Billionaire Baby Deal

Billionaire Baby Deal - Chapter 12

The next day a van arrived replacing the furniture that Diego had destroyed. The house looked as though yesterdays events hadn't happened and that the house was almost bare of furniture. The day of the funeral, I busied myself with sorting through the babies room. I wasn't too fussed about furniture as I knew my triplets would be staying in hospital for the first few weeks of their lives. I found the perfect silver-grey paint and the perfect shade of light blue to paint the stencils on the walls. However, I decided not to paint until after the babies were born as I didn't want the paint getting on my chest.I had already filled the walk in wardrobe with tiny baby clothes that was in sizes from tiny baby up until a year old. My boys would never fall short of clothes as they grew up. Breathing deeply, I felt we were ready for these babies. I had contacted a leading baby shop that were highly regarded and explained that I was expecting triplets. When I explained that it was for "Mendez", Immediately, I was bombarded with questions of colours and what I had already before they reassured me that everything that we would need as new parents would be tailored personally with a white, grey and blue theme to match my idea for the nursery. The items arrived the day before I was due to go into hospital as I reached my thirty-two week mark. In a flutter, I had packed and re-checked and repacked my baby bags at least six times. Diego didn't call. He never text either. It had been two weeks since I had seen him. Dr. Gardener was hoping to deliver my triplets by the end of next week. But I wanted to hang on for as long as I could. I felt the longer they were safe in my stomach, the better the chances they had at having less complications. I had elected to have a section to give birth to my boys as it was probably the least stressful way of delivering them. With each day that passed, my stomach grew bigger. It now became that heavy, it seemed that my bump was starting to hang downwards. Martha promised she would visit every day and bring my favourite meals. Bobby declared he'd be there every day. As I settled into hospital, a lovely suite that had been set up for my stay, I could feel the hum of excitement from my team as they all arrived, ready for my boys to be born. The last seven and a half months had been spent readying for this moment. Everyone couldn't wait to meet my boys, especially me. Every twitch that I experienced bloomed my heart with hope. I understood fully that when they were born I might not see them straight away. The babies might need special care when they arrived to help them along the way. Mentally and emotionally, I was prepared. My rising anxiety was not having the reassurance that Diego was here. I had absolutely no idea where he was. The one and only time I tried to call him, the phone went straight to voicemail. "I just don't know where he could be, Bobby." I moaned as he came to visit me, rubbing my stomach. "I know that nothing would separate Diego from me when I needed him the most. I'm scared I'm going to be alone for the birth.""Don't you worry, baby mama!" Bobby took my hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Diego will show up, I just know it! He loves you, Alley! I guess he's just grieving and this is his way of dealing with it."I huffed, seeking reassurance from Bobby. "By dropping his priorities? He's supposed to be here!" My eyes landed on Bobby's own and I looked at him with hope, "Will you be my birthing partner if he doesn't show?""Me?" Bobby began to pale and shake his head. "Only if Martha comes, too! I... faint at the sight of blood!"I nodded, feeling a little more reassured that I'd have somebody at least. I dropped my head in sorrow and breathed the words that rang in my ears and haunted my dreams, "Diego said he had no need for kids now."My words hung in the air, my teeth grinding against my lip with worry as Bobby simply sat in silence. Spurred to continue, I mumbled softly, "Do you think he's abandoning me?"Arms came around me as Bobby hugged me tightly, "Diego is many things, Alley, but he'd never abandon you. He's lost his mother, honey. He's bound to say thing she doesn't mean. Believe me, he will show up on this very beach and do something so totally manly romantic that you'll forget what was said. You'll be fine!"Before Bobby left, I asked him to see if Nicolas was available to come see me when he was free. I told him I wanted some advice around my parents, hiding my agenda. Over the last few weeks, as my labour approached, I was having doubts about giving my babies up. After Diego's cruel words, I knew that under no circumstances these boys weren't living without me. No other woman was bringing my children up. That was my job. And no man who abandoned me so completely during the time we'd been preparing for, was taking custody of them!A knock came on the evening, as the lovely tropical sun was setting. My heart betrayed me, hoping that it was Diego. My eyes locked on Nicolas as he awkwardly entered my suit. "You asked Bobby to speak to me?" He stated matter-of-factly as he pushed his glasses up his nose. Despite Nicolas' feelings against me, he really was my only hope. "Please, sit?" I offered him the chair next to where I was laying, my back strained. He sat down seemingly out of place, but I could see the curiosity in his blue eyes. "What can I help you with?""You made those contracts up between Diego and I," I began, getting straight to the point. "I want to know what my rights are against them. Despite what you think of me, Nicolas, I love these babies. They're mine. I'll fight tooth and nail for them if I have to. I'd never stop Diego from seeing them. But I want to raise them."Nicolas seemed to be a little taken aback, and then outraged. "You plan to take Diego's children and ransom them against him?""Never!" I hissed, furiously, before reminding myself to stay calm. "Diego told me he had no need of them. I have to ensure that there is a better outcome for them! I would never ransom them!"Nicolas looked at me suspiciously before beginning to laugh in mockery. "You really don't know, do you?""Know what?"His eyes widened and he became more serious, "You really don't?""What?" I almost exclaimed, feeling as though I had missed the joke. "Unless you and Diego were married, Diego has no claims to those children until you put him on their birth certificate." He stated, his voice unsure if I were playing tricks on him, "You really didn't know? Diego never told you?""No!" My thoughts spun as I took in this new information, "... The contract! I signed the contract!"Nicolas laughed, unable to keep his face composed. "It wouldn't stand in a court, Miss Knight. No judge would allow Diego to take those children away from you unless there was evidence of neglect."It became apparent to Nicolas that it wasn't a game I was playing as his brows knitted together above his glasses and it dawned on his face what he'd just said. "I need to go." He suddenly stood, his hands trembling. "I've said too much!"He made to leave, but not before I finished my business with him. "I never slept with Diego's assistant, Nicolas, despite what you think." I raised my voice, stopping him in his tracks. "It's common knowledge that you did." Nicolas answered, spinning around and pinning me with those eyes. "That's why Diego kicked you to the kerb all those years ago. On his part, he was more shocked than anything. His own motives with you weren't so... nice."Confused, I cast my mind back to the past. I could only remember bliss with Diego. "That's not true." I stated, sitting up fully. "Diego was always a gentleman with me. I loved him."Nicolas shook his head. "It was a bet between his friends. One night, the guys bet Diego that he couldn't sleep with his enemy's daughter. You were a bet, Alley. He played his cards with you and won. You slept with Derek and that enraged Diego. It was the ultimate slap in the face to put you in this deal, revenge on you and revenge on your father.""Derek tried to rape me!" I snarled, leaping out of bed. "He came to the house drunk. He pinned me down and he ripped my clothes off. Diego's security, Karl, pulled him off me and attacked him. He begged me to go to the police, but I told him I didn't want any fuss! I made him promise, under no circumstances, to never mention to anyone what had happened to save Diego's rampage! He would have killed him!"Nicolas paled, his mouth dropping. "You're lying.""Ask Karl Brewster!" I cried, pushing him out of the door. "He will know. Only the three of us knew what happened. You've hated me for so long, yet I've done nothing to you! I wanted to be your friend. I see now that I am surrounded by snakes! Did Bobby know?""Never!" Nicolas stammered, his face regaining colour. "He knows nothing. Please, Alley. I'm sorry.""You will be!" I snarled, my ears ringing from anger. "All of you will be!"I slammed the door shut and collapsed on the floor in shock as I pieced together everything. Diego used me as a bet. He made me fall in love with him. I gave him my virginity. I was a bet. Seething with anger, I grabbed my phone and dialled Diego. He answered on the fifth ring. "Alley?""You stay away from me, Diego!" I snarled like a rabid animal down the phone. "I know about the bet all those years ago! You are the most disgusting vile human being I have ever met in my life and I never want to see you again!""Who is that, Diego?" A woman's voice came down the phone in the distance. Mia. "You've been with Mia all this time?" I demanded, my rage boiling. The phone in my hand shook as my temper began spiking. "Alley, it's not like that!" Diego's voice suddenly begged, "Ple-""-Save it, Diego!" I screamed down the phone. "You've completely abandoned me and your children to be with some slut with long legs! You may have no need of us anymore, Diego but you will regret what you've done! Stay away from me and my children."I hung the phone up and heard a confusing trickle. My eyes dropped to the floor to see water dripping down my leg followed by a sudden gush as my waters burst. Panic began rising as I opened the door and screamed for Dr. Gardener. Like a blur, I heard people humming with excitement. "It's time!" I heard them say. But all I felt was a crushing feeling on my chest. I had been played. Diego had fooled me. All this time, it was for his own psychotic game. I blinked as Dr. Gardener said something that I missed. "What?""We're going to take you for a scan, find out the position of the babies and prep you for the procedure, are you okay with that?""Yes," I nodded. "Yes.I was wheeled into the ultrasound room, feeling numb. What a fool I had been. How could he?After the scan, I had a few tests carried out. Mind elsewhere, I drifted along feeling as though I were stuck in time as Nicolas relayed everything over and over again in my head. I felt no contractions yet. I had no pain other than a small twinge. Apart from my heart. My heart was slowly breaking into two and I couldn't focus on anything. I heard him before I saw him. "Alley!" He came bursting in, in all of his magnificent and I pinned him a look so pure with hate, the devil himself would have shrunk away. "Get out, Diego!" I snarled, my heart quickening on the monitors I had attached to myself and the babies. "I don't want you anywhere near me! I hate you!""Please leave, Diego." Dr. Gardener said, his voice full of remorse. "Your presence is upsetting my client and she needs to be focused."I turned away as Diego growled at Dr. Gardener and barged past him. He marched straight up to me and took my chin in his hands, forcing me to meet his gaze. "You misunderstand what you heard. Mia came to Milan declaring that I had fathered a baby to her. She tried to tell me that it was a drunken night. I'd have remembered, Alley. The paternity test came back negative - Which I knew! - She tried to blackmail me, Alley! That's what you heard!"I focused on him as I slapped his hand away. "You bargained my feelings for a bet, got me pregnant in a stupid deal and then abandoned me!"For a moment, I could believe that he was mortified - even ashamed of himself. "It was a bet, Alley. But my feelings for you were true. I was falling madly in love with you and I couldn't control it. I loved you then, Alley. And I love you now."His words hit me like a ton of bricks. I'd never heard Diego say those words. I stared into those silver eyes that I loved so freely and felt complete hopelessness. "We're a mess, Diego." I moaned, feeling the start of harsher contractions. "We're hopeless. Our whole life is based on bets and empty bargains!""No!" Diego begged, taking my hands in his. "Let me show you!""Alley," Dr. Gardener interrupted, "It's time. We need to get you to surgery."Suddenly, I was gripped with fear. This was happening. My babies were coming."Don't go," I whispered to Diego, gripping his meaty hand tightly. "I didn't mean it. I'm scared.""You will do extraordinary, Alley." He whispered back, taking my hand tightly in his own. "Everything will be fine."Just as I was being prepped for surgery, a soft knock came on the door, and Diego got up to answer it. "I apologise, Senor Mendez," A frightened nurse stammered. "Mia Ferginson as at the reception and refuses to leave without speaking to you. A matter of the greatest urgency she expresses.""Get security and tell them to get her off this island!" Diego boomed to the nurse, making her jump with fright. "Put her on the banned list! Her and her family are no longer welcome here!"I was wracked with an excruciating pain and a howl escaped my lips. As I closed my eyes, I could hear Diego whispering to me that everything was going to be okay. "I need to push, Diego!" I cried, bearing down. I tried to recall me classes and my breathing, but it had always been planned for a cesarean. Dr. Gardener came back to the room with my team and began to examine me. Diego glanced down and paled, his face a mask of shock. "What?" I cried, panic rising suddenly. "Is something wrong?""I can see a head." Diego murmured, his voice limp as he swallowed hard. "Alley, listen to me." Dr. Gardener commanded, barking orders out to the team. "The next contraction you feel, I need you to push with all of your might. It seem's the babies would like to make an entrance to the world naturally."I began to stammer as I was gripped with sudden fear. This wasn't right! I relayed to myself over and over again. Three incubators with lots of wires came into the room and I knew that my babies would be in those machines.It was a long, hard labour. I was soaked in sweat as I panted and wailed. My first son arrived at midnight. I heard his soft cry and watched with wonder as Diego cut the cord before he was whisked away from me. "He's perfect, Alley!" Dr. Gardener smiled, rubbing my shoulder in comfort. "He's a fighter! I need you to concentrate now!"Tears filled my eyes and I wept as I told Diego to go be with him. He needed someone to tell him he was safe. But Diego refused to leave me. My next boy was coming hard and fast, ready to enter the world just as his brother had. My second son arrived twelve minutes past midnight with an almighty cry. I only saw a tiny glance of him as he too, was taken away. It felt un-natural that I couldn't be with them. Instincts bloomed as I felt a desperation to be with my babies. To touch them and hold then and whisper that I was there and they had nothing to be afraid of. But the baby still inside of me was showing signs of distress. And I was exhausted. I could hear the team all whispering concerns to Diego. My son had to be born now. He was showing signs of increasing stress and they feared I no longer had the energy to deliver him. He was stuck. Diego's cool hand swept my soaked hair of my brow and cupped my face. "You can do this, Alley. Take my hand and push as hard as you can."I could see the determination in those silver eyes. Agonising pain seared through my stomach, convulsing my back to bow. I swallowed hard and gripped Diego's hand tightly and bared down hard, screaming as Dr. Gardener used instruments to stretch me. "I can see his head, Alley! Keep pushing!"With all my might, I pushed and strained until I could see stars winking behind my eyes. Diego encouraged me all the way through it, wiping my brow and reassuring me. At twelve fifty-two in the morning, my third boy entered the world. He did not cry as my other boys and very quickly he was swept away from me, his team around him. I gulped as I saw one of the team using a tiny instrument to encourage him to breathe. He was so much more tinier than his brothers. "Go with them, Diego!" I howled, wracked with concern for my babies. "Take care of my boys!"I sobbed as Diego left, placing a kiss on my head. Dr Gardener helped me deliver the placentas and ensured that the birth had been completed. Suddenly, Dr. Gardener smacked a panic button. But I couldn't hold my eyes open enough. I felt spaced, looking down from above. Grace's voice came to me in the haze, those prayers she would often make to her angel whispering in my ear. That was the last thing I remembered.