‘There’s been no mention he slept with you, you know, before they were married, two days before to be exact,’ grinned Julian.

  ‘I’m sure she’s building up to it,’ said Dominic shaking his head. ‘I thought she was really nice but I now know she was shallow.’

  ‘Oh I could’ve told you ages ago,’ sighed Julian. ‘But she’s a woman scorned and set on revenge.’

  ‘Why?’ gulped Lily feeling her face go numb.

  ‘Rumour has it she’s got it in for Richard, big time, and she is nursing a broken heart to boot,’ sighed Julian. ‘And not forgetting you, my pretty.’

  ‘What did I do?’ Lily innocently asked knowing the truth. ‘She’s got nothing on me.’

  ‘I think she’s unhappy her husband might have had something in you, to be precise.’

  Julian’s warning rang true when Lily opened up a newspaper to see a major expose of Richard where the information came from ‘mutual friends’ a couple of days later. It held no punches as it spoke about Richard’s behaviour and general disregard for monogamy. Then she saw Dominic’s name. It was commented that Angel had been taken advantage of by Dominic when she was feeling vulnerable.

  ‘Can you believe this shit!’ Dominic said throwing the paper on to the table as Lily gently rocked her eight day old Beau in his buggy outside the shop.

  ‘Certainly can.’

  ‘I didn’t drug her or get her drunk!’ he snarled shaking his head. ‘That’s just not true. They made me out to be a predator.’

  ‘She’s saying you’re a lecherous old man!’ Lily laughed but could see she was the only one who found it funny.

  ‘I’m not bloody old,’ snapped Dominic pulling down his sunglasses. ‘Shall I tell you something?’

  ‘Go on,’ she said seeing he had his serious pout on.

  ‘You know when I was getting married?’

  ‘How could I forget it.’

  ‘It was her that made me change my mind.’

  ‘I thought it was because of what Rosana said to me,’ Lily gasped. ‘Why didn’t you tell me that earlier then I’d have felt less guilty?’

  ‘It was one of the reasons,’ he said sheepishly. ‘We snogged a few days before the wedding and my head was all over the place.’

  ‘You did what!’

  ‘I really fancied her and she’d been showing an interest. It happened,’ he shrugged and glanced out towards the street.

  ‘You really are a so and so,’ Lily sighed shaking her head furiously. ‘And your intention was to pull out of the wedding to get your leg over with Richard’s wife?’

  ‘No,’ he said pushing up his shades and looking at her. ‘It was one of many reasons.’

  ‘And we can safely say Angel was not a good choice.’

  ‘This better not cock up anything with work,’ he sighed glancing at the paper.

  ‘Your contract’s signed and it’s a done deal, nothing to worry about. The Americans won’t know about this.’

  ‘What about future work?’

  ‘You should have thought about that before you shagged Angel.’

  Her mobile started to ring and the number read ‘private’. Lily answered it while checking on the baby as Dominic picked up the paper and read the article for the hundredth time.

  ‘Hello,’ she said sipping her tea and looking at a furious Dominic.

  ‘Hello Lily.’

  She held her breath for a second as her inside exploded with emotional turmoil

  ‘You remember who I am?’ she eventually replied, gulping back her anger.

  ‘You nearly gave me a heart attack,’ Richard gently said on the other end of the phone.

  ‘I’m obviously not very good at it because then you’d be dead!’

  ‘Don’t be like that.’

  ‘I could have nearly died and you can’t be bothered to call me until now!’ she yelled. ‘Let alone stick around to see if you needed to attend a funeral or not!’

  ‘I know,’ he gently said. ‘I’m sorry but-.’

  ‘Too busy participating in partner swapping.’

  ‘You’re not reading that crap are you?’

  ‘You’re full of shit.’

  ‘Lily you’ve just had a baby, you’re completely hormonal. I understand you’re not thinking-.’

  ‘I wanted you there. I asked Dominic to tell you.’

  ‘Oh sweetheart, I know but what could I’ve done?’

  ‘You should be there for me. You’re never here when I need you.’

  ‘That’s not fair,’ he gently said.

  ‘When are you coming back?’ she said gulping hard.

  ‘I told you. I’m supposed to be back in July but-.’ the hesitation in his voice gave it away. ‘There’s been a delay and it looks like August. I can’t even fly back before then.’

  ‘You just don’t want to!’

  ‘I do. You know I do.’

  ‘I’ve got a baby now, why would you want to know, aye?’

  ‘Don’t be like that.’

  ‘You just don’t care about me do you?’ she said gulping back her tears. ‘I’m just fat now so your fetish is only slightly being fulfilled.’ He laughed down the phone which only upset her more. ‘Bugger off and leave me alone! I knew you were talking bollocks when you said you love me, I knew deep down it was a lie!’

  Lily hung up and wondered if she’d taken her happy pills, realising she had and they weren’t working. She bit back her angry tears before glancing up at Dominic.

  ‘Your ex, I take it?’ he smiled.

  ‘He calls me now! That man is such a selfish pig!’ Her phone started to ring again and they both looked at it. ‘I’m not talking to him. I’m sick of his games.’

  ‘Ms Warner and son’s office, can I help you?’ Dominic suddenly said as Lily turned to see him on her phone. ‘She’s not in a good mood at the moment.’ Lily sat there and watched Dominic smile at her before standing up. ‘Yes, I did see the papers but they’re having a whale of a time slating you off,’ he laughed. ‘I’m a bit pissed off she’s making out I forced her.’

  ‘Are you talking to Richard?’ she asked and was ignored as Dominic walked further away with her phone.

  ‘Everything’s fine here. She’s pissed off with you for not contacting her sooner,’ Dominic smirked. ‘And she’s pretty emotional most of the time.’

  ‘Tell him he’s a selfish bastard!’ Lily snapped.

  ‘She’s also suffering from post natal depression,’ Dominic added.

  ‘Don’t tell him that!’ she hissed.

  ‘The nurse has been coming in to help because of her caesarean and they say she’ll be back to normal in a few weeks.’ Then Dominic laughed out loudly. ‘I know whatever normal is for Lily.’

  ‘Don’t speak about me as if I wasn’t here!’ she snapped and then Beau started to cry.

  ‘Yes, that is the child of Lily,’ smiled Dominic still speaking on the phone. ‘Good pair of lungs on him like his mother.’ Then Dominic mouthed silently pointing at the phone ‘Or his father?’

  ‘You’re a disgrace!’ Lily said to Dominic while taking her baby out of the buggy to sooth him. ‘Talking to Richard like you’re mates. You all probably did that orgy partner swapping thing at the same time. People in your business are just degenerates.’

  ‘I’ll tell her,’ Dominic said hanging up. ‘That was your baby’s father. He told me to tell you he really does love you but he’s busy at the moment and you’ll hopefully understand, though he’s not holding his breath.’

  ‘Firstly, I’d prefer if you didn’t say he was the daddy,’ she quietly said, staring at her baby. ‘He’s not to find out, ever.’

  ‘I think we need to chat, don’t you?’ Dominic sat opposite her and half smiled. ‘Do you want to tell me what happened? I wasn’t going to ask you until you were feeling better but I can’t figure it out.’

  ‘What’s there to figure?’

  ‘How he managed to get you pregnant? When did he get you pregnant? Why you didn’t tell him he got you pregnant? Why did you tell everyone it was the gay builder who got you pregnant? Little things like that?’ he said leaning his head to one side. ‘I don’t get it.’

  ‘What’s there to get?’ she said and put the baby back in the buggy.

  ‘Lily!’

  ‘He can never find out about the baby being his, it’s not in his physical make up to deal with. I know this now more than ever,’ Lily gulped and looked at the beautiful small baby boy.

  ‘He’s a selfish bastard we all know that.’

  ‘I’ll answer your questions then we won’t discuss it any more. Okay? Do you promise?’

  ‘If that’s what you want but he seems to be in love with you, which is a bit of a surprise considering it’s Richard,’ said Dominic frowning. ‘He does have the right to know he’s a father.’

  ‘He has no rights,’ she said firmly.

  ‘I don’t agree. So tell me.’

  ‘I met him at a charity do and I lost my handbag. Then we ended up in bed for a couple of days.’

  ‘Right I’m confused already. When was this?

  ‘September.’

  ‘September!’ screeched Dominic. ‘All that time ago and you never said a word.’

  ‘We promised each other not to mention it. It was a one off.’

  ‘Okay?’ Dominic said and Lily could see he was getting his head around it.

  ‘Then, to cut a long story short, I saw him again four weeks later and we slept with each other. It was just sex, no emotional involvement, well not from his side,’ she frowned.

  ‘And you knew he was with Angel?’

  ‘He said it was an open relationship.’

  ‘You bloody hypocrite!’ hissed Dominic furiously leaning closer to her. ‘And you tell me about double standards then kick me out.’

  ‘I kicked you out because you brought her into my home, knowing full well I was pining for Richard. Not once did you mention his marriage was on shaky ground because you were getting your rocks off with his wife! Don’t lecture me on double standards, okay?’ she fumed, taking a sip of her cold tea.

  Lily glanced over her shoulder and saw Agatha pulling a face at Leticia about the current spat happening outside the shop.

  ‘Is it time for your pills?’ Dominic frowned.

  ‘No!’

  ‘I beg to differ on that but we’ll let it wash,’ he said diplomatically as Lily took in a deep breath.

  ‘Then two weeks before Eleanor’s party he came round every night and it was the best time I’ve ever had with him. I had no idea I was pregnant, I thought it was a bug.’

  ‘You didn’t use contraception?’

  ‘Why would I use contraception when I didn’t think I could get pregnant? He knew from the outset I couldn’t have kids so it wasn’t an issue,’ she sighed and shook his head.

  ‘And Tyrone, you slept with Tyrone didn’t you?’

  ‘Oh please!’ she laughed. ‘I gave him the air fare home if he said he did. I didn’t lay a finger on that boy.’

  ‘Why say he’s the father?’

  ‘It was you who said it when we were in hospital. So I thought it was as good idea to stick with. No one doubted for a moment I was telling a big fib. I told Tyrone the score and Stella set up an agreement to say he was the daddy but didn’t want to be involved. At the time Stella didn’t know the truth.’

  ‘Who knows the truth?’ Dominic asked narrowing his eyes. ‘The more people who know, the more chance of Richard finding out.’

  ‘Bonny, Stella and you. I told Tyrone and Carl to say if was artificial insemination, in hindsight, I should’ve done that instead, but they know it was down to a man I loved who didn’t want to be tied down.’

  ‘But Richard, in the meantime without his knowledge, impregnated a woman who can’t have kids,’ said Dominic shaking his head. ‘You couldn’t even make this up, could you?’

  ‘I love Richard,’ she said sitting up. ‘But he can’t be caged and I don’t want him on those terms. The fact he thinks the baby is someone else’s means he has to accept the baby as a person, not obliged because he’s his son.’

  ‘He has a right to know,’ Dominic said gently.

  ‘If he knows he’ll run away, I’m sure about that.’ Lily stared at Dominic. ‘I don’t want him to think I’m after more of his cash because if Bentley gets wind of it there’s going to be an almighty fight. I don’t want to lose contact with Richard again.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Other than right now because he’s pissed me off. I love him. I always have and always will.’

  ‘I think you’re on a serious suicide mission if you think Richard won’t find out.’

  ‘He won’t.’

  ‘You put his name on the birth certificate!’ Dominic yelled. ‘Of course he’ll find out.’

  ‘Only if he looks and he wouldn’t. Then if he does I’ll say it was the only name I could think of and I’ll write up all the legal documents to say he’s not the father and he’ll be more than happy about that,’ she smiled thinking her plan was fool proof. ‘He really isn’t interested in babies or children, unless they’re legally old enough to shag based on his previous wife, trust me on that.’

  Chapter Seventeen

  ‘Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Lily! Happy Birthday to you!’

  ‘Leave me alone?’ said the miserable birthday girl. ‘I’m forty four years old and my life is a mess.’

  ‘Tablets!’ shouted Dominic laughing as he poured out the champagne. ‘The woman needs her medication.’

  ‘You should be very happy,’ said Bonny gently patting Lily’s arm. ‘You have a healthy, beautiful baby boy.’

  ‘He’s gorgeous,’ said Stella cradling him in her arms. ‘Perfect.’

  ‘Dominic’s flying out next week and I’ll be all on my own,’ groaned Lily placing her head in her hands. ‘I feel like shit.’

  ‘It’s not post natal depression,’ sighed Stella. ‘It’s post Richard depression.’

  ‘I don’t want to talk about it!’ Lily snapped and looked at her glass of champagne. ‘If I drink this I’ll get drunk.’

  ‘Then get drunk,’ said Dominic smiling at her.

  ‘I have a baby to look after,’ she said, still not finding any reason to be happy.

  ‘Tina is coming in later on today and I’ve arranged for her to spend the night,’ Dominic replied eating some crisps. ‘So go and get pissed.’

  ‘I need to sort out giving you money for Tina. You can’t afford to pay her Dominic and-.’

  ‘Let’s not talk about it now,’ he said firmly, holding up his palm in front of her and glancing at a frowning Stella. ‘We’ve got all the time in the world to sort it out.’

  ‘Now all of us are together, in the same room and we know who the daddy is,’ began Stella, gently rocking the baby from left to right. ‘We have to make sure no one lets it out of the bag.’

  ‘I’m certainly not telling anyone,’ said Dominic shaking his head.

  ‘You can trust me,’ said Bonny sitting on the sofa next to Lily. ‘Even though I think he’d be delighted.’

  ‘You don’t know him,’ Lily gently replied.

  ‘I saw how he was looking at you and I can tell he adores you.’

  ‘He’s going through a fat woman fetish at the moment,’ Lily said seriously and then smiled at Bonny.

  ‘You adore him too. If you tell him then I’m sure he’ll be fine.’

  ‘Bonny, you don’t know Richard,’ laughed Dominic. ‘The first thing he’ll do is dig his heels in about paying maintenance and then all hell will break loose. He’ll probably make out that Lily slept with me, considering I drug woman then screw them.’ Dominic snorted a laugh to himself. ‘Which I don’t do Bonny, so don’t believe all you read in the papers.’

  ‘Tell Richard,’ Stella said sitting down in the armchair with Beau. ‘If he finds out through someone else he won’t forgive you.’

  ‘I’ve forgiven him time and time again,’ Lily said standing up and gently taking her baby out of Stella’s arms. ‘He’s not in the position to forgive me for anything.’

  ‘Lying?’ said Stella grabbing a glass of champagne and taking a massive gulp.

  ‘I didn’t lie I just didn’t tell him. And let’s not forget when I was deliriously calling out for him, he wasn’t around. He preferred to be with his best friend on a plane going to LA LA land. That’s how much he thinks of me,’ she scowled then softened as she stroked her baby’s face.

  ‘Are you going to continue to have a relationship with Richard?’ Stella asked standing up.

  ‘We haven’t got a relationship. He always wants time so I’m giving him time.’

  ‘What can he do if he finds out?’ asked Bonny. ‘Surely he can’t cause trouble.’

  ‘Depends?’ said Stella. ‘He could ask for shared custody.’

  ‘Fat chance!’ said Lily.

  ‘He could say you seduced him to get pregnant.’

  ‘That’s not true.’

  ‘Or he could choose to stay out of your life forever for being a deceitful cow,’ smiled Stella. Lily went quiet and looked at Dominic who in turn frowned. ‘And you wouldn’t really want that now, would you?’

  At that moment, they heard the buzzer and Dominic went to the intercom.

  ‘Sure come up,’ he said before walking into the living room before whispering. ‘And here’s another problem.’

  ‘Lily!’ shouted Eleanor, supporting a dark tan and carrying bags along with a massive bunch of white lilies. ‘Where is he?’

  ‘Here,’ she said admiring her suckling baby. ‘Eleanor meet Beau.’

  She noticed Eleanor’s eyes welling up and felt guilty.

  ‘He’s absolutely beautiful,’ Eleanor sighed. ‘He has your eyes. May I?’

  Lily handed over the baby to his unsuspecting biological grandmother.

  ‘I have to go,’ said Bonny slightly startled. ‘I’ll see you later.’

  ‘Fine,’ Lily replied and could see the immediate concern on Bonny’s face as she glanced at Eleanor, shook her head, and then left.

  Stella, Dominic and Lily looked at each other as Eleanor cradled the little baby in her arms and beamed with happiness.

  ‘You’re going to have a wonderful life, do you know that?’ Eleanor cooed to him. ‘I’ll make sure of it.’

 

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