Chapter 35

Nikolai’s father called a meeting, an important one. He spoke loudly with conviction and seriousness as he walked around the oval table in the conference room looking into the eyes of his right-hand staff. He had everyone's attention except Nikolai’s.
Niko was dreading his afternoon. He called Melissa this morning and asked to meet her for lunch so that he could end things between them.

He realized in the security room when Baylee simply grabbed his forearm, that he could never be for Melissa what she deserved and it's not right to continue their relationship knowing this.

Another thing on his mind, and was irritating the hell out of him was the male who answered Baylee’s phone. He loosened his black tie in annoyance. Who was he and why was he answering her phone?
To his relief, the meeting adjourned and he was the first one out the door. He goes into his office, sits behind his desk, and calls her. It goes to voicemail. He grits his teeth and tries again, and again it goes to voicemail. ”Damn it Baylee.” he barks out, slamming a fist onto his desk. He tries one more time to reach her and when she doesn't answer, he pops up and leaves the building. He drives to her house and when he gets there, he finds that neither she nor her security is there.

He gets back into his vehicle and enters Clarissa’s address into the GPS. He was just about to pull off when his phone rang. To his disappointment it wasn't Baylee calling back, It was Melissa. “Hey…” he answers through Bluetooth.

“Hey… where are you? She sounded cheerful.

He looks at the time on the dash. It was 12:10… He was late. “I got caught up… I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay hurry…. I miss you.”

“Yeah…” he clears his throat. “I’m on my way.” He does a U-turn and heads in her direction. It was time. He had to end it now.

He gets to her building and knocks on her apartment door. His mind drifted to Baylee. Where was she? Why was she doing this to him? She was behaving like a child?

“What’s wrong?”

He lifts his bowed head and meets Melissa’s eyes. Her small form stood next to the door wearing a mid-length red dress. He hadn’t even registered that she opened the door and was watching him.

Her brows join together. “Why do you look like that?”

He swallows. “Can I come in?”

“Of course.” She gestures to him inside.

He follows her into the small dining area where he stops in tracks when he sees that she has a meal prepared. The table was set with wine, an immaculate dinner, and a lit candle. “I know it’s afternoon but you’re so busy… I don’t know when we'll ever have a romantic date so I thought to myself why not now.” She smiles. She goes to a chair and pulls it out for him. “Sit… I want you to taste everything. I made it all myself.”

He didn’t think he could feel worse. She had the wrong idea about why he asked to come over.
He clamps down his jaw and shuts his eyes. “I can’t.”

Her smile fades and her brows scrunched together. “Didn’t you come here for lunch?” Now she was starting to worry.

He opens his eyes and releases a breath. “I don’t even know how to begin.”

She pushes the chair back. “Just tell me… whatever it is, it’s okay.”

“It’s not okay.” He withdrawals. “But it’s the right thing to do.” He meets her eyes finally.

She shakes her head confusingly. “What is the right thing to do? Nikolai please… just.”

“You deserve better than me.” He cuts her off.

She gasped and her hands immediately covered her mouth. She knew the instant the words were said that he was breaking up with her.

“I can’t give you what you deserve… I want to, but I just can’t…I...“

Her hands fall from her lips and grip tightly on the back of the chair. “Why?” She cuts him off. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because… I think I’ve been forcing this…” he drags his fingers through his hair. “and that is unfair to you. You don’t deserve that. You deserve someone who lights up when you enter the room.”

Her eyes well up. “Did you ever feel anything for me? Did you even like me?”

He lets out a breath. “Of course I did… I just…”

“And Baylee?” She wipes away falling tears. “The possibility she is carrying your child has nothing to do with this?”

“No.” He lets out another breath. “This is me wanting to be fair to you.”

“What brought this on? What suddenly made you realize that you don’t like me as much as you thought?”

He shakes his head. Anything he said at this point would hurt her more. “Melissa, you are an amazing, great person. A guy couldn’t ask for a better girlfriend…”

“But?” She sniffles.

“I’m just not the one for you. You deserve a guy to fall head over heels for you. You’re too good and I want you to have better than I’m capable of giving you.”

Her arms reach around to hug herself. “I should have seen this coming.”

He bows his head.

“I guess I knew… Honestly…” she chuckles slightly. “I sometimes felt like an inconvenience around you... but I let myself believe that you were under a lot of stress… who am I kidding right.” She smiled but she was anything but happy.

“That says it all, you don’t deserve to feel that way. This is the right thing to do. Believe it or not, I do care about you, and I’m sorry.”

Her focus shifts to the ground. She stares at the dark wood floor somberly. “I don’t think you’re the only one who might have been forcing things.”

“I promise you, you’re gonna thank me one day.” He approaches her and she allows him to give her a much-needed hug. “I want us to remain friends.”

She nods and pulls away. “Me too.” She gets a napkin from the table and wipes her face dry. “But I think you should go now. I’m gonna need a little bit of time before I can be your buddy.”

He laughs. “I hope it’s not long.”

“Me too.” She looks away.

“Take care of yourself.” He turns around and walks out. He hated that he hurt her but he was gonna hurt her more in the long run.

When he got into his truck he took a minute to collect himself and then picked up his phone to dial Baylee again. He couldn’t help that he was worried. It rang this time but rang out. He tosses the phone on the passenger seat and grips the steering wheel with force. Enough was enough with this childishness. He pulls the truck off and drives to Clarissa’s.

It didn’t take him long to arrive and when he did, he honked the horn. The guard comes out of his post and Niko rolls down the window when he nears the vehicle. “The Kent’s are not home.” He states.

“Do you know where they went?”

He shakes his head. “The kids are in school, that’s all I know sir.”

Niko was determined to find out where Baylee was. He could only hope she wasn’t fleeing the country again. “But I have a meeting with Mr. Kent.” He lies. “Do you think you can call him? It’s urgent.”

“What’s your name?”

“Nikolai.”

The guard goes back over to his station and calls Jacob. Within a minute he comes back over and gives Niko the phone. “Hello.”

“Who are you?” Jacob answers.

“I’m the father of Baylee’s child, and I need to know where she is. She’s not answering my calls.”

Jacob looked at the security camera from his phone and recognized him. He thought about it and knew how he would feel if he was looking for the mother of his child, so he answered, “She’s in the hospital.”

“Which one?” He demands.

He spits out the hospital name and room number and Niko flies there.
He quickly gets a visitor's pass and heads up to the fourth floor.

When he opens the room door he sees Baylee sitting up looking at her phone. Instantly his panic grew to fury. She was deliberately ignoring him, but above that, he was terrified. ”What happened?” He demands and half scares her.

She jumps in surprise. “Oh my god Niko… how did you…”

“That doesn’t matter… why are you here?” He sits in the chair by her side and lays his palm on her stomach. “Is the baby okay?”

“Yeah she’s fine…” she nudges his hand away. “my blood pressure spiked… I went into labor a little early that’s all.”

His brow arched. “How is that fine?”

“They are giving me medication to stop the contractions and I have to stay here on bed rest.

He shakes his head. “Don’t make this sound like a small thing… our child could have.” He couldn’t even say it. He looks away from her for a moment and then back. “Why didn’t you call me? Don’t even answer that... I know why because you’re being selfish and childish.”

“Why did you ever marry me if that is what you think of me?” She fires back.

He grinds on his teeth. His natural patience was lost. “I didn’t care honestly…I knew what was beyond the wall you put up, but this involves my child now.”

“Look,” She looks at him seriously. “I know you think I’m being selfish and I am at times, but right now this isn’t about your feelings. This is about my child and me being stressed out is hurting her. It’s the very reason she almost came early. The doctor told me not to stress and at this moment you’re the main reason for my stress. That is why I didn’t call you. I just needed a little more time.”

He looks away regretfully. “Why am I stressing you out?

“You know why…”

“I don’t…” he shakes his head. “Please fill me in.”

“Come on Niko I have to say it out loud…I was hurt seeing you with Melissa… I thought… we…” she shakes her head. “I was stupid.”

“Do you have a thing for unavailable men? Because you didn’t want me when I was single and desperate for you.”

“Wow…” She looks down at her fiddling fingers.

“I’m sorry… I’m just losing it here…” he combs his fingers through his hair. “You can’t just tell me when something is wrong.”

“You’re right…” She admits. “I’m sorry…”

“No, I should be... I shouldn’t have…”

“I’m sorry for all the times I’ve been selfish and I’m sorry for all the times I’ve been childish.”

He rolls his eyes regretfully. “You don’t have to…”

“I want to.” She declares. “And no I don’t have a thing for unavailable men. To this day, you’re the only man I’ve ever been with.” She didn’t know why she admitted that but maybe it needed to be said.

He swallows. “And it kills me even more that you were going to sleep with Conner.” He clenches his teeth together in agony from the memory. “What was so special about him huh?... wait don’t answer that.” He actually didn’t want to know and all of this back and forth wasn’t doing any good. “Maybe you’re right… maybe the best thing is for me to stay away for now.” He shifts his gaze to her round bump, reaches out, and lays his palm on it. “Stay safe in there.” He whispers to his daughter. He then stands and looks into Baylee’s eyes. If anything changes or if you need anything… call me.”

As he opened the door to leave Clarissa appeared with two cups of what looked like coffee. “Oh hi…” she couldn’t hide the surprise on her face.

He nods subtly and walks past her. She went back into the room with her sister and found that she didn’t look so happy. She leaned back and looked at her hands as if they were guilty of wrongdoing. “Here.” She gives her a cup. “Hot chocolate.”

Baylee takes it but doesn’t drink.

“Whatever happened just now, forget about it. Your office called and they want you to revise some designs.”

“Oh yeah… “ She glances at her sister. “And why would they call you?”

“Okay, Maybe I called them.” Clarissa sips from her cup. “You haven’t been working at all and I think a little work won’t be too bad for you.”

Baylee nods. “Yeah… maybe you’re right it could be a good distraction.” She loved designing and these past months she’s been so distracted she has barely checked in on her company.

Clarissa was pleased with herself when later a staff member of Baylee’s brought her the latest shoe designs and right away she was making changes.
Around midnight while Baylee slept she headed home for some rest. When she arrived there was the aroma of something delicious in the air as soon as she opened the door. She looks down at her feet and notices a path of deep red rose petals illuminated with candles. She takes her shoes off and sets her bag on the end table before following it. It led her through the hall, passed the kitchen, and into the dining room. The area was dark; only the light from the candlelit dinner for two on the table was visible. It was so pretty it caught her eyes like a bug to a lamp.

She lifts one food to enter the room when suddenly she’s snagged by Jacob’s arms circling her waist from behind and tugging her to his chest. “Clair…” he whispers.

“Jacob...” She melts into his embrace.

“I’ve missed you…” he inhales her scent and kisses the side of her head.

She absorbed the feel of his palms and turned in his arms. She then laced her fingers together behind his neck and tiptoes to reach his lips. Her mouth landed on him with an urgency she didn’t know she felt. She kisses them with passion and need; accepting his tongue and harsh grip.
He turns her suddenly and presses her up against the wall. He takes control by pinning her hands against the door frame and kissing her senselessly. His strong grip held her smooth skin delicately, yet with force. He sticks his head in the crook of her neck and massages her with kisses. His breathing was increasing and his self-control decreasing.

He then gives attention to her shoulders, tapping his lips on them gently. “I love you.” He whispers. “So much…” He kisses her collarbone… “too much…”

“Jacob…” She pants. Her eyes rolled back in her head in a complete moment of desire; she wrapped one of her legs around him needing to feel him but unable to use her hands. He lifts her shirt and cups her breast causing her to burst out a loud moan. “Jacob.” She gasps out his name. Then suddenly she hears something. It was a door opening and closing.

He didn’t hear anything and kept kissing her as if in a trance. She stills and he notices the change in her body language. “What’s wrong.” He puts his fuzzy vision into focus and looks at her.

“I hear something.” She wiggles her wrist free.

Little feet make a pitter-patter sound on the way down the stairs.

“Oh no.” She pushes him a distance away.

He was confused at her panic. “What’s wrong?” He struggles to contain his breath.

“One of the kids is coming.”

“So…” he shrugs.

“So? So… I don’t want them to know just yet…”

The lights suddenly come on and Matthew enters. “What the?....” he rubs his eyes and looks down at the rose petals.”

“Did you make this mess?” Clarissa turns on her stern mommy voice. She didn’t know how to explain so she turned it around.

“No…” the little boy's face scrunched up.

“Then who did?” she continues

Jacob crossed his arms and watched her with a smirk as she thought quickly on her feet.

“Well, daddy and I didn’t do it…” She lifts her hands to her hips.

“I don’t know…” His little hand's flare-up.

“Why are you out of bed?” She changes the topic.

“I heard you come home and I miss you.”

“Aww…” Clarissa goes to her son, stoops low, and gives him a tight hug and kiss. “I miss you too… get into bed I’ll be up in a minute.” Matthew happily shakes his head and goes back upstairs.

“Clair.” Jacob nears her, touches her shoulders, and turns her to face him. “It’s okay…”

“It’s not okay. I can’t break their hearts again.”

“Are you crazy? They’re going to be so happy.”

She touches her hand to her forehead as if it was hurting.

“Come…” He assists her to the table. He pulls out her chair and once she is seated he joins her.

“I just…” She curls her hair behind her ears.

He picks up a fork and hands it to her. “Eat please.”

She takes it. “Thank you.” She clears her throat. “What I’m saying is… if we don’t work out…”

“We will…” He affirms.

“But if we don’t…”

“We will…”

“You’ve said that before Jacob, and look at what happened to us, our divorce has been finalized. We're not even married anymore.”

“That doesn’t matter, you were always mine, and will always be mine.”

An uncontrollable smile grew on her lips. “Jacob…. I’m being serious.”

“I am too, But I do understand where you’re coming from…” he forks a piece of chicken into his mouth. “The kids' feelings matter and they’re just getting used to the way things are now.”

“Exactly.” She puts some salad in her mouth. “So we can keep it secret from them?”

He nods. “For now.”

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