Unexpectedly Loved

Unexpectedly Loved

Romantic Suspense

Christina OW

Unexpectedly Loved

Third Edition

Copyright Christina OW December 2020

Published by Christina OW

Cover Picture by Jonathan Borba

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Chapter One

Dave Greer paced his compact New York office, thinking of the best argument for his pro-bono client. His client was fighting her rich ex-husband and his new trophy wife for custody of their children. He was shocked at how incompetent—or corrupt—her previous lawyer was. He had been incapable of getting her out of the weak prenuptial agreement she’d signed, and had allowed her to sign an iron clad postnuptial agreement during their separation. She left the marriage penniless and now her ex-husband wanted to take the only thing she had left, her children.

Dave sat back at his desk in a huff, That quack gives lawyers a bad image.

As he again went through all the contracts his client had signed, he heard a knock on his door before it immediately swung open. Dave, there is a Sharon on the line for you.

Dave looked up from his paper work and stared at his secretary. She was half in the office, her red hair hanging loosely against her shoulder as she smiled at him sweetly. Dave had noticed the efforts Carol went to, to make herself attractive to him. But he didn’t dare let it show that he had noticed, which was difficult, especially for the front of his pants. With the chaos that was his life, it had been so long since he had sexually unloaded and he was beginning to not care where the relief came from as long as she was willing.

And as long as she didn’t work in the same building as he did. He didn’t need the drama. So sadly, as willing as Carol was, they wouldn’t be doing any dirty dancing.

Who’s Sharon? he asked, keeping his eyes above her neck with much difficulty.

She moved in from behind the door, her left leg slightly lifted to cross her right, accentuating her long legs further and her smile widened. Did she think the short skirt wasn’t doing its job right? If she only knew! Dave just didn’t have the energy to juggle an affair, a difficult wife, his work load, court cases and a one year old baby. He was stretched out enough, now that he was garnering for senior partner.

Sharon is your new nanny. She says it’s six and she needs to leave. Mrs. Greer isn’t home. she said Mrs. Greer with noticeable distaste.

Dave gave her a cutting look, but he didn’t reproach her. He had two women in his life, his wife and his secretary and he was already at war with one of them and Amy was enough.

He began packing his paper work but left them. He didn’t have time if he was to get home to his daughter as soon as possible, just in case the new nanny decided to leave. He picked up his jacket and his briefcase and rushed for the door, but Carol blocked his way and stared up at him with seductive eyes.

Please pack my paper work and leave them on my desk. I’ll be back early tomorrow to finish up. he pulled the door open wider, but she moved and stood smack in the middle of the door way.

Anything to make your life less stressful, She raised her hand and wrapped his blue tie around her finger, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Dave looked at her, tempted to throw her on his desk and ravish her and just unknot his body. She was asking for it and he did need a good shag to relax, but his daughter needed him.

I’ll let you know, he pulled his tie out of her hold and gently pushed her aside, Right now I need to get to my daughter.

It took him eight minutes to get to the office parking, way too long for him. He pulled the car out and drove as fast as possible to his home outside the city. All he could think about was the stranger taking care of his daughter and how instantly she could turn out to be a kidnapper. New nanny? He hired the nannies that was the deal. Where had Amy found her anyway? He resented his wife and how irresponsible she could be. This was one of the times he felt sure that she didn’t care about their daughter at all.

Dave married Amy fresh out of college. They were in love, at least he was. She just loved the idea of being the wife of a future big shot lawyer, which he presently was. She had a law degree but she opted not to work. She wanted to have fun while she was still young and Dave was earning good money in his first two years as a lawyer. They traveled, went to exotic places, tried out new things, went skiing, mountain climbing and partied. They had a wonderful, never ending honeymoon. They were the ‘IT’ young couple everyone wanted to be, until she got pregnant, and then everything got shot to hell.

She got completely hysterical when she found out. She didn’t want a baby, she didn’t want to get fat and lose her figure. And she most certainly didn’t want to stop enjoying life to take care of a child. She said she was too young to be a mother at the age of twenty eight, which Dave found ridiculous, but he always chocked all her complaints up to hormones and the fear of being a new mother. Dave was scared too, but he was excited about being a father, he always wanted children and he looked forward to it. He only figured out that she was serious when a clinic called to confirm an appointment for her abortion. He got so furious, they fought the whole night about it. She got erratically fumed when she found out he cancelled her appointment. She threatened to leave him if he didn’t let her do it, he promised to have her arrested for murder and he would personally work the case against her and make sure she got twenty to life. She didn’t doubt he would, he’d managed to win cases that seemed impossible on several occasions. That marked the end of the argument and their relationship. She moved out of their room, and for the next seven months they barely even spoke.

Once their daughter was born, he thought he would get his wife back, but he got just the opposite, a more resentful woman who hated him for chaining her down with a baby. From the moment she first held their daughter, he could see the anger and resentment she had for the infant and in that same moment, he stopped loving the wife he once worshipped.

He pulled into his drive way to find a strange woman standing at the door. He got out of the car and walked towards her, praying that she was Sharon and not an eye witness to his daughter’s kidnapping. When he got closer she smiled at him, he just stared at her, not at all sure if he should return the smile or not. He did. Just in case it was Sharon. She must have met his wife and he didn’t want her to think they were both sour.

Mr. Greer? Dave nodded waiting for bad news. In his line of work, there was always bad news and his personal life had caught on. She extended her hand to him, her smile widening, I’m Sharon.

Dave let go of a relieved breath and shook her hand, Nice to meet you. He looked at her properly, she looked sixteen, Thanks for watching my daughter. He ushered her inside and closed the door behind him. He caught her staring at him, a naughty gleam in her eyes.

I could stay a while until your wife comes back. She nibbled on her lower lip as her eyes moved over him. He could already guess what she was thinking.

Dave was handsome and had a face that pulled attention to him. Maybe a tad too much sexual attention. He wasn’t being conceited, just stating facts. Amy used to say that his blue eyes hypnotized her, but she didn’t like the fact he had changed his brunette, boyish haircut, to a more mature cut. She didn’t like mature. Dave was attractively tall and lean. He didn’t take the time to work out, but his eventful life kept him well in shape.

He put his briefcase down and took off his jacket. He was too tired for another seduction attempt especially from jail bait, How much do I owe you?

She swung on her heels and stared at him under her lashes, How about I come back tomorrow and we can discuss that then?

Before or after your parents get me arrested for statutory rape? he smiled at her surprised reaction. He took out a hundred dollar bill from his wallet and gave it to her, Thank you. Where is my daughter?

She’s upstairs in her crib. She picked up her jacket and walked to the door. Dave was about to go upstairs when she stopped him saying, Mr. Greer, as a child speaking on behalf of another child, he wanted to smirk at her admission but held back as she continued to speak, you need to find someone who’ll always be with Elizabeth. Your wife left the door wide open with a note pinned to it. It’s a good thing I got here when I did. she opened the door and left.

Dave stood there for a minute consumed with anger. He hated Amy more now than he ever did before. He rushed upstairs to his daughter’s room, she was sound asleep in her crib, looking like the little angel that she was. He felt guilty of how her mother didn’t love her, the only thing he could do was love her for the both of them. He wanted to divorce Amy, but he knew she would fight for full custody just to hurt him, then she would leave her with more strangers who might not turn out to be as good as Sharon. The thought of losing his daughter, to any one, especially Amy, was a nightmare he was not willing to live. There was nothing else to do and there was no visible option yet, apart from staying married to the witch.

The next morning, Dave walked down the stairs with his daughter in his arms. They were both dressed and ready to go to the firm. It wasn’t bring your kid to work day, but what else was he to do? Amy didn’t show up the night before and Dave didn’t feel comfortable leaving his child with a nanny. He was a little glad Amy didn’t show. Seeing her face anytime soon would send him to a rage that he wasn’t so sure he would be able to control.

He spent the whole night thinking of a way to get Amy out of his life and get full custody of his daughter. He was tired of her and he didn’t want his wife influencing his daughter in any way. He knew it would be difficult being a single dad, but he was practically a single dad now with his whimsical, annoying and self-centered wife. He also would have to give up a lot, and reduce his work load if he was to be there for his daughter twenty four seven.

The drive to be senior partner grew, but was backed by his concern and love for his baby instead of ambition. If he got the promotion he would have less work, and could just concentrate on the big cases which weren’t that many.

Five months, he had to wait before he could be sure of his promotion. That meant spending five more months with the witch before he could start the process of getting rid of her, but one thing was for sure, he wasn’t leaving his daughter in her care ever again.

He picked up his briefcase and walked out of his home. He was glad they had a daycare in his office building, but he was still skeptical about leaving his child with strangers. He’ll make sure to get everyone’s information and background checks before he finally takes her there.

Mama. Elizabeth yelled pointing out to the lawn. Dave pulled out of his haze of worry, turned and followed her finger. Amy was asleep on the lawn. He scoffed at the comical sight she made. Finding her like this didn’t surprise him anymore. She was too drunk to even make it to the door, again.

Dave stared at her completely unconcerned about her. He found it hard to believe that she was the same woman he had spent more than five blissful years with, spread out on the lawn. He opened the back seat door of his BMW Prado and put Elizabeth in her baby seat. He walked to his drunken wife and took a few photos with his iPhone. She was making it way too easy to build a case against her. He smiled, excited that the custody battle would be a slam dunk. The pictures may not seem like much, but he had won cases with much less.

Thank you so much. he spoke to his still wife. He walked back to his car, but stopped, an impish idea in his head. Daddy is going to be right back, he said to Elizabeth before he walked away.

He couldn’t, in good conscience leave his wife out on the lawn and in broad daylight in full view of the neighbors. The least he could do was wake her up, show her the same courtesy she’d shown their daughter when she left their door wide open for any psycho to walk in and harm his child. He turned on the sprinkler and walked back to his car and waited.

You son of a bitch! Amy woke up, screaming and cursing at him as she struggled to her feet and ran on to the path, away from the water. Her red party dress clung to her as she was soaked to the bone. Her blonde hair had mud in it and her make-up spread all over her face. She looked like a Halloween character.

Good morning honey. Dave said laughingly, as he got in his car and drove away.

****

Carol, could you put me through to the daycare center? Dave rapped his pen on his desk.

He found it hard to concentrate knowing his daughter was being looked after by strangers. He had already done the background checks and had gone as far as getting their contact details and those of their families and saving them on his computer, but it wasn’t enough to keep him calm. He used to be a trusting man, before he got into this line of work, and before his wife became a self-centered brat who couldn’t be trusted with her own daughter.

You’ve just been down there for lunch. Carol responded, a little annoyed, And called eleven times in total. She’s fine!

Dave stayed patiently quiet for a while, glad he didn’t start an affair with her. She would have been a real pain in the ass, Just put me through.

You are being a very over obsessive parent, there was a click before another voice came on, Mr. Greer for the umpteenth time, your daughter is fine.

Dave felt a little awkward, but she was the only child he had. He was entitled to be over obsessive and over protective, Is she asleep?

Yes, and yes we have someone personally and exclusively watching her, the lady continued sarcastically.

Dave didn’t get offended. He figured he had annoyed her enough and being as rude to her would not help either one of them—especially him. She had his daughter. Thank you.

You’re welcome, and could we please not speak again today? the line went dead.

Dave glared at the receiver before he put it down. He felt a bit more relaxed and he could concentrate on his work now that he knew his baby was fine, until he got hysterical again and needed to check on her. This was the part of parenting they left out of the books and he’d read his fair share. If someone had bothered, he would have being better prepared. But then again, he hadn’t been as prepared as he thought about everything else that had made it in the books. That first day he took his baby girl home, he drew blanks for the first time in his life. Dave wasn’t used to failing, at anything. Imagine his shock when the diaper slid right off after he’d secured it? It wasn’t hard, any idiot could do it, and the instructions were just two steps—pull and stick flaps.

He’d learnt that day it was very possible from him to fail even at simple things. His marriage included.

His phone rang, but he didn’t need to pick it up to know what it was about. He could hear Amy’s raised screeching voice outside his office. Carol’s was raised to match hers. It didn’t take long before the insults began to fly, and Carol seemed to be winning on that front. Dave rushed out of his office, he needed to stop the commotion before it attracted an audience or developed into a fist fight and end up on YouTube. He opened the door just in time to catch Carol’s last insult.

That little girl is lucky to have Dave, you aren’t fit enough to be a mother to any child, not even to a cold blooded reptile like yourself! I’ve heard of animals that eat their young, but you are far worse!

Dave looked at her amused. Amy was staring at her with lethal eyes. He pulled back the smile, then grabbed Amy’s arm and pushed her into his office.

What are you doing here? He spoke, his voice dangerously low, all the amusement gone. Lately, the sight of Amy got him in the meanest of moods.

How could you let your bimbo secretary talk to me like that? Amy yelled, lividly.

Don’t answer a question with a question and bimbos are blonde. He answered in a mild tone glancing at her held up blonde hair, which looked a lot better than that morning.

She glared at him, Of course you would let her speak to me that way. She must be your mistress. It would explain why you haven’t touched me in months!

Dave felt like telling her exactly why he didn’t touch her. She had spent countless nights away from home and has been receiving gifts that he knew he hadn’t bought. It didn’t take a genius to know she was having an affair or two.

Amy, if you have nothing sensible to say get out of my office! Dave held the door wide open. Amy sat down on his desk, a heinous smile on her face.

I want my daughter. I haven’t spent much time with her lately. She held her hand out and stared at her red nails.

You’ll see her when we get home. He answered impatiently.

I want her to meet some of my friends who may become permanent fixtures in the near future. She looked at him, a laugh in her eyes.

Dave banged the door shut enraged by the hint. He knew exactly what she meant by friends and the near future. A woman like her could only have a specific character of friends, and they must be lower than the dirt he walked on.

If you dare take my daughter anywhere near your lovers, you will regret the day you met me, more than you do now! He answered in a low harsh voice.

Amy stood up, clearly shaken, You have your lover watching her, why shouldn’t I have mine?

Dave took a step towards her, his eyes boring holes in her. She side stepped, then rushed around him and stood next to the door, staring at him with fear in her eyes.

Good. Maybe now she’ll realize I’m not fucking around!

Get out Amy! he said acidly.

Just so you know, I will make your life a living hell if you don’t stop your affair with that stupid red head. And I’ll hit you where it hurts most.

Dave rushed for her. She barely got out of the office, closing the door behind her. He stood looking at the door. For the first time in his life, he regretted not hitting her. She might have gotten him arrested for assault and it would have completely ruined his chances of getting full custody. But it would have given him a minute of happiness, taking out all his frustration on the root cause. He walked behind his desk and sat down taking a few calm breathes. It only took him a second to realize that Amy might actually take his daughter from daycare, just to annoy him further. He picked up his phone and dialed for Carol. There was no answer. He was about to stand up when the door opened. Carol had Elizabeth, asleep on her shoulder.

Whispering, With that witch here, I figured she’d want to take Lizzy. She walked to the cushioned play pen he had set up in his office that morning, and laid her down, good thing I swiped her before she could. She turned to Dave with a wide smile on her face. This was one of the times Dave liked having her around.

Thanks.

You’re welcome. she whispered back. She turned and left, closing the door gently behind her.

Dave knelt down next to the pen and watched his daughter sleep. She was smiling, that meant she was having a wonderful dream. Dave watched her for a while as her face changed expressions, then feeling soothed he got up and went back to work.

****

Dada. Elizabeth shrieked happily as Dave walked into the house carrying his cheerful daughter in his arms. Unlike her, he was exhausted. He stayed at the office until seven, before he thought of coming home. He wasn’t as agitated or worried as he usually was and had no need to rush home, since he had his daughter with him. He fed her dinner over three hours ago and he thought she would fall right back to sleep, but she was very energetic and hyper, practically bouncing off the walls of his office. She had managed to get out of his office and crawl under several desks playing hide and seek without letting Dave in on it.

He had searched the whole office floor and was about to widen the search grid to the entire building when one of the paralegal’s screamed and jumped off her chair. A happy, shrilly laugh followed as she crawled into view, then got on her feet and ran to Dave. He picked her up relieved. He didn’t bother to scold her, her sweet smile washed all his worries away. She placed a wet kiss on his cheek and waved at his co-workers, yelling bye with her tiny voice as he walked back into his office. He got a long ribbon and tied one end around her belly and the other end to his desk. He also had Carol watch the door just in case she broke out again.

Dave is that you? Amy walked into the foyer with a glass of brandy in her hand. Her white robe was open, revealing a short, dipping cleavage satin night gown that barely covered her crotch.

He hadn’t bought that, and she definitely hadn’t bought it for him. Dave stood by the door, contemplating going back out of it.

She leaned against the wall and smiled at him, What, you want to leave already?

Dave exhaled and headed for the kitchen without saying a word to her. He took out a TV dinner from the freezer and popped it in the microwave. He had given up on expecting Amy to cook or order take-out for him. Or doing anything around the house. That reminded him, he needed to send the advance the cleaning lady had requested.

He pulled at Elizabeth’s curly hair and watched it snap back. She bounced on his arm excitedly and pulled at her front curls. He watched her play with her hair, smiling exhaustedly at her. Out of the mistake of a marriage he had with Amy, Elizabeth was the best and the only great entity that came out of it. She pulled her pink head band off and pulled more curls to her face. Dave took out his dinner and sat at the counter placing Elizabeth on top of it too. He held her leg with one hand while he ate quietly with the other. It didn’t take long before she tried to climb on his shoulders, the distraction with her hair already exhausted. He laughed and placed her on his shoulders and went back to eating. She went quiet after a while and Dave could feel her weight on his head. She had finally fallen asleep.

She’s not asleep yet, but she’s dozing off. Amy’s flat voice came from the doorway.

Dave stood up slowly and gently lifted Elizabeth off his shoulders. She woke up when he settled her in his arms. He quietly groaned and began rocking her in his arms silently begging her to fall asleep. He was too tired to wrestle her into bed. When her eyes began to flutter shut, he said a silent prayer of thanks, sat back down and went back to his dinner.

Amy came closer and put her glass down on the counter. She extended her hands out for Elizabeth, I’ll take her to bed.

Dave looked at her suspiciously out of habit. He wasn’t sure what her end game was today. Normally when Elizabeth fell asleep on the floor she would walk right past her, or he would have to beg or force her to put her in bed.

I’m not going to eat her. I’m just taking her to bed.

Dave stood up and turned to her. He paused for a while, thinking the action through, and then he bent down to place Elizabeth in her arms. Elizabeth fisted her hands in Dave’s shirt and shrieked in objection. He straightened up and stared at his daughter shocked. Did she know exactly how her mother felt towards her? Because as far as he knew babies never repel their mothers, it was so... unnatural.

Lizzy what’s wrong? Dave asked, gently stroking his thumb over her pink cheek.

"Lizzy? Amy said distastefully, Give Elizabeth to me. She demanded, stressing her full name. Come here honey."