Love, Lies and Billionaires

The night was still and cold when Maren walked into the house. No one was in sight, as the entire staff was expected to be done with their duties by that time.

She looked around the living room, but even Alexander wasn’t there. She just ignored and walked further towards the staircase as she was too tired to even think straight.

But deep down, she was really happy. She’d pushed aside every other thing and focused on work as she’d risen a little on the business pyramid and was getting a lot of recognition, but that only meant more work.

Alexander had been so cold lately and hardly even came home, which she suspected was because of his dad’s health status. But she didn’t mind. She just needed her peace of mind and some rest.

Rose?” she called out quietly as she set foot on the first step. She suspected Nathan would be asleep and thought it best to not make known of her presence to him.

Especially these days that she really didn’t spend enough time with him.

“Rose?” she called again but louder this time a ascended further up the stairs.

“Welcome ma’am” Rose’s small voice came from up the stairs as she looked down at her employer.

“Nathan’s asleep?”

“Yes. He asked about you a number of times and even asked to wait up for you,” she replied and stood straight in front of Maren, who had now gotten to the first floor.

She sighed and proceeded towards her room, too weak to think of another way to apologise to Nathan for the umpteenth time.

“Alexander isn’t back?” She asked as she lightly pushed her door open.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“No, I haven’t seen him all day.”

“Alright then, you can go to bed,” Maren ordered and closed the door behind her.

*****

Maren was still up on her phone towards midnight when she heard the front door flare open and then heavy steps pounded on the stairs as whoever it was seemed in a hurry or something.

“How is it possible?” Alexander said, and he burst through her door, his eyes a little reddened as his chest rose and fell slightly more often than normal.

Maren sat up on her bed, startled to death. She put her phone away and got out of the duvet. She frowned as she stood up. “How’s what possible?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about,” he raged.

“I really don’t have any idea, Alexander. We’ve basically not spoken in two days, so what could possibly be wrong? What are you talking about?” She asked calmly. Half in confusion and half because she was tired.

“Who the fuck is Nathan’s father?”

Maren’s heart skipped a beat, and it felt like the earth stopped spinning. “Fuck!” Her head screamed as she could only stare at Alexander while her brain searched for what to say.

“What?” she muttered gently, but to Alexander’s hearing.

“How long have you known about this? Does your mom know? And how the fuck am I Nathan’s father?” Alexander asked, his voice now echoing throughout the house noisily, but the staff knew better than to stick their noses in what was going on.

Maren folded her arms at the last question. “Really? Do I have to explain how a man becomes a child’s father?” She asked, her fatigue suddenly leaving her.

“Don’t play with me, woman,” she growled, making her move back as he edged closer.

You’re asking me?” She said, raising her tone a little. “You should ask yourself that question. I’m not the one who goes around sticking my organ into people’s partners and even asking for sex when they come begging you for a favour. Genius” she spat.

“Oh, fuck!” he muttered and ran his hands through his hair in realisation. He turned back to her and placed his hand on his hip.

“How did you get to know about this, anyway? Did Nella tell you?” She asked.

“If I’m his father, then how did the first test show that William was responsible?” He asked, ignoring her question.

Maren was quiet for a while, but then his impatience was scary. “The test was rigged. William and Irene had it all planned out. He was impotent and useless and so is your attitude. Why are you making such a fuss about it?” She asked, coming closer to his face, but he looked away.

“What’s that?” She said, following the direction in which he had turned his face. “You don’t want him, do you? You selfish bastard. I knew you were a lair Alexander.” At this point, she was trying to refrain herself from crying as her lips trembled while she spoke.

“I knew you actually never had true intentions for me. You just wanted to show William how much of a man you are.”

“Well, guess what? You’re not half the man you think that you are and in situations like this, William is a bigger man. At least he had the balls to fight for a child that wasn’t his”

“Why would you keep a thing like this from me?” He asked, deliberately ignoring what she had said earlier.

“I never wanted you to know because a part of me expected this reaction because why would you accept a child who was a result of a one night stand? How would perfect ol’ daddy’s boy face the public?”

“The other part of me wanted to keep him far away from you because you don’t deserve him. You don’t deserve either of us. You’re just some self-obsessed, manipulative son of a bitch…”

“That’s enough!” He thundered, startling her into shutting up. “If it’s true that he’s really my son, then maybe I don’t want him and maybe I don’t really love but I made you what you are, Maren. Both of you! If I was so self-obsessed, I never would have agreed to granting you that loan in the first place,” he said, anger wielding in his voice.

“I didn’t you a great favour Maren, and don’t you throw that away and call me names because I let you.”

“You call this a favour? Forcing me into getting married to you so you can fulfil your selfish desires? If there was anyone who did a favour, it was me, me Alexander. God, I am so glad the sixth month of the contract is almost up. Finally, we can get this over with. ”

Alexander’s expression softened into a confused one. “What?”