The Billionaire's Rumor

Chapter 7: Everything Happens for a Reason

It shouldn't have been a surprise, considering it's been all over the place, but for Penny to up front acknowledge it, was a shocker all the same. “You know about that?"

Penny poured her glass of juice and took a long swig. “Everyone who knows you, knows. Except for your parents. They don't look at tabloids. You should probably say something if it's true."

“It is true."

Penny stared at her a long moment, brushing her blonde hair from her face as the breeze blew it. “You are in an official relationship with Levi Bennett?"

Felicity swallowed more of her sparkling juice and nodded. “I am. It's been a secret for a while, but he was ready to confirm the relationship."

“Wait, you're seeing Levi, yet you want to get pregnant with Marco's child?"

“Marco wanted a child. He wanted to be a father. It was his wish, and when I lost him, I promised him I would try again. Levi understands this and supports it. But now, thanks to your little f**k-up, I don't know whose baby I'm carrying. Levi wants to father it all the same." The lie came out a little too smoothly. A part of Felicity hated how easy it was to lie to a friend, but at the same time, she couldn't turn down Levi's offer to take care of her and she was in do or die mode.

Penny stared at her silently for a long moment. She took another swig of juice and licked her lips, digging her toes into the warm sand. “But you just said you're giving the baby up for adoption."

Sh*t…Sh*t. Sh*t. Sh*t. The lies were already catching up with her, “Right, this one. But when I can conceive Marco's, Levi wants to raise it with me." Felicity could see the suspicion in Penny's hazel eyes, and it made her a little tense. “Pregnancy brain striking already." She laughed.

It worked. Penny rolled her eyes good-naturedly and shook her head. “What's going to happen when you start showing? Will you tell your family then?"

“They all live far enough away, I'm hoping to simply avoid seeing them in person, give birth to the baby when the time is right, and then we make sure it's Marco's juice before you put that thing back inside me."

“You know I'm happy to back you up, City. It's the least I can do since this is my mistake."

Felicity started to feel a bit guilty for rubbing it in her face. “What's done is done and there is no taking it back." Sure Penny made a mistake. Everyone does. At the end of the day though, Penny was her best friend, and she decided it was time to forgive her. “I forgive you, Penny. I do. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be right now, and this is God's twisted way of intervening. This child is meant to be here, and I will be the best host for it. When the time comes, we'll give him or her to parents that need them."

Tears welled up in Penny's eyes and she set her glass down in the sand and threw her arms around Felicity. “Oh City, that means more to me than you'll ever know. Rest assured, I have learned my lesson to double check everything and I will never make that mistake again."

Felicity wrapped her arms around her and rubbed her back. “Don't start crying or I'm going to start crying."

“I've been kicking myself every day since it happened. I've worried about how I might lose you over this."

“That's not going to happen. Have I been pissed? Yes. But this isn't the worst thing in the world. As I said, maybe this child is meant to be here."

“I hope you're right, City. It's going to be the only thought that gets me through this."

“You know me, I believe everything happens for a reason. I just needed to remind myself of that." Especially lately when Levi shoved his way into her life and now, she's in a fake, committed relationship with him.

Penny broke from the embrace and picked her glass back up. “So Levi…when do I get to hear all about that?"

“Levi…" Felicity blushed as she suddenly needed to tell Penny everything. The facts she gave had to be precise and match with what Levi was going to tell everyone else. Perhaps this was something they were to discuss when Levi planned to prep her for Thursday night's dinner. “I'll tell you everything. I promise. I just…"

“Need to digest a few things? Like the fact you're dating the hottest Real Estate Agent in LA?"

“It does feel very fresh, new, and I'm so used to being tight lipped about it."

“I get it. Promise me a girls' day next weekend? We can talk about it then?"

“Girls' day next weekend." They clanked their glasses together and drank to the arranged day. “I will tell you this much, I agreed to move in with Levi."

Penny looked at Felicity as though something had been eating at the back of her mind. “I haven't had the heart to point out the obvious, but do you know why you're called his mysterious mistress?"

“Because he's engaged."

“So, you do know. Doesn't that complicate things? His family comes from money and from what I've heard, his dad is bound and determined that Levi marries his said fiancé."

“It's okay Penny, I'm having dinner with them this Thursday."

“So, you've met them?"

“Roger Bennett I've met, but I haven't met his mom."

“Does he know about your…" Penny gestured to her stomach.

“Levi told him, but Roger said that this would be dealt with. What do think he meant by that."

The blood drained from Penny's face. “You don't know what he means by that?"

Felicity felt her stomach drop as the realization came to her, but she couldn't say it.

“Roger is going to try to make you get an abortion. He has the means to force it on you."