Billionaire's Pleasure-Chapter 104: Private Talk

Mia’s POV

To discuss the baby, he invited me to supper. I felt incredibly alone in the world and was unprotected and raw. I concurred. I had the impression that he wasn’t a nasty guy since he had cared about what was wrong long enough to figure it out. Of course, I knew he wasn’t, but seeing a man through a child’s eyes vs a woman’s eyes that have seen adult life are two very different things.

It was a nice restaurant. The sort of location Chris might understand. Once or twice, I had gone there for business meals or lunches. Nothing about the setting, the music, or the cuisine tonight made me feel better. I was reminded of what I might lose if the company learned about the pregnancy while I was there. I would no longer be able to conceal my pregnancy with loose clothing because I was four months along. I didn’t like the music. Even simply looking at the menu made me feel ill from the meal. Why was it called morning sickness when it may strike at any time of the day?

"Chris, it’s really not your concern, but it’s very sweet of you to take me out to talk about this and to look after me when I was vomiting up."

At the two-person table, I turned to face him. He blinks.

I gave a headshake. "I ought to have known better about sex. Not me. I didn’t anticipate becoming pregnant so soon." Even though it made me feel stupid, I forced myself to say it. Now that he understood the truth, there was no reason to withhold anything from him. "I’ve been without partners for so long that I’m gullible about these things. I just had a terrible awakening. You still have no need to take action."

From his wine glass, Chris took a sip. Water was in mine. I was worried when I discovered I was pregnant because I would no longer be able to drink away my sorrows. Alcohol was practically foreign to me at this point because I was so sick all the time and vomiting up for no apparent reason.

"I won’t abandon you in the dark. Whatever you need to take care of this, I’ll pay for. I’ll put the money into whichever account you specify as soon as you let me know when you need it." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

I received the salad I had requested. It was simple—just a few leaves and an occasional chunk of tomato or cucumber. A steak with cheese sauce was what Chris had ordered. My stomach turned at the fragrance. For me to take care of the pregnancy, Chris was willing to pay.

"Chris..." I refused to look at him and instead focused on my salad. "I will not get an abortion. The child will remain in my care."

I looked up at him after he had been silent for a while.

"What will you say to your father? I was glad he didn’t question my decision to keep the baby." I ate some lettuce and reclined in my chair. My lower back was terribly hurting.

"He is already aware. I informed him that the child belongs to an old college flame."

"You kept me safe?"

He appeared startled. I blinked. I couldn’t have exposed him in such a way. He gave me a moment of his admiring attention. It was a mistake. He could not admire me for anything.

He grasped my hand across the table and said, "Mia." I yanked it off. "I want to be a father if you are having the child. It’s wrong to let you go through it alone and for the child to have a single parent while they’re young."

I gave a headshake. "My father will be aware then."

Chris nodded while he sighed.

He will, but I’ll have to learn to live with that.

"No, you can’t. What would he think of me after hearing that? He’ll be devastated if I tell him I seduced you. I don’t want you to be held accountable for whatever you did, therefore you can’t tell him it was your doing. No, please; I’m having this baby alone."

Chris gave a headshake. "This is impossible for you to accomplish. I won’t be excluded from the child’s life by you. Allow me to support you. Legally, I’m allowed to."

I was now enraged. When I was still trying to sort out my life.

"Now we’re talking about legality. I was stupid to assume you cared enough to want to be there for me and the baby."

"You are aware that’s not what I mean. I do, however, have a right to be involved in the child’s life."

I regarded my salad. It appeared so unpleasant all of a sudden. Feeling queasy, I pushed the dish back a little. Again. Always.

"Chris, I can’t do this. I’m not interested in discussing it. I had already made up my mind and laid out my intentions. I am capable of handling things on my own. You won’t jeopardize your career for me."

"Do not dictate to me what I will or will not do. You’re carrying my child while yet being a youngster yourself."

That worked. My ears began to ring. Nearly everything else had been alright, but his contempt had driven me to my breaking point. After placing the napkin on my plate, I stood up.

"Don’t act like you’re my father," I said.

"Where are you headed?"

"Away."

He reclined. He was going to fight for me, and I was going to stick around. If he did, I was going to march right out the door. I was simply waiting for him to direct me. I dared him to do it by posing a challenge to him with my gaze. His arms were crossed over his chest.

"Fine."

Fine? Was he all right with me going? Would he simply let me go? Every defense I had prepared to use against him collapsed as a result of it, taking the wind straight out of my sails. Hello, defeat. I turned around and left, but if I hadn’t been desired in the first place, it wasn’t nearly as satisfying or successful.