r

d, Tori, asked and I turned towards her with a half-hearted smile and nodded. She exhaled loudly, grabbed

didn't look like she believed a word I said, "He wouldn't. And even if he

could do a background check, he could do a DNA if he has the slightest suspicion, which he alread

ut

this off and right now, you can't let yourself fall into this ho

e, everything, snatched away from me in the blink of an eye and I can't imagine life without Zoe. It felt like being a horrible swi

I mumbled without removing my eyes from her, and in that moment what I was about to do crashed down on me. I couldn't believe I was about to

u shouldn't. You both are

r face up in confusion, I cast my eyes down on my laps and slowly removed my hands from her grip. I ra

a?" She asked when seconds pas

ish reasons" I mumbled and took her hand gently in mine, "Zoe has every right to know her father and experience the joy and love a father has to give, and I have no right wha

rted but I immedi

happiness over everything else, and I know this will make her happy, so I'm not going

for both your sake and Zoe's sake

over again at Zoe, who on cue turned to me and waved her little hand. I breathed out

shed over me as soon as Zoe turned away, and without look

othingly, "If there's anything I know, it's that your love for her will keep the both of you together,

I bobbed my head in agreement, "thank you"

°°°°°°

aking snarky remarks now and then to me, and I didn't know what I did to warrant such feelings but he's made it clear from his actions and aura that he doesn't like me, b

at the back of his head before I rolled my eyes and walked to the door t

before I opened the door and walked in. "Miss. Smith, welcome. Please take a seat"

I said and sat on one o

't expect me to go right into business without pleasantries" he sa

lot of time" I mumbled and he l

ut a file and placed it in front of me, "this is the contract" he said, and just as I was about to pick it up, he placed his hand on it, "

t is

d at the last time, there was no reason to agree to this unless you're in a financial

n front of me, "well..." I said but nothing came af

ith?" He probed and

growing child, soon, there will be more bills to pay and I just can't sit and wait till then to

ontract will only last for a year and no further than that, you'll be paid 30 million at the end of this contract, but while the co

Failure to comply would warrant termination of the contract and payment of the fee stated there, so will terminating t

d looked up at him like he w

lped and looked back down at the file, "and you shouldn't be scared unles

nditions listed on the contact

a third party during the period o

very event or trip de

ction are mandatory in front

be in no way leaked to a

o carry a child of his with

d I looked at him with wide eyes, "that is a joke right?

he time being, you'll not be tasked with taking care of the child once the contract is over. You d

file, "you can keep your money and contract, I'm not i

, Aria" he said and I turned to look at him, "I'll get rid of that condition

a while, I sighed, "I won't sign the contract unless that part is elimi

meeting," he said and I nod

questions" I mumbled. He propped his elb

o

you put there, what if I've already told

, telling any other person wouldn't be toler

ke sense to me and I need to know your reason, just like you dema

al" he snapped

s, Mr. Harris" he gla

but he immediately continued speaking, "now if you're done with your questions, put this on" he placed a small box in front of m

e had chosen in college, "I can't accept this, it's too much and it's..." I paused and shook my head,

r to me, and despite my resistance, he placed the ring on my finger, "I'll pick you up on Friday by 3 pm, we are going to meet my family to formally