A Baby for the Billionaire

64

JULIET

"I took a little longer because the situation warranted it" says Massera as soon as I answer the phone when his call comes in from an international number.

"Don't worry, sir," I tell him, trying to make my voice come out more firmly than it should. "I understand that you are someone with many responsibilities to whom no one is capable of saying no."

I hear a guttural giggle from him on the other end of the line. I'm not sure what suddenly seems to make him laugh so much, but I don't like that he behaves that way.

"I think that part is stuck in your memory. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be impetuous or disrespectful."

"Don't worry, I like that daring touch that characterizes you. It's what makes Kerem mad, right?"

"He was annoyed at times, yes, but it's not like that with everyone."

"You mean, Juliet, that you won't be with me when you finally come with me to Milan?"

He just throws it out there.

No anesthesia or anything like that, he just tells me and I understand what the crux of the matter is. I understand what his motivations are for speaking to me now and letting me know that I am the one who ranks highest in his priorities when it comes to Kerem, or what he owns that deserves his attention.

"Wow, that silence makes me suspect that you weren't expecting it," he rushes to say. I barely realize that my mouth has been padlocked shut.

"I... I'm sorry, I thought you weren't done speaking, sir."

"I'm done now."

"Well, I... I'm very excited... with the option of working for the CANDELA brand in Italy, I'm sure yes. I just didn't know it could be so soon."

"I heard that your services as a language instructor for Kerem's son ended, but I see that you resumed your online classes."

"That's it, sir. That is my permanent job."

"How much do you charge per hour?"

"It depends."

"Tell me. I know it's a question that tends to make people uncomfortable."

"I... Between ten or fifty dollars, depending on the job."

"But you charge by the hour."

"Except for Mr. Deniz. Payment was by targets."

"Great. Because the day you sell your time, you will have already downplayed your talent. Too bad for Kerem that he has never instructed you in anything business or entrepreneurial. I was looking at your public profile as a language instructor and you have an immense talent to be wasted."

"I don't waste it, sir. And I don't know if I can call it "talent" either, that's what the people who sing and dance on America's Got Talent have."

"Yuck, those nonsense that fill people's heads with garbage and you are only telling me out of modesty because you in your twenties and I in my seventies know that traditional TV is a good business, but that not even the biggest producers consume it , they only generate money in exchange for filling people's heads with garbage."

This gentleman is very intelligent, not for nothing does he know very well what he is doing and he is in the place where he is.

I only seek to avoid all the compliments and attempts to seduce or throw good sparks at me that he leaves me served. Well, I was never one to receive compliments, but with him in particular this is too embarrassing, he could be my grandfather. And he alluded before that he wanted me to be his companion for some events as a vase woman, in addition to working as an immediate translator for Candela's business affairs (the owner of the haute couture brand with the same name).

"Since you understand very well what the answers are, you will be able to understand that they are evasive." I let my more rebellious side surface, which, in the company of Kerem, seemed to have been muzzled in a bad manner.

"That's what I regret the most. And I won't tell you that I understand what you can do and what you can't, you know how to evaluate what suits you."

"And I should accept the opportunity that it offers me, because it could be the opportunity of a lifetime..."

"But is it not?"

"It is not."

"Why?"

"Because I know of my talent and I trust that I can achieve great things."

"Right, baby. You are the one who is creating the doors that are opening in your path, do not doubt it."

"Well, it's inspiring to hear someone else think the same."

"Since I think you're smart enough to decide to come with me to Milan next week. What day is it today?"

"Sunday, sir."

"And on Sundays people take classes online."

"In fact, it is when there is more work."

"Of course. We leave on Tuesday."

"O...okay."

"I'd like to know what's making you wonder, but that part is none of my business anymore," he says immediately, making me tense.

"Actually yes."

"All right. I have things to do. I will not say that I'll wait for your answer. An agent of mine will be contacting you tomorrow to define the issues of the trip and we'll see you later."

"Yes, Mr. Massera."

"A pleasure, sweetie. See you soon. Say hello to Kerem."

And he hangs up.

Hours.

I have hours to decide.

Because tomorrow they will talk to me to define issues of the trip. Right at this moment that seems to take some clarity to all this, right now!

However, looking at my mobile I have a message from Kerem from ten minutes ago.

"Get ready in half an hour. I'll wait for you in this location to show you a gift. And yes, it is a surprise."

No question or anything, I just have to obey.

Wait a minute... Kerem Deniz, the ice man himself and rude to the bone really intends to behave like that and has prepared a surprise for me after having opened his heart to me, while I make plans to leave in two days to the other side of the world without him?