Charlene Sands - Forbidden Secrets

“I believe your two minutes are up.”

His eyes held hers for a moment longer, but he finally turned and walked out, his exit much less dramatic than his entrance. Once the doorway was clear, Eve’s legs gave out and she sank back to her chair. With shaky hands, she unfolded the document and stared at the date she was due in court. Whatever was going on with the Newport brothers, she sincerely wished they’d leave her out of it. Her father was dying, she was pushing to acquire another real estate company in Australia and now she was expecting the baby of a man who should be her enemy.

What more could life throw at her?

“Ms. Winchester?”

Eve glanced up to see Rebecca standing in the doorway. “Do you want me to have security make sure Mr. Newport is out of the building?”

“No, Rebecca. That won’t be necessary. Mr. Newport’s business is done here. He won’t return.”

There. Hopefully that would help quash any rumors about Graham’s unexpected visit. Rebecca wasn’t one to gossip, though. Eve wouldn’t have her as an assistant if she were, but she still wanted the utmost respect from her staff.

“We had a mutual client and he was dropping off some paperwork,” Eve added. “Thank you.”

With a slight nod, Rebecca stepped back out and closed the door.

So much for telling Graham about the baby soon. Now she had to figure out where they stood because he’d drawn a battle line the moment he’d opted to show up at her office. He could’ve had anyone on his staff deliver that subpoena.

Again, this proved how his family loyalties and his career were his top priorities. Which only made Eve wonder: Once he knew they’d created a baby, would she and the child be included in that inner circle?

* * *

The following morning, Eve’s patience had run out. Graham hadn’t contacted her since he’d burst into her office yesterday, and now the glaring headline mocked her from the front page of the paper: Chicago Kingpin Sutton Winchester’s Infidelity Produces More Heirs.

She began reading the article and literally had to take a seat on a stool at her kitchen island when she hit the line about his “fathering numerous children out of secret affairs.” Her stomach churned, and the nausea had nothing to do with the baby.

Tears pricked her eyes as anger rushed through her. There was only one family who wanted to stir the proverbial pot and that was the Newports. Brooks may be the ringleader in this agenda to bring down her father, but Carson and Graham were right there with him. And no doubt Graham had known all about this little media exposé when he was in her office yesterday.

Betrayal was a sickening feeling. But how could she feel betrayed? He’d never pretended to be on her side when it came to their families. They had sex, plenty of sex, but that didn’t make them a couple. That didn’t mean he had to be loyal to her or defend her to his family.

Eve knew very well who Graham was when she’d gotten together with him, so if blame was to be placed, she needed to point the finger at herself. She just wished she weren’t getting so personally wrapped up in a man who was 100 percent wrong for her.

And what the hell was this about her father having “numerous” other children? Carson was the only child she knew of. Perhaps now that his secret son had come to light, others wanted a share of her father’s holdings. The man was worth billions. Vultures would be swooping in wanting money, especially with his health failing.

An ache spread through her chest. People were picking away at her father. He was still alive, he was still in control of his will, and all of these people vying for a piece of something that didn’t belong to them were seriously making her turn into someone she didn’t want to be. If anyone, Graham included, wanted a fight, she’d give them one. She would protect her father, especially now, and she had no doubt her sisters would happily join her in the battle.

Eve finished her orange juice and dry toast so she could take her vitamin and keep it down. She’d learned on day one not to take that pill on an empty stomach and lately she was nauseous anyway. Whether from the pregnancy or from the constant roller coaster with the Newport men, she wasn’t sure.

But if Graham expected her to show up in court and do dirty work on behalf of his brothers, she expected something in return.

She shot off a quick text to her assistant to reschedule any morning meetings. Eve already knew there were two, but both were with coworkers and could be adjusted. Nobody would second-guess the president’s orders.

Once she finished with Rebecca, Eve sent Graham a text demanding an immediate meeting at her house. If he was going to play hardball, then so was she. Maybe he only knew her well in the bedroom, which was fine, but now the proverbial tables had turned. Hell, they hadn’t just turned, they’d been flipped completely over.

Eve quickly showered and threw on her favorite crimson suit. The V of the jacket’s lapels was just low enough to be sexy, yet high enough to be professional. She was gearing up for battle and she wanted to look her best.

She’d just applied her lip gloss when her doorbell rang. Eve’s master suite was on the first floor of her Chicago mansion. Five bedrooms upstairs were available for any guests, but she rarely went up there. Maybe she’d reconsider once the baby came. She wasn’t comfortable being on a separate floor from her child. Of course, at first she’d like the bassinet to be in her room so she could be close to her baby for nightly feedings.

Eve paused and pulled in a breath. That was the exact attitude she needed to keep in regards to this baby. A positive attitude, an outlook that planned for a future with her child. Because nothing would go wrong...fate wasn’t so cruel as to take away a second child.

Eve gripped the door handle and gave herself a mental pep talk. The second she opened this door, she had to forget Graham was the father of her child and remember he was the man trying to ruin her father.

Opening the door, Eve stepped back and gestured for Graham to come in. They’d never been formal, and perhaps she should’ve had this chat on neutral territory, but she wanted to be here, on her turf. This was her day to win the battle.

The moment she closed them inside and turned to face him, her body heated. Damn it. Why did he have to slide that sultry gaze over her? When he started to step toward her, Eve held her hands up.

“This isn’t a social call.”

Her words didn’t deter him as he closed the space between them and slid his hands over her waist, down her hips, and pulled her against him.

“I’m not in the mood to talk anyway,” he replied with a slight grin.

When he went for her lips, Eve skirted out from his hold. One kiss and she’d be a goner. There was absolutely no room for hormones right now.

“What was that stunt in the paper all about?” she demanded. Certainly mentioning their family drama would douse any desire he had.

Graham shrugged. “The truth was uncovered.”

“The truth,” she repeated. “You expect me to believe my father has Winchester heirs milling about Chicago? Sounds too convenient for this news to come out now.”

“Our investigator turned up quite a bit on your father.” Graham took one step toward her. “I don’t want to argue with you about this. You have to see the truth and accept it.”

With a very unladylike growl, Eve turned on her Christian Louboutin heels and made her way into the formal living room. This was one of the few rooms left in her home where they hadn’t had sex. She had to focus on the fact that, even though she was expecting, this affair might be coming to an end. How could she continue when he was so adamant about destroying her family?