The Baby Contract - Barbara Dunlop 2 стр.


But she surprised him by wrapping her arms around him and squeezing tight. Thank you, big brother.

Something tugged at his heart. Youre welcome, he told her.

She drew back. Youre going to love Drake.

Wait a minute. You want to bring a boyfriend here?

That put an entirely different spin on the situation. No way, no how, was some random guy going to stay in Troys apartment.

Drakes not my boyfriend, she said, her eyes still bright with joy. Hes my son.

* * *

Mila Stern was on a mission.

At times it seemed doomed, but she wasnt giving up, because Sterns never gave up. She had three siblings and two parents who proved that to her every single day.

Coming up on noon, she approached the front door of the Pinion Security building, squaring her shoulders, drawing a bracing breath and mentally rehearsing her opening lines.

Five minutes, shed tell Troy Keiser. He only needed to listen to her pitch for five short minutes. That was barely any time at all, and it had the potential to increase his business by 10 percent.

Did 10 percent sound like enough? she wondered. Maybe she should claim 15 percent. Or was fifteen too much of a stretch?

No. It wasnt a stretch. The number of women in need of some form of personal protection was growing by the month. In fact, it was growing by the week. Maybe even by the day. Should she say day?

Yes. By the day. That was a perfectly fair claim to make15 percent and growing by the day.

Dressed in pale gray cargo pants, a blue sweater and sturdy leather boots, she pulled open the stenciled glass entry door. The Pinion reception area was compact, decorated in gray tones, with a sleek steel-and-smoked-glass counter curving around the back wall. A man stood behind it dressed in black. His hair was cropped short, his chin square and strong, and his arms and shoulders all but bulging from the three-quarter sleeves of his T-shirt.

Can I help you? he asked in a deep voice.

She smiled, trying to look friendly and innocuous, like the kind of person a man would want to help. I hope so, she said, striding forward to the countertop. Im looking for Troy Keiser.

The man hit a couple of keys on a computer terminal recessed into the desk in front of him. You have an appointment?

Not for today, she answered. Weve been corresponding for a few weeks, and my plans were fluid. She stopped talking, hoping hed draw the conclusion that Troy Keiser was willing, even intending to make an appointment with her.

Your name? he asked.

She wished he hadnt asked that, but she couldnt see a way around giving it to him. Mila Stern.

Troy Keiserand, she had to assume, the entire human resources unit of Pinion Securitywould recognize her name as the woman whose job application theyd rejected three times over.

The man pressed a button on his compact headset.

Mila continued to smile even as tension built within her. She was fully qualified to become a security agent at Pinion, even if Troy Keiser wouldnt admit it. She had a degree in criminology and a black belt in Krav Maga, along with significant technical surveillance and tactical weapons training.

The man waited, and Mila waited. She knew if he talked to Troy Keiser, it would be game over before she made it past the lobby.

Her gaze flicked to the elevator doors behind him. No doubt they were controlled by a passkey. If she was lucky, there was also a staircase from the lobby. She drew his attention by smoothing back her brown hair, pretending to check the French braid that held it in place. At the same time, she surreptitiously scanned the room.

There it was. A stairway door. She let her gaze slide right past it without pausing. If Troy refused to see her, shed make a break for the stairway. Reception man would have to circle the end of the counter to come after her, giving her a head start of two, maybe three seconds.

He might call for backup on the second floor, but that would take five to seven seconds. She could run a flight of stairs in three, and this was only a nine-story building. Shed duck out at the fourth floor and try to lose them. Assuming the stairwell doors werent locked. They could easily be locked.

The man ended the phone call without speaking and pressed another number.

Mila waited, hoping a new call might work in her favor.

Vegas? the man said into the phone. Theres a woman here for Troy. No, no appointment. Mila Stern.

He paused, his eyes narrowing on Mila.

She shifted her weight to the ball of her left foot, getting ready to sprint.

Will do, he said. The suspicion seemed to go out of his eyes.

She took a chance and waited a moment longer.

He ended the call. You can meet Hugh Fielding on the second floor.

Yes. At least shed make it out of the lobby.

Is Troy here? she dared ask.

Hes busy at the moment. But Vegas should be able to help you.

She wanted to ask what Troy was doing, or more importantly where Troy was doing it. Was he on the second floor or somewhere else?

The man pressed a button, and a light on the elevator behind him turned from red to green.

Thank you, said Mila, heading for the elevator.

She knew that Hugh Fielding, nicknamed Vegas, was Troys business partner. He might not have recognized her name. Then again, he might be planning to run interference, to keep her away from Troy, maybe even to escort her directly out of the building.

During her research of the company, shed learned Troy Keiser undertook most management functions, including making the hiring decisions. It seemed Vegas Fielding was the technical expert.

She stepped inside the elevator. The two was already lighted on the panel. Taking a chance, she reached out and pressed ninemight as well get as far away from Vegas as possible to start her search. The white circle lit up.

The doors closed, and she moved to a front corner, flush against the wall beside the door. If she was very lucky, Hugh Fielding would think the car was empty and assume she was catching the next elevator.

It stopped on two, and the doors whooshed open.

Mila held her breath, hearing phone chimes and several voices outside. No footfalls approached the elevator, and none of the voices seemed raised in alarm.

The doors closed again, and she let out her breath, easing out of the corner as the numbers counted to nine.

When the doors opened on the ninth floor, Troy himself stood outside. His arms were folded over his chest, and his feet were braced apart. It was obvious he was expecting her.

Seriously? he asked with an arched brow.

Hello, Mr. Keiser. She quickly exited the elevator.

If it descended without her, shed have at least a few moments with him.

You just broke into my building.

No, she disagreed. Mr. Fielding invited me in. Im sure nobody could break into the Pinion Security building.

A flare came into his blue eyes. She could only hope it was amusement and not anger.

Vegas invited you to the second floor.

But the person I really want to see is you.

So you hijacked the elevator to the private floor?

Mila glanced along the short hallway that ended in two doors. I didnt realize it was a private floor. She wasnt about to admit shed planned to search the building from the top down in order to find him.

Mila glanced along the short hallway that ended in two doors. I didnt realize it was a private floor. She wasnt about to admit shed planned to search the building from the top down in order to find him.

How can I help you, Ms. Stern? And no, you cant have a job. Sweet-talking your way past reception does not prove your superior tradecraft skills.

That wasnt my intent.

What was your intent?

To talk to you in person.

Lets get this over with.

Milas brain immediately leaped to her rehearsed points. I dont know if youre aware, but the number of high-profile businesswomen, female politicians and celebrities in need of some form of personal protection is rising every year. Estimates show that companies focusing on that fast-growing demographic can see an increase in business of up to 15 percent per year. And offering services that cater specifically to

Youre making that up.

She didnt let the interruption rattle her. Im not. Any number of public sources can point to the rise in female political figures, industrialists, high-powered rock stars.

The 15 percent. You made up the 15 percent.

He had to be guessing. Mila was a very good liar.

Its more anecdotal than scientific, she allowed. But the fundamental point

We already cater to women, said Troy. We protect hundreds of women, with better than a 99-percent success rate.

There was something slightly off in his expression. He was lying right back at her. But why would he lie? And then she got it. He was making up the 99 percent to mock her.

Youre making that up, she said softly.

Any number of sources will verify that we have a robust female clientele.

She struggled not to smile. Youre making up the 99 percent.

Its my company.

Youve got a tell.

I do not.

She lifted her chin. Right there. Next to your left ear. Theres a muscle that twitches when youre lying.

Thats preposterous.

Tell me another lie.

Ill tell you the truth, he said. Im not hiring you, not now, not ever.

Because Im a woman.

Because youre a woman.

And you think that means I cant fight hand to hand.

I dont just think that. Its a fact.

Im pretty good, she said, putting a challenge into her tone. You want to spar?

He gave a chopped laugh. Youre weak and delusional.

I dont expect to beat you.

Her statement seemed to puzzle him. Then why the challenge?

I expect to do well, surprise you, exceed your expectations.

Youll get hurt.

She gave a shrug. Probably a little.

Probably a lot.

I really want this job.

No kidding. But Im not going to give you a job because youre foolish enough to challenge me in hand-to-hand combat.

Try me.

His phone rang in his pocket.

No, he said to her before answering it. Then he made a half turn away from her. Yeah?

Mila regrouped. She knew she could hold her own against him, and she knew she would surprise him with her skills. She also knew one of his major objections to hiring women security agents was the fear they couldnt handle themselves in a fistfight.

She considered simply up and attacking him. Hed have to defend himself. Then at least hed see what she could do.

That was fast, he said into the phone. Im already up on the ninth.

He was distracted at the moment, half turned away from her. It would give her an advantage in the first few seconds. His ribs were exposed, and his stance was slightly off balance.

He glanced at her and instantly drew back, an expression of surprise on his face.

Gotta go, he said into the phone. Dont even think about it, he said to Mila.

So much for her advantage of surprise. Still, the tactic had a reasonable chance of success.

The elevator pinged behind her.

It was enough of a distraction that Troy was able to grab her left wrist. He tried for the right, obviously intending to manacle her hands behind her back. But she was too quick for him.

She was about to catch him in the solar plexus when a babys cries came through the elevator doors. She reflexively looked toward the sound.

Troy snagged her other wrist, disabling her.

That wasnt fair, she grumbled over her shoulder.

Nothing in this business is fair. He let her go.

The elevator opened to reveal an attractive young woman with purple hair, a colorful bag dangling over her shoulder and a squalling baby in a stroller out front.

Hes hungry, the woman said to Troy as she moved forward.

Troy looked quite horrified by the sight.

Mila knew he didnt have a wife. Maybe this was a girlfriend.

Then feed him, said Troy, sounding impatient.

I will. The woman bumped the stroller wheels over the lip of the door.

Mila could see her conversation with Troy coming to an abrupt and final end as the two of them dealt with the crying baby. She couldnt afford to let that happen.

Making a split-second decision, she bent over the stroller. Oh, hes adorable, she said.

The truth was the baby was quite unattractive at the moment. His face red and scrunched up, eyes watery, nose running and his mouth open with bawls of annoyance.

Mila refused to let it deter her. Come here, precious, she cooed, imitating the behavior of her sappy aunt Nancy around babies. She gathered the messy little guy from the stroller. Whats the trouble, huh? Are you hungry?

She felt ridiculous speaking to an uncomprehending baby in such a sickly sweet tone, but it was the only way she could think of to stick with Troy. And she was determined to stick with Troy.

She forced herself to keep from grimacing as she brought the babys gummy face to her shoulder. Her tank top would wash, and so would her skin. She patted him gently on the back, surprised by the warmth of his little body and by the softness. He felt as though he didnt have a single bone or muscle.

His cries changed to intermittent sobs.

Lets get going, the woman said anxiously. This wont last long.

Mila refused to make eye contact with Troy, knowing he had to be angry at her pushiness. Instead, she marched past him, heading down the short hall to the doors at the end.

Two women had invaded Troys apartment, for two completely different but equally frustrating reasons. Well, maybe not equally frustrating, since he could get rid of Mila Stern in short order, just as soon as she put the baby down. Though, for the moment, the baby was quiet in her arms, and he was hesitant to mess with that.

Kassidy was bent over his sofa sorting through her shoulder bag, pulling out diapers, flannel blankets and tiny socks.

He likes you, she said to Mila, straightening with a bottle in her hand.

He seems like a sweetheart, said Mila.

Something pinged on Troys radar. Milas expression was perfectly neutral, and there was no reason for her to lie about something as innocuous as a baby. But for some reason his suspicions were up again.

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