All Chapters of The Reluctant Daddy CEO : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

65 Chapters

Chapter Fifty One : Does running count?

ASHLEY. A fully clothed Nicholas Bianchi was dangerous. But a shirtless one with sweat dripping down his chest was a fucking hazard. I definitely forgot how to breathe for the first five seconds. And I couldn't stop staring as he moved from one equipment to another. The treadmill and the weight rack were the only things I recognized. The light defined every muscle on his chest. The way his biceps flexed as he lifted the weights. This was all shades of wrong. He was my boss. Technically a friend. "Is this a friend thing to do, Miss Walker?" he whispered closer to my ear and I shivered. I was so lost in my head that I didn't realize that he was walking over here. My cheeks felt warm. "Hi." He leaned against the door and smiled. "Hey." I looked past him and fixated my gaze on an unfamiliar equipment. I needed to focus. "What are you doing standing here, snooping on me?" he smirked. I cleared my throat. "Well... you know." He shook his head, amused. "I don't know." "I

Chapter Fifty Two : We were friends.

NICHOLAS. I had to move away from her.I would have ruined things even further."So," she started, "why were you working out this late?""I couldn't sleep," I admitted.I could already read the question in her eyes.Why?I rubbed my knuckles before answering."My dad and I don't talk every day, and he's never been this mad at me. Knowing he's still angry... knowing he doesn't even want to talk to me..." I exhaled. "The thoughts just won't stop."She nodded in understanding."We don't like disappointing the people we love.""I wish he'd found out under different circumstances.""He'll come around," she said softly. "He loves you."I ran my tongue over my bottom lip."He's taking his sweet time."I turned to her and caught her staring at me again.Was she feeling what I was feeling?I couldn't possibly ask."Do you want to stay and work out?" I smirked. "I'm going to make my protein shake."She groaned dramatically."You'll never let me live this down."I tapped a finger against my chi

Chapter Fifty Three : Save me.

ASHLEY. That had to be the shortest kiss in history.I collapsed onto my bed, unable to resist touching my lips with my fingertips.He initiated it...Then he apologized.Did he feel something too?I didn't want to overthink what had happened, but it was impossible not to.What if he only wanted to sleep with me?What if he didn't like me that way?What if that kiss meant nothing to him?I groaned and ran a hand through my hair.Men...They were just as much work as kids.Nicholas Bianchi was messing with my head, and I had no idea what to make of it.What was I supposed to do now?Pretend tonight never happened...Or keep replaying it until I drove myself crazy?The first option sounded a lot healthier.The sooner I forgot about it, the better.Nicholas Bianchi was trouble.And if I wanted to survive living under the same roof as him...I needed to protect my heart.And stay as far away from him as possible.__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^Morning came too early.Maybe

Chapter Fifty Four : How is she?

ASHLEY. "I need to make a quick trip to Chicago. I'll be back in three days," he had said three days after the almost kiss.It made me happy and sad at the same time.The sensible part of me knew which emotion I was supposed to feel.The house felt boring again without him. Katrina had stylishly extended her holiday by another week.I had to cancel my weekly trip to see Lily.Melissa was still using whatever drugs she was on.At least it gave Lily little opportunities to get away from the house.I checked my phone for the time.Lucy had been running a fever since morning. I'd already done everything I knew to do.It eventually lulled her into an unusual afternoon nap.I opened the door to her room and froze.She was still lying in her cot.Not trying to stand.Not trying to babble.Her eyes were barely open.I hurried over and pressed a hand to her forehead.She was burning up."I... Ash-ley..." she whispered.I blinked in surprise.She had said another clear word apart from my name

Chapter Fifty Five : The headlines.

Chapter Fifty Five. NICHOLAS"How much time is left?" I asked the nearest flight attendant for what had to be the millionth time."I'll go and ask the pilot, sir," she replied gently.Was she okay?I didn't know.I already switched off my phone.I ran a hand through my hair before shoving both hands into the pocket of my hoodie.I had seen Ashley's missed calls and text the moment my meeting with the investors ended.My phone had been on Do Not Disturb."About thirty minutes, sir," the flight attendant said when she returned.I nodded distractedly and leaned back in my seat.One of the perks of owning a private jet.The pilot was ready anytime.I closed my eyes and silently prayed.Please let her be okay.My mind drifted to the morning I left.She had clung to my dress pants, crying so hard that I almost canceled the trip.I ended up bribing her with ice cream.Just one scoop.The memory pulled a sad smile from my lips.Seven days.I'd only been gone for seven days.And somehow every

Chapter Fifty Six : Popular in a minute.

ASHLEY. My phone kept blowing up.With messages from my supposedly friends in high school and college - the people I never exchanged more than five words with.One picture with the infamous billionaire could make anyone popular in a minute.After his security team pushed through the crowd, we got home safely.Two hours passed, and nothing happened.Then hell broke loose an hour later.I was labelled the baby mama in some tabloids.The mystery woman in others.My social media account gained a few hundred followers in the past hour.I could hear Nick barking orders in Italian. He had been on his phone since we got back.I didn't know what this meant for him.But the public reaction wasn't good.So many curse words. I was seeing some of them for the first time.His stocks had tanked 2.5% in the past hour.According to the news, two investors had already pulled out.I couldn't read anymore, so I threw my phone into the corner.Lucy was sleeping soundly, her temperature back to normal.So

Chapter Fifty Seven : Forever?

NICHOLAS.Punch!Investors pulling out.Punch.Stocks tanking.Punch.The media being pests.Punch.I could lose everything.The punching bag ripped open. It was the second one today.I removed my boxing gloves and threw them to the side.Fuck.I gripped my hair in frustration.Of all things...I had to drag Ashley into this.The poor girl.I read the comments until I couldn't take them anymore.It always amazed me how quickly people could turn against you.One minute, I was adored.The next, I was being dragged online by the same people who used to worship me.The number one eligible bachelor.Now they were calling me names - some I was already used to hearing.Ashley wasn't.And I was relieved she hadn't told me she was leaving.I wouldn't blame her if she wanted to.This life...Wasn't easy.Being rich meant being watched.Constantly.It was exhausting.One wrong move and the cameras were ready.I walked out of the room.I could already picture the judgmental looks from my PR team

Chapter Fifty Eight : WHAT?!

ASHLEY.I tried calling again.Same response.The same automated voice.It was almost midnight. It was unlike him.I went back to my social media accounts. The comments were still there.I knew he said he was used to them... but no one should be used to something like this.They were vile.All because he had a child.So what if she was born out of wedlock? That didn't define either of them.Or maybe I would just never understand his world.Melissa still hadn't texted.That was enough to make my heart race.Not out of jittery anticipation, but fear.She was definitely doing it on purpose.She wanted me to crack... unravel.And I was doing just that.I tried his number again.I was worried sick about him.I cared more than I should.I got up from the chair when I heard a car driving in outside.I rushed out immediately and waited for him by the front porch.When he stepped out, he looked disheveled.Good disheveled.His tie hung loose around his neck. Several buttons of his shirt were u

Chapter Fifty Nine : Oh, Lord!

NICHOLAS. I was threading on a dangerous territory. And I didn't want to stop."Ask me to stop," I breathed.Her lips parted. "I don't want you to stop."That broke down my last thread of control.The sensible part of me.I kissed her.Before I could second guess anything. Before I could overthink the situation.She moaned like she wanted this as much as I did.I put a hand on her waist, the other on her neck pulling her closer.Every single one of my problem disappeared into the back of my head as our lips met. The kiss deepened, and I lost myself in it completely.She tasted like the lasagna we just had. I didn't know how much I wanted her like this until now. My hand tightened at her waist, pulling her flush against me until there was no space left between us.She shifted.And then she was straddling me.The air left my lungs in one slow, controlled exhale that took every ounce of discipline I had. Her knees settled on either side of my thighs, and she was right there - close en

Chapter Sixty : Cupcake?

ASHLEY.My eyes fluttered open as the bright sunlight shone on my face.The first thought that entered my head was...We kissed... again.Then I finally looked around my surroundings.I could feel a hot breath on my neck.I froze.His beautiful hands were wrapped around my waist, my back pressed against his front.I smiled.He was interested in... us.There wasn't an us at the moment, but he felt something.I wasn't the only one in this.My feelings were more advanced, but he didn't need to know that.Then I remembered what today was.The day he said could either make or break him.I silently prayed he would be able to handle it all.That it would all end.I felt him waking up, so I quickly pretended I was still asleep.Don't ask why.He moved around, removing his hands from my waist.I felt his eyes boring into my face."So beautiful," he mumbled.I forced my eyes open at that."You can't lie. You can't act to save your life," he started. "Good to know."My cheeks warmed.I didn't kn

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