The Billionaire's Secret Love Child(146)

This can't be happening. Three weeks ago everything was fine; now her life had become a living hell. Her tears went, replaced by anger. ''How can you do this, you heartless bastard. You could look at the very least offer to help me look after the child financially.''

He took hold of her by her coat, marched her to the door and pushed her through it. She heard it close and the lock turn. When Andrey lay on the bed, he put his hands over his ears to block out the echoes of Nicki's sobs as she went down the stairs.

Before Nicki left the stairwell, she wrote a note. When she went through the restaurant she handed it to Mel. ''Give him this will you?'' she said.



*****



Betty's tea room wasn't busy. Nicki counted four people. Two elderly ladies, deep in conversation, a young mother struggling to keep her toddler quiet and a man in a business suit. Betty's was the premier tea room in New York and usually impossible to get a table at. Nicki wondered what she was doing in such an expensive place. She had precious little money and not much prospect of getting any in the near future.

Nathan came in through the main entrance and looked around for her. When he spotted her, he smiled and wandered over to the table in his usual casual manner.

''Can't stay away from me,'' he said hopefully.

''Nathe I called you because I need your help.'' She knew it was a liability contacting him after she had dumped him, but she was getting desperate.

''Sure anything,'' he smiled. He took her hand, but she pulled back.

''I'm pregnant Nathan. I'm pregnant, and I really need a favor.''

''You're what?'' Now there was no chance they would ever get back together. ''So why the hell did you call me and not the father?'' Nicki avoided his gaze.

''He doesn't want to have anything to do with me.''

''I'm not surprised,'' he said cruelly. ''You're behaving like a whore. Limping from one man to the next.''

Nicki tried to ignore his words. ''Can you help me get a job at the Times?''

''You're kidding. Maybe I could have helped you, but now you're pregnant how do you expect anyone to employ you?'' The waitress appeared carrying a menu. The manner in which he waved her away did little to make her long day any better. ''There is no chance. Do you seriously expect to start a job and then a few months later go on pregnancy leave? Which boss in his right mind would welcome that?'' She nodded and stared out of the window at a woman with a pushchair. ''What happened to your dream of being freelance. Did it go down the pan as I told you it would?''

''I have written a couple of things that haven't sold. I don't have the energy to chase the big stories. Most mornings I'm hanging over the toilet.''

''Well you should have thought about that before you went screwing around.'' He scowled and drew in a large gulp of air. ''Here's what I suggest. You either go home to your parents or you look in the paper for a part-time job until the baby is born. I've noticed there's plenty of jobs for office cleaners. Goodbye, Nicki.'' When he got up, her eyes followed him to the door. What he was no longer there, she felt empty as never before.



*****



When Andrey saw Sokolov, he wanted to kill him. His treatment of both him and Mel had been arrogant and brutal, and it was time to teach him a lesson.

''Andrey, my boy, have you come to apologize?''

''No I've come to tell you that you are a two-bit piece of shit. You're nothing but a low life, whore f*cker.''

Sokolov flew into a rage. He got up and tried to grab Andrey, but he was too fast and dodged the heavier man. Andrey continued to goad him.

''All you've done with your life is threaten and rob people.''

Sokolov was now at one side of the sofa and Andrey, the other. They played cat and mouse around the sofa for a few seconds, before Andrey spoke again.

''You've never done half the things attributed to you. Everyone thinks you're a tough guy. You're not, you're a *.''

Sokolov was now beside himself. He jumped over the sofa and caught Andrey by his T-shirt. Andrey pulled away hard, leaving Sokolov holding the shirt. ''I've done more with my life than you will ever do. Who do you think you are? I'm gonna kill you,'' Sokolov shouted. One of his bodyguards appeared, but Sokolov held his hand up. ''Leave this to me.''

''You're just a show-off. Leaving everyone to think that you killed Judge Hudson but got away with it. Why don't you ever deny it? Everybody knows the jury was right. You haven't got the balls to kill any body.''

''I killed Judge Hudson, just like I'm gonna kill you.''

''You didn't, you're a liar and a cheat, I've never met anybody so full of bullshit.''

''I tell you, I killed him with this gun.'' He walked over to a cabinet and opened the drawer. When he pulled out a Magnum, he pointed it at Andrey. Andrey put his hands up and stood still.

''Bring him over here,'' Sokolov said to the bodyguard. The bodyguard took hold of him and brought him closer to Sokolov. Sokolov hit him in the stomach as hard as he could. Andrey fell to the floor and curled up. ''Lift him up,'' Sokolov ordered. He hit him again in the same place and again Andrey fell. This time, Sokolov began to kick him. On the back, in his face, and on his ribs. The bodyguard cowered away at the sickening noises Andrey was making. When Sokolov was out of breath, he looked at the bodyguard. ''Take him and dump him next to the freeway,'' he said.