you to know, Avalon, that I never authorized any payment to you, nor did I ask Jimmy to ask you to relocate.
He spoke to you on his own, and I had no knowledge of it. ”
Avalon puts her hands on her hips, her chin jutting out.
“And I’m supposed to believe that,” she says in a sarcastic tone. “That your number two just went out on a limb and decided to contact me.”
I nod slowly, blue eyes serious.
“Yes, and I’m not sure why. Jimmy’s been my right hand man for a long time now, but everyone errs on occasion, and this is a big lapse of judgment. I had no idea that he contacted you.”
Avalon’s still disbelieving though, and narrows her blue eyes to a squint.
“Oh really,” she drawls sarcastically. “So you’re going to blame it on your fall guy.”
I shake my head with frustration.
“He’s not my fall guy because believe me, the buck stops with me.
I’m CEO for a reason, and I’ve never shirked my responsibilities, either personally or professionally.
But things have definitely gone off course, and I can see that we’re not making any headway here today.
I’ll leave, and please, call me when you’re ready. ”
With that, I get up and begin to head for the door, my back straight but my soul crushed.
Damn, the damage is even worse than I thought, and to be honest, Avalon is so hurt that I’m not sure there’s any coming back from this.
But as my hand reaches for the knob of the front door, her voice cuts into me.
“Why haven’t you contacted me then? Why have you been incommunicado for the last week? Surely, you noticed that I wasn’t at the mansion anymore.”
I pause for a moment, breathing hard, before turning and fixing her with a serious gaze.
“I know this sounds crazy, but after I found the positive pregnancy test, I went to work and saw Jimmy. Yes, we talked, and yes, I was probably somewhat agitated during the conversation. So I took off for the cabin immediately afterwards because I wanted to wrap my head around what’s happened.”
Avalon pins me with a look.
“And what’s happened?”
I take a deep breath.
“What’s happened is that I wasn’t expecting to have a third child because, believe it or not, there has never been any kind of breeding program in place.
I don’t do that, and find it repulsive and despicable.
So I was shaken to my core by the news of your pregnancy, and took off for the cabin to collect myself.
I needed time to process the news of a third child, and I only got back a couple hours ago.
I only discovered your absence recently, and I came here when it hit home that you were no longer living at the mansion. ”
Avalon stares at me.
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
I shake my head.