Perfect Scandal

Chapter 2

Alistair Gomez squinted as a beam of early morning light filtered through the gap in the curtains, piercing his throbbing head like an unwelcome guest. He groaned, lifting a hand to rub his temples. The after-party hangover was a familiar sensation, but this one felt particularly sharp, thanks to the countless glasses of champagne and the endless laughter that had echoed through his penthouse the night before.

He couldn't help but smile as memories of the party resurfaced—celebrity friends in sparkling attire, music so loud it could have awakened the dead, and a buzz of excitement that only came when Hollywood's brightest stars gathered. The night had been a success, exactly what he had hoped for as a thank-you to everyone who had supported him. A perfect send-off before the New Year's Eve countdown he would soon co-host in Times Square.

Everyone had seemed to enjoy themselves—well, almost everyone. His smile faltered as he thought about Riley Daemons, the perpetually annoyed neighbor who'd shown up at his door with fire in her eyes. Even in her oversized sweatshirt, she had looked undeniably beautiful, her blonde hair pulled back and exposing sharp, natural features. She was the embodiment of simplicity, a stark contrast to the glitz he surrounded himself with. But her attitude, oh, that was another story. Alistair chuckled, amused by the thought of her scowl and the way she'd called him out with zero hesitation.

"A true 'Karen'," he muttered to himself, smirking as he sat up. But then his brow furrowed as he wondered, "Is she single?" The question was unexpected and seemed to linger. Riley Daemons wasn't the type of woman who usually caught his attention—she was far too serious, always focused on whatever she was scribbling in that little notebook he'd seen her with. Still, something about her fierce independence piqued his curiosity. Maybe a little romance could soften her edges.

He shook his head, as if to clear the thought, and reached for his phone. The screen lit up with hundreds of notifications from last night. Tagged photos and stories flooded his feed, showing snapshots of him raising a toast, leaning in to laugh with fellow actors, and posing with influencers. His name was trending, naturally, and a few tabloids had already labeled his party as *the* event of the season.

Ali let out a satisfied sigh and tossed the phone onto the bed, stretching before he swung his legs over the edge. Today was Christmas Eve, and for the first time in weeks, he had no plans. The cleaners were scheduled to come by in the afternoon to deal with the aftermath of the party, so he figured he'd spend the day resting, maybe watching a game with a drink in hand.

After splashing cold water on his face and running a hand through his tousled hair, Ali made his way to the kitchen. The spacious room, with its marble counters and state-of-the-art appliances, felt strangely quiet compared to last night. He filled a glass with water, taking a long drink to stave off the dryness in his mouth, and ambled toward the front door to grab the morning newspaper.

When he opened the door, the usual crispness of December air greeted him, along with the sight of something he did not expect: a wicker basket sitting at his feet. It was covered with a pale pink blanket, and before he could process what it was doing there, the bundle shifted. Ali's eyes widened, and he stepped back, his heart skipping a beat as his first thought was some stray animal had crawled into it.

But then the blanket slipped, and he stared in stunned silence at what was underneath.

A baby. A real, living baby with wide, curious eyes and a tuft of soft brown hair peeking out from under the edge of the blanket. It blinked up at him, completely unfazed by the chilly air or the expression of pure shock on Ali's face.

He swallowed, throat suddenly dry for an entirely different reason. His mind raced through a series of questions without landing on a single coherent thought. Who would leave a baby outside his door? Why was it here? And what on earth was he supposed to do now?

The baby let out a soft, almost musical coo, a sound so innocent that it tugged at something deep in Ali's chest. He crouched down, hesitating before he reached out to touch the edge of the basket as if expecting it to vanish at any second.

"Uh, hey there, little one," he whispered, as if speaking louder would shatter the surreal moment. The baby kicked its tiny legs, the movement causing the blanket to slip further and reveal a small, round face. Ali's gaze softened as he took in the wide, curious eyes that seemed to study him just as intently.

A folded note was tucked in beside the baby, and Ali's hand shook slightly as he picked it up. The handwriting was rushed, almost desperate, and it read:

*Please take care of her. I have no choice. I know you'll do what's right.*

That was it. No name, no further explanation. Just those few words that carried an immeasurable weight.

Ali's pulse quickened as reality set in. This was a baby—a baby—left on his doorstep. He wasn't exactly known for his parenting skills, nor had he ever planned to be. Sure, he had nieces and nephews back home, but those were brief, carefully managed interactions during holidays. This was different. This was...

"There's no way, this is mine? this is not my kid," Thinking of his previous flings, girls he dated that can be the reason for this? there's no way someone who'll leave a child in a strangers house for no reason.. unless this child is his, "Hell no! it's impossible, I've been careful." he said to himself trying to think more.

"Okay, stay calm," he muttered to himself, standing up and running a hand through his hair again. He glanced up and down the hallway, half-expecting someone to jump out and yell that this was some kind of prank. But the corridor was silent, the doors to the other apartments shut tight. A festive wreath hung on the door across from him, and faint holiday music filtered out from behind it. He have to think fast.

Ali shifted his gaze back to the baby, who watched him with wide eyes, as if waiting to see what he'd do next. The tiny mouth opened in a yawn, and for a moment, Ali felt a pang of panic. Was it hungry? Did babies even yawn when they were hungry? He had no idea.

A loud laugh echoed from down the hallway, and Ali stiffened. The last thing he needed was one of his celebrity guests or a nosy reporter to see him standing in the hall with an abandoned baby. The story would go viral in seconds, and the scandal could ruin everything he had worked so hard to build.

Before he could second-guess himself, he scooped up the basket, carefully cradling it in his arms as he stepped back into his apartment and closed the door behind him. The sudden quiet was deafening, interrupted only by the baby's soft breathing and the muffled sounds of the city outside.

Ali took a deep breath, setting the basket down on the marble island in his kitchen. He stared at it for a moment before pulling out his phone and scrolling through his contacts. He needed help—someone who knew what to do with a baby. His gaze flickered to the wall, behind which Riley Daemons lived.

Riley. The thought made him pause. Of course, she'd be the last person he wanted to ask for help. She barely tolerated him, made that abundantly clear every time their paths crossed. But she was smart, practical, and, judging by the few snippets he'd overheard through their shared wall, compassionate.

Ali let out a frustrated sigh, tapping his foot as he weighed his options. He could call child services, but with today being Christmas Eve, who knew when someone would be able to come out? The city was already bustling with holiday chaos. No, he needed immediate help, even if it meant swallowing his pride and knocking on Riley's door.

He glanced at the baby, who looked back up at him with an innocent expression, as if oblivious to the whirlwind of confusion and anxiety swirling around them both.

"All right, kid," Ali said, grabbing his jacket. "Let's hope my neighbor isn't as heartless as she looks when she's yelling at me."

With the baby cradled in one arm, Ali walked out of his apartment and stood in front of Riley's door, hesitating only a moment before rapping on it with his knuckles. The sound was sharp, urgent, and cut through the silence of the hallway.

Inside, Riley's peaceful morning had been interrupted by the sound of her own thoughts, filled with the final preparations for the life-altering decision she was about to make. She sat at her small dining table, flipping through the pages of her well-worn prayer book, but the knock at her door made her freeze. No one ever knocked at this hour, especially not on Christmas Eve.

Brows furrowed, she stood up and walked to the door, peeking through the peephole. The sight made her jaw drop.

There stood Alistair Gomez, the golden boy of Hollywood, looking disheveled and frantic, cradling what appeared to be a baby in his arms.

Riley yanked the door open before she could stop herself. "What on earth...?"

"Riley," Ali said, his voice strained, eyes filled with a mix of desperation and something else she couldn't quite place. "I need your help. Right now."

Her eyes widened as they dropped to the baby nestled against his chest, tiny fists curled in the blanket. She blinked, looking up at Ali like he'd just told her the sky was green.

"What is this?" she asked, disbelief coloring her voice.

Ali shifted on his feet, glancing nervously down the hallway before stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "I found this—her—on my doorstep this morning," he said, as the baby let out another soft coo.

Riley's gaze snapped from the baby to Ali, her brain struggling

to catch up. "And you brought her here? To me? Why?"

"Because," Ali said, his tone as sincere as she'd ever heard it, "you're the only person I can think of who knows what to do."

Riley's heart pounded as she stared at the tiny face peeking out from the blanket. A storm of emotions swept through her—confusion, concern, and something deeper, something she didn't dare name.

"Please, Riley," Ali's voice broke through her thoughts. "I don't know what to do. And... she needs someone right now."

Riley swallowed hard, meeting Ali's pleading gaze, and in that moment, she knew that whatever her plans had been for the day, they were about to change in ways she could never have anticipated.