Return to Me_ #1 Love Gone Rogu - Kahlin Rogue

Return to me (Book 1 in Love Gone Rogue Series) Original Script by Kahlin Rogue Copyright © by Kahlin Rogue

Nikki

“O

h my God! It’s happening!” I exclaimed. “It’s finally happening.” I have been waiting for this day for a while now, but now that it has come, I am scared. I am alone, no one to help me keep calm or to stay with me or to help me get through the pain. No one there for me at all. However, it isn’t time to think about how pitiful my life is or how I wish things

were different, that I’d made different choices. It was no time for self-pity. It was time to steel myself and be strong, because even though the ultimate sign hadn’t happened, my instincts told me it was about to happen and when they fired up, they were usually never wrong. Too bad I hadn’t listened to them at all in the first place because if I had, I wouldn’t be in this position at all. All those months of sorrow and heartbreak would have been avoided. Besides, the spasms running through my body at the moment led up to an obvious conclusion. I hobbled, as was my walking style these days, into my tiny bedroom, huffing and puffing all the way, hoping to quell a bit

of the pain. I packed a bag with a few essentials, grabbed my purse and keys, and left my sparsely furnished apartment, biting my lip all the while and refusing to shed even a single tear despite the pain currently twisting inside me. It was a good thing my landlord had fixed the elevator because I didn’t think I would have been able to take the whole journey down the stairs. Good, it hurt! I almost sat down on the elevator floor but thought otherwise. It would be impossible to get stand back up. Why isn’t the damn elevator moving faster? By the time the elevator doors re-opened I had gotten some bit of relief from the pain, but I knew it wouldn’t be for long

so I tried to hurry up. I held onto my bag tighter, took a deep breath, and walked out of the building. For a moment, the sunlight blinded me. For a moment, I thought that I was hallucinating, because as I walked outside, I saw a black limo. And the only person I knew that owned a limo was --No, I don’t even want to think about it. That man wouldn’t be caught dead in this part of town and what would he be doing here anyway? It’s not likely that a megabillionaire had any work to do in that run-down part of town. They were done, and he didn’t even want to see her again. He’d declared that himself. Nevertheless, my heart raced, and I felt

the pounding in my ears. His last words to me rang through my mind, like a siren that just wouldn’t stop. “You are just a common whore, and I never want to see you again! Leave my house!” Really, it couldn’t be his limo. Yet somehow, I wouldn’t, I couldn’t move an inch, because despite what I wanted to believe, my heart knew otherwise. It had to be him. No, it was him, it was Damien Knight. Then, just like a movie where the star appears on his cue, the car door opened, and the man I had sworn never to see or talk to again got out. His dark hair still as ruffled as it always was, and his suit,

just as pressed and perfect as if it just came from the runway. And not forgetting, Italian leather shoes. He never wore anything else, anything other than the very best. It was like his very own brand. I refused to look at his face. That face that I had fallen asleep to and woken up to as well. That face that I had stared at for hours on end. That face which the very last time I had seen it, was cold and unflinching as I was insulted and kicked out of the place I had come to call my home. The face which belonged to the man I had loved and lost; the man, who for all he claimed to love me, didn’t care about me at all.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have destroyed me like he did. He wouldn’t have looked me in the face and said all those terrible, soul-crushing things that made me feel like my heart was being ripped out. No, I would not look at that face. Suddenly, dragging me back to earth from the place I had drifted off to, and back to the reality of the situation, another bout of the spasms began. This one worse than the last. I clung to the wall next to me for support. As if that wasn’t enough, I felt a warm liquid trickle down my legs. I didn’t even need to look down to know what was happening. It was the ultimate sign that I had been waiting for. Now there

was no going back. My water had broken. My baby was coming.

Damien

T

he folders lying on my lap all seemed so unappealing. I didn’t want to think about work or the many people in my life who always seemed to want something from me. At the moment, I was looking at my account statements. It gave me a headache just looking at how much money my mother and Britney spent just shopping. Who needed that many clothes anyway! I needed to set limits with them and how much money they were allowed to

spend. They shouldn’t live like they own the whole damn world. It was my money dammit, and they’d contributed in no way towards its acquisition. I definitely needed to have that conversation with them. But just thinking of that conversation made my head throb faster. All the drama I knew would follow would drain me. However, it needed to be done and they could live with the consequences. It’s not like I’d be kicking them out of the house and leaving them to fend for themselves on the street. But he had no doubt that’s how they would see it. At the moment, I had more pressing details to deal with. At the top of that list

was just one face. Nikki. That beautiful face whose beauty was accentuated by the dimples whenever she smiled. Those eyes that you could just disappear into. That voice that sounded like that of an angel. And of course, those lips that could make anyone fall in love. I had fallen in love once. Had fallen so deeply and irrevocably in love with the girl – no, the woman that I had thought was God’s gift to mankind. I would have given anything, done anything just to be with her. That all changed, when I realized the truth. Actually, when the truth was slammed in my face. That she was just like all the other women in my life. Just

a spineless greedy woman like all the rest. What was worse was that she thought she’d been so clever being so sweet towards me while committing atrocious acts right under my nose. At least everyone else was direct when they wanted something from me. Had she really thought that she’d hide her sins from me forever? That I’d never uncover the truth, or that I wouldn’t see her for who she truly was? I remembered her face the last time I’d seen it in person, so stricken and crushed, tears spilling over non-stop. What if she was telling the truth? – the thought crossed unbidden into my mind. I nullified it as fast as it had come. The

evidence proved her guilt. She couldn’t cry away hard cold facts. She was just a very good actress. I mean, she’d managed to pull blinders on me for months. I’d learned my lesson and I would never repeat that mistake again. Love was something I would never like to go through again. The consequences were just too much to bear. And so, it was ironical that I was sitting in my limo outside her building instead of running my multi-billion corporation. After all those months of separation, I had wanted to just see her one more time and to ask her for the truth. I already knew it, but I just wanted to hear it from

her own lips. Maybe I just wanted closure. Maybe then, I could find some other woman to keep my bed warm and give me children. One that I wouldn’t love and would be aware of all her greedy ways. I could tolerate a marriage without love. After all, it was what had always been in my plan, before I met Nikki. I’d been sitting in the limo for the past ten minutes because I couldn’t decide whether I really did want to see her again. To see her betraying face again. She probably would still stick to her attempts at lying to my face again. I was just about to tell my driver to drive back

to the office when the door of the building opened and she walked out. As soon as I glanced at her red hair, I got out of the car. Then I took a moment to appreciate her features; to see if she looked the same as when I last saw her. I didn’t like the fact that her hair was tied up in a French braid. I preferred it free and flowing. My hands ached to undo that braid but I didn’t move. Her eyes as green as an emerald, were now stuck on me, as if she’d seen a ghost. Was it such a surprise to see him? He supposed it was, considering the words they shared the last time they spoke. She had bags under her eyes and looked so tired, almost as if she hadn’t slept in

weeks. I frowned in anger, out of a habit that I apparently hadn’t lost. . Why wasn’t she taking care of herself? Just then her face contorted, as if in pain, and she fell on the wall next to her clinging to it as if for her life. Instinctively, I jumped and started moving towards her……till I looked down ………… and saw the pregnancy bump. In that moment, my feet froze and my heart stopped beating. The rest of the world fell away and it was just me, Nikki and …………. Then I saw the puddle of the floor. I may not have been a guru in that sector of life but one thing I knew. Based on that

puddle on the floor, and the pain making her contort her face which I naturally assumed to be contractions, her water had broken. She was about to give birth. On auto-pilot I went to her, grabbed her bag, which I hadn’t noticed before since I was too busy taking in her features, and took it into my car. Then I walked back to Nikki and without so much as a word or a hello, bent down and lifted her into my arms, receiving a yelp from her. No other argument came from her lips as I silently but quickly walked to the car, seated her and got in as well. “What hospital?” I asked her. She glanced at me and answered almost imperceptibly and seemingly out of

breath, “St. Thomas.” “No. Too far,” I answered almost immediately, but what I really wanted to say was, “Why the hell would you go to St. Thomas? The place is too far and their service is shit. You’d never be seen to on time.” I turned to my driver and instructed, “Mercy Grace Hospital. Step on it.” However, as soon as the car was moving, Nikki decided to make herself heard. “No. That’s too expensive. I can’t afford it.” “What do you mean you can’t afford it? What about all the money you st- got from me? Did you finish it already?”

“If you came all this way to keep accusing me of something I never did, I’d rather you stopped the car and let me out! Actually, since we are already on the way and I didn’t ask you to put me in your limo, your driver can drop you off at your office and drive me to the hospital.” “Oh! Is that you want? And are you planning on having the limo ever returned to me or are you going to also abscond with it and never return.” I said, even as I saw her eyes light up in ire. Even her face turned red as it always did when she was angry. But I didn’t want to stop. “Or maybe you actually plan to take it to one of your shady friends and

come back to me claiming it’s been --” “I will NOT sit here and listen to you throw insults at me when----” Suddenly she bit her lip and clamped her hand down on the car-seat. “Aaargh!!! Fuck!!” I could see the pain on her face and knew she was having contractions. Those things must have been really painful considering the expression on her face. That bastard that did this to her and then left her to suffer alone like this should keep hiding his face in whichever rock he crawled under because if I found him-- What the hell was I thinking? I didn’t even who had gotten her pregnant. And now I was acting all possessive claiming to go ape-shit on whomever it

was that had gotten her pregnant. I was about to demand she tell me, but then I saw her face. That pain on her face, that face-contorting pain removed all those thoughts from my mind and only left concern. Suddenly the car stopped and I knew that we had arrived. At least the driver really did step on it. I opened the door and got to work.

Nikki

I

didn’t even protest as I was carried into the car. I knew I had to get to the hospital immediately, and it didn’t matter if the person who would get me there was the current recipient of all my hate and spite. It didn’t matter if he was the person who had insulted and said more than crude words to me. The fact that I had once loved him and had that love thrown back in my face also didn’t matter. Nor the fact that despite the way he had tossed me out of

his house and his life, he was the one who had come looking for me. The one who was currently caring for me almost as if he had never left. No. I would not bring my feelings into this. I would keep a clear level head. I would not think about my past. Because that’s exactly what it was. Just my past; not my present nor my future. I would not bring my emotions into this. My child’s life depended on me being fine. When he sat me down in the limo, I moved as far as possible in the seat, putting as much distance between us as humanly possible within the confines of the small car. Funny how one of the most spacious cars suddenly seemed so small

with him in the vicinity. It had always been like that. Whenever he appeared in a room, he seemed to command the entire space. It’s like crowds parted for him and rooms went silent to acknowledge his presence. He didn’t even need to speak to announce his presence. His aura was enough. I always seemed out of breath in his presence and despite the separation and the time that had passed, it didn’t seem like something that had gone away. I tried to calm myself and to steady my breathing. It was then that he asked me which hospital to take me to. I gave him the name of the really inexpensive hospital I

had planned to go to but wasn’t really surprised when he rejected my choice. It was after all in his nature to only get the best, even if he claimed that distance was the issue. If he was just going to take me where he wanted, what was the point in asking anyway? It’s not like he ever listened. But I knew that if I didn’t lay boundaries now, things would get complicated. “No. That’s too expensive. I couldn’t afford it.” “What do you mean you can’t afford it? What about all the money you st- got from me? Did you finish it already?” I gritted my teeth in anger. So that’s what he still thought. Somehow I had clung to

some small hope in my heart, a hope that one day he would realize the truth and then he would find me and we’d be together again. That was just another of my dreams that had turned into ashes. If it wasn’t for the life that I was just about to let into this world, I really would have nothing. But what hurt more, is that I wouldn’t be able to give my child the life I had always dreamed for him. One full of light and happiness and people who loved him without conditions and restraints. What in hell did I ever see in this man that made me fall so desperately in love with him? He’s just so infuriating! And now we were arguing, as we

always had during our relationship, if that’s what you’d call it. At first, in the beginning of our relationship, everything was perfect. We enjoyed each other’s company and never argued. Plus, the sex was – phenomenal to say the least. We just couldn’t get enough of each other. The amount of attention he had laved on me had made me feel so special: like the queen of his heart. Corny yes, but it was how I had felt. Everything was perfect. But it was too good to be true. Eventually, everything went downhill. The argument didn’t last long. It seemed not even her child liked those arguments. He wanted to be let out. This time, the

pain was much worse. I could hardly breathe, let alone think. I dug my nails into the plush seat and shut my eyes out tightly. How the hell did anyone ever get through child birth? I barely felt myself being lifted out of the car. Barely heard the noises around me as people rushed about at Damien’s barked orders. I grasped at the first thing my hands could reach, which just happened to be Damien himself. I clawed my hands into him, feeling the pain go through me. But even in the dark recesses of my mind, only one thought took root, I didn’t want to be alone, to go through this alone. And so I held onto Damien as tightly as I could and refused

to let go. The next time my vision cleared, and I could breathe better, I realized that I was in a bed, in a room that seemed more like a theatre. Oh my God! It was a theatre! That must mean that it was time…. A man in surgical scrubs lifted his head. “Hello, Miss Snow. I’m Doctor Carter and I will be your doctor during your stay here. Now, you’re already crowning, so we’ll have to save the pleasantries for later. All I want you to do is focus on your breathing and to push hard, whenever the next wave of contractions come. Okay?” I nodded and continued my inspection of

the brightly lit room. There was something, or rather someone missing. “Where is Damien?” “Mr. Knight is right outside. I was informed that he is not the father of the baby. He’ll be with you as soon as you are settled down after delivering the baby.” I understood what he was saying, and why he said it, but I just didn’t care. I was the one who had to go through labor, and I refused to do it alone. And so, even as the pangs of pain began to hit, I declared, “Have him come in. I need him here.” And then began to push. I had always thought that as soon as you started to

push, the baby would automatically come out, but it seemed to not to be the case. After just five minutes, I was exhausted. I didn’t think I could do any more. But then I felt Damien’s warm familiar hands; one stroke my cheek, while the other held my hand. “You can do this, Nikki. I’m here.” And as if that was all I had been waiting for, when the next wave of contractions hit, I pushed with all of my might, till I heard the wails of my baby. “It’s a boy!” The Doctor said, but I didn’t care all I wanted to do was hold my child in my arms. As if reading my mind, Damien let go of me, and came back a few minutes later with a pink

bundle wrapped in a towel. He looked just perfect. Furthermore, he looked exactly like his father, with those blue eyes staring up at me as if in wonder, and his tiny patch of dark hair. Just perfect. From that moment I laid my eyes on him, I never I would do anything to protect him. No matter the cost. In that moment, that one moment, my family was complete. I had the love of my life beside me, and this bundle of joy in my arms. I couldn’t ask for more. What could have been better than that? But it was only in that one moment. The nurses had to take him away to perform some tests and also to leave me

to rest. The exhaustion suddenly got to me and my eyes got droopy. I really needed – no, wanted, to rest. And so my last waking words were to the man whose hand I now held in mine. “Please, don’t leave.”

Damien

S

he looked so peaceful, so calm in her bed. I didn’t want anyone to disturb her from this moment of serenity. Instead I took a moment to admire her. She really was absolutely stunning. Somehow, to him, having given birth just made her seem all the more beautiful. She would have looked even better if she had been giving birth to my child though, the thought suddenly occurred in his head.

But I had to admit that when in that delivery room, when I had first held that beautiful innocent boy in my arms, when I had first stared into those big blue eyes that coincidentally were the same color as mine, in my mind, the boy was mine. My flesh and blood. And when Nikki had held the boy wrapped up in the blanket, they had been my family. The family that deep down I’d always longed to have. In that moment, my heart had felt complete. It was only logical that after that, when Nikki asked me to stay, I had done just that. What surprised me was how Nikki had asked for me to be beside her in the

delivery room. I’d been utterly shocked. Why would she ask me, the man who’d treated her so badly, to be next to her in one of the most important moments in her life? There really were only to answers to that; either she really was afraid of being alone and was willing to tolerate even the man whom she claimed to hate, or she’d seen a meal ticket for her and her child when I’d shown up outside of her building and she was taking advantage. Based on past occurrences, the latter seemed more accurate. However, just that thought left a sour taste in my mouth. It seemed that after all this time, I still hadn’t fully accepted that

she was just another greedy whore. I thought about the boy, that innocent boy who had played no part in his mother’s games, and who deserved a proper life with a proper family. Then I thought about Nikki’s lies and deception. She had hurt him badly, but the pain he had gone through was not a reason to deny the child joy and love. I had to think of a way to get Nikki back where she belonged, back with me, in my bed. Because even as I watched her sleep, I felt that tingling sensation that I hadn’t felt in a while. That feeling I always got whenever my manhood stood to attention whenever Nikki was around. I saw the way her lips seemed so full

and ripe, so appealing, almost as if they were calling to me to kiss them. The way her hair, now unbraided, fanned out on the pillow, called to me to wrap it silkiness in my hands. At that moment, I yearned to feel her in my arms. To feel her naked smooth skin against mine. To see her face filled with pleasure as she called out my name and lost herself in my arms. To feel her give herself completely to me with no regrets and no worries. To see her eyes, look at me in wonder after she comes. I really did need to see it all. It didn’t matter that all she wanted from me was material. I was willing to give her everything she asked for. As long as

she remained in my house and in my bed, I didn’t care about anything else. I was going to have her, no matter the cost. In the process, I would also gain a son, one who I would treasure and love like I would my own blood. He would want for nothing. He would be my son in everyone’s eyes. My heir. My legacy. Yes, everything would be right again. No one would come in the way of his plans this time. No one. But even as I came up with plans for the future, as if trying to prove me wrong, my phone came to life. I had had my executive assistant deal with all my meetings and any other urgent matters, so I was surprised that someone was still

calling. It was my mother. Probably about to throw another hissy fit again. She’d been quite adamant lately, with her quest for me to marry not just anyone, but Brittney. Disgusting!! That would be exactly like marrying my mother. I was not up for another tantrum at the moment, so I let the call go to voicemail. Then I put my phone on silent mode and put it back into my pocket. But that call had awoken me to another possible issue. My mother would never stand for me to be together with Nikki, let alone take in her son as my own. That would definitely be a war. But one thing she would have to understand was that it

was never going to be Brittney. This time I wasn’t going to take any of her crap. I knew, I had always known that she despised and loathed Nikki despised Nikki’s best efforts to try and get along. She always claimed that Nikki was trying to take me away from her. A lot of drama and tears had followed. But this time will be different. I will ensure it. And as I watched Nikki’s eyes flicker as she finally opened her eyes, I knew I had made the best decision. All that was left was to get Nikki to return to me.

Nikki

T

he light was intruding into my sleep and pulling me from the darkness I had fallen into. I felt tired. I both physically and emotionally ached. I tried to lift my arms but they felt limp. I only managed a slight movement of my fingers. I slowly opened my eyes, even though my eyelids were so heavy, almost as if I was tracking sandbags. The room was unfamiliar. All I remembered was passing out right after I… Tears came to

my eyes as I remembered the miracle that I had given birth to. He was just perfect, in every way. He had to be, seeing as he was a replica of his father; his blue eyes, his hair, even his nose. Speaking of his father, I was surprised at my insistence that Damien be in the delivery room with me. I doubt the doctor was surprised, he must see a lot of drama every single day. But Damien… I’m sure he wasn’t counting on an exgirlfriend including him in child birth. He must be thinking that it was a ploy to get him back into my life! Oh Hell! I shouldn’t have asked for him, and I definitely should not have asked him to

stay. It’s no wonder he didn’t stay. I must have seemed like a really desperate needy girl. Arrrghh! What am I going to say the next time I see him? I hope I don’t have to see him again, I’ll die of shame. I was distracted from my guilt trip by voices outside my door. Then the door was opened. As if I was a thief caught pants down, I quickly closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. I had no idea why I did that. I guess I wanted to be left alone with my guilt and embarrassment. “You know, you are the cutest baby I have ever seen. And you aren’t even as noisy as other new-borns; not that I’ve been around them a lot. But it’s like I

feel a connection with you.” Oh My God! Wonders never cease! It was Damien, and he was talking to who I assumed was my baby. Damien Knight, talking to a baby! I swallowed a giggle that had come up in my throat. How I wished that I could just open my eyes and witness that scene. “You know, you’re gonna see a lot more of me than what your mother expects. I have a proposal for her, which I know she’ll accept and I would tell her about it instead of you, if only she’d stop pretending she was asleep and talk to me.” Huh! Shit, I’ve been caught. I opened my eyes slowly and turned to face him.

“How?” I asked. “I can always tell when you’re asleep and when you’re not. Always.” I remembered those times when we were still together when I faked being asleep. Especially that one time at his beach house… I’d wanted to entice him from his seemingly endless work and to me. I knew that his office had a direct view of the pool area. So I sat on a lounge chair by the pool in my bikini. Then facing away from him, I took the bikini top off and lay down on the chair on my stomach, and closed my eyes. A few minutes later, pretending to be deep in slumber, I turned and lay on my

back, giving him, if he was looking a nice view of my now topless front. It didn’t take long for me to feel a shadow on me. My inner goddess did somersaults in glee. His deep resounding voice resonated all the way to my now soaking pulsing core, “I think you need a lesson on decency.” Then starting with the kisses he trailed down my neck and body and the feasting he did on my nipples, he proceeded to show me, for the next three hours, exactly what he thought of my ‘lapse in decency’. I shuddered when I realized that he also must have known then, exactly what I was doing. My cheeks flamed up. I must

have been red all over. God! He must have thought I was so needy. As if reading my mind, “As much as I would love to rehash and relive whatever’s made you turn red, we have something to discuss, and it can’t wait.” Oh that! What must be this urgent? It’s probably about those sins he thinks I committed and he wants me to confess. But something about his expression made me doubt that. He actually seemed…nervous. What could make a man like him seem nervous? Did Damien Knight even get nervous? Apparently so. I watched him as he walked to a bassinet that had been placed beside my bed and laid the now sleeping baby in it. I had

even forgotten about my own baby! All because of Damien! This is definitely not a good start to motherhood form me. How fast could I forget my own blood just because of the man standing before me? The man who tore my life to pieces just because he had no heart. That thought sobered me and I sat up in the hospital bed, seeing as I had gotten a little of my strength back. Then I waited. I watched Damien as he pulled up a chair closer to the bed and sat his lithe body down. Then giving all his attention to me, he spoke. “I’ll get straight to the point. I want to be your baby’s father.”

My heart skipped a beat and my jaw dropped. This wasn’t real. Damien could not be seated next to me claiming that he wanted to be my baby’s father. I was horrified. Who the hell did he think fathered my baby? And how the hell could he be seated there looking like he was Prince Charming, here to save me from my dragons, when he was the reason why we were in this position in the first place? And what did he even mean by being my baby’s father? Did he want to adopt him? Take him away from me? I may be the mother, but with his money and connections, there was nothing out of reach from him. The conclusion I came to, was that he

must be joking. “Very funny.” “No one’s joking here, Kay. Why would you even think that?” He actually had the gall to look offended. “What exactly are you saying?” “I want to take in your son as my own. To be recognized legally as his father. To give him my name and make him my heir. He will have the best of the best and most of all he will be safe and happy in a stable home. Of course, we will have to be married to ensure that….” “Stop right there. I went down that road once with you, and I am not going back. Second of all, my son will have

everything he needs with me. He doesn’t require luxuries to be happy. So the answer to your so-called proposal is no.” “Why so quick to refute it? You didn’t even properly consider it. If you had, you would realize that this was an excellent opportunity for your son. As a mother you should be concerned about what’s best for your son. And a child needs to be brought up in a loving home with two available parents. And correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t see the son of a bitch who got you pregnant around here. I’m assuming he’s abandoned you. So I don’t see why you’re not even giving thought to my proposal.”

I was fuming and I swear I could feel smoke coming out of my ears. How dare he! “Don’t you dare to tell me what’s best for my son. I am his mother and I know what’s best for him.” “Apparently not…” “Let me finish. You have no moral ground on this occasion to be speaking to me like this. You have no right to talk to me like that when you’re the son of a bitch who abandoned me. And I am not implying, I am stating that you are the father of my baby. Now please, take those ideas and egoistic notions and leave my room. I’m tired and I’d like to rest before he wakes up. Oh! And my son’s name is Dylan.”

Then I turned and lay back in the bed and closed my eyes. A few minutes later, I heard the door open and close. He was gone. How large can one’s ego get? Just because I let him in the delivery room he thinks that he can now judge and control mine and my son’s life. Did he really think I would agree to that? I would basically selling my soul to the devil and damning my son to a life of sorrow. He may have thought that I was like a dog that would just a keel over at his master’s instruction and maybe that was how I had been, but now I was different. I wasn’t that loyal dog anymore. I was going to fight for what was right and

what would make me happy. I wasn’t just going to place my happiness in someone else’s lap ever again. He would never again get the chance to throw me away like trash. And marriage, no! No, not ever again. I would never return to him.

Damien

T

his elevator is taking so damn long. Why is it so slow? And this cheesy music, I thought I told them to turn it off. This isn’t a God-damn halfway house! The doors finally opened and I walked towards my office. My Executive Assistant, Cindy, hurried towards me from her post, possibly to inform me of my schedule and calls. “Sir, Mr. Bernard from the Daily Post called. He said you should watch out for

the paper today. I have placed today’s papers and coffee on your desk and have forwarded priority emails to your inbox.” “Fine. I do not want to be disturbed today, Cindy.” I walked into my office and shut the door behind me. I was pool buddies with Mr. Bernard, the Chief Editor of the Daily Post. I’d helped him out with a favor once, and in return, he tended to warn me of potential headlines or other newsrelated issues. Whatever was on the Post, must definitely be serious. I sat down and turned to the paper. I didn’t have turn the pages further than page 7. The photo staring at me was

enough to send me reeling. I stared at the photo of me carrying Nikki into the hospital when she was in labor. The story read: Knight heir born? Mr. Damien Knight, our all-time sexiest wealthiest billionaire, was spotted a week ago carrying his ex-girlfriend Nikki Snow into the Mercy Grace Hospital. Ms Snow was at the time undergoing labor pains in light of her state of pregnancy……………………………….. …….What everyone wants to know, is the baby boy that Ms Snow gave birth to our heartthrob’s heir? Was Mr. Knight just being courteous to a woman who

was once by his side? Or is this boy a product of the reason why our once favorite couple is now no more?...... ……………………….. I couldn’t read anymore. I crumpled up the paper and threw it across the room. Those stupid scoundrels had no right to print this. It was an insult to the boy who had just been welcomed into this world, but whose birth was now being tarnished by slander. Nikki’s name was also being dragged through the mud. She may not be innocent, and they have gotten some things right in that article, but still, a new-born mother had other more timeconsuming concerns than having to

attend to slander. I immediately grabbed by phone and dialed Nikki’s number. She didn’t pick up. I called again and waited. She still didn’t pick up. I knew she’d been released from the hospital because I had her doctor on speed-dial. I’d instructed him to inform me on any and all issues or progress with Nikki. I’d even provided my car to take her home when she was released. She was home, so why wasn’t she picking up? Could it be that something was wrong? I felt a flutter of panic immediately that thought crossed my mind. I grabbed my phone and walked out of my office.

“Cindy, have my driver bring up the car immediately. And cancel all my meetings for the rest of the day.” I rushed into the elevator and began another rant in my head about how irritating the music was. My ever efficient driver was already at the curb, waiting for me. By the time we got to Nikki’s apartment building, I was almost in full-panic mode. She still wasn’t picking up her phone. I rushed into the building and took the stairs, three steps at a time. I reached her apartment ready for the worst. Her door was unlocked and slightly open. I pushed it open with my heart in my mouth. “Nikki,” I called out.

There was no answer. “Nikki.” Still no answer. I walked around the tiny apartment and tried not to be disturbed by her living arrangements. I heard faint gurgling noises. I followed them into what appeared to be the bedroom. The sight that greeted me immediately made me forget what had brought me there. Nikki lay on the bed, her hair covering her face, deep asleep. Her arm was wrapped around Dylan. It appeared that while laying Dylan to sleep, she had fallen asleep as well. I had heard that in the first few months, taking care of a new-born baby could be quite hectic. There were even dark lines starting to

appear around her eyes. Dylan however, was wide awake. When his round blue eyes locked themselves onto my face, he gave what appeared to be a grin I had ever seen. I didn’t even know babies could grin. Not wanting to wake Nikki up because she was tired and needed the rest, I slowly unwrapped her arm from around the boy, and lifted him into my arms. “Let’s get out of here so that we don’t wake up your mom,” I whispered to the baby. I carried him into what I assumed was the living room-cum-dining room and sat down on the most decent couch there. “Now, tell me. What do days-old babies

love to do with their time.” In answer, Dylan started wailing. And I’d thought we were getting along so well. What was worse was the fact that I didn’t know how to handle babies at all. I tried to rock him, but that just made him wail louder. So I did what any sane normal person would do in my situation. I called my driver. ……………… After strict instructions from my driver over the phone and several failed attempts, I finally managed to change Dylan’s diaper. I let out a huge relief, when I managed to finish my first attempt at a diaper change without him peeing all over me.

He stopped crying and started staring at me with his huge round blue eyes. It was almost as if he was assessing me. He lifted his tiny arm as if trying to touch my face. I took his small hand in mine and lifted it to my face. After a few seconds, his eyes seemed to light up, like he had given his stamp of approval. I let out a breath I didn’t know I had held. It seems that I had been nervous that he wouldn’t approve of me. I sat down and started doing some face and hand tricks that I had some parents do with their kids. Dylan seemed to love them. He kept showing me his baby grin and trying to grab my hand. To him it must have seemed like I was performing

magic. Soon, his eyes were droopy, so I started rocking him till he went back to sleep. I lay him in the bassinet lying on the table. Then I went about cleaning the mess I had made while trying to change his diaper. My driver had informed me that he might get hungry soon, and that I should be ready when that happened. So I went into the again tiny kitchen, prowling for baby food. I searched for bottles, or bottled milk or even some formula, but there was nothing. That left only one option. It seemed that Nikki preferred to breastfeed her baby. When Dylan woke up wailing because of an empty stomach, I would have to raise

Nikki from her slumber. And right on cue, Dylan started wailing. He had woken up and needed to be fed.

Nikki ey, Nikki. You need to wake up…” I was currently enjoying my dream, where a gorgeous prince, who just happened to have Damien’s voice and face, was trying to wake her up. The sleep may have been sweet, but the man was delicious. So I gave in to the voice and opened my eyes. It took a moment to orient my mind, but when I realized that I wasn’t hallucinating and that Damien really was there, I jumped up in shock.

“H

“What are you doing here?” Then, I realized that Dylan wasn’t next to me. “Where’s Dylan? Where did you take him? Give me back my son.” A flash of hurt crossed his eyes, but only for a moment. “I didn’t realize how badly you thought of me.” I didn’t know what to say. That had been quite harsh and insulting but he deserved a lot worse. “Dylan woke up earlier and I tended to him while you slept.” That statement riled me up. How the hell did he get into my apartment and what gave him the right to act like he was doing her a favor. And dare he insinuate that I was not a good mother; that I could

just sleep while my baby was tended by others. However, having just woken up, I was not the mood to argue. I stared at him and his big-ass ego waiting for him to continue. “Dylan’s hungry and seeing as you have no bottles or formula, I figured you do it the natural way. So I woke you up.” “Where is he?” Damien walked away and came back holding my beautiful baby. Immediately after handing him to me, he walked away. Probably to go back to his office. After feeding Dylan and again setting him down for another nap, I walked out into the living room.

Damien hadn’t left. In fact, he was very cozily seated on the couch, on his phone. His phone rang, and he answered. “What! When?.....” Something must have gone wrong with one of his deals. At least now he would leave my apartment. When he got off the phone, he turned to me with a frown marring his perfect face. “You should go. No one’s stopping you.” When he looked at me as if confused, I added, “Your call. I’m assuming it’s work. You should go deal with the problem.” “I don’t know why you assumed it’s

work, but it’s not. It’s about you actually. You may need to sit down for this because I am assuming you haven’t read the papers.” Hearing his tone, I didn’t bother arguing. I just sat down and waited to hear what was so upsetting. “First of all, I apologize. It’s my fault you are in this position.” Wait, was he apologizing, for what he did to me? “I brought back the spotlight on you, even though you’ve always wanted nothing to do with a life like mine.” Oh! It was too good to be true. He’d never apologize for that. He thinks that

what he did was right, and he wouldn’t take back what he did. Feeling slightly angry at myself for holding out hope, I just wanted him to get over what he was going to say and leave. “Could you hurry up. I don’t have time for all this.” He sighed and went on, “It seems the press caught wind of you giving birth and me being the one who drove you there. There are now rumors and speculations in the papers about Dylan and his possible connection to me. They may have even included some insulting remarks about it all. What’s worse, is that there are currently a dozen or some reporters outside this building. They seem to have found out somehow, that I

was here.” I stared at him, at a loss for words. “What!” I managed to squeak the word out. Suddenly, my temper spiked and I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Get out of my house. I don’t want to see you here.” “Wait Nikki, we have to talk about this. I can send some men to secure you until this news dies down…” “I said leave.” “Nikki,…” “No! Don’t you dare. Every time you appear in my life, something goes wrong. You only think of yourself. If you hadn’t come looking for me the other

day, just to hurl insults at me, we wouldn’t be in this situation. You think you can just walk back into my life like nothing happened and start giving instructions like you own me? No! And then today, you just walk into my house uninvited with only God knows what means, take my baby and do God knows what and then pretend like nothing’s wrong! You don’t have any right in me or my son’s life. And what makes you think I’d even accept your help after everything you did to me? I am not that desperate. In fact the feelings I have towards you is spite and hate. So pardon me, but I’d appreciate it if you just leave right now and never

come back. I’m not going to return to you in any way, contractual or even for help. So just leave.” Damien just looked at me, not appearing to have even flinched from my rant. After moments of being quiet, he grabbed his coat jacket, which he had taken off and put on the couch, grabbed his phone and walked to the door. He opened the door, but before he walked out, he turned to me. “Don’t let your pride and emotions or the past ruin your son’s life. You claim he is my son, my blood, yet you’re too selfish to even let me know him. I hope you don’t regret your decision.” Then he was gone, vanished just as he had

appeared. I closed the door and went back to Dylan. I stared into his sleeping content face. “I’m sorry son, but one day you’ll understand why I had to do that.” Yet even as I spoke the words, I could feel a stabbing in my chest, like I had just made a very bad mistake. One that would cost me.

Nikki

I

t had been three weeks since that fateful day. Three weeks of not seeing or hearing from Damien. Three weeks of being hounded by the paparazzi while caring for a new-born. Three weeks of hell. I had sworn never to return, never to give in, because my pride was all I had left. Yet my pride was standing in the way of my son’s future. And my son was all that mattered.

After a few days, I had come to realize that I really was putting my feelings and emotions ahead of my son’s future. I was being proud and selfish and not thinking about Dylan’s future and stability at all. I had realized that Damien was right and that I really needed his help. But I wasn’t about to go ahead and admit that to him. I had really tried to take care of Dylan and keep sane all on my own. When Dylan had gotten sick, I had paid for the best medical care without batting an eyelash. I had made sure that with whatever little money I had saved up, Dylan got whatever he needed. It was with no surprise then that I hadn’t had enough money for the rent that month,

especially since the landlord had just increased the amount. I had managed to get an allowance of a week within which I would have to pay the full amount, but it seems that the landlord got a change of heart after two days. I had taken Dylan for a stroll in the nearby park. When we got back, I found my things thrown out of my apartment and the door chained shut. I tried to find another place nearby because that was the only area where I could afford rent, but to no avail. Either they were full, or they just didn’t want the attention of the press. And so, being without any friends or

family, I hailed a cab and with Dylan and our meager things that could fit into two suitcases, travelled to the house where I had lost my dignity. The house in which I had suffered immeasurable pain and loss. The house which held both my happiness and my destruction. Damien’s house. I got out of the car, and carrying Dylan in arms as my lifeline, I walked up the to the door and knocked. It didn’t take long for a bewildered Damien to answer the door. “Nikki. What are you doing here?” I took in a deep breath knowing that my next words would change everything. Then I forced a smile and said, “Where

do I sign?” Just as I said those words I realized that I had done the one thing that I had sworn I would never do. I had returned to him.

Interested in reading more of Damien’s and Nikki’s story? Watch out for the next book:

Break Me (Book 2 in Love Gone Rogue Series) By Kahlin Rogue.