billionaire playboy's life is about to take a drastic turn as he faces life-changing events that will challenge him in ways he never imagined. With the sudden passing of his father, he is left with a heavy responsibility in the company. But that's not all, he also discovers that he fathered a child with a beautiful woman he met on one of his sprees three years ago. As he tries to come to terms with his new reality, he soon realizes that only his son can help him turn things around, but there's a catch. To add to the mix, after meeting an enchanting stranger and spending a steamy night together, he later learns of the challenges he must now face to ensure he respects his father’s last wishes. The stakes are high, and he must navigate through the challenges that lie ahead if he wants to secure his future. But with Jenna Saunders in the picture, things might get complicated. Will she be willing to give up Tee Tee without a fight? Only time will tell.
Chapter 1 The beginning of a new Era
MATEO
It was early morning when I got the call, two beautiful ladies I had picked up at the club were comfortably sleeping on my queen-sized bed.
I yawned.
The company?
They never called me directly, everything went through Papa and Gio.
What’s going on?
I rubbed my eyes and picked up the call.
“Hello,” I started, still rubbing my eyes.
“Mr Romano, sorry to disturb you so early in the morning,” the lady on the other end started.
I yawned a little more, I still wanted to go back to sleep.
“ your father collapsed this morning sir and has been rushed to St Rita’s hospital” she finished.
My eyes widened, the sleep ultimately leaving my body.
“What!” I exclaimed, my body went cold, and I could feel my soul leap from my body. I jumped out of bed and used my eyes to trace my trousers.
“What happened?” I asked my hands already getting moist from shaking and anxiety.
“What do you mean collapsed?” I asked moving towards the direction of my shirt that was crumpled under the pillow one of the girls slept on.
“ he was in a meeting with a potential investor when he collapsed, that's all the information I can divulge to you sir,” she said “Mr. Mancini is already there” she finished
I cut the call, and as soon as I did he got another call this time from my cousin Tessa.
“Mateo, have you seen the news? It's everywhere, what's happened to Zio?” she asked in an obvious tone of worry.
“I just got a call, I'm heading to the hospital now, I'll have to call you back,” I said, hanging up the call.
With my half-unbuttoned shirt, I rushed out of the house, into my Ferrari and zoomed off.
My father had constantly warned me never to pass the speed limit no matter the emergency, but I've never been one to listen, I pumped the gas before zooming off.
I thought of my papa, we had not always seen eye to eye but I loved my father dearly.
For the first time, in all my years of being the type of man nothing gets to, fear could be seen all over me.
I got another call, from the company again.
“Hello?” I answered unsure of the news I was going to get at the other end.
“Sir, Enzo Delgado here, the IRS are here with a warrant, what do we do Sir?”
I froze, was this my future now? Papa is unfit to handle company affairs.
I wasn't ready.
I paused for a second, “what's the charge?” I asked.
“Embezzlement sir” Enzo replied.
How? Someone was stealing from the company.
But I needed to focus on my papa right now, papa needs me.
“Send an official report to me,” I said in my thick voice trying to sound calm, before cutting the call.
What exactly was going on at the company?
Who was the investor with Papa when he collapsed?
I could see the hospital on the horizon.
I was anxious to see my father and get to the root of exactly what was going on!
JENNA
I had just come down from my truck, I turned to the other side to unbuckle my 2-year-old charge from his car seat, he was blowing bubbles at me with his little mouth and swinging his toy truck everywhere in the air.
“Alright tee-tee” I smiled “Time for the doctor” I continued as I attempted to carry him up
“No no Jenna, no doctor” he replied in baby squabbles, “doctor hurt “ he continued before shaking his head vigorously in revolt.
I laughed heartily.
“Not this time baby, Doctor just wants to make sure Teetee feels better” I replied his little squabbles, picking up the fussy boy.
“Noooooooooo” Tee Tee kept fussing.
“If you keep this up, I'll tell Nanny Callie not to give you that toffee you like” I threatened playfully, as I secured him in his stroller.
He was quiet, he loved his toffee and he wasn't going to give it up.
I lowered myself to his stroller, his beautiful little face squeezed in annoyance.
“How about we go get blueberry ice cream after we see the doctor, how's that sound” I asked cheerily tickling the visibly upset boy until he began to laugh, he nodded in agreement.
“Teetee like blueberry ice cream Jenna!” he exclaimed.
“Yes of course tee tee does, give Jenna a kiss ?” I smiled bringing my cheek closer for his small hands to grab onto as he landed a big Peck on my cheeks.
I kissed him back all over his face before getting up to get my bag, after which I began to push the stroller towards the hospital door.
Just then, in the twinkle of an eye, a red car zoomed into view almost hitting the car in front of us.
Why? Who would drive so stupidly?
Could it be an emergency?
The shock of it made Tee Tee scared and he burst into tears.
What the hell!” I yelled, “don't you see us walking here” I yelled again before turning to pick up and comfort Tee.
I started walking towards the car to demand an apology.
a tall man came out, I paused in my tracks.
I could only see the back of his head in a ponytail before he dashed into the hospital.
I scoffed and cursed under my breath, he would have gotten a piece of me.
I reached into my bag and brought out a toffee for Teetee who gladly took it.
I hoped to meet that tall driver again so I can tell him a piece of my mind.
MATEO
I walked briskly to the nurse's station where I accosted one of them hurriedly.
“Hi, I'm here to see my father he was brought in this morning” I started before looking up to catch my breath.
“Okay calm down Sir, you want to take a seat?” the nurse asked
A seat? Is she kidding?
“No!” I exclaimed, my thick voice echoing through the hallway, my breath becoming rather shaky with anxiety “I want to see my father, his name is Aldo Romano, where is the doctor? What is wrong with my father!” I finished,
I clutched the desk with both hands as I tapped my foot on the ground.
Anyone can tell I was sick with worry.
I watched as the nurse busied herself on the system.
I thought of my poor papa, alone in that cold room.
My mother was a shameless whore.
She had run off with our gardener when I was 10 years old, I barely remember anything about her.
My papa never remarried, I had been the only son, and I have not been the perfect son my father deserved.
“Sir” the nurse called, careful not to aggravate me more
She gestured towards a porter “Mr Vincent here will take you to your father, the doctor will join you in a moment” the nurse said with a little smile.
I could see my attitude had scared the poor lady.
“Thanks,” I said calmly before following the porter into the elevator.
JENNA
I was still fuming in the doctor’s office, unsure why that tall man still bothered me so.
With his annoying ponytail, couldn't he see?
“Miss Saunders?” the doctor called again and brought me back to the conversation.
Ashamed of what went through my head just a moment ago.
“How is tee-tee doctor?” I asked, this time extremely concerned “How is my baby doing” I looked intently at the doctor who had just put Tee-tee down to play in the room.
“His labs came back fine, but you must be careful Miss Saunders, these kinds of infections are rare in children, he has to finish up his dose and be back here in 1month for another check” the doctor said adjusting in his seat.
The doctor was right, raising Tee Tee on a farm all by herself was dangerous for him.
“How can I prevent this from happening again, I can't bear to see Teetee sick again,” I asked softly.
As memories of sick Teetee flooded my mind, those sleepless nights trying to comfort the poor child.
And then my mind wandered off to the tall stranger again.
Why do I keep doing that?
I shrugged, I needed to concentrate.
“You need to clean out the entire house, Miss Saunders, clean his toys especially and restrict him from touching the animals too much” the doctor finished.
I nodded in agreement, “did you hear that teetee? Doctor says no playing with Fifi and Jonah too long” I said jokingly before taking a look around the room.
No teetee.
“Tee-tee?” I called, frantically looking around the room with my heart racing, I started to feel my chest tighten.
I got up and checked every visible hiding spot.
“Teetee, no time for hide and seek now baby, come on out,” I called out worriedly, my heart about to jump out of my chest.
But he wasn't in the room, I saw that the door to the doctor’s office was open slightly.
Did he go out and I didn't see?
“Oh my god Tee-tee!!!!” I yelled running outside the office.
I looked left and right.
no sign of my 2-year-old.
I began to tremble, I became pale with fright.
“Where is my baby!!!!”