Chapter 1
Blue lights.
Loud music.
Pole dancers.
Gin.
This was his tenth shot. The bitter taste lingered on his tongue as his mind drifted to her.
Black hair.
Honey brown eyes.
Lips on some man in the apartment he bought for them… for when they got married.
“Another shot.”
He told the waiter, who nodded and brought more.
“Having a rough night? I can make that all go away.”
A seductive, soft feminine voice spoke.
He looked up at her. His eyes landed on her first. Ocean blue eyes that looked so innocent, like she didn’t want to be here. Her blonde-gold hair was pulled into a ponytail. Her lips were painted dull red.
Long, slender legs.
She wore a short red dress that revealed her cleavage and a birthmark on her left thigh.
He noticed how she shivered when his eyes landed on her legs.
“I want you,” he said breathlessly. “How much for a night?”
Her expression changed slightly.
“I’m not that kind of girl. I only do lap dances.”
“I’ll tip you extra,” he said persuasively.
Her throat tightened. Her mom’s surgery was in 48 hours. She couldn’t say no.
“I… okay.” She said reluctantly, looking around nervously.
“I’ll pay for a private room.”
They walked to the room. As they shut the door, the noise from outside faded.
They both stood there in the dim light, the room filled with tension and something else.
“I’m having second thoughts,” she said.
He walked toward her in slow, measured steps. Like he wasn’t in a hurry. Like he had forever.
“Take it off. Slow. I’m paying.” He slid his business card between her cleavage.
“And you’ll call me in three weeks about some pregnancy test.”
And she did.
****
Her hand flew to her mouth as she stared at the pregnancy test. Two lines. Red.
She was pregnant.
She was carrying the child of a man she barely knew.
The bathroom suddenly felt smaller. She couldn’t breathe. She held her chest, gasping while tears burned in her eyes.
“Riley?” a voice came from outside. “Riley, you’ve been in there for hours. I want to take a piss.”
The handle turned and Andreina walked in.
“Riley, you okay?” She paused when she saw the test.
“I’m pregnant,” Riley said with a weak smile.
“Riley… what do you mean you’re pregnant?” Andreina asked in disbelief.
“I had sex with a customer.” Riley paused and breathed in.
“Riley! You know that’s against the rules? We don’t do that. We only lap dance!”
Andreina scolded, worry all over her face.
“You don’t think I know that?” Riley sighed. “He tipped me extra, Andreina. I badly needed the money for my mom’s hospital bills.”
Andreina hugged her.
“So what are you going to do? You can’t afford the baby and the bills, right?”
“I don’t know… I can’t…” Riley paused, remembering.
“He gave me his business card.”
“What?”
“He told me to call him if I ever…” Riley stood up and went to their room. Her hands shook as she found the bag, pulled out the card, typed the number, and dialed.
*****
A black polished Maybach pulled in front of tall skyscrapers. The height of it towered over the sky.
Written in bold letters: _Blackthorn Realty._
Alex walked confidently into the company his father passed to him at seventeen.
He’d always had a thing for real estate, so when the company came to him, it was easy to follow and understand.
The deals, the luxury, the popularity of owning one of the top five real estate companies in Chicago.
He walked into the building, greeted by endless staff hellos.
As soon as he stepped out of his private elevator to the top floor, Ciara hovered over him with a list of things to do, her heels clicking as she struggled to keep up with his long strides.
“Sir Alex, you have a meeting at four, and investors are coming at two. Then you also have to attend the Met Gala next month.”
Her eyes scanned her notes, like she was checking if she’d missed something.
“What else, Ciara?” he asked lazily.
“Oh, and someone called. A woman. She said she badly wanted to speak to you.”
“Did she drop a name?”
“No… she just asked me to give you her contact so you could talk to her.” Ciara flipped through her notes. “That’s pretty much all for today, sir.”
“Move my meeting to five. Dial Diego’s number and tell him to come to my office.”
“Okay, sir.” Ciara sighed in relief when he waved her off.
Alex entered his office and collapsed into his chair, adjusting his tie.
He took the number Ciara gave him and slid it into his suit pocket.
Just then, Diego walked in, expression cold.
“I was working, Alex. You can’t just boss me around.”
Diego said, folding his arms and twisting his lips in distaste.
“I can. I’m your boss, remember?”
Diego scoffed and sat down.
They’d been friends since childhood.
“So… how are you handling the whole Erica situation? The whole internet’s talking about the broken engagement.”
Diego asked casually, leaning back in his seat.
Alex poured two glasses of bourbon without answering.
“Have you talked to her parents? Do they know about it?”
Alex’s hand tightened around the glass.
“I didn’t bring you here to talk about her.”
Diego chuckled, like he enjoyed taunting his best friend.
“Okay, Mr. All Business.”
Alex raised a hand in surrender.
“About business, we have something to discuss.”
---
After meetings and deals with investors, Alex was back at his six-story building. His nanny, Estella , greeted him warmly as he came through the big doors.
He went to his room and took a warm bath. With the towel still around his waist, he searched his suit jacket for his phone when the paper Ciara gave him slipped out.
He stared at it for a second before picking it up and dialing.
It picked up on the third ring.
“Hello… is this Mr. Alex Blackthorn speaking?”
The soft, familiar feminine voice came through the line.
“It is,” he replied flatly.
“It’s Riley Henshaw… the girl from the club.” She paused. “I’m pregnant.”
Alex’s hand tightened around his phone.
