The Billionaire's Secret Baby

A Moment Like No Other

Hope's POV

My heart was racing, I was shaking and I couldn't keep still. I just saw the father of my child and I lied to him. I can't believe that he recognised me after so long. I am shaking because I never thought that I would run into him, especially on a day like this. I am getting an award, I had my speech prepared and now I don't even remember one word.

Seeing him here on this day has messed me up. I am not even sure if I can go through with the award ceremony anymore. My stomach is in knots and I am pretty sure that I look flushed. I took a deep breathe and thanked the gods that no one came in the lift. I turned around and looked at myself in the mirror. I still look fine despite all that happened.

I just hope that I was able to convince him that I am not who he thinks I am. I know what I did with him, it was a mistake, something that happened only once but he doesn't know that.I don't judge women who are in that line of work, they are probably doing the best they can with what they have, who am I to judge?

That doesn't mean that society agrees with me, if anything, they have a lot to say about women doing that kind of world and it is not pretty. I can only Imagine what I would say if people asked me how we met, the same way I wonder what he would say if he was asked the same question.

What happened that night cannot be known by anyone else, this is information I hope doesn't get out. I am not the same person I was five years ago. I mean would he even believe me when if told him that it was my first and last time? That I was desparate and needed the money?

I don't know what he is doing here but this is not good for me, this is why I have to get over with this ceremony and go back home. I still have another two days in this place and if I am lucky, that was the last time I see him. I can't believe how rude he was when he bumped into me.

I don't know who or what he thinks he is but he can't treat people that way, and then he has the audacity to tell me that he wants to make it up to me. Okay maybe a part of me was tempted, I mean any one with eyes can see that the man is an Adonis. He is handsome and if I remember things right, he has a killer body and an amazing six pack.

I haven't been out with a man in at least two years. After I had my son, I was too busy with my degree and being a good mom to my son, I didn't even entertain the thought of having a boyfriend. Then my son turned two and I met someone. He was a great guy but he was not very good with kids, he just didn't get my son and so I broke it off.

I don't know why my mother left me, my stepmother used to say that it was because she met another man. It was painful to hear that my mother chose a man over me. This is why I couldn't do that to my son. After that, I figured that maybe I am not ready for relationships.

Finding a man is hard enough on its own and I know for a fact that there isn't a lot of guys who would want to be with a baby mama, especially a single mother and I have been okay with that for the most part. So maybe being in the company of a man wouldn't be a bad idea, as long as it is not him.

Finally, I made my out of the lift and to the ceremony. It was a grand affair, the room was packed. I got nervous all over again. My boss Mrs Mary Pierce saw me and smiled. She was waved at me to come over. I walked to the table, she was with her husband.

"Mr and Mrs Pierce," I said to them. Mary hugged me.

"Don't you look good," She said.

"You look stunning yourself, I hope that I am not too late!" I said to her.

"No, it's fine, you are here now and that is all that matters, we have a keynote speaker who will doing his speech in a few minutes, after that the award ceremony will begin," She said and sat down. I did the same.

I could not help but notice the empty chair by the table.

"Are we expecting anyone else?" I asked my boss.

"Yes, our keynote speaker, some big shot CEO tech billionaire, apparently he just purchased one of the biggest publishing houses in the country," she said to me.

"You mean Writter Bean?" I asked her.

"Yes, you know working there would be a great opportunity," she said and looked at me.

"Why would a tech CEO be interested in literature?" I asked her.

"I wish I knew, all that I know is that he is apparently looking to pouch people to work for him, which would explain why he would be here on this very important night, Hope I honestly think that you have a shot, I mean if he happens to offer you a job and all," She said.

"I don't think that he would be looking my way, I don't have enough experience to get an offer for a company that big, maybe in a few years, but I think that you would be the one to get an offer, you have the experience and the skills," I said to her.

"New York City is no place for me, besides, I would miss home too much," She said.

I get what she is saying. Being home sick is a real thing. There are many days where I just wished that I was back home, wished that I was around the people I love, the people who know me and then again I think about my life and my son. Having a child out of wedlock is something that is frowned upon where I come from, especially if the father is not in the picture.

I come from a small town and where I come from, everyone knows everyone's business. My stepmother would never appreciate me showing up at her doorstep after so many years, especially with a child and no ring. I never thought that my life would end up like this. I had to grow up before my time and now, everything I do, I do for my son. Which is why being here means so much to me. This means that my hard work is being recognised and that I am finally making a name for myself.

"I think I see the Mayor, excuse me ladies," Mr Pierce said and left the table.

" So where is this key-note speaker? I mean the ceremony should have started by now, I don't get why people don't respect other people's times..." I said but Maria didn't say anything, instead she was looking at me funny, like she was trying to tell me something, finally I stopped talking, I saw her look and my heart sank.

"He is behind me isn't he?" I said to her. She nodded her head.

" My apologies my ladies, I had some other business to take care of." A male voice said from behind me.

A voice that gave me chills and goosebumps at the sand time because I know who it is. Finally, he came over and pulled the chair, he sat down and I couldn't believe what my eyes where showing me, it seems like I can't get away from this guy, the worst part of this is that he heard me talking about him.

"Twice in one day...must be my lucky day!" He said with a smirk on his face.

"Oh, you two know each other?" Maria asked. She was clearly surprised.

Up until now, I had no idea how much of a big deal he was. As the keynote speaker and the main sponsor for the award, tonight can be very difficult for me, I have no choice but to play nice.

"Yes, this gentleman over here was mistaking me for someone else," I said casually.

"Not just anyone, only the most beautiful woman I have ever had the privilege to meet," He said looking at me.

I was blushing, deep down inside I know that he is talking about me. I would be flattered if I didn't think that he was just baiting me, I will never change my story, as far as I am concerned, we only met today. His eyes were piercing, it was like he was trying to look inside my soul. I had to look away.

"Well I personally can't thank you enough for the opportunity you have given our publishing house, Miss Mane here is one of our most promising junior editors, as her mentor, I know that she is bound of great things, I mean this year alone, she has had three number sellers under her name in the romance genre," Maria said with a smile.

I am not sure if the man is aware but my boss is actually putting in a good word for me, she is trying to get me hired. Anyone would be foolish to pass up on this opportunity but given my history with the man, I don't think this is a good thing for me.

"Ladies and gentlemen, can I get your attention, please make your way to your seats, the event is about to begin," A woman said through a speaker.

I for one am glad to hear that because I was starting to feel uncomfortable. I came here for an award, I don't care much about a job because I already have a job, one that I like. I have started a new life for myself and seeing this man only reminds me of the past, especially why I had to leave home like I did.

"Well ladies, if you will excuse me, I believe that is my cue," He said and stood up. Mrs Pierce husband came back to the table.

I watched him as he walked to the stage, people got up from their chairs and so did I. He made his way to the podium and sat back down. I couldn't take my eyes off him. I watched him as he spoke, the way his lips moved, the way he oozes with confidence, the man was sure of himself. Then he said his name and for the first time, I knew his name. Before this moment, he was just someone I met once.

He looked at our table and never took his eyes off me until he finished his speech. I saw him talking but I didn't even hear what he was saying because I couldn't keep my eyes off him, the same way he couldn't keep his off mine. People started to clap and so did I. He left the podium and came back to the table. He briefly spoke to Mr Pierce and then my name was called to collect my award.

I was nervous, I had forgotten my entire speech. I took a deep breathe. I tried to take my eyes from him, even then I could feel him starring at me. I don't get it, we met once, why the interest in me? I saw how people looked at him as he walked off stage, they admire him, this means that he is a big deal, what could he possibly want with a small town girl like me? Finally I found my voice and opened my mouth with hopes that I won't choke on my words.

"I would like to thank everyone who made this award possible, it means a lot to know that my hardwork is being recognised, especially when there is so much talent out there, I would mostly like to thank my authors, none of this would be possible if it was not for them, I would also like so send a huge thank you to my boss and mentor Mary for believing in me, thank you!" I said with a smile and walked off with my award in my hand.

People stood up and clapped their hands as I walked down the stairs. I made my way to the table. Xavier pulled the chair for me and I sat down, it looks like he had switched chairs with Mr Pierce. I sat down and put the award on the table. Maria was smiling.

"I believe that congratulations are in order, so you are from New Orleans?" He said to me.

I don't know where the question is coming from, it is sudden but I don't think that it's just a simple question. Right now we are in New York but when we met for the first time, I was home, a small town that no one really cares about. I don't even know what he was doing there. I was there to do one thing, make him happy.

"New Orleans is home and that is all that matter to me, please excuse me!" I said and stood up. I needed to move because I don't know if I can keep on dodging his questions, I still feel like he is trying to trap me into saying something.

" You are leaving?" He asked me.

"No, I just need some air, " I said and walked to the bathroom.

It was empty, I made my way inside one of the bathrooms and I sat on it. I took out my phone and texted my best friend. I needed someone to talk to. I don't do well under pressure. I need her to calm me down because I was about to lose it. God knows the kind of questions he is asking the Pierce about me, what if Mary tells her about my son? I stood up and walked back to the table.

Xavier stood up again and pulled the chair for me. This time I thanked him and sat down. Everyone at the table seemed happy somehow, they were all smiles.

"Should I tell her or you will?" She said to Xavier.

"Please do the honours Mrs Pierce," Xavier said.

"Guess who is coming on board as senior editor for Writer Bean?" She said to me.

"You got the job? Wow that is amazing! Congratulations!" I said to her with a huge smile. She is not just my boss but my mentor as well, Writer Bean is a big deal in the publishing industry, they don't just publish novels but they publish Biographies, Memoirs, Magazines, Cook Books, DIY Books they do it all. This is definitely a well deserved promotion for her.

"Not me silly! Xavier here thinks that you would be a perfect fit to the publishing house and I agree with him!" She said to me.

"What?" I said in a shocked voice. This is unexpected.

"Look I am making changes in the company and I am looking for something different, something new and fresh, from what I have heard so far, you are the perfect person for the job," Xavier said to me.

"I...I...I don't know what to say, I mean I don't have half of the experience needed for the job, Writer Bean is a giant of a publishing house! surely someone with experience would be better suited for the job!" I said.

"I have never known you to back away from a challenge," My boss said.

She is right, I never back away from a challenge. I had no choice, I had to work twice as hard as everyone else to make sure that I prove myself, to make sure that I become the best version of myself but I have a son with this man. A son I have been raising on my own for the last four years.

My son thinks that his father is in heaven. This is pretty much what I told everyone else, that he died in an accident a few months after I got pregnant. I also didn't want my son to have questions about his father that I couldn't give him, hell I didn't even know the name of the man at the time.

Now here I am and he wants me to work for him. I don't know if I will be able to carry on with the lie if I take this job, even if it is my dream job. Furthermore, I am not sure if this city is where I would want to raise my son.

" Tell you what? you don't have to give me an answer today, think about it first." Xavier said.