All Bets Are On (12 page)

Chapter Nineteen

The next morning, Jacl
yn came out of the bathroom sick as a dog. “Something I ate last night didn’t agree with me.”

Derek rolled over. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Absolutely,” she said. “I just need to take a shower.” She climbed out of the bed, and wobbled toward the bathroom.

“Are you still going to be able to make it to the lawyer’s office?”

“Yep.”

He poked his head in the bathroom as the shower came on.

“Mind if I use your computer?”

“No, go ahead.”

Before he got halfway down the hall, he heard her get sick once more and cringed. The morning sickness had already begun. Now it was just a matter of hours before she found out the truth. Not only was she pregnant. But what she was carrying was only half human.

He walked into the front room, sat behind the desk, and turned on Jaclyn’s computer. Seeing her that way, green with morning sickness, made her pregnancy hit him square on. There was no more denying it or pretending it wasn’t happening. Or taking his sweet time to try and figure out how he was going to deal with it. After all this time, he was finally going to be a father.

He still wasn’t sure why he lost control with her. He’d always been so careful, making sure his viable seed didn’t enter the gate. So what the hell happened? He had been beyond thought that first night. She had literally swept him away in the moment. Another thing that rarely happened. So what was he going to do about it?

He turned on the computer and sucked in a breath at the headline crossing his screen. A major tsunami just rolled through the Philippines, taking out a factory dependent on child labor that he’d been working on, along with about six thousand people in the process. Including said children. Dammit! What the hell had Deirdre done?

That wasn’t all. An elephant stampede in Africa took out a cocoa bean farm that operated with children stolen from nearby villages. He rubbed a hand down his face. A flood in Bangladesh took thousands more. In all, innocent civilians were dying. Families. Children. All suffering at Deirdre’s hands. What the hell was wrong with his sister? He pushed away from the computer and paced.

Once Jaclyn was done with the shower, he climbed in himself. He would drop her off at the lawyers and go see his mother. One day on the job and look at the damage Deirdre had already managed to do. He wouldn’t have the deaths of all those people on his head. He might have been bored with his job, but he’d never been irresponsible or careless with human lives.

He only hoped his mother would care. With her, he could never be sure. And then he’d decide whether or not to tell her about Jaclyn. He wished he didn’t have to, wished they had more time, but when Jaclyn came out of the bathroom, she looked terrible. Time was almost up.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m not,” she said, and ran for the bathroom once more.

He gave her a few minutes, and when she finally came out looking shaky and pale he helped her back into the bed. “I’m sorry. I’m not going to be able to make that meeting,” she said on a whisper.

“Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything, pick up the papers and bring them back to you.”

“You will?”

“I will. Just feel better.” He brushed the hair back from her head, leaned down and kissed her forehead, then pulled the covers up to her shoulders.

Derek sped to the high r
ise with his mother’s penthouse, along with all the other offices for their organization and their lawyer’s office. He’d pick up the papers first then go see her. Things were quickly spiraling, and he needed to get a handle on them.

“Bart, how are you this morning,” he greeted, as he walked into his lawyer’s office. It was well appointed with black leather and glass furniture, and had an incredible view of the ocean off in the distance beyond Miami’s skyline.

“I thought Miss Reynolds would be joining us.” Bart said, standing to shake his hand, concern etched on his face.

“I’m afraid she’s ill. I’ll be happy to take the papers to her and have her sign them.”

“If that’s the best we can manage, it will have to do. But in situations like this, timing is critical. We need to remove Miss Anderson from having any authority in the foundation as soon as possible.”

“I’ll make sure it happens today.”

“I’ll look forward to hearing from you this afternoon, then.”

“Thanks, Bart.” After another handshake, Derek left the lawyer’s office and headed upstairs to his mother’s penthouse. Since it was still early, he figured he’d find her sitting at the dining room table eating her breakfast. And he was right.

“Derek? What are you doing here?” she said, as he walked in.

“Have you seen the news?” He stopped next to the sideboard and grabbed a cup of coffee.

Her lips thinned. He’d take that as a yes.

He took a seat at the table next to her. “I think Deirdre went a little overboard, don’t you?”

She gave him a half smile as she brought her cup to her lips. “She always has been an excitable child.”

“She isn’t right for the job and you know it.”

“And you are?”

He clamped down on the frustration building within him. She fed off it, and it did nothing to help his cause. “I’m not going to argue with you, Mother. You know I’m not only right for the job, but for overseeing the ninth level also. I’m ready for that promotion.”

Her mouth opened to protest when he interrupted her. “Yes, you might think I’m too soft, not creative, and take too long to mete out justice, but I’m careful. I don’t hurt people who don’t deserve to be hurt. And, what’s more, I don’t steamroll humanity.”

“You lack efficiency. Sometimes there have to be casualties.”

“Sometimes. Not all the time. And not in the numbers we’re seeing today. I’m the right person for the job, and I want it. I know it, everyone knows it. It’s time you figured that out.” He stood, saying all he’d come to say.

Camilla, the maid, walked in. “Master Derek. Can I get you breakfast?”

“No, thanks, Camilla. Coffee will be fine.” She nodded and left the room.

“I will talk to Deirdre. She’s only been on the job for one day and while her methods can be heavy handed—”

“Can be?”

“She is expedient.”

He took a deep breath, trying to push back the anger that always rose to the surface whenever he was around his mother. The woman was impossible.

“I understand Jaclyn had a meeting with the lawyers this morning.”

“Yes, but she’s fallen ill. I’ve picked up the papers and will bring them to her later. We should have the partnership completely dissolved by the end of today so there will be no need to shut down her organization.”

Her forehead furrowed in outrage. “And the friend gets away with it?”

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t. I would appreciate it if you’d keep Deirdre on a short leash on this one.”

“Why’s that?” she snapped.

“Jaclyn needs a little time, and I’m dealing with it.”

She studied him. “I’m not in the business of caring what people need.”

“You might with this one.”

“Oh?” Now he had her attention. The question was, should he tell her? Did he have a choice?

He sat back down, stretching his hands out on the table in front of him, staring at them. “I’d like to know who my father is.”

Her eyes widened with surprise, and narrowed in anger. He was familiar with the look. He’d seen it many times as a child. She’d never given him an answer, and worse, if he persisted, she would punish him for his trouble. But he wasn’t a child any longer.

“Don’t put me off this time, not again,” he stated firmly.

“I’m not going to talk about him, Derek.”

“We are going to talk about him. It’s time.”

“What difference does it make who he was? He was never here. He didn’t want to have anything to do with either of us. He doesn’t care about you. About me. About anything but himself.” She stood, turning from him.

“Who is he?” he pushed.

She pivoted back, her face full of red-hot fury. “Why do you want to know?”

“Not want. Need.”

The room was getting significantly hotter. He was getting to her. The thought almost made him smile.

“Again, why?” she demanded.

“Because Jaclyn is pregnant and I want to know everything there is to know about its lineage.”

“Pregnant! Your little bird who runs a charity?”

Derek stared at her speechless. Wasn’t she the one who wanted a grandchild so badly?

Her hands fluttered. Actually fluttered. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her lose her composure like this. “Well, this is an embarrassment. What about Sabine?”

“What about her? Jaclyn is ten times the woman Sabine will ever be.”

“Maybe. But she’s human.”

“Yes, she is. With a strong moral code, and good values. She will make a wonderful mother. Which brings me back to my original question. Who is my father? And more importantly, what is my father? Is he human? A demon? A god?”

“A human,” she muttered, as if she hadn’t heard a word he’d said.

Suddenly she slapped her hands together, and her blue eyes shone with glee. “The mother notwithstanding, this is absolutely wonderful.”

“Wonderful? What’s wonderful?” Deirdre asked, walking into the room, still in her robe.

“Derek is finally going to be a father,” his mother announced, her voice full of joy. Derek cringed. He wasn’t sure he even wanted his mother to know; he certainly wasn’t ready for Deirdre to know. His sister looked at him in surprise, then her feline stare turned suspicious.

“And you think that’s wonderful, Mother? On what planet?” She picked up a strawberry off the sideboard and bit into it.

“I’m thrilled. A baby is just what we need around here.”

“Is it? Really?” Deirdre persisted. “We are talking about Derek here.”

“Deirdre, your bad mouthing your brother has become more than tiresome.”’

“I agree.” Derek added. “So Mother, Jaclyn and I are giving you your coveted grandchild. In return, I want you to tell me about my father, I want you to back off of her foundation, and I want my promotion.”

“Not a chance,” Deirdre cut in. “I’m in charge now and, backing off, as you put it, is not in my nature. And did you say Jaclyn? That little human with the bad hair is the mother?” Her eyes rolled as a look of distaste twisted her ugly mouth. The bitch. He’d been too lenient with his baby sister all these years. Perhaps it was time he did something about that.

He turned to his mother. “I’m asking you to give her a little time. The morning sickness is hitting her hard.”

“I think we can do that,” his mother said, the smile still holding on her face. And the happier she got, the more pissed off it was making Deirdre.
Good
.

“You must move her into this penthouse right away. I’ll have her placed under twenty-four-hour security.” She clapped her hands for Camilla.

“No way,” Deirdre snapped.

“That’s not going to happen,” Derek added.

Deirdre plopped down next to him. “Finally we agree. I don’t want her here.”

“We can’t take the chance of anything happening to that darling baby. It is going to be my grandchild, after all.”

The possessiveness in her tone, in her eyes, set Derek’s teeth on edge and his head was beginning to ache. “How do you suggest I explain to Jaclyn that I want her to be under guard and living with my mother?”

“If that will be such a problem, then all you have to do is marry the girl so she can move in with you. What safer place would there be for her than at your house in the Underworld?”

“Like hell I will,” Derek snapped. She was dictating again. Whether or not he and Jaclyn married and when was entirely up to them. And truthfully, he hadn’t thought that far yet.

“Like hell you won’t. No grandchild of mine will be born a bastard and live unprotected,” his mother’s voice boomed through the room so loud, he was certain they heard her in the lobby below.

“She doesn’t even know she’s pregnant yet,” Derek said, quietly. He needed to diffuse this situation, and fast.

“How could she not know?” she demanded.

He shrugged. “It’s too soon. She just thinks she’s sick.”

Deirdre burst out laughing and clapped her hands together. “Let’s go tell the little mama she’s pregnant.”

Derek spun on her. “Dammit, Deirdre, you will stay away from her! When are you going to stop interfering in my life? “

She grinned. “When you stop making it so damned fun.”

Chapter Twenty

Hours after Derek had left, Jaclyn woke but didn
’t move. Her eyes still shut, she lay there in the dark and relived the train wreck that had become her life. She started to get out of bed when another wave of nausea fell over her. She rushed to the toilet, where she got sick again. What the hell was wrong with her?

This had gone on too long to be food poisoning. Some kind of stomach bug? She took a shower and got dressed in sweats, but couldn’t even consider taking Rufus for his morning run. At this point, she’d be lucky if she could do anything other than sit on the couch and feel sorry for herself.

She made a cup of coffee, but couldn’t drink it. Neither could she eat. She ran to the toilet one more time, sitting there on the floor, her head pressed against the cool ceramic of the tub when she heard the doorbell ring.

Damn
.

She pushed herself to her feet, wondering who it could be and hoped it wasn’t Derek, because she couldn’t face him right then. Luckily it wasn’t, but it was worse. It was his sister, with her long flowing perfect red curls cascading over her shoulders. She was wearing a form-fitting white dress and Jimmy Choo shoes. Her necklace of white quartz threaded with veins of gold glistened against her tanned skin. Jaclyn didn’t usually drool over jewelry, but that had to be the most beautiful piece she’d ever seen. Even Trish’s extensive collection of designer pieces didn’t compare to this woman’s ensemble. Jaclyn grimaced at her baggy sweats, and reluctantly pulled open the door.

“Deirdre?” she croaked. “Is everything all right?”

Deirdre shrugged. “I guess that depends on your perspective. Can I come in?”

Jaclyn considered telling her no. Begging off. Blaming her sickness, but in the end she held the door open. Hadn’t Derek said she’d taken over his job? That meant she was in charge of investigating her foundation. She had to make nice with the woman. “Please.”

Deirdre walked in, taking a good look around as Jaclyn led her to the kitchen. “Coffee?”

“Sure, why not.”

“Are you looking for Derek?” Jaclyn asked as she poured her a cup. “If so, I’m afraid he’s not here. I think he said something about going to the lawyer’s office.”

“Yes, I know. I just saw him. He’s having a heart to heart with my mother right now. I’m sure he hasn’t even figured out I’ve left yet.”

Something about the sparkle of mischief in her green eyes set Jaclyn’s teeth on edge. “Okay, so what can I do for you?”

“It’s what I can do for you,” Deirdre said, a wicked smile hovering around her perfectly painted lips.

This couldn’t be good. Jaclyn liked most people, and always tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, but she really didn’t like this woman. At all. “I’ll bite. What is it?”

“I’m here to warn you about Derek. He’s been less than honest with you.” Her wide green eyes filled with sincerity and concern.

Unable to stand any longer, Jaclyn sat across the table from her. What was she talking about? Should she trust her? That little voice of doubt inside her head whispered,
told you so.
She pushed it down, reminding herself that Derek and Deirdre had some substantial sibling rivalry going on, so more than likely, she couldn’t trust anything this woman said.

“Explain,” she said sharper than she’d intended.

For a second, Deirdre actually looked reluctant. “I’m not sure where to start.”

Jaclyn’s stomach was tying itself in knots, which didn’t help her nausea. “How about the beginning?” she suggested.

“There was the bet.”

“I already know about that,” she said quickly. She didn’t need to hear about that again. That alone should have been clue enough that he wasn’t on the up and up. That he was a first class game player and she had just been the prize.

“Well, and then there is the audit.”

“Of my foundation?” Jaclyn clarified.

“Yes. Derek was the one who set it up.”

“Because it was his job.” Jaclyn knew that, didn’t she? She did, he’d told her. “He was just following orders.” Wasn’t he?

“Was he?”

“Aren’t you in charge of running things?” Her eyes narrowed on Deirdre as she scrutinized the woman and wondered what she was up to.

“Yes. Which is why he’s at my house now, working my mother. Doing whatever it takes to get his job back, including throwing you under the bus.”

“Me? How?” What else could possibly be done to her? Her company was in shambles, she’d lost her best friend, and she was as sick as a dog. From where she sat, Derek was the only one trying to help her deal with everything that was happening. Her head was spinning, and she was about to get sick. Again. “No offense, but I really don’t want to get in the middle of your family drama. I’m really not feeling well, and should probably get back in bed.” Using both hands, she pushed herself up from the table and stood.

“But you already are part of our family drama, as you put it.”

She was smiling again, and the more she smiled, the more uncomfortable Jaclyn felt. “Why, because Derek is helping me? He shouldn’t be punished for that.”

“Exactly. It’s his job to bring down wrongdoers. To expose them for the crooks they are.”

“But I’m not a crook.” She didn’t have the energy for this.

“And yet your foundation is toast, isn’t it? Along with your reputation?”

Jaclyn’s head was spinning and her stomach was doing the cha-cha. Any moment now she was going to puke.

“But the worst thing, Jaclyn, the biggest sin, is the one I can’t forgive him for. Which brings me to why I’m here today.”

“Please, get to it.” Jaclyn didn’t think she could hear anymore. Not now. Not when every ounce of strength she had was being used to keep herself from running for the bathroom.

That moment, Deirdre’s phone rang. She pulled it out and glanced down at the screen. “It’s Derek. He must have figured out I left. We don’t have a lot of time before he discovers where I am.”

“Time for what?”

Deirdre leaned forward, her face grim. “Derek needs an heir to get the promotion he wants at work, and you, my dear, are about to give it to him. He could care less about you, Jaclyn. All he wants is that baby bump growing inside you.”

Baby bump?
Bile rose in Jaclyn’s throat. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“You’re pregnant.”

“No, I’m not.” Jaclyn swayed on her feet. “Why would you say such a thing?” She couldn’t be pregnant. There was no way she was pregnant.

“If I’m lying, why did Derek come to our house this morning to inform our mother that you were pregnant and demand his promotion?”

“What promotion? What are you talking about? No! Never mind. This is ridiculous,” she insisted. “I’m not pregnant.” She couldn’t be.

“Aren’t you?”

“No.” She wobbled then righted herself. “I think I’d know it if I were.”

Deirdre stood. “That’s good. Because I’d hate to think you were trying to trap my brother for his wealth.”

“You’re making no sense. Trap him? Didn’t you just say he was trying to trap me?” Jaclyn thought back to the unopened condom lying on the bed and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to say. I’m not pregnant. Even if I were, I would never go after Derek’s money. I’m not that kind of person.”

“I just needed to throw that out there and see for myself. You and I both know how rich he is and if you have his brat, you wouldn’t even need to marry him to get a good child support package. And I know how desperate you are. Soon everyone will know. I suggest you get rid of it. I can help you.”

Get rid of it? Confusion bombarded Jaclyn’s mind and she couldn’t sort up from down, let alone make sense of whatever this woman was up to. “Deirdre, I can assure you there is nothing to get rid of because I am not pregnant. Now please, leave. I have to lie down.” She started walking toward the front door, bracing herself against the wall along the way.

As Deirdre walked out, she turned back and looked at her, a wide grin stretching across her face. “Oh you’re pregnant all right. Apparently, you just don’t know it yet.”

Pregnant
.

The word kept turning in her mind, like a conveyer belt on a
n endless loop of crazy. Deirdre was crazy. Jaclyn slammed the door behind the woman and thought back to the first time she slept with Derek, and the second. They hadn’t used a condom. So why the hell was she so surprised? She could be pregnant.

No. She wasn’t.

It was too soon. No one knew something like that in three days. Impossible.

And then she was running back down the hall toward the bathroom again where she promptly threw up. This couldn’t be happening! She didn’t know how long she lay on the bathroom floor, trying to absorb the craziness spinning around in her head.

Pregnant.

No.
She stood and stumbled out of the bathroom, and down the hall. Rufus whined. She patted him on the head then grabbed her purse. “Don’t worry boy,” she said as she hurried out the door. Zombiefied, she sped to the nearest drugstore and staggered down the aisles. She couldn’t think. Couldn’t function.

Because she couldn’t make her mind up, she bought several home pregnancy kits then zoomed back home. Three nerve-wracking minutes later, she sat at her kitchen table staring in shock at the pregnancy stick grasped between her two fingers.

Positive.

The results were positive. How could it register the results so soon? She reread the instructions. Nope. Impossible.

She couldn’t be pregnant, she just couldn’t!

She remembered the first night she’d had sex with Derek. That night she threw her reservations to the wind and decided to give herself a gift. How could she have been so stupid? She had a gift all right. A baby!

A job on the rocks.

No husband.

A mortgage and a dog.

And now a baby.

What the hell was she going to do?

The doorbell chimed. Rufus jumped up and ran for the door, barking his head off.

“Shut up, already!” she yelled, and followed after him. She pulled open the door and saw Derek standing there.

“Is now an okay time?”

Okay? Hell no. But she supposed it was as good a time as any. She stepped back, allowing him to walk through the door. Not knowing what to say, or exactly how to say, guess what? You’re going to be a daddy! But then according to his bitch sister, he already knew. So she said nothing, and walked into the kitchen.

“Coffee?” she asked, buying for time while she chewed on the inside of her lip.

“I’d love some.”

Of course he would. She started to make a fresh pot and hoped she’d be able to stomach the smell. When finally she turned back around, he was staring at the pregnancy stick on the table. Well, at least she didn’t have to create an inventive way to bring it up.

“So it’s true?” he asked, looking at the stick but not touching it.

“Yep, your whacked out and apparently psychic sister was right. I am pregnant. We’re going to have a baby. But then somehow you knew that already, didn’t you? How exactly, did you know?”

“My sister?” he repeated, looking and sounding dumbstruck.

“Oh, yes. She’s already been by to tell me I was pregnant. To inform me you purposely got me pregnant so you could get some sort of promotion, and then proceeded to accuse me of getting pregnant so I could take your money.”

His face hardened, and his knuckles whitened. “Deirdre was here? When?”

“Not that long ago. And here’s the kicker. She offered to help me get rid of it.”

“My child?” He looked stunned and horrified, but mostly stunned.

“Yep. So is any of it true? Did you want to get me pregnant so you could get a promotion?” Funny that he seemed surprised at his sister’s offer, but not that she was going to have a baby. And he never answered how he knew she was pregnant before she did. Was he psychic, too? And if he were psychic, did she even want to know?

“The only truth is that my sister’s insane and she lives to make my life miserable.”

“I can see that.” She began to wonder if Deirdre wasn’t the only one in his family that was crazy.

“So how do you feel about…it?” he asked, his voice tentative, his blue eyes perusing her face.

“Honestly? Mad as hell.”