The Billionaire's Rumor

Chapter 2: Wrong Number

Fury couldn't begin to describe what Felicity felt when they had mixed up the order at the sperm bank. How in the ever-living hell could someone screw up something so delicate? She gripped the steering wheel in her Kia Soul as she weaved through the cluster of LA traffic. She pulled into Simpson Family Clinic, and she was that b***h who took up two parking spots and not give a single s**t.

Holly, the receptionist, didn't even get a chance to announce Felicity's arrival before she stormed through the doorway, heading straight for Penny's office. The fact she was on the phone didn't stop Felicity from blowing up at her. “How does one get that mixed up? You knew what this meant to me, Penny!"

Penny looked at Felicity and held eye contact as she spoke into the phone, “I am going to have to call you back." she hung up the phone, “that was the sperm bank, Felicity, I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am."

“How could you not make sure whatever you put in me was Marco's?"

“That part was my error. There was a student working in our office that day and I think they got it mixed up."

“Don't you DARE try and put this on someone else! How does this even happen?"

“It was a devastating mistake."

“Devastating is the understatement of the year!"

Spit had flown out her mouth and she couldn't bring herself to care. After all she had been through, after that stupid lecture about whether or not she was ready, Dr. Simpson, a woman she trusted, injected her with the wrong swimmers. The bright side was the pregnancy wasn't confirmed yet.

After exchanging harsh words, Felicity left to go cool off. Nothing could be done until a pregnancy was confirmed, so all that was on her side was time. A week had gone by and after a long day at her job, Sweet Pastries, she was still restless. She drove to her new place by the beach and walked to that special spot.

She sat down and burrowed her fingers and toes into the warm sand and took a breath of that salty air she wished she could fashion into a candle and burn. It's where Marco proposed, it's where they sat on their first date, it's where his ashes were scattered. The warm sand made her feel as though he was with her. Sometimes she swore she could smell him on the breeze. Despite a photoshoot happening nearby, she was determined to try and connect with him anyway.

“I tried to have another baby…it was supposed to be yours. But that…f*cking bank that kept your swimmers…" her fingers dug furiously into the sand. The muscles in her arms and hands tensed up, eyes grew hot as tears ran down her cheeks. This was tragic. Nearly up there with losing a baby. She no longer felt like Mrs. Griffin carrying her late husband's child. She was some host for a random donor.

Her grieving thoughts were disrupted by a gruff female voice. “Excuse me ma'am, we're doing a photoshoot for LA Real Estate Empire, I don't mean to disrupt you, but you're sitting in such a beautiful place, would you mind if we took a few shots here?"

Felicity looked up and when the woman saw she was crying, her demeanor changed from a request to guilt. “Oh…I apologize."

She shook her head. “No, it's fine. This is a beautiful spot. Of course, I can move so you can shoot here."

“Oh…thank you!"

Felicity went to stand up when a large hand extended in front of her. Her eyes followed the trail up the arm and rested on a pair of baby blue eyes and a panty-dropping smile. “Allow me to help you up." The demigod said. Her cheeks flushed. It was the first time she noticed a man since Marco, and good lord he seemed to notice her too. She placed her hand in his and he pulled her up.

“Thank you," she smiled, having forgotten she had sand stuck to her other hand and she ran her fingers through her hair.

“You're welcome. I'm Levi Bennett, perhaps you've heard of me?"

Felicity couldn't stop her cheeks from flushing, “I'm Felicity, I honestly haven't heard of you, should I have?"

Levi looked taken aback, as though she should know who he is. He shrugged and offered his arm, “No, you don't need to know who I am. Is there anywhere I need to escort the lovely lady to?"

“Actually, my apartment is in that building up ahead. I'll be okay."

“It's time for my break, let me walk you there. It's the least I could do for my manager disrupting you from this stunning view."

Felicity thought on it a moment and something about this guy ignited something in her. The last few years, she was all about Marco. When he died, no one existed. It felt like this Levi was the first man to show himself to her since she lost her beloved husband. She'd forgotten what it was like to have a man she didn't know talk to her. It made her nervous, but she didn't want to be rude. “Sure…that would be nice."

Levi smiled and offered his arm to her, “So you live in those apartments, huh?"

“Yeah, I just moved in, but this beach has always been a special place for me."

“I can see why, it's a stunning, hidden gem. Well, not so hidden anymore since new apartments got put up."

Talk was small, simple. And she found herself falling easily into conversation with him. They'd reached the building and she was the one to break the contact. “Thank you, it was nice having an escort home." she smiled.

“You're welcome, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you, Felicity. I hope you have an exceptional evening."

“You too."

“Oh, you have some sand falling out of your hair." he chuckled as he reached up and tenderly ran his fingers down a lock of her hair, shaking the sand from it. Felicity couldn't deny that the gesture was sweet; to the point that it left a slight stinging sensation in the depths of her belly. It scared her. Even though Marco was gone, she had no intention of being with anyone again. Losing him nearly killed her, she couldn't risk it.

The next morning Felicity got to Sweet Pastries early with her manager Mandy Parker. She barely made it in two steps before Mandy was in her face, aggressively pointing at the gossip magazine in her hand. “How the hell do you know Levi Bennett?"

Felicity blinked in surprise. “What?"

“Levi Bennett! He's only the hottest real estate agent in LA and he's to inherit a billion dollars! According to this, he has a secret mistress and that is your face next to him!"