Filed to story: Finding the Secret Daddy for My Baby Novel >>
“I will,” Elliot promised solemnly with a nod. He understood where Nigel was coming from, and the reverse was also true.
“What if you marry her tonight and she tells you that she doesn’t want any more kids? Will you choose to respect her decision?” Nigel went on to ask, wishing desperately that Elliot could do all the things for Anastasia that he couldn’t.
Once again, Elliot nodded and said, “I will respect every single one of her thoughts and decisions.”
Nigel’s gaze was piercing as he eyed his cousin somberly. “Also, do you promise that you’ll protect her, take care of her, and love her forever?”
Elliot could tell how much Nigel loved Anastasia. As his heart sank, he clapped a hand on Nigel’s shoulder. “Nigel, you’ve known me since we were kids, and you know what I’m like as a person.” An apologetic look flashed in his eyes as he added quietly, “I’m sorry, Nigel.”
They had been as close as brothers since they were little, and now that they were in love with the same woman, it couldn’t be easy for Nigel to let go.
Nigel, on the other hand, leaned against the balcony rail behind him as a bitter smile played on his lips. “You don’t have to apologize. I know Anastasia has always seen me as nothing more than a friend, and there are far worse things than to see you treat her right and love her in all the ways I can’t.”
Upon hearing this, Elliot reached out to pat his shoulder, but he couldn’t find the words to comfort him.
At that moment, they fixed their gazes on the woman who was seated on the living room couch. While these two men were talking about their feelings for her, Anastasia was entirely oblivious as she admired the interesting and somewhat whimsical painting on the wall. She looked dazzling and alluring in the morning light, and she looked like she could make anywhere her own space.
Nigel was reluctant to give up his feelings for her, but at the same time, he was incredibly relieved. He glanced at Elliot and said, “I’ll leave her to you, Elliot.”
Elliot’s smoldering gaze was still on Anastasia, and there was no mistaking the possessiveness that burned in his obsidian orbs. He acknowledged what Nigel said. She can only be mine, and I won’t allow any other man to get close to her.
Presently, Anastasia watched as the two men walked up to her, their silhouettes backlit under the morning sun. She found herself staring at them like how one might be captivated by stunning works of art. The Presgraves have such outrageous genes, she mused.
Both cousins were tall and broad-shouldered, and their trimmed waistlines, as well as mile-long legs, made them incredibly fine specimens. In particular, Elliot, who was the taller of the two, looked like a Greek god in the morning light.
When she caught herself daydreaming, she quickly retracted her gaze. She could feel nothing when she stared at Nigel, but her heart would inexplicably start beating wildly whenever she looked at Elliot. What’s going on?
She ignored the butterflies in her stomach as she asked aloud, “Hey, Nigel, can I go up and check on Jared?”
“Sure thing. He bunked in with me in the master bedroom last night,” Nigel replied casually with a smile.
When Elliot heard this, he frowned and quickly stopped Anastasia. “Wait here. I’ll go and get him.”
Nigel didn’t want to miss an opportunity to aggravate Elliot, so he said, “Ignore him, Anastasia. Just go up and take a look around my room.”
“What is there to look at in your room?” Elliot shot his cousin a dark look as jealousy seized him.
Anastasia had no idea why they were bickering all of a sudden, but before she could say anything, Elliot had already walked up the stairs. She didn’t want to go with him, so she turned and said to Nigel instead, “Thanks for babysitting Jared last night.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’re family, after all.”
“Excuse me?”
Nigel’s eyes widened as he frantically explained, “Oh! I mean, uh, we’re kind of like a family anyway.”
She smiled when she heard this. “You’re right. You’re already like an uncle to Jared.”
Exasperation welled up in him. All I’ll ever get to be is his uncle! It’s not like I have a choice now.
It wasn’t long before Elliot descended the stairs with Jared in his arms.
“Mommy!” Jared greeted happily when he saw his mother in the living room.
Anastasia beamed at him lovingly, and there was a gentle look in her eyes as she reached out to hold him.
However, Elliot seemed intent on keeping the little boy in his arms as he turned to say to Nigel, “We’ll get going then.”
Nigel could only nod as he walked them to the door. Then, he stood on the front step and watched the three of them leave. He found himself thinking that they looked just like a family. I hope things work out between you and Anastasia, Elliot. I can’t wait to have her as a cousin-in-law.
“Good luck, Elliot!” Nigel yelled from across the yard and put up a fist in the air in a show of moral support.
Elliot’s eyes crinkled as he nodded at the younger man.
Anastasia, on the other hand, was helping Jared fasten his seatbelt, so she didn’t notice anything strange going on between the two cousins.
After that, Elliot took the passenger seat while Anastasia sat in the back with Jared, grateful for the ample leg room in the sedan. They first had lunch at a high-end restaurant, where Jared ate his food in high spirits. When they were done, the little boy suddenly asked to go to the museum, and Elliot agreed to it without a second thought.
As such, Anastasia could only go along with them. Rey went as well to keep an eye on Jared, thinking that he could babysit the boy and give Elliot and Anastasia a break to enjoy some quality time together.
Presently, Anastasia had only just stepped into the museum when her phone rang. Upon seeing that it was a call from Francis, she picked it up and greeted, “Hey, Dad.”
“Is Young Master Elliot alright? I hope he didn’t get a hangover this morning,” Francis said worriedly on the other line. “My friends shouldn’t have forced him to drink all that liquor.”
“Don’t worry, Dad. He’s fine,” she reassured.
“By the way, I was wondering if Bourgeois is still hiring at the moment. Erica is thinking about going to work at your company.”
Anastasia resisted the urge to snort at this. Yeah, right, as if Erica wants to work! She just wants to get close to Elliot, and the only way to do that is by working in the company.
“Sorry, Dad, but I don’t think Erica is a suitable candidate for the company.”
“I know she’s no designer, but she could be a clerk or an assistant or something. It’s not every day she claims that she wants to be a working girl, after all. I’d appreciate it if you could help me ask President Presgrave about this; perhaps he can make some arrangements for her.”
“Dad, I can’t just ask him about these things. He’s not even the one in charge of recruitment,” Anastasia argued. After all, she did not want to see Erica loitering around her workplace.
Francis sighed. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to call him myself. He gave me his name card last night.”
She faltered, and it looked like her father was dead set on having Erica work in Bourgeois. Guess he’s getting tired of bankrolling for her. “Fine, I’ll ask him about it! Don’t go calling him on your own, Dad,” she said tiredly, knowing that Francis wouldn’t take no for an answer at this point.
“Great. Give me a call and tell me how the discussion went. Erica’s finally taking life seriously, and we have to help her get a good head start, right?”
“Sure,” Anastasia replied emotionlessly.
After she hung up the call, she looked up at the man who was currently bringing her son from one exhibit to the next. She let out a sigh and brisk-walked up to them.
Elliot had brought Jared to his favorite part of the museum, which was the dinosaur exhibit. While Anastasia had brought him here before, Jared was still excited, and he was having a whale of a time.
Getting boating now