The Billionaire's Salvation

THANKS, BUT NO THANKS

Vanessa took a deep breath before reentering the kitchen. She needed to gather her thoughts so she could explain to Nicklaus what her decision was and why she’d made it.

Despite being an adult who shouldn’t be answerable to anyone, she felt she owed him an explanation since they were co-habiting a space.

“So…um…about your job offer,” she began, drawing his attention away from his smartphone.

 Ignoring her hesitancy and apparent awkwardness, Nick approached her and guided her to the table where breakfast had been set up.

In his mind, and based on the limited reading he’d managed to get done on pregnancy, it was imperative for her to eat. He told her as much.

“You need to eat,” he implored. “Whatever it is you want to discuss, we can do so over breakfast.”

Seeing that she was about to object once more, he added “and I’m hungry. When you get to my age you have to ensure you eat on time and regularly to avoid unnecessary medical complications.”

Nick said it with such a straight face, Vanessa had no choice but to laugh.

“Nicklaus! You are thirty! You make it sound like you are an elderly man at death’s door,” she chastised.

“Nick, call me Nick.”

“Okay, Nick," she amended remembering their agreement last night, “I’ll eat”.

“Good. Now have you considered my offer?” Nick asked as he sipped his coffee.

Vanessa took a bite out of a bagel and drank some orange juice before responding.

"I want you to know how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness and consideration in offering me a job.”

“But? I sense a but. It’s a good idea, why is there a but?” he questioned.

“BUT…I’m not a charity case. I need – “

“I know you are not a charity case,” he interrupted. “That’s not why I offered you the job. I have never nor would I ever view you as a charity case. It just makes sense for me to offer you the job. We would be helping each other out. You need a job and I need to replace my current P.A. – her lack of confidentiality being one of the reasons. Plus it really would give us more time to get to know each other and help you decide if you want to marry me,” he argued.

“I get what you are saying. And while I may not be a charity case to you, I can’t help feeling that way. I’m not bringing anything to this equation.”

“How can you say that? You’re giving me an heir. An heir I desperately need, mind you.”    

“You say that now. But my baby is not your biological child and what if the baby turns out to be a girl? Would you still consider her your heir? Or would only a boy child be considered? What happens if you fall in love down the road and have a child of your own? Would my child be disinherited even though he or she was groomed from birth to be your heir?”

“Whoa, slow down. Where is all of this coming from?”

“It’s just a lot to process and I’m terrified of making the wrong decision for my child.”

“I said I wasn’t going to pressure you and that I would do everything in my power to make you feel as comfortable as possible. I guess I’ve been doing a poor job of it,” he said regretfully.

“No, no,” Vanessa said quickly, trying to disabuse him of that notion. “I’m sorry I freaked on you just now. I guess I’m just spiralling from all that’s happened…you know. My life has changed so drastically over the past few months I don’t know which ways up anymore.”

“There is no need for you to apologize. Your fears are legitimate and the onus is on me to assuage those fears. That’s one of the reasons I want you to spend more time around me. It’s the only way you’ll get to really know me and be able to trust what I say to you.”

“I agree with you in principle, but I can’t work for you.”

“Why not? Help me understand. Is it because I remind you too much of my father and it brings up bad memories?”

“Yes and no.”

 “I don’t understand.”

“Working for you won’t be a problem. I know you are not your father. If I thought you were anything like your father I would not be here right now.”

“Okay, so what’s the problem?”

“It’s just…I can’t bring myself to work at that building just yet much less to work in that same office space so soon,” she reluctantly admitted.

Vanessa felt like a ninny admitting her concerns, but the matter couldn’t be helped. He needed to know that returning to that building was not an option for her right now.

‘Oh s**t!” Nick exclaimed, running a hand down his face. “When I offered you the job I did not consider what it would be like for you to have to return to that workspace. I’m such an insensitive clueless jackass.”

“I’m not saying I won’t ever be able to return there. I just can’t right now.”

“I completely understand and in the future never hesitate to call me on my bullshit or to stand up for your rights if I do or say anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

“Thank you for being so understanding.”

“There is nothing to understand. I was being a total i***t. I’m usually not this off my game.” He said with a depreciating smile.

“Are you implying that I’m the one throwing you off your game?”

“Well – “Nick began but thought better of his response. He didn’t want to scare her off. She was finally opening up to him. Instead of replying, he suggested, “what if I move the office to another part of the building? Would that make it easier for you?”

“It might,” she conceded before adding, “but you don’t have to go through the trouble nor the expense since I’ve got a job.”

“You have a job?” He parroted, completely baffled. “When did this happen?”

“I had a job interview last evening and the phone call I just took was them offering me the position. I’ve accepted.”

Vanessa watched various emotions play out on Nick’s face – shock, disbelief and finally acceptance.

“Okay,” he said slowly. “Where is this new job of yours going to be?”

Grateful he seemed to be taking her news well, Vanessa filled him in on the details.

“It’s at a small family-friendly pharmacy downtown. I would be the Administrative Assistant to the owner and he’s aware of my pregnancy and is willing to give me the necessary time off I will need for doctor’s visits and so on.”

“He? Who is the owner? What’s his name and how old is he?” Nick was on high alert. He didn’t like the idea Vanessa was not going to work with him but he hated the thought of her working for another male. It just brought out the caveman in him.

Laughing at his cagey reaction, Vanessa answered, “Yes he. He – being Mr Samuel Peters. He’s sweet and old – a bit grumpy, but I guess that comes with his age. I think he is in his eighties and he walks with a cane.”

“Okay, I’ll have my security team look into him.”

“You’ll what?”

“Just to ensure he is legit and harmless,” he assured.

“Okay, if it will make you feel better. I wasn’t even sure he was going to give me the job. I explained to him that I would only be able to work up to my due date and he noted that his granddaughter was graduating from college in a few months and would be returning to assist him in the pharmacy. So he wasn’t sure he would hire me or if he would just wait it out until his granddaughter came. So he’s harmless.”

“Hmm,” was his non-committal reply before asking, “what about my marriage proposal? Have you given that any thought? Or are you going to shoot me down two-nil?”  

Exasperatedly Vanessa stared at him for a long moment. “You really do have a one-track mind you know that?”

“Well, my end goal has always been for you to become my wife. You refusing my job proposal doesn’t change that. We don’t need to get married right away. We can just get engaged and take things as slowly as you need.”    

Not giving herself time to think it through, Vanessa accepted the proposal. Today was the day for making decisions and she would get all of hers out of the way. No looking back, no regrets.

“You win, Nick. I accept. Yes. Yes to your marriage proposal,” she said, mentally building a wall around her heart and willing herself not to fall in love with him.

“Yes?” he said a bit dazed that she had agreed and so readily.

Originally, he'd figured it would be easy to persuade her, but after coming up against her resistance yesterday he'd recalculated and had planned to redouble his efforts. Now she'd thrown him for a loop, once again. He’d honestly thought she would say no and had just asked her once more so the idea of marriage to him would be in the forefront of her mind.

She was constantly surprising him but he schooled his face to avoid betraying his shock.

“Excellent, we’ll take it one step at a time and will plan an engagement party for next month. Finish your breakfast while I take a shower. Then we can go shopping for a few items to decorate the nursery and make it in time for your appointment.”

“Sounds like a plan. I have to go into the pharmacy after lunch to sign some paperwork, so I won’t be returning home with you.”

“That’s okay. I’ll have the driver drop you off then I’ll go into the office for a few hours to get some work done.”

The plan decided, Nick left for his shower.