Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Michael
I was fully dressed in new Giorgio Armani I’d had delivered. Since I was done pretending to be only a butler as I had for the past few months, I was back to really being a friend. The first thing I had to do was to move out of the servants' quarters, where my family wasn’t going to search for me.
Next, I needed the gorgeous woman in the other room to agree that we would find our place together. My phone beeped, and I read the message: You’re moving out? It was from Charlie, but the wording was more his fiancée.
I wrote back, As soon as we get back from our trip and have time to apartment search .
Send Kelly what you want. She’s got her real estate license and she’ll work her butt off . Clearly, that was Hope.
I typed back, Of course .
Then I heard the familiar voice that starred in all my dreams.
“Who were you texting?”
I handed her my phone and said, “Charlie and Hope, who believe I’m now moving in with you.”
She pressed a hand to her chest like I would barge into her life. “There is no room for you and a baby.”
More important was getting a ring on her hand because the baby was mine, which meant I needed to up our relationship.
“We need a plan, but first your sister,” she said.
One of the most interesting things about Britney was how she focused and got what she wanted while still going out with and being there for her friends. Her caring heart was clear every time I saw them together, which was one of the first ways I’d noticed she had a heart.
We headed downstairs and into a waiting limo. After we squared off against the same woman who’d been after my inheritance for years, Britney and I had more to discuss—a lot more.
When we stopped at the restaurant, Britney hopped out first. Her heels were high, and I wondered if being pregnant made walking harder.
However, Britney smiled at everyone as we stepped out together through New York society, and toward the back was my sister.
As she stood, I held Britney’s back and said, “Hello, Bernadette.”
We scooted into our seats, and my sister wasted no time, taking out a piece of paper. “I had your girlfriend’s background report pulled up and sent to our parents.”
Britney almost choked on her water. She put the glass down and said, “What the…? That’s an invasion of privacy.”
Bernadette didn't even blink. “You are also in the news,” she told her.
I took the background check, and as Britney read the printout, I said, “This blog that trashed my friends…”
A blogger had written horrible things about Charlie and Hope and taken pictures of them together, naked. Then, the same blog called Kir and Avril alcoholics. And with me and Britney, the blog claimed I was pretending to be a butler but was a noble and that Britney was dating me for my money.
Britney's face was white, and she tensed. When she finished, she put it down and faced me. “Michael, have you been in love with me for months and months?”
Unlike me, she wasn’t shy about anything. I felt her strength turn protective, and my heart raced. I’d just been included in the people she cared about.
I smiled and said, “Of course, darling.”
Bernadette sipped her tea then said, “So your girlfriend grew up on a farm, failed her way through high school, changed her name, and became a financial wizard sensation without any additional help.”
Britney sat back and laughed. “In my world, I kick the asses of young men on a regular basis, yeah.”
My sister lifted her chin and said, “And her language could stand a great deal of improvement.”
Britney finished her water then stared at my sister. “What are you suggesting?”
My sister pinkened under the glare and turned to face me. “That you sign over the rights you clearly don’t want and we all lead our own lives from now.”
A few years ago, when I’d gone home, she’d insisted on a lot more.
I sighed and held out a hand. “Let me see the papers.”
Britney asked, “Why aren’t you just saying no?”
“One minute, darling.” I answered quickly because, though she was right, I wanted to know if my sister had changed.
On page three, I found my answer, an addition about my being titled in name only, while she would control the money, with rights to access my own personal bank accounts. Clearly, she was there for the cash. I folded the contract.
Britney said, “Well, Bernadette, Michael knew everything about me and knows how my work was my focus when we first met. You could have asked, as that’s the normal way to get information about a person, instead of reading some scandal-fueled blog.”
My sister swatted the air. “My way is quicker.”
I coughed to get their attention and said, “Right, here it is. Sister, you and our parents have no rights to my money.”
She stared at me like Britney was to be avoided. “You don’t need or use it or even truly want it.”
I slipped the paper back and realized I needed to see a barrister in England to ensure my child became my heir and no one else. My parents were wasteful with the title but I’d worked all my life to restore our name without letting them know. “Except my money grew from my trades. So this is a no.”
Britney stared at me. “You’re so calm about it all.”
Perhaps what drew me to her was that she was my opposite. I’d hidden, while she continued to live her life out loud.
I lifted my chin and decided I needed to be more outgoing as well. “Can I tell our good news?”
She stared at me like I was odd and said, “If you think you should.”
Then I took her hand. “Britney and I will be getting married soon.”
Bernadette asked, “Are you pregnant?”
Britney placed a hand on her belly. “Are you suggesting that the only reason Michael might ask me is because he knocked me up?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Bernadette moved her seat. “I can’t wait till she walks the halls as duchess.”
“I’m beyond bored with this conversation, Mikey.”
I blinked. Britney had never used that nickname, but Americans did tend to shorten first names.
I smiled and refused to correct her. I was positive Bernadette would run home and tell everyone I was making horrible decisions—not that I cared what anyone thought of me as I had the cash under my control, and no one would laugh about that.
I said, “Mother and Father will meet Britney soon, but we have to get going.”
As we turned to go, Bernadette said, “Seriously consider signing the contract, brother. Everything will be smoother for everyone involved.”
My sister wanted control of my title. She’d spent years complaining about me, and I was wondering what she would threaten.
In any case, we said nothing else.
Britney stayed next to me. Neither of us said a word till we were in the limo.
She then took off her strappy heels and asked, “So you truly want to marry me?”
Her legs were one of her best traits as she was long and leggy. She’d held me between those thighs of hers, but I ignored how hard I was getting. “I think it’s for the best for all of us.”
She massaged her feet. “I… We really need to figure out a time frame.”
I inched closer to her and kept my voice low. “I’d like at least a year as you are having my future son or daughter and I’d want some say in their life.”
“You do get that even if we don’t get married. Sharing sounds like the right thing to do.”
“You are more honorable than you let people see.”
She sucked on her bottom lip and said nothing. We returned to her building, and as she put her shoes back on, I stepped out first, walked around the car, and picked her up so she wouldn't have to walk.
She laughed, placed a hand on my cheek, and said, “Fair enough, but first, I think we need a month to see if we can pull it off with our friends and our families. If we can navigate the month, then you have yourself a one-year bride.”
I had one month and then one year to convince her to spend our lives together. I pressed the button for the elevator. “One more thing.”
“Yes?”
I waited till the doors were closed and we were alone. “I want to create a trust for you and our unborn child.”
She waited till we were in her apartment and I put her down. Then she took off her shoes as she asked, “Why are we talking about this right now? That seems something for after birth.”
“I said you too.”
“I don’t want your money, Michael.”
“I can’t have you worried about anything. As that blog showed, our lives are changing forever. Money offers some protection.”
"For the baby.” She curled her arms around her waist and asked, “How much are we talking here?”
For having my child and staying with me, she could spend more than either of my parents. For the time being, I gave her a number. “You could live in New York safely with twenty-five million as a cushion.”
She lifted her chin and said, “You do know I’m not poor. I have over a million dollars saved on my own. I was going to move out of the city and live on that.”
The last thing I needed was to upset her. She was, in many ways, my muse. “Now, you can live in the city, near your friends, and we can be together.”
She tapped the seat beside her and said, “I… need to mull this over, but I am not a fan of your sister.” She jumped up to open her pantry and grab a bag of popcorn.
“She was more in-your-face than usual.” I grabbed two bowls and a couple of mineral waters she had in her refrigerator.
She stopped reaching into the bag when I gave her a bowl and a water. “I bring that out in people.”
What mattered that day was for her to get used to the idea of an us. It was past time for me to come out of my shell, and Britney was sweet when no one else was looking. I hoped she would see, in time, that I was dependable and there for her too.