Her Baby His Gift (The Slow Burn Duology Book 1) Page 3

  LaNette didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she fidgeted with the buttons on her suit jacket. “I-I um also wanted to offer my condolences. I am really sorry for your loss. Damian was an amazing guy.”

  Harlem glanced up. “He was, and thank you.”

  “Please, let me know if you need anything.”

  Harlem offered the best smile that she could. “I will.”

  LaNette nodded and walked out of her office.

  After she’d gone, Harlem wondered if she had come back to work too soon. She refused to second guess herself. Anything beat sitting alone in her condo with just her thoughts was good. Over the next several hours, she buried herself into her files. She immersed herself in getting caught up with everything that had been going on with the company.

  Harlem had been so absorbed in reviewing documents that she was startled when LaNette rang her office phone. She picked up. “Hey, LaNette.”

  “Were you expecting anyone? There is a Ms. Robins here to see you. She doesn’t have an appointment, and she’s not on your calendar.”

  Elaina? She was the only Robins that Harlem knew. Why would she be here? “Give me a second and send her in.”

  Harlem tidied up her desk, and shortly after that, Elaina strutted into her office. Harlem stood and pasted on a warm smile. She came around from her desk and extended her hand. “Hi, Elaina. I wasn’t expecting you.”

  Elaina glanced down at Harlem’s hand but didn’t shake it. Her eyes were cold as she looked Harlem up and down. “I was hoping you and I could have a nice chat.”

  Elaina seemed to be pissed, and Harlem had no idea where that energy was coming from. They had only met a couple of times. “Of course. Not sure what this could be about, but please have a seat.” Harlem directed Elaina to the plush, leather sofas in her office.

  Elaina sat down. “It’s about Carter.”

  “Carter? I’m not sure how helpful I can be when it comes to him.”

  “Honestly, I think you might be very helpful. You see, Carter and I have decided to become exclusive.”

  Why are you telling me? It was a weird thing to do. Harlem tried not to let on what he was thinking. Instead, she attempted another smile to come across as friendly. “Congratulations.” Harlem had often been told that she sometimes had a resting bitch face. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one. Whatever was on Elaina’s mind made her come across a little frosty. She didn’t bother to return Harlem’s smile. Maybe I imagined it.

  Elaina seemed to be the type of woman that she always thought Carter would get serious with. First, she was a woman, fully-grown. Not those girls barely out of college. Both Elaina and Carter were around the same age. And, of course, Elaina was gorgeous. She could literally pass for a model. Elaina had striking red hair, electric baby blue eyes, and pouty pink lips. She was right about the same height as Harlem, maybe an inch taller at the most. Elaina had unblemished porcelain white skin. She could use a tan, in Harlem’s opinion. But otherwise, she looked like an airbrushed Barbie doll. Harlem had expected nothing less. She had also heard that Elaina was a lawyer, so she was educated and had her own thing going. Carter was starting to grow up after all.

  “Thank you for your congratulations. I wasn’t sure you would be happy for us.”

  Her words threw Harlem for a loop. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Can I be frank?”

  “Of course.”

  “Sometimes it can be difficult to build a new relationship. But, Carter and I have made the decision to do just that. Given your situation . . .” Elaina angled a glance down at Harlem’s stomach. “It has been challenging.”

  Harlem’s smile quickly faded. “I don’t know how my situation has anything to do with your relationship.”

  “Don’t you?” Elaina asked.

  “No,” Harlem stated firmly. “I do not.”

  “Woman-to-woman . . . Carter is not your man. He shouldn’t be running around doing your bidding at the snap of your fingers.”

  Harlem stood. She needed to give herself some space before she choked the shit out of Elaina. “Are you trying to tell me that you brought your ass into my office over some bullshit? Some type of crazy jealously over Carter?!”

  “I’m not the jealous type. Just stating facts.”

  “I am grieving the loss of my boyfriend! For God’s sake, you were at his funeral! Why on earth would you think I would want Carter?”

  “At some point, you two must have been close since you are carrying his baby!”

  He told her. HE TOLD HER! Never mind the fact that Elaina thought Harlem had slept with Carter. Harlem began to shake with rage. “Get out! Get out of my office right now, or so help me God, someone will have to carry you out!” Harlem’s mind was racing. Nobody was supposed to know that Carter was biologically the father of her child.

  Elaina narrowed her eyes. “I just want you to know, I will fight for Carter.”

  This bitch is crazy! “I said, get the fuck OUT!”

  LaNette burst into Harlem’s office. “Is everything okay?” She couldn’t make out what they were saying from her desk, but she could tell by their tone that the conversation was heated.

  “I came to say what I needed to say. I think we’re done. Elaina cut her gaze away from Harlem and walked out.

  Breathing hard, Harlem boiled with fury. “That woman is never to enter this building again. Make sure of it.”

  LaNette nodded vigorously and immediately left to get security on the phone. “Will do.”

  Harlem slammed the door behind her. She stomped over to her desk and picked up the phone. Angrily, she punched in Carter’s cell phone number. He picked up on the second ring. “What’s up? I’m in a meeting.”

  Anger spiraled from the pit of her stomach. She screamed into the phone. “How could you?!”

  Carter bolted upright in his chair. “Calm down!” A deep-set frown appeared on his face. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “You had no RIGHT, Carter!” Harlem was so pissed her words weren’t even coherent as she slammed the phone down. Harlem snatched her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk and walked towards the door. She snatched her coat off the hook and put it on.

  Harlem yanked the door open.

  Concerned, LaNette immediately ran up to her. “Are you okay? Is there something I can do?”

  Harlem shook her head. “No. I’m leaving for the rest of the day. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”

  *****

  Harlem had been home almost an hour, and she was still shaking with rage. Her face was cradled within her hands as she sat on the couch.

  She wasn’t surprised to hear the pounding on her door. “Harlem?! I know you’re in there. Open the goddamned door!”

  Harlem got up, stomped over, and snatched it open. “You had no right to tell her my business!”

  Carter pushed his way inside. “You called me at work raving like a lunatic, and I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

  Her eyes flashed with anger as she shouted. “I’m talking about Elaina! It wasn’t your place to tell her. You were out of line.”

  It all started to make sense. Carter began to calm. He could understand why Harlem would be pissed. He ran a frustrated hand down the back of his head. “She’s the first woman that I have ever been serious about. I felt she had a right to know. I wanted her to know why my interest in you was more than just a friend.”

  “You felt?” She drew her head back. “What about me?” Her voice was strangled. “Did you even stop to think about discussing it with me first?”

  She has a point. A thoughtful expression came across Carter's face. “I should have had a conversation with you about it first, and for that, I’m sorry.”

  Harlem was still hot. Her face was flushed. “I might have been more prepared when Elaina showed up to my office. What exactly did you tell her? Why do I get the impression she thinks we slept together?”

  “Wait? Elaina was at your office today? For what?”

/>   “Apparently, to discuss me occupying so much of your time. Believe me. Elaina won’t have to worry about that anymore.”

  His jaw clenched. Carter was beyond angry but tried to keep it in check in front of Harlem. “I’ll handle it.”

  “What exactly did you tell her?” Her piercing gaze bore into him as her eyes narrowed. “Does she know that you were our donor?”

  “No.” He scratched his chin as he thought back on their conversation. “I didn’t tell her all of the details. She only knows that you’re pregnant and I’m the father.”

  Harlem placed the palm of her hand up to her forehead and closed her eyes in frustration. “Will you please stop saying that? Please.”

  Carter lost it. “Do you think I enjoy saying it?! Don’t you think I wish you were carrying Damian’s kid! You act like this is fun for me. As if you’re the only one hurting. My best friend is dead. Damian is the only other person in this world who had my back, and someone I loved like a brother is gone. I’m doing my level best to keep it together. Will I make all the right decisions? Hell no! But, I made Dame a promise, and I intend to keep it!”

  Harlem’s eyes popped open in surprise. Carter had been rock steady during Damian’s sickness and after his death. This was the first time she had seen him lose his cool.

  Harlem pressed her lips together. “Look, I was just . . . I was taken off guard. I didn’t know how to handle it.”

  Carter exhaled long and deep. “I should have talked to you first, and I’ll speak with Elaina.”

  Harlem gave him a questioning look. “Do you really trust her with this?”

  “Elaina is solid. She’s a good woman.”

  Harlem wasn’t so sure about that. “If you say so. You’re the one that has to live with her.”

  “Need I remind you that you don’t give off the best vibes either? Yet, Damian thought the sun rose and set in your smile.”

  “That’s different.”

  “How?”

  Harlem was misty-eyed. “He was right.” She laughed a little as the temperature came down from their heated argument.

  “You are a little shit.” He chuckled too.

  “Maybe, but you are arrogant, and until recently, out of control playboy.”

  Carter turned serious. “Is that the real reason you never really liked me?”

  Carter wants to get all deep and shit. I can’t deal with this. It took Harlem a moment to get her thoughts together and provide an honest answer. “I’m not sure if it was you per se or if you were symbolic of what I couldn’t have.”

  “You are making zero sense.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I wanted the fairytale. I wanted the grand love-affair that included marriage and children. There was a part of me that felt like you were the reason Damian didn’t believe in the fairytale.”

  “Ah. You thought I was the reason Damian didn’t want to live the traditional life and get married.”

  “That and you always had a horde of women surrounding you. If I’m completely honest, I think I feared maybe there was someone else out there that was Damian’s perfect match. I was always waiting for the shoe to drop.”

  “You don’t think you were?” If Carter was being real, he never thought they were either.

  Harlem’s shoulder lifted in a small shrug. “I don’t know. I know that we loved each other.” She just wasn’t in-love with him and wasn’t sure if he was either. “We just didn’t share the same beliefs.”

  “I see. Dame thought you were over the whole hoopla of marriage and that your commitment to one another was enough.”

  I wanted more. Harlem would never admit that. “We were committed.” On paper, they were the perfect couple. Damian checked all the boxes from her childhood vision board. He was handsome, smart, successful, and they shared the same skin tone. He was her black prince. In reality, they were anything but perfect.

  Carter got the feeling that Harlem was holding something back, but he wouldn’t push. They weren’t friends and really only started to become friendly after discovering Damian’s illness. “I can’t get his final words out of my mind.”

  “What were they?”

  “He told me to stop going through life numb. To live and thrive.” Carter sighed. “I’m working on it. He wanted me to find my version of Harlem.” His exact words were if Harlem wouldn’t have me, to find my own version of her. Carter would never repeat that. Instead, he paraphrased Damian’s message. “He wanted her to make me as happy as you made him.”

  A pang of guilt hit Harlem.

  “I know that I’m not Damian, and I could never be. Nobody can live up to him, but Damian put his trust in me. He made me promise that I would always be here for you and that we would raise this baby together.” Carter held her gaze. “I won’t break that promise.”

  Harlem knew from the fierce look in his clear blue eyes that Carter intended to at least try to keep that promise. “If Elaina is truly the one, it might be a little tough.”

  “I’ll worry about Elaina.”

  Skeptical, Harlem raised an eyebrow.

  Carter ignored her. “You have a doctor’s appointment on Saturday at nine, right?”

  Harlem never told him about her doctor’s visit. “How’d you—?” She didn’t finish her sentence.

  “I have my ways.” He looked at her pointedly. “I meant what I said.”

  “It’s kind of creepy. Maybe even stalkerish.”

  “Stop being secretive and cagey, and I won’t have to go behind your back to get information.”

  Harlem couldn’t promise that. “You’re still on a need-to-know basis, Carter.”

  “Then, I’ll continue to get my information how I get it.” He blinked and feigned innocence. “Seriously, we’ll figure our way through the minefields.”

  Carter was more optimistic than she was. He was right about one thing, this situation was full of minefields, and Harlem could foresee them blowing up in their faces.

  Chapter 7

  Carter left Harlem’s condo on a mission. He headed straight to Elaina’s office. They needed to have a serious conversation.

  She had overstepped.

  Elaina was standing just outside her door talking to someone when she caught sight of Carter walking towards her. She beamed. “Speaking of the devil.”

  Her colleague turned around. She gave Carter a head-to-toe once over. “This is your guy? The one who filled your office with all those beautiful flowers?”

  “The one and only, Carter Owens,” Elaina said proudly.

  She stepped around her friend and walked over to kiss him. Subtly, he moved so that her lips caught the corner of his mouth.

  Carter spoke in a low growl. “I need to talk to you.”

  His tone and the set of his shoulders clued Elaina to the fact that he was pissed. She wasn’t surprised. She hadn’t expected it to happen this soon. It had only been a couple of hours since she’d spoken with Harlem. Elaina smiled wide and pretended as if there wasn’t any tension between them. “Of course. My afternoon is actually free.” She grabbed him by the arm and walked into her office. Once inside, she closed the door.

  Elaina ignored his tempered anger. “You didn’t have to do all of this.” She glanced around the room at the flowers. “Although I do appreciate it. All the ladies in the office are green with envy at your thoughtfulness.”

  Carter didn’t waste any time getting to the point. “You were out of line.”

  Elaina placed a hand over her chest. She spoke with righteous indignation. “I was out of line?”

  “I didn’t stutter. You. Were. Out. Of. Line.” He reiterated.

  She dropped all pretenses too. “I know you’re upset. But try to see things from my point-of-view. We can’t make our relationship work if there are three of us in this relationship. There needed to be some clear lines drawn in the sand, and I drew them.”

  “I confided in you because I thought I could trust you. Harlem is fragile right now . . .”

  “That’s
my point! You’re more concerned with her fragility than me. The woman you claim you want to build a life with. Does that make any sense?”

  A twinge of controlled anger was laced in his tone. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

  “You don’t even realize it, but you are. Harlem is the priority.”

  Carter couldn’t believe how unsympathetic Elaina’s attitude was. “Harlem just lost Damian. She’s alone and pregnant. What do you expect me to do?!”

  “I expect you to offer support, but you are not Damian.”

  “This is a complicated situation.”

  “You’ve said that a million times. I get it. She’s pregnant. Harlem also has family and friends that she can lean on. Why does it always have to be you?”

  “Dammit! I’m the father of that baby.”

  Frustrated, Elaina glared at him. “You’ve told me that a million times too! I don’t know what kind of relationship the three of you had, but I don’t swing!”

  Carter was taken aback. “Where the hell would you get an idea like that from?”

  “You told me that you never wanted to have children. Personally, I don’t either. Then, you told me that your best friend’s wife was pregnant and that you were the father to explain away your unusual interest in her. I just assumed.”

  “You assumed wrong!” He roared. “I didn’t sleep with Harlem. I was Damian and Harlem’s donor.”

  “Their donor?”

  “Yes. Their donor.”

  “That’s a welcomed relief. Then, let me ask you this—” Elaina paused for dramatic effect. “Do you have feelings for Harlem?”

  “That’s absurd. We don’t have that kind of a relationship.”

  “Good.” Relieved, Elaina exhaled. “Then I really don’t understand your obsessive need to be there for her. You’re doing too much. If it had been Damian’s baby and not yours, who would she depend on?”

  Carter was seething. “That is beside the point. Loyalty means everything to me, and you’ve betrayed my trust. I don’t take that lightly. On the slim chance that this clusterfuck is partially my fault, let me make something perfectly clear. I made a promise to Damian that I intend to keep, and I will always stand in the gap for him 24/7 and 365.”