Baby for the Billionaire(161)

Victoria felt infinitely lighter, as though a load of expectation had been taken from her shoulders. She started to thank Bridget but the other woman interrupted her.

“Of course, there is another option that may bear thinking about. Why don’t we rearrange your hours? Perhaps you can come in three days a week? Or five mornings? It’ll be easy to organize, now that you’ve hired a junior accountant to help you.”

“But partners have to work full time—it’s in my contract,” Victoria protested.

“Archer, Cameron & Edge wouldn’t want to lose you, Victoria.” Bridget gave her a wink. “Particularly when there’s a chance that we might secure the account of the Phoenix Corporation. Reducing hours wouldn’t even impact on your profit share—I’d make sure of that.”

Victoria couldn’t help it, she laughed.

“You didn’t think this was all about philanthropy, did you?”

But Victoria had seen under the frigid exterior. A bond had been forged between them today that she knew would endure. A peculiar friendship. Bridget was not the hard-nosed harridan she always appeared to be.

Rising to her feet, Victoria picked up the envelope that still lay unopened on the desk. “I’ll think about cutting back my hours. It might be a solution.” If she could convince Connor that it would give her more time to spend with Dylan, and lessen her office load, there was a possibility that if could work.

Was there a chance that she could truly have it all?

“Good.” Bridget picked up her glasses and put them back on. “It will give you a chance to get through this time—and through the next few years.” She peered over the rims of her glasses. “I take it you will be having another child or two?”

Victoria gaped. “I—we—haven’t talked about that.” Connor had been determined to get her out of his life … not pregnant with his baby. That dampened her newly discovered optimism.

Bridget raised her brows. “Well, perhaps it’s time you did.”

Victoria left work early the next afternoon and dropped by the hospital to be greeted by the news that her father would be discharged the following day.

Both Frank and Juliet were thrilled.

“It’s a cause for celebration,” said Juliet. “And not the only celebration today, I believe. Surprise!”

Juliet whipped a bunch of wildflowers brightly wrapped in colored cellophane out of the bathroom.

Her father started to sing an off-key “Happy Birthday” and Victoria stared at them both in stunned disbelief.

“How did you …? You remembered,” she said, when she found her voice.

“I have a lot to make up for, Victoria. I forgot too many birthdays when you were growing up. Never again.” Frank met her eyes squarely. “Sometimes I wasn’t even … there.”

Victoria didn’t want to think back to those days.

Juliet had fallen silent, busying herself in the corner of the room, and Victoria felt a wave of gratitude for the other woman’s tact.

“Will you give me a chance to make it up to you?” Frank’s expression was uncertain.

He expected her to refuse.

She placed a hand over his. “Of course I will, Dad.” It was the first time she’d called him that in years. “A girl can’t refuse the chance to be spoilt to death by her father.”

“You’re worth it, Victoria.”

When her father turned away to take a sip of water from the glass on his bedside table, Victoria looked across to Juliet where she stood watching them both, a pleased smile on her face, and mouthed, “Thanks.”

She knew exactly who had bought the flowers and made sure that she and her father got the best shot at a reconciliation.

By the time Victoria got home she found Connor dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt that hung out over a pair of well-tailored dark pants. He’d recently shaved and his dark hair was still damp from a shower. He looked utterly divine.

And her heart sank at the realization that he was on his way out.

The only out-of-place note was the baby perched on his arm. Dylan flapped his arms and screeched when he saw her. A tidal wave of love crashed over Victoria.

She crossed the floor in three strides. “It’s good to see you, too, sweetie.”

He held out his arms and she took him, covering his face with little kisses. “Is that ticklish?” she asked as he giggled and squirmed in her arms. “You and I are going to play this evening.”