Page 43 of Accidental Theirs (Alpha Billionaire Daddies #6)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

DAMIEN

I keep an eye out for Olivia at work.

It’s not a new thing, not just because of the pregnancy. I’ve always kept an eye on her, and maybe that’s because she took my breath away the first time I saw her.

So when Sebastian goes into her office, I know about it. I know what he’s likely doing in there, too, and I prepare myself for the sick feeling of jealousy I know is coming.

Instead, though, it’s not jealousy I feel. Maybe a little envy .

I wish I’d had that same idea, but I’ve been so buried in helping Olivia with fundraisers and bill collecting.

I guess I don’t actually mind sharing her. What I do mind is the idea that this baby might not be mine.

I’m getting used to the idea of a family, of having someone to come home to, someone to rely on.

I’ve never had that, and if one of them takes it away from me, I’ll fight tooth and nail.

I just want to have security, people that love me. Is that so much to ask ?

I see Olivia again around three in the afternoon when she takes a trip to the water cooler.

I’m not thirsty, but I grab a cup anyway, smiling at her.

“Feel better?” I raise an eyebrow, and she flushes.

It makes me smirk.

“So, you know?”

“I put it together when he went into your office. These walls are thin, you know.”

She groans and puts a hand to her forehead as if face-palming. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t in the office.”

I chuckle. “I can’t exactly judge, can I?”

“You’re not mad? I feel like Dominic would be foaming at the mouth.”

I laugh. “You’re right. He probably would be. But I’m not Dom. I don’t claim to own you.”

“You don’t?”

I shake my head. “No, not at all. I’ve learned you can’t own anything, not really.”

She tilts her head. “What do you mean by that?”

“I dunno. Friends. Family. Lovers. They all go away in the end, right? Either you split up, have a falling out, someone cheats. Someone betrays you. Or even if you’re happy together, it doesn’t last forever. Nothing does.”

She stares at me, mouth parted. “Damien, that’s the darkest outlook on relationships I’ve ever heard.”

I give her a smile that feels fake even on my own lips. “It’s true, isn’t it?”

“No,” she says harshly, and then again, softer. “No, it’s not true at all. Every person you meet, every path you cross, it’s an experience. It’s what makes up life, all the in-betweens.”

“That’s probably the most optimistic outlook on relationships I’ve ever heard.”

She shrugs, sipping her water. “What can I say? I guess I’m a hopeless romantic. But what about your parents? Weren’t they in love?”

I snort. “Who needs love when you have drugs? That was my parents’ motto, anyway. All they did was scream at each other and nod out.”

Olivia’s eyes widen, and I see what I always hate to see on someone’s face when I talk about my family or lack thereof. Pity.

I turn my eyes away. “Don’t worry about it. Not everyone has a good upbringing. It’s no big deal.”

I head to my office to stop the conversation, but Olivia follows me, closing the door behind her.

“I never knew that you didn’t have parents who took care of you, Damien. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why? So you can pity me?” I sit down at my desk and fiddle through paperwork. “Break’s over. I’m busy.”

Olivia puts her hands on my desk, stopping me from picking up a file folder.

“Stop.” Her voice is soft, and it does give me pause.

I look up at her, and her pale green eyes are full of tears.

“Talk to me, Damien.”

My shoulders sink as she sits down in the chair across from my desk.

“I don’t know where to start.”

“Did you have brothers? Sisters?”

“More of them than I could count. Five, maybe six? I can’t remember. We all lost touch when they finally took us and threw us into foster care. For a few years, I kept up with my baby brother, Shawn, but...”

“Damien, that’s so...”

“It is what it is.” I clear my throat. “Was there something else you wanted to talk about?”

She shifts in the chair. “And you never had grandparents or?— ”

“I never had anybody.” The words burst from my chest unexpectedly. “I never had anybody love me, Olivia, so if you’re going to tell me shit gets better or that I have support, it’s bullshit. I don’t.”

“You do , and it hurts me that you don’t see it!” She puts a hand to her chest. “You have me , Damien. And my parents, they love you. Mom loved you.”

Tears prick at the backs of my eyes, and I fight them back.

“I loved her, too,” I say quietly.

She was the closest thing to a mother I’ve ever had. Losing her was harder on me than I’d ever admit to anyone, least of all Olivia.

“But now you have me. Me, my dad, hell, even Dominic and Sebastian. We’re your friends, Damien. We could be your family.”

“And if it’s not mine? What happens then?”

She pauses, biting her lip, and I feel guilty for causing her stress but anxious about what she’s going to say.

“I want you in my life, Damien. No matter what that looks like.”

I soften. “You mean that? Even if everything goes sideways?—”

“Then we’ll still be friends. Always,” she promises, and I don’t know if I can ever go back to being her friend but the idea that if everything falls apart, I’ll still have someone... it means a lot to me.

More than she knows.

“And I want to get to know you, Damien. We should talk, you know, like... about everything.”

“You mean our childhoods. I don’t have many fun childhood stories, Olivia.”

“It doesn’t matter. I want all of you. The good and the bad. ”

I look at her almost in wonder. I’ve never had anyone say something like that to me.

“What do you want to know?”

She shifts in her chair as if getting comfortable and looks at me curiously. “Tell me about your siblings.”

“I told you, I don’t remember?—”

“Tell me what you do remember.”

I take a deep breath through my nostrils, not wanting to think about the past.

“My oldest sister, her name was Cherry. Like the fruit. She tried so hard to keep us all together, until...” The painful memory sticks in my throat.

“Until?”

“She started using. All the pressure just snuck up on her, and she overdosed when I was twelve.”

“Oh, my God. Damien, I’m so sorry. I wish things were different for you.”

“I wish they were different for her.” I wipe at my face even though the tears haven’t come.

“I’m sorry you lost her. And I’m sorry that your parents weren’t strong enough. But you have to know none of that is your fault.”

“Thank you,” I mutter, feeling slightly embarrassed.

I’ve never told anyone about Cherry. Not ever. I keep that memory close to my heart, always.

I remember her warm brown eyes, and I hope I always will.

She was the only one who tried to take care of me. Even if she failed, it’s important.

“Are you angry?”

I startle, surprised at her question. “Angry? About what?”

“About how your life started out. The cards you were dealt.”

“Doesn’t do any good to be angry. ”

“Maybe not, but it might make you feel better.”

Her pale green eyes suddenly widen, and she stands up.

I look at her warily. “What are you up to now?”

“I have an idea for our next date.”

“Date? Didn’t know we had one scheduled.”

“We do now.” She bounces around the office.

I smile. It’s pretty cute, especially with her little belly bopping around.

“When and where?” I’m determined to win her over in any way I can, so it’s not like I’m going to decline.

She grins. “Tomorrow. We’re taking off work. Both of us.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What should I wear?”

“Casual and comfy,” she answers, quickly exiting the office as if to go and plot.

What is she planning, and why am I so excited about it?

The next morning, I’m freshly showered after the gym and wearing a t-shirt and a pair of black sweats when Olivia shows up at my house.

She wears sneakers and a pair of high-waisted shorts that hug her curves and accentuate her baby bump. Her dark hair is swept back in a high ponytail that shows her pretty face.

It’s adorable, and I want to grab her and kiss her and never let her go.

“Are you ever going to tell me where we’re going?”

She shakes her head. “Nope.”

I sigh but head outside and get into her sedan.

The door doesn’t close quite right, and I grunt when I shut it.

“You need to get that fixed.”

“I need a new car. I’ve just been so busy.”

“I'll buy you one," I say easily, and she blinks at me .

“You're offering to buy me a car ?”

I grin. “Why not? You’re my employee, and you need reliable transportation to work.”

She snorts out a laugh. “And you’re going to pretend that’s the reason?”

I look as innocent as possible. “Whatever do you mean?”

“So, you’re not doing this to spoil me and one-up Dominic and Sebastian?”

“Maybe a little. I’ll send it to your place next week.”

“I don’t get to pick it out?”

“Nope. Trust me, you’ll love it.”

She looks at me like I’m crazy, but she’s smiling ear to ear.

I make a mental note to look at the safest sedans available.

Maybe a minivan, because of the baby.

We finally arrive at what appears to be a large, abandoned warehouse.

I blink at her as we get out of the car.

“What is this?”

She opens her trunk and inside are goggles, baseball bats, crowbars...

“Are you planning a heist? What is this?”

“It’s a rage room!” She bounces up and down. “My father owns this property, and he’s never done anything with it. I thought we could just go through and break anything we can.”

I stare at her for a moment, and she looks suddenly nervous.

“If you don’t want to...”

I put a hand over her mouth and kiss her forehead before backing away. “It’s a great idea, Olivia. I would have never thought of it. You’re so smart.”

“I’m a genius.” She giggles as she brings out a wooden bat. “Wooden or aluminum? ”

“Wooden.” I take it from her, liking the heft of it in my hands.

We walk inside, and she starts going crazy on an old crate while I chuckle.

“You have to break stuff too.” Her chest heaves.

I look around and see some old computers, dusty and clearly broken, in the corner. I head over and heave the bat, just humoring Olivia at first.

But then it all starts flashing through my head.

My father, his hand raised high while me and my brothers and sisters huddled together for safety. The social worker who left us there for years, when she knew we only ate every other day and were being abused. Cherry.

Everything seems to come out of me at once, and I roar, slamming the bat into the computers, letting it all out, grunting as the glass shatters.

By the time I’m finished, it’s just a mess of plastic, metal and glass shards, and my arms and shoulders are aching.

A hand lights on my shoulder, gently, and I drop the bat, chest heaving, turning to face Olivia.

I don’t realize there are tears streaming down my cheeks until she starts to wipe them away, kissing my cheekbones.

“It’s okay. Let it all out.”

I grab onto her like a lifeline, sweeping her up in my arms and kissing her deeply.

It’s not hungry or lustful, just passionate, and she goes limp.

I chuckle against her mouth, clearing my throat from the tears and wiping at my face.

“Thank you for this.”

My voice sounds raspy, but Olivia doesn’t seem to care, kissing me over and over.

“It’s the least I can do,” she finally says, stepping away from me and looking almost shy .

I take her hand. “I should take you home.”

She nods, looking exhausted after banging around the warehouse. She grimaces. “I need a shower.”

I think of asking if I can join, but I don’t want to ruin this moment.

We really connected, and that matters to me.

I wonder if she knows how much.