Possessive Baby Daddy

“I want to join her investors. Add our money to her money, effectively doubling our offer.”

Mother sighs. “Is it a good investment?”

“Yes,” I say. “Even at this increased price, it’s a good investment.”

She nods and frowns at me. “What do you need from me?”

“Approval,” I say. “To use house money.”

“Ah.” She nods once. “Then do it. I like her, and if you think this is what you have to do, then I will support it.”

I smile. I didn’t expect it to be this easy. And yet…

“Are you agreeing to this because you want me to marry her, or because you trust my business sense?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

She purses her lips. “Do you know how boring it is to sit in a room and recuperate?” she asks.

I hesitate. “Not really.”

“It’s very boring. I had a lot of time on my hands, so I made some calls. Apparently, most people in this town despise her father.”

“He’s a loathsome man.”

She smiles. “Yes, he is.” She sips her tea and smiles again. “But I spoke to a lot of people about that company. They all agree that her new show, what’s it called?”

“Divas in Space. It’s going to be a franchise.”

“Yes, that’s right. Divas, everyone says that’s going to be worth a lot of money. I’m told it’s immensely popular.”

“So this is about business then.”

“Yes, and about your happiness. But you know me, Shaun. If this was truly a bad investment, I’d never allow it, no matter how much joy it would bring you.”

I smile at her. For some reason, that comforted me. I was starting to think this whole cancer scare had changed her.

Glad to see that wasn’t the case.

“Okay then. I’ll go to her with my offer. We’ll make it happen.”

“But one string.” She leans back and crosses her legs. She stares at me over her cup then lowers it into her lap. “That man cannot be involved.”

“Aldo?”

“Yes,” she says. “I will not put my name on a property that he is even somewhat involved in. He must be bought out entirely and scrubbed from the records. That man is a plague, pure and simple, and he must be burned through and through.”

I tense, head tilted. “I don’t know if he’ll go for that, even with more money.”

“Make it happen,” she says.

“Mother—”

“No more games, Shaun. No more going back and forth. I’m leaving in the morning for the manor and this will all be in your hands. No more running back to me for help.”

“That’s not what I’m doing,” I say, getting angry.

“I know it’s not. But even so. Cut him out, Shaun, and make him leave. That’s your only recourse if you want the family’s money in this.”

I stare at her for a long moment. I had hoped I could allow Aldo to stay on as some sort of assistant or associate producer, or just a consultant. I figured that would allow him to stay involved and active, so he’d be more likely to give it up, like I gambled with my first offer. But this time, he’ll also be filthy rich.

But clearly that won’t be the case. “I’ll make it happen.” I stand and she smiles at me.

“Good,” she says. “I know you will.”

I walk to the door. I’m annoyed, but getting my way, so I can’t be too angry.

“And Shauny,” she says as I put my hand on the doorknob.

“Yes?”

“Marry that girl, dear. It’s unseemly to allow her to have a baby without a husband.”

“You’re very old-fashioned, Mother. Single moms are the fashion these days.”

She gives me a flat look. “Not funny. Take care of her.”

I nod once. “I will.”

“Good.”

I leave the room without another word.I find Klara in her apartment, going through the box of things she took from her desk. “How are you?” I ask.

“Angry. Bored. Annoyed.” She shrugs. “But happy, I guess. I’m making a new start.”

I hesitate. I like that she’s excited about the prospect of starting over, and I don’t want to spoil that by bringing up one more offer for her father. But I know this is the best way to go, for her and for him.

“I just saw my mother,” I say.

She raises an eyebrow at me. “Really? How was she? I thought you said she refused to tell you where she was staying.”

“I made some calls and hunted her down. She seemed more herself. But we talked about you.”

“Yeah?”

“She wants me to marry you.”

Klara laughs then stops when she sees that I’m not kidding. “Shaun, we talked about this.”

“I know.” I stare at her then sit down on the couch, our legs touching. “Listen to me. I want to marry you, and the offer stands. When you’re ready, you can give yourself to me. But in the meantime, I’ll be whatever you want me to be.”

She bites her lip. “Do you really mean that?”