Page 148 of Babies for the Big Shot

“This would change a lot of things for me, Nick. It’s not just money, it’s control. I’m not sure you realize what you’re asking.”

“I know exactly what I’m asking,” I reply, the edge of my voice softening. “I’m offering you an escape. No mess. No drama. Just walk away with your check, and this is over.”

Her eyes narrow, searching me for something. “You think you’re the first person to try and buy me off? You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t just about the money for me.”

“Then what is it about?” I ask, my tone sharpening. I’ve offered her everything. There’s nothing more to give.

She’s on the edge. All I need is for her to take the final step.

She glances at the paper again, her fingers brushing it before she pulls her hand back. “It’s about power. I get to choose whether or not you get to control me. If I take this deal, then you’ve won.”

“I’m not trying to control you,” I say, matching her intensity. “I’m trying to give you an opportunity to walk away with something that could set you up for years.”

She bites her lip, and for a moment, I wonder if I’ve lost her. But then she speaks. “What happens if I don’t take it? What’s the fallout for me, Nick?”

I don’t hesitate. “It’s not just the story. It’s everything else. I’m giving you a choice. You walk away with a quiet victory, or you stay in this game, and you’ll lose everything you’ve built.”

She looks at me long and hard. She picks up the paper again, folds it once, twice, and then looks back at me. “You think I can’t handle the fallout?”

“I think you can,” I say quietly. “But why take the risk? The money’s here. You’ve got the leverage. You’re in control of this moment.”

Isla’s lips curl into a small, reluctant smile. “I’ve never been offered so much money. Not like this.”

I press the point. “So, you think it’s worth it?”

Her eyes flicker with indecision for just a moment. But then she nods slowly, the decision made. “Alright. Fine. I’ll take it.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. She’s agreed. The weight of the conversation shifts, the tension in the air dissipating.

“But let’s make something clear, Nick,” she adds, her voice suddenly hard again. “This is a one-time thing. Don’t mistake this for a trend. You think you’ve won, but remember, this is just business.”

“I’m not mistaken,” I reply, leaning back in my chair. “I know exactly what I’m doing.” I stand up, pushing the chair back with quiet finality. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

As I turn and head for the door, I can almost feel the shift in the air. I’ve won. I’ve solved it.

And Sara doesn’t need to know a thing.

The clock on the wall blinks 2 a.m. when I finally give up on sleep.

It’s been a long day and my mind’s still running, too many things to process. I don’t know how long I’ve been staring at theceiling. Time feels meaningless when I can’t get her out of my head.

I sit up, throwing back the covers. The room is still and dark, the city hum outside the window a soft lullaby I can’t escape. There’s only one place I want to be.

I walk quietly down the hall, not bothering to check the time. The kitchen light spills from under the door, and I don’t need to wonder. I already know she’s there. If she wasn’t in bed beside me, where else is she going to be?

The sound of the freezer door opening meets my ears as I round the corner. She’s standing by the counter, spoon in hand, eyes fixed on the pint of Rocky Road. There’s no sound except the electric buzz of the fridge and the quiet scrape of her spoon against the ice cream. She doesn’t see me yet.

I lean against the doorframe, arms crossed, taking in the way the light hits her skin, the way she moves so effortlessly, even in the stillness of the night. The way she’s always so damn beautiful, without even trying.

“You’re still up?” I ask, voice rough from sleep.

She doesn’t look at me, just shrugs, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I could ask you the same thing.”

I step into the room, the tension in my shoulders easing at the sight of her, even if I can feel it in my gut. I glance down at the counter and see the melted chocolate smeared across her belly.

“You got a little something…” I nod to her stomach, a grin tugging at my lips.

She looks down, surprised. “What? Oh.”