Read Daddy by December (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) for Free Online Page A

she’d seen him.
    Could she have been
wrong about him?  He was nice now but...no, she didn’t think so.  He was
probably super nice to kids but when it came to women that was a whole other
story.  But she wouldn’t let that concern her now.  She had work to do.
    While Jessie drew
flowers and turtles and princesses in castles, Meg and Drake tackled the first
phase of the project.  Through a list of interview questions designed to elicit
the key elements of Drake’s story she was able to record the first pages in his
journey toward domination of the investment arena.  For Meg it was a real
eye-opener.
    She learned that Drake
hadn’t started out poor.  He was from a wealthy family with generations of
experience in investing and creating wealth.  As a child he’d picked up tips
and investment strategies right there at the family dinner table.  But once he
left college and started his own business his fortunes galloped past anything
he or his family had ever dreamed of.  He’d made a series of smart moves which
placed him solidly in the category of billionaire.
    After about an hour of
it, Meg went over to check on Jessie.  “Are you okay, sweetie?  Do you need
anything?”
    Jessie shrugged then
shook her head, seeming totally absorbed in her current masterpiece, a drawing
of a woman, a little girl and a man.  He was tall, and she'd colored his hair
yellow.  He was holding the woman’s hand.  For a moment Meg stared at the
picture, almost afraid to ask.  But then in the end she didn’t have to.
    “This is the daddy I
want,” Jessie said in a voice as clear as crystal.  If Meg had wanted to be
discreet about the drawing those hopes were dashed immediately.  Jessie pointed
to the stick figure of the man.  “Mommy, when are you going to get me a daddy? 
Can I get one for Christmas?”
    Meg’s eyes widened and
she had to fight not to slap her hand over Jessie’s mouth.  It was a
conversation they’d had many times but why here, why now?  Oh, Jessie,
please.  Not when Drake Duncan is hearing every word.
    “Uhm, we’ll talk about
that another time, Jess.  You must be thirsty.  Let’s run downstairs and get
your lunch kit.”  Meg started to bustle the child out of the chair but she
pulled away.
    “No, I want to finish
my picture.”  Jessie’s tone was adamant which meant she wasn’t planning on
moving any time soon.  Not without a fight.
    “There’s a cafeteria on
the first floor.”  Drake’s voice broke into their mini-struggle.  He was
standing there watching them, the slight curl of his lips making his amusement
obvious.  “You can get her a juice or a snack.  Anything she wants.”
    “Oh,” she said,
wondering why he was being so helpful.  “Thank  you.  Come on, Jessie.”
    “No, Mommy, I want to
stay.  Can I stay, please?”  Jessie turned on her whining voice and screwed up
her face as if she was close to tears.
    Meg knew that strategy
well, one that Jessie used to garner the sympathy of onlookers.  The little
girl was a master at getting others on her side then they’d gang up on Meg to
get her to give in to her daughter’s wishes.
    “Why don’t you let her
stay?  She looks like she really wants to finish her picture.”
    Meg stared at Drake. 
Good heavens.  Jessie’s trick had worked on him, too.  Defeated, she shook her
head and walked to the door.  “I’ll be back in a minute,” she said, glancing at
her child whose attention was back on her drawing.  She looked totally
absorbed.  Guessing that she wouldn’t be too much of a distraction for Drake,
Meg went out the door.
    And as she hurried down
the hallway she breathed a prayer that while she was gone Jessie would not,
under any circumstances, mention a word about her wish for a daddy.  As it was,
Drake Duncan had already heard too much.
    ******
     
    As soon as her mother
had walked out the door Jessie laid her pencil down and turned guileless blue
eyes up at Drake.  “Can you help