CHAPTER 7

Mandy had made it back to her bedroom and was calling a cab when Elliot found her. His heart was beating erratically, but he steeled his nerves so that she wouldn’t notice.

“Is everything alright?” he said gently.

Mandy turned to face him. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears, and her hands betrayed her.

“I can’t seem to dial,” her voice was choked with emotion. “The damn buttons keep swimming around.”

She was so beautiful standing there so lost and forlorn. He gently approached her and took the phone from her shaking fingers.

“Who would you like to call?” his tone was gentle as if soothing a wild animal.

Mandy swallowed, and a single tear dropped from her impossibly long lashes onto her pale cheek.

“I can’t stay here, Mr. Brand.”

She wanted to tell him that she’d spent her entire life being unwanted. That at her parents at least she knew the score. Here was a whole new element, and she wasn’t strong enough to deal with more hatred and scorn.

The situation with Kim hadn’t helped anything. She was hurting for her sister. Not only had Kim lost her husband, but she was now a soon to be a single mother. Mandy had seven months of experience with the judgments and scorn that came along with that package.

And then there was Elliot. She could hardly look at him without feeling guilty that he was the father of her child, and that he was a good man.

Mandy had convinced herself that the man that night wouldn’t have cared that she’d gotten pregnant. Now, she knew better.

And then there was fear. Mandy had heard what Mrs. Herrington said about her being a ‘gold digger.’ What would happen if they did find out that Elliot was the father? What if they tried to take her baby away?

There were too many questions and not enough reasons to stay.

“Can’t,” he said softly, “Or won’t?”

Mandy felt another teardrop fall and grit her teeth, “I don’t belong in your home. You saw what I came from. Let’s just pretend that we never met. That Dr. Roberts never called you, and that I never came in for that interview.”

Elliot took a fraction of a step closer to her. He was well within her personal space, and she could feel the heat from his large body. He was rugged and handsome, fierce, and independent, and she knew that this was a man that got what he wanted.

“You’re tired and hungry, and it is getting late. Eat something and get a good night’s rest. We can speak more about this in the morning.”

His tone was deceptively soothing. Mandy wanted to believe that a good night’s sleep would cure everything. But she’d a feeling that it would only make her want to stay.

Mr. Brand pocketed the phone, and Mandy gasped.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she protested.

“I don’t want you leaving in the middle of the night.”

“You can’t keep me here against my will,” Mandy was beginning to get angry, and her tears dried immediately.

“I’m Elliot Brand, one of the richest most powerful men in the city if not the world. My staff is explicitly loyal, and if I must place Robert outside of your door all night long, I will do so. It is for your safety and that of the baby.”

Mandy scowled, “How dare you presume to know what is best for my child and me?”

He leaned closer until the front of their chests brushed. Mandy felt a jolt of electricity from that innocent encounter that had her remembering that night from so long ago in extreme detail.

His pectoral muscles had been like hard slabs of marble. Mandy blinked, trying to get the images to fade.

Elliot’s minty breath brushed across her face, “I know that you have dark circles under your eyes from lack of sleep. I know that you were living in a home without adequate heat. I know that you need to eat. Despite the roundness of your belly, your arms and legs are terribly thin. There are hollows under your cheekbones, and you’re swaying on your feet. I will not allow you to leave like this, Amanda. If I must sit here all night, I will.”

“Why are you doing this?” Mandy whispered. “Why do you care?”

Elliot clenched his jaw. He didn’t want to talk about his mother.

“Let’s just say that I owe it to someone.”

The tone of his voice, there was something there that Mandy hadn’t heard before. He loved the individual he was speaking about with all his heart. She could see the fervent promise in his eyes.

“I’m not that person,” the words slipped out and hung between them.

“No,” he said softly, “You’re not.”

Mandy’s heart felt like it had sustained a blow.

“But she isn’t with us anymore, and you’re.”

Mandy wanted to argue. She wanted to leave and never look back. But the look in his eyes, the intent promise that he would do exactly as he said kept her still. Mandy didn’t feel threatened any more, she felt oddly tired and hungry.

As if on cue, her stomach grumbled loudly.

A ghost of a smile crossed Elliot’s face, “I will return with your supper.”

Mrs. H spoke from the doorway, “I have brought a tray, Ms. Johnson. And I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier.”

Mandy felt her cheeks heat, “Please, don’t worry about it.”

The older woman’s lips lifted, “No, I behaved poorly, and I’m sorry.”

A broad smile broke across Elliot’s face, and he walked over to Mrs. H taking the tray of soup and sandwiches. He walked over to the little bistro table in the living area and set the tray down. Pulling out the chair, he motioned for Mandy to sit.

Mandy walked over and sat in the chair, “Thank you, Mrs. Herrington. This looks delicious.”

It was a peace offering, and they both knew it.

“Please, call me Mrs. H, dear.”

Mandy nodded and smiled as Elliot sat across from her.

He carefully removed the dishes from the tray and handed it back to Mrs. H, who nodded once and turned to leave. But she turned around again at the last moment.

“Please don’t leave on my account, Child,” the older woman caught Mandy mid-bite. “I tend to be territorial about Mr. Brand.”

Mandy swallowed the bite, “He has a fine ally in you, Mrs. H.”

The older woman beamed and with one final nod left the room.

“You handled that with grace and dignity,” Elliot said quietly.

Mandy turned to him, “Perhaps I overreacted earlier. I’m sorry as well.”

She went on to tell him about going to The Grind and learning of her sister’s husband’s infidelity. They talked for quite a while about a surprising number of topics. He learned that she liked to dance and loved swimming. There was an indoor pool that he offered her to use at any time.

They laughed about her doctor, Mr. Robert’s who was also Elliot’s friend having the same name as his butler. Elliot told her of a time when things had gotten very confusing when Dr. Roberts had stayed with him while his house was being painted.

It was comfortable, and Mandy found that her belly was soon full, and her eyes were getting droopy.

Elliot stood and gathered the things back on the tray. Mandy looked at him in surprise.

“You don’t wait for the servants to clean up after you?”

His lips twitched, “I should do better. But if I remember, I do try to do my part. We are a family here, not just employer and employee. I hope that you reconsider being a part of that, Amanda.”

“Mandy,” she corrected and then flushed, “My friends call me Mandy.”

“And I’m Elliot,” he said, his eyes never leaving her face.

“Elliot,” she said softly, and it pierced him right in the gut.