Baby Bump for my Billionaire Boss: Age Gap Enemies to Lovers Romance, page 1
BABY BUMP FOR MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS
AN AGE GAP ENEMIES TO LOVERS ROMANCE
IVY LOWE
CONTENTS
1. Amanda
2. Ross
3. Amanda
4. Ross
5. Amanda
6. Ross
7. Amanda
8. Ross
9. Amanda
10. Ross
11. Amanda
12. Ross
Untitled
Also by Ivy Lowe
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1
AMANDA
"Mom, why can't I continue at my other school?" Josh asks again and I'm this close to snapping at him now.
"Because, sweetie. I can't drive you all the way downtown and drive to work which is a different direction entirely. Unfortunately, it would cost me gas, time, and I don't have the luxury of either." I reply and his face goes into a frown again.
"Come on, Josh, I'm sure you'll adjust to your new school with time, just like you always do," I urged him further, but he didn't budge.
This would be the third time we're moving in two years and I have a feeling we won't be moving from this place for a while. I can't explain that to my son, as I've once made that promise and broken it a few months later.
"I don't want to make new friends again," Josh mutters leaving me at a loss for words.
It's hard as a 10 year old to have to make new friends because your mother can't avoid a transfer at work every now and then.
"I promise sweetie, we won't have to move for a while." I say, and even I doubt that.
"Yeah, you said that last summer when we were at Brooklyn." I have nothing to say to Josh's response because he was right.
However, I need to stabilize my career to buy a house and ensure that we don't have to move unnecessarily again. I hated it just as much as Josh did and I wish he could understand that.
"Yeah, I know but I promise this is the last time," I reply, trusting my gut.
Josh's face is out the window the whole drive and I let him be. It takes time but things get better when he finally adjusts to the environment, which doesn't take very long.
I pull into the driveway of Parkside Elementary School. The environment is buzzing with noises of kids and parents waving their kids after dropping them off.
Kids walked in pairs and homeroom teachers stood outside to collect young students. Josh is in his final grade of elementary school and I have no idea what his homeroom teacher looks like although the head teacher had given me a name when I enrolled him last weekend.
I walk towards a young lady who was taking grade one students into their classes. She's bubbly and her name is boldly written on the I.D card hanging around her neck.
"Good morning Miss Watson, this is my son Josh. He's in grade 5 and his homeroom teacher is Ross Brandel, but I don't know who that is." I say as I approach the blonde, bright eyed lady.
She looks like she's only just finished college and was starting out as a teacher.
"Oh, just a sec." She smiles as she turns around like she's searching for the teacher I asked after.
Her face lights up with delight as she directs my attention elsewhere, exclaiming, "Look, it's Mr. Brandel!" Intrigued, I follow her pointed finger, turning my head to catch sight of the person she's referring to.
It seems as though my blood stops circulating momentarily as soon as I see Mr Brandel, a tall man with an athletic build. I walk up to him and he looks even better up close.
"Hello, Mr Brandel," I say, smiling at him, and he smiles back, his green eyes sparkling as he pushes off strands of his strawberry blonde hair from his face. The sun is out and his hair is more golden than strawberry blonde now.
"Good morning ma'am, how may I help you?" He replies in a deep, baritone voice.
My cheeks are flustered right now but I'm maintaining my composure. I can't be caught off guard on my son's first day of school. I place my hands on Josh's shoulder as I clear an invisible lump from my throat.
I inquire, my voice filled with curiosity, "The lady over there mentioned that you're in charge of fifth grade?" In an inexplicable gesture, I absentmindedly flick my hair back, even though I would probably feel quite embarrassed if I could see myself in that moment. Fortunately, my inability to witness my own actions spares me from any potential embarrassment.
Brandel smiles, and his eyes travel down to Josh, as though he knows why I'm asking.
"Yes I am, ma'am." He's smiling at me, his gaze intense and I carefully avoid his eyes. it's bad enough that I'm acting like a teenage girl right now, the last thing I want is to make a fool of myself in front of my son's homeroom teacher.
I introduce myself, mustering the courage to speak, "This is my son, Josh. We've recently relocated to this town, and he's starting fifth grade today." The person, identified as Mr. Brandel, directs his gaze towards Josh again, this time leaning closer to him.
"Hello, Josh. I'm Ross Brandel, your new homeroom teacher." Brandel says, extending his hands to Josh for a handshake. I spell out his first name, like he had said it to me instead of Josh. Ross.
Josh shakes his hands and they have a brief conversation, in tiny hushed voices. I probably would have known what Ross had just said to Josh if I wasn't distracted with his lips and how luscious they look as he mouths inaudible words.
After a few minutes, Mr. Brandel lifts his head, his tall, imposing figure seeming to loom over me like a shadow cast.
"Alright Josh," he suddenly starts to say loudly, " join those group of kids running into that building.. they're your new classmates." Brandel points towards the building behind us and Josh runs off before I can kiss him goodbye. He's still mad at me.
"I trust he's in good care?" I ask, although I know I have nothing to worry about. With the way Josh shoulders relaxed when Brandel whispers God knows what into his ears, I can tell he's in good hands.
"Your questions sounds rhetorical and I hope it is. " He replies, smiling wildly this time. I catch a glimpse of his perfectly pearl like teeth and I wonder if this man has any flaws.
"I genuinely hope that my son is in good hands, although I have reasons to believe he is," I express, momentarily catching a glimpse of a different side to Ross Brandel. His smile, while still present, seems different—less confident, more heartfelt. A subtle flush tinges his cheeks, and he briefly averts his gaze. In that instant, a profound realization dawns upon me: whatever emotions Ross Brandel is evoking within me right now, they are undeniably reciprocated.
"I can assure you that Josh is in great hands, not that you have any reasons to doubt," he replies and we both laugh, the sound of his laughter like melody to my ears.
As much as I'd love to stand here and listen to this man talk all day, I have a job to get to. It's my first day and the last thing I want to do is make a bad first impression.
"Well, Mr Brandel, I have to run along now. Have a nice day," I say as I slowly turn towards the direction of my car. Most of the kids have arrived, and the homeroom teachers are no longer waiting outside to receive them, so it's just me and Brandel now.
"Thank you, I hope you have a splendid day too Mrs?" I suddenly realize I never introduced myself when we started talking.
"It's Miss Ross," I clarify, noting the raised arch of his eyebrows that clearly expresses surprise upon learning that I am not married. Perhaps there's a touch of amusement in his reaction, as evidenced by the corners of his mouth gradually curling into a smile.
"My bad, Miss Ross." I walk away just then, resisting the subtle urge to turn back and feed my eyes again before I get to the office. I don't, instead, I move quickly towards my car and don't stop until I'm out of the school premises.
If I was still sixteen or eighteen, I'd have succumbed to the adrenaline rush and immediately asked for his contact. I'd message him as soon as I get to the office and then proceed to ask him to grab coffee. I was that kind of teenager.
However I'm not a teenage girl with hormonal crisis that leads to edgy, irrational decisions. The hormones are there, but I now have Josh to keep me in check. Life's different when you have to consider your ten year old son, before you do anything, regardless of how much you want it.
My life revolves around Josh now, and I can't afford to do anything to hurt him, even if would make me happy, except moving around of course. It has been worthy compromise that I make to ensure that I can give him everything I possibly can.
I pull into the garage of the biggest law firm in California and I let out a deep breath. This is not the first time the company is sending me to a new branch, but I can't help the anxiety that washes me now. I've worked with angels and literal monsters in the forms of supervisors, mostly monsters.
In Brooklyn, I worked with a kind hearted middle aged supervisor, who had my best interest at heart everytime. She'd let me take days off to look after Josh when he was sick, and give me actual benefits for working overtime. It wasn't the same in Ph iladelphia, and from the statistics, California will be no different.
I walk into the office with the fakest smile as I approach the receptionist.
"Good morning, please where's Attorney Graham's office?'
The raven haired, chestnut brown eyed woman looks up at me briefly, before returning to a note she had been typing on her keyboard. I wait a while, as I'm used to receptionists doing this whenever they felt completing a task was more important than attending to whoever is speaking, regardless of the state of urgency.
She finally looks up again and I can see her I.D. Marilyn Morris, Receptionist.
"Who's asking please?" She says, smiling, but it doesn't reach her eyes.
"Attorney Crosby, new transfer from Brooklyn." I say and she types for a while before looking up, smiling again, although it's much brighter than the first one.
"Attorney Graham's office is down the hallway, by your right." She points towards the wide hallway.
"Alright, thank you Marilyn." I say and she seems pleased with the name addition, a feeling I understand too well..
I walk quickly down the hall way and turn towards the right like Marilyn had directed me to. I stop in front of a big brown door. I check the time on my watch and I suddenly feel the nerves kicking in again. It's a few minutes past 8 o'clock, which was my initial resumption time. If I wasn't so distracted by a fine man at my son's first day of school.
Taking a deep breath, I gently tap on the door, awaiting a response. At first, there is no answer, but undeterred, I knock again this time with a bit more force.
"Enter," comes the response, and with a slight hesitation, I push the door open. The absence of the customary "Please come in" leaves a subtle unease, hinting that this may not be a typical or welcoming encounter.
John Graham is sitting at his desk, a couple of files on his table. His attention is on them when I enter the office and he doesn't look up when I say, "Good morning sir."
"Crosby?" He asks, his eyes still on the papers.
"That's me sir," I reply, my hands behind me, fiddling the hem of my skirt.
Graham finally looks up and I notice the dark circles around his grey eyes. From what I read, he's about 60 years old and has been working here in California for fifteen years.
"Please sit," he points to the chair opposite him and I do as I'm told.
I sit on the chair, my body feeling uneasy. The office has a portrait of the Minister of Justice, one of Graham and another of the current President of the United States.
I glance around quickly, admiring the cool brown and milk color decorations. The office has a window where the Hollywood sign can be seen from afar off.
"I know you've probably thought about this, but I'll start by mentioning you're late, by a few minutes. It's an easy slide, but it's not the best way to start at a new office so take note of that."
I nod my head the whole time he's speaking. "I'm sorry sir. It won't happen again," I reply almost automatically, knowing very well that it will happen again.
"Alright then, I forwarded details of a new case to your email. Please look through it and we'll meet about it after lunch," Graham says, returning his attention to the papers on his desk.
"I'll do that sir," I reply, still sitting as I'm unsure what to do next.
"Oh, your office is opposite mine, although you should ask Marilyn for clear directions." Graham says and I stand up to leave.
I let out a loud sigh once I'm out of the office and hurry back to Marilyn's desk.
My first day at work ended after meeting with Graham and the team, where we discussed the first case where I'd be the leading attorney. I know it won't always be like this, so I appreciate a good work day, by driving slowly towards Josh's school and humming to the 90s jazz playlist that's booming out of my car speakers.
Half an hour later, I pull into the school's driveway and head straight for the classroom I had seen Josh enter when I dropped him off in the morning. I walk down a small passage way until I see a class where "GRADE FIVE" is written on a sign post with an arrow pointing in the opposite direction. I continue to walk straight, not stopping until I reach the end of the hall.
Josh's sitting inside an empty classroom, with a blonde haired girl and they're playing a card game and laughing. I walk into the classroom and suddenly realize Brandel is sitting at a teacher's desk, writing some notes.
He looks up and smile when he sees me, dropping his pen almost immediately. "Oh, hello there" he says as he walks towards me.
"Hi, Mr Brandel." I say, as I tuck some hair strands behind my ear. Ross smiles and although his shirt is now a little rumpled, and there are some visible stress lines on his face, his eyes are still a sparkling emerald, and he's still just as hot as he was this morning.
In that moment, Josh catches sight of me and swiftly approaches, enveloping me in a warm embrace, his small arms encircling my waist as he buries his face in my stomach. A smile naturally forms on my lips as I witness this rapid transformation. I'm pleasantly surprised by how quickly Josh's earlier upset has dissipated, replaced by this display of affection and connection between us.
It would take a week of bribing and endless whining in the past before he would even smile at me. "How was your first day at school?"
Josh looks up at my face and smile, "my first day was cool, i liked it."
"I'm glad you like it here," I reply as I press him against me. Ross is watching our little drama, but I notice the blonde girl. She curls behind Ross for some reason and it feels strange to me.
"How was your first day? Josh suddenly asks and I smile.
"My first day was really good, sweetie. Thank you." I reply and Josh suddenly runs off with the blonde girl again. I watch as he picks up his bag.
"Your son is an exceptional kid. He's smart and has a sense of responsibility for a child his age." Ross suddenly say and I smile.
"Thank you. I see he's made a new friend already," I look towards the blonde girl's direction.
"Oh, forgive my manners," Ross turns towards the blonde girl and motions to her. She's running towards us immediately and I see a semblance as she gets closer.
"Meet my daughter, Lily. Say hi to Miss Crosby," he says and I feel my chest tighten. The blonde girl says a quick hi and runs off.
"Wow, your daughter…is beautiful" I manage to say.
"Thank you, she takes after me I suppose." It's starting to get late, so I pick the bag I had dropped earlier on the table and call Josh again.
Ross suddenly asks me to fill a parents information form, before I leave, which I do in a hurry as I'm now desperate to be at home, doing some sort of self care right now.
For some reason, I hope he takes advantage of this information form and get my contact. I can't suggest to him, but I can at least hope he reads my mind.
The drive home takes longer than earlier, as the road is now busy and heavy traffic on the highway. By the time we get home, Josh's fast asleep.
I pull him out of the car and he's suddenly awake now. He runs towards the house and puts in the passcode before I get the door. My phone suddenly chimes and I pull it out to see a new Facebook message from an unknown user.
Hello, Miss Crosby, or should I say, Amanda?
I smile as I briefly skimmer through the profile and suddenly realize who it is.
2
ROSS
Amanda
So tell me, what is it like to be a single Dad to a ten year old girl?
I smile as I look over at Lily who's watching TV. Normally, my reply would be curt and simple. However, it's Amanda. She understands, more than anyone else what raising a child as a single parent should be like.
Ross
Quite frankly, it's like hell most times. Frustrating, stressful, a lot of sleepless nights, but I must say, over the years it got easier and now I can't imagine life without my daughter.
