A Baby of Convenience

“I don’t know why you’re fighting this so hard,” Cliff said. “You haven’t the faintest idea how to manage this business.”

“Exactly,” Neal said triumphantly. “I don’t have any idea how to run this business, and I will get a monthly stipend based on my shares, whether I have control of the company or not. So why on earth would I choose to put myself in a situation that would require me to get overly involved in something I had no interest to begin with? It makes absolutely no sense.”

“Or is that just what you want us to believe?” Clifford glared at him.

Neal shook his head as though frustrated with Cliff’s line of questioning.

“Believe what you want,” he said casually. “It doesn’t change the fact that Elena Parker is pregnant with my brother’s baby.”

“I think,” Jennifer Perez spoke up deliberately, “a paternity test is in order.”

Neal raised his eyebrows, as though the thought had never crossed his mind. He looked around the room, making sure everyone caught his expression. He seemed to consider it for a long moment.

“That’s… reasonable I suppose,” he accepted. “I don’t think Elena will mind.”

“Excellent,” Jennifer said with a tight smile.

Cliff was watching Neal carefully. He seemed to take in everything, his eyes narrowing as Neal rose from his seat.

“Well, I’d best be off,” Neal said, walking out of the board room, with Harry hot on his heels.

Once they were at a safe distance from the rest of the board members, Harry turned to Neal with worry in his eyes.

“What are you doing, Neal?” he asked.

Neal played dumb. “Do you agree with what Cliff is thinking? That I have something to do with this?”

Harry looked deeply uncomfortable.

“I’ve known you a long time, Neal,” he said, wringing his hands together, “and I hope you know you can trust me.”

“I do trust you, Harry,” Neal insisted, “but I have nothing to tell you in this instance.”

Harry looked doubtful, and the worry never left his face.

“The test has to state definitively that George Hargrove is the father of her child.”

“It will,” Neal said easily, “because he is the father.”

Harry did not seem consoled. He just nodded once, his brow still furrowed, and walked away, leaving Neal standing there alone, wondering yet again, if he was doing the right thing.

Chapter11

“Elena?” Neal’s voice was tainted with worry.

Elena couldn’t answer back. She was too busy heaving her guts out. She held onto the toilet and prayed that it would stop soon. Her brow was drenched with sweat and she felt pain shoot through her breasts.

“Can I come in?”

“No!” she managed to scream before she was forced to duck her head down for another bout of heaving.

When she finally emerged from the bathroom, it was to find Neal sitting by the door, his hands resting on his upright knees. His hazel eyes were pale and filled with concern. Elena immediately felt better. She joined him on the floor, before he could get up. She rested her head against his shoulder and felt his hand stroking her hair.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“For what?”

“For putting you through this.”