Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Billionaire Heiress Baby: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

“Wow. You look gorgeous,” his throaty voice rumbled.Fiona placed her hand on her hip clad in the designer black pantsuit andbeveled her feet like a model. Her patent-leather Jimmy Choo heels weresky-high, and her diamond jewelry flashy against the dark fabric. Shecocked her brows with pleasure and sauntered toward him. Standing toe totoe, she smoothed the lapels of his new jacket with confidence, splaying herhands across his chest. “You look gorgeous too. I’m glad you let me talkyou into this jacket. It’s truly exceptional.”His baritone voice continued to rumble beneath her hands. “I know it’sunusual for a woman to buy a man all these things. I’m still not sure how Ifeel about it…”“Nonsense!” She brushed him off and reached for the small satchel shehad filled earlier with night-out accessories. Grabbing a thin wallet frominside, she confidently presented it to him. “Here. You’ll need this tonight,and at all the other outings we attend so you can look like you’re paying.”

The meal was exceptional, topped off with a two-tiered cake with fierysparklers lighting up the birthday boy’s animated expression. They sang anexuberant rendition of the Happy Birthday song in a variety of baritone andsoprano pitchiness as Ritchie wiped a tear from his handsome bearded face. Chris couldn’t help but think to himself that the evening was goingalong splendidly, the ensuing dessert conversation effortless. This was a loteasier than he thought it would be. It was nice to be among a group offriends who seemed to genuinely care about one another. Fiona wasincorrect when she told him her friends were judgmental. They were cordialand fun—a wealthy lot of characters, literally. With the new clothes and a black credit card burning a hole in hispocket, Chris seemed to easily fit right in with the upper-class crowd, hisfaçade as a wealthy man fooling them all. Fiona’s resting-bitch-face hadn’tmade an appearance all night, proof that they were winning the group overw

It had been a long weekend of dressed-up social engagements. Whowould have thought attending parties and shopping with an heiress could beso exhausting? Frank and Petra’s baby shower was elaborate and held at aparticularly famous hotel near Tiffany’s and Central Park. The pink-themedbrunch was over-the-top with enough flowers and Bellinis to make a newbride jealous, let alone a mother-to-be. Chris was attentive and playedalong, floored when Fiona offered him one of her late father’s Cartierwatches to wear to the festivities—as long as he left it at her apartmentwhen they finished. It was unnerving wearing a piece of jewelry insured forover a million dollars. It was unfortunate he couldn’t enjoy the party forclutching his wrist, making sure the valuable piece stayed in place. Chris hated to admit it, but he rather enjoyed Fiona’s company. Alwaysimpeccably dressed and put together, she was smart and savvy in herconversations, and her wit was quick and often comical. He enjo

“Where’s the bathroom?” he heard her shout.“Upstairs off the bedroom you’ll be staying in. You can’t miss it,” heyelled back, energized by the change of scenery and the challenge Fionaoffered. The woman definitely kept him on his toes.The air was brisk, and the sky was already turning shades darker in theshorter day. Glad Nicky had prepared a surprise supper, this gave him andFiona more time to settle in at the house. With a perfectly good mealalready prepared, he certainly hoped she didn’t expect him to drive backinto town for a sit-down dinner at one of the restaurants. A roaring fire inthe fireplace and a bowl of homemade chili sounded perfect to him. Lugging their bags through the front door, Chris dropped them with athump on the hardwood floors, making Saint bark. His house had old-worldcharacter with exposed wooden beams and stone walls jutting out withnooks and crannies, keeping the space cool in the summer and warm in thewinter. Crossing the length of the family

Fiona gazed dreamily into the roaring fire, content after the heartysupper and a few beers. The pot of chili Nicky left for them was tasty andsubstantial. When she got up from the table to get a little more, Chrisseemed extra pleased, offering her an “I-told-you-so” reaction. It was apleasant evening eating a homemade meal with a man she appreciated. Hehad removed her from the chaos and noise of her life and brought her to aplace where she could finally let her hair down and be herself. For the firsttime in ages, she was totally and utterly relaxed. Her mind wasn’t a jumbledmess of jealous thoughts and nervous banter within herself. Before his invitation, she agonized over the lonely days ahead with noimminent plans on her schedule for the remainder of the week—plans thatdidn’t include her paid companion. She couldn’t demand that Chris stay inthe city and be her beck-and-call boy, although the thought did cross hermind. That he’d invited her to come along on his trip was