The Billionaire's Salvation

HUSH MONEY

Noticing her withdrawn appearance, Nicklaus paused.

“Miss Anderson?” Nicklaus prompted. His cynical eyes took in her stricken state and noted the terror in her eyes. He realized she was in the process of fighting off a panic attack. “Are you ok?”

Taking a quick breath, she gave a slow nod, willing herself to push down on the fear that had gripped her. She'd gotten better in the past month - noticing the signs of an oncoming panic attack and avoiding triggers. But Nicklaus' close proximity had plunged her into an unexpected attack.

“Yes, I am fine. But could you not come any closer. You have a very domineering presence. I'm reluctant to admit I find you a bit intimidating and I cannot control my body’s response to panic,” she said in a voice she knew was stilted, but she couldn’t smooth it for the life of her.

“I see, is this, I take it, a result of having been raped by my father?” he inquired. His question was sincere, but to her, it came off as insensitive.

“Yes.”

“Ok.”

Nicklaus accepted her response and retreated to the opposite end of the room. He lowered himself onto the orange sofa and tried to be less imposing. He wanted to get to the bottom of this whole affair and have it sorted out so he could return to his life.

Trust his father to royally mess with him and his neatly ordered life from beyond the grave. The bastard.

Giving a rueful shake of his head, Nicklaus got to the matter at hand.

“As you know, my father died in an automobile accident. His will, his lawyer tells me, only made provisions for his known children, so—”

Vanessa straightened her shoulders. “I don’t expect anything nor do I want anything from him,” she interjected.

He paused, his gaze flickering over her in a considering way again. “Really,” he said in a doubtful voice.

His tone jabbed at her. “Really,” she said. “Had I wanted money, I would have come forward much sooner and demand he pay me to keep quiet about the rape. What I want is an acknowledgement that this child is his and for the child to carry his name. I do not want my child growing up wondering where he or she belongs in this world.”

“Why is that?”

“I—” She hesitated, her chest tightening as she remembered the fateful night when she had gotten pregnant. Despite how it occurred, she was now pregnant and very much loved her unborn child. And as such, she did not want her child to have her life. To not know where they came from or who were their relatives. To have a connection to people in this world.

As an orphan, many nights, she had lain awake wondering who her parents were and if they loved her. She wondered if they thought about her at all, if they missed her and why they had given her up for adoption.

“I grew up in foster care." She admitted. "I never knew my parents and always wondered where I came from. I do not know my heritage. I want my baby brought up differently. If I can at all provide half of the puzzle for my child I will be happy.”

His gaze fell to her flat ‘pregnant’ belly. “Are you sure you want your child to know exactly how it came into existence?”

No, of course not, she thought. “I do not intend to tell my child that they were the product of rape. But I do want my child to go as Ramirez. That is why I thought it best to inform you of my decision to name your father on the birth certificate. So,” she said, more than ready for him to leave, “since I wasn’t expecting anything from Marcus, or his family by default, you don’t need to—”

“That’s where we disagree,” he said and picked up the briefcase he had earlier placed near her coffee table. “I want this matter cleared up forthwith. To that end, I would like you to consent to a paternity test, subject to which, if it turns out you are indeed carrying my father’s child I will make the necessary provisions for the child to bear his name.”

Producing some papers from a manila envelope, along with a pen, Nicklaus handed them to Vanessa. 

“It’s a simple document. In exchange for you agreeing to a paternity test, you will be given one million dollars now and another five million dollars if and when it is proven that the child is indeed my father’s. In so do doing, you agree to give up any rights to my father’s inheritance. If the child turns out to be my half-sibling after you have breastfed him or her, I believe that is up to six months after birth, you agree to relinquish custody of the child to me to be raised as a Ramirez. On the off chance the paternity test proves that your child is no blood relation to me, you are free to keep the million dollars and we will go our separate way.”

Vanessa felt her jaw drop to the floor and her head swim. After everything she'd been through, what she'd endured - he wanted to take away the ONLY good thing that had come out of that harrowing ordeal. 

"What?"

“It’s all there,” Nicklaus said. “Let me know if you have any questions.”

Vanessa stared blankly at the paper and felt her body begin to shake with rage. Flinging the papers back at him, she stepped backwards. “Are you mad?”

“Should have known,” Nicklaus said to himself. “I knew you would want more money and I am willing to renegotiate the offer, within reason.”

Stunned, Vanessa continued to stare at him. “Get out!” she bellowed. “You obviously didn’t pay attention to what I said earlier, did you? I don’t expect anything from The Ramirez family. I don’t want your father’s inheritance. And I certainly don’t expect anything from you. And if you think for one second that I would give you my child to raise, you’re vastly mistaken.”

“That clause is just to provide the child with the benefits of being raised a Ramirez. After all, it is you who said you want your child to know his or her lineage. What better way for that to happen, than for him or her to be raised by a Ramirez. I assure you, I am nothing like my father. If indeed, you are bringing another Ramirez into this world, you have my word that the child will receive the best of care. And will be raised to one day take over the reins of the Ramirez Company. I have no intention of marrying or producing an heir, so the child will be my heir.”

He placed the agreement on top of her marble-top table. “Read it. Think about it. And as I said, I’ll negotiate the amount within reason.”

She snatched it, ripped it up in front of him, throwing the pieces into his unreadable face.

He shook his head and dusted the bits and pieces from his clothes. “The theatrics is not necessary. It costs a lot to raise a child. It will be difficult since you’re nothing but a jobless teenager doing it alone. Think about your child’s needs. Do you really want to give up everything this money can buy for your child?” He paused while her heart pounded in her chest five beats. “I’ll be in touch.”

As soon as he left her apartment, Vanessa flipped the deadbolt in place. Enraged and offended, she paced into the den. Her pulse was racing in her ears, her nails digging into her palms as she clenched her hands together. Who in the hell did he think he was, coming into her home and talking to her that way?

Granted, he was a multi-billionaire accustomed to taking charge and passing orders. BUT, she was NOT one of his employees whom he could boss around and she would not give up her child.

Although she had intended to list Marcus Ramirez as the father on her child’s birth certificate, Vanessa was rethinking that and was now determined to put ‘father unknown’ if it meant she would be able to keep her child. The only good thing that had come from that painful ordeal was the fact that she was pregnant. She was not about to give that up for no one. She had already purposed in her heart to be the best mother she could be. Even with all the uncertainty and responsibility she was facing, from the moment she’d learned she was carrying a life inside her, she’d felt a little less alone in the world. Here in her womb, rested the only blood relative she would ever know.

Pressing her hand to her belly again, and smoothing the cotton dress she was wearing, she thought of Nicklaus Ramirez. She’d never met a man like him: arrogant, impertinent, cold, mechanical.

 She couldn’t deny, though, that under different circumstances she would have been intrigued by him. The admission stunned her, for she had never noticed another male before. She felt disgusted with herself for being aware of him as a male. 

She, however, vowed to not let the imposing man intimidate her.