Free An Heir for Alexandros: The Greek Billionaire's Baby by Holly Rayner Page A

him is a bad business plan for you, me, and the agency, Kally.”
     
    “I get the picture,” Kally lied for the twelfth time. “I’ll get on that right away.”
     
    “I really hope so,” Layla replied evenly. “Ms. Lewis didn’t sound especially friendly when we last spoke.”
     
    As always, Kally did her level best to get Layla off the phone as quickly as she could without seeming rude.
     
    She faithfully worked around every distraction, until she could see something truly unique starting to form. What had, only a few days ago, been a mountain of anecdotes and factoids was quickly becoming a deep and thoughtful look at the capricious life of an unusual human being. She was bringing Alexandros into focus, through the rumors, the press reports and the outright lies. It wasn’t always a pretty picture. Sometimes it was downright horrifying, but Kally toiled endlessly to make sure it was true. There was no need for pretense as she marshaled her data, no reason to hide from herself. She had started work on Alexandros’ memoir as a means of survival, but now it was a labor of love.
     

TEN

Kally’s entire body was aching by the time she came round to compiling the last few facts she had on Alexandros’ forthcoming charity launch. By all accounts, it was going to be a massive event at the organization’s headquarters in Harlem. Hundreds of people would be in attendance, and security was going to be tight as a drum.
     
    She had been at the task for several hours, fighting the desire to nod off or work on something less demanding. Now more than ever, she knew, she had to keep her focus. Her entire livelihood depended on it. She had no idea what was going to happen tomorrow, and she wanted to be prepared for every eventuality.
     
    A few days ago, Kally had realized that she was late, and a worry she had never thought of before had entered her mind. She had been too busy with the memoir to think of it before, but her encounter with Alexandros had been completely unplanned. They had both been drunk, and it had just sort of happened. Kally had suddenly wondered whether something else hadn’t happened too. Three home pregnancy tests later, she knew the truth: pregnant. She was pregnant!
     
    There was no doubt in her mind that the baby was Alexandros’. She’d barely seen anyone at all in the last five weeks, let alone slept with anyone. She knew it was his child, but what she did not know was how the Greek would take the news, and what would happen afterward. Those questions hung over Kally like an icy fog, causing her already weary body to feel heavier than it was. She had known it for days now, but the shock of discovering her pregnancy was still fresh and raw.
     
    After days of wracking her brain, she had decided that there was only one thing to do. The next morning she would walk to the subway and make the now familiar trip to Alexandros’ offices. She would tell him herself. She wanted to see his face when he heard the news. She wanted to look in his eyes and see if they could be a family. She did not want staring eyes and gossiping tongues, and she did not want her child turned into an appointment or a voicemail.
     
    Her reverie was broken when her phone started to ring. She looked at the screen and let out an exasperated sigh.
     
    “Doesn’t that guy ever give up,” Kally asked herself, though she knew the answer was a resounding no. She’d been ignoring Don’s calls for several hours now, but he showed no sign of taking the hint. Knowing there was little point in delaying it any longer, she pressed the answer button, and regretted it immediately.
     
    “Now listen here, Kally,” Don began without preamble. His tone was full of barely controlled anger. “If ya ask me, I think I’ve been plenty patient. I’ve had nothin' but empty promises from ya in over a month. We had an agreement, and when ya have an agreement with me, ya keep your end up, or ya pay the cost. Now I’m getting real tired of