The Millionaire's Baby

19- Suspect (Part two)

One Day Later*

"So you mean to tell me that Aaron, is Lauren's security gaurd too?" I asked perplexed.

"Yes sir. And it also appears that... he is the real father of the child she put up for adoption." Mr. Hill informed me solemnly. "She wouldn't have been able to put the child up if the biological father hadn't signed the papers."

My chest constricted. My head began spinning. My eyes started to burn.

I owed it all to the woman sitting quietly next to me, rubbing my shoulder in support. If she had not been there, I would have went completely ballistic.

"They had a DNA test done?" I didn't even recognize my own voice.

".... Yes sir. It was required, because she didn't know who the father was originally."

I nodded my head and just walked out and went to my office.

We were at my condo, for security purposes.

When I heard the door open and close softly again, the floodgates opened. Tears that went unshead for so long came crashing out.

Instead of telling me to stop crying or even leaving me alone like I figured she'd do, Ariel came around my desk sat in my lap and just hugged me. After a while, it could have been two minutes or two hours, I didn't know, I looked up and said, "God I'm turning into a pússy."

She laughed, but to no ones surprise, she had been crying too. "Yeah you are. But we all have our times. I'm surprised it took you this long to break."

"No I mean you're turning me into a pússy. I haven't been this far into my feelings since...... ever. And it honestly scares the hell out of me." I admitted avoiding her eyes.

Just then there was a knock at the door. "Are you guys decent?" Nicks voice asked. "This poor detective is out here all alone."

"Yeah, come in." I permitted. When Ariel tried to get up I just held her closer.

Both Nick and the detective came in at the same time. "What's going on here? I really hope you guys had the decency to not do anything or anyone inappropriate while Mr.Hill was right in the adjacent room." Nick chided. With a look of mock horror on his face.

You could really count on him to lighten the mood of any situation no matter how grotesque or sickening it could be.

"Maybe. Maybe not. What I do with my wife behind closed doors could be almost anything."
My wife? Damn! I did not mean to say that.

Too late now.

"Your wife? Don't tell me you two eloped. Mom and Beth would have a fùcking scream attack."

"I hate those but no." I said remembering the screaming that used to errupt in my house on a daily basis when something was out of order. "We're close enough to being married though." I said putting my hands over hers that rested on her stomach. "All she really has to do is snap her fingers and it could be done when, where and how she wants it."

"I'd hate to say it bro, but your ass is whipped."

"Thank you. I try." Ariel inputted smugly

"Thanks to both of you, my private detective now knows I'm whipped congratulations!" I said just noticing his presence again.

"Speaking of private detectives that's why i came over here. I wanted to know of it was okay for me to go out on dates amd stuff and not have to worry?" He asked looking at Mr. Hill.

"As of right now I'm not sure if that's a good idea. We have two suspects, but we don't know their motives and also who else is involved." Mr. Hill dutifully explained. "You could prepare a private dinner and have it somewhere more secure."

"You could have it here!" Ariel blurted out. "Who, and when?"

I gave her a 'really' look but said nothing. She'd told me about her whole evil scheme and quite frankly it was genius, but I wanted nothing to do with it.

"Farrah Nottingham. And Friday at seven." Nick smiled knowingly.

I looked at her face and had to hold back a great fit of laughter. It was priceless. When I looked back at Nick, he was looking at me holding back his hysteria too. Mr. Hill saw it too.

Thanks to Nick the was a point for all of mankind.

Men 1. Women..about a gazillion.

"Thats great! Do you have any food prferences or can I just go with my gut?"

With that question, I could already see the wheels turning. I had a feeling our one point will be a negative ten by the time the date was over.

"Do not let her go with her gut!" I warned in all seriousness. "I let her pregnant self choose dinner one time. And it tasted like... like.." I was at a loss for words so everyone added their own adjective.

"Shìt."

"Dirt."

"Heaven." I heard in a dreamy tone.

I gave Ari a side look and said in a flat tone. "Oh yes darling, it tasted just like heaven." I mocked her. "I could only get in two fork fulls before you were all over my plate."

After everyone's laughter died down the conversation returned back to business.

"On a more serious note," Mr. Hill said, changing the subject back to a more serious topic. "I would advise you to allow him to continue his work so they wont be suspicious and start to work faster." Although it would take everything in me not to kill him, I understood the logic.

"All I have to do is gather evidence so that I can make arrests. Then we can really gather motives and the names of other potential suspects. Until then, I would say to just stay low key. And you should try to come up with a story for Aaron pointing the blame to one of you business enemies, so they won't be alarmed."

"Okay should I- " I began before his phone rang.

"I'm sorry I have to take this." He said before getting up and walking into the hall.

"Do you think Hayden would be a good candidate for the business enemy?" Ariel asked.

"Hell no." Nick said. "Next option."

I frowned then looked at Ari she had a smug look on her face now. "Why not? Anna and I like him. It's just your male ego." She dismissed just as Mr. Hill walked back into my office with a bit more pep in his step.

"Good news. Suspect number two, Aaron, was just arrested for attempting child abduction."

I was happy, and confused at the same time.

Why would they want a child?