Filed To Story: Finding the Secret Daddy for My Baby Novel
Without her realizing it, Shirley’s heart started to gallop, and her mouth felt dry.
She was feeling fine just a minute ago, but now, she was parched and aware that this was happening because of this man.
“I’m taking a shower. Let’s meet in the dining room later.” He picked up his shirt and walked ahead while she remained on the entryway of the second floor, watching him as he paced upstairs.
After that, she returned to her room, picked up her glass, and poured water down her throat by the gallons. When she was done drinking, she placed a hand over her chest where her heart was and felt the pounding way faster than it normally was.
Closing her eyes, Shirley took a few deep breaths. The last thing she wanted was to be affected by this man. She was the first to go. downstairs, and the servants had prepared five different dishes and a soup tonight. Even though it was his birthday, there didn’t seem to be anything different from usual.
Is Tony coming back? she wondered. However, it was already late, and he wasn’t back yet, so she reckoned that he wasn’t coming back tonight. Am I the only one spending his birthday with him? Having never spent a man’s birthday alone with him, she started to feel nervous, and the situation was a little ambiguous and awkward for her.
Just then, sounds of footsteps came from the staircase. Upon lifting her head, she saw a freshly showered man who had changed into a black knitted sweater paired with a pair of casual gray trousers.
Beaming with an aristocratic-like laid-back aura, he seemed a few years younger, and even his hair was falling on his forehead casually.
“Sir, the food is ready, a servant informed, stepping forward.
“Thank you. You’re done for the day,” he said.
Tacitly, she nodded. “Okay.” The moment she was gone, the room fell into pin-drop silence. “Are you sure you’re not going to invite your family over to celebrate your birthday with you?” Shirley asked, curious about the situation. He raised his head and smiled. “To me, it’s enough just to have you.” “I’m only your bodyguard,” Shirley answered helplessly.
“Tonight, don’t be my bodyguard. Be my friend instead,” he said and pulled out a chair for her. “Take a seat.” She was rooted to the spot, but the man cast her a determined stare, demanding her to go over. Only then did she strode toward him and plopped into the chair that he had pulled out. Then, the man sat next to her. “Let’s eat.
Once we’re done with dinner, we’ll share the cake together,” he said.
“Would you like to wait for Tony?” she asked.
“He’s not coming back,” he replied.
She blinked blankly. “Did you ask him already?” “Yeah. His answer sounded confident because he had told his nephew not to return tonight.
There was nothing else Shirley could say, and they began eating in silence.
While eating, Zacharias added food to her plate, and she looked at him.
Returning the favor, she, too, placed more food on his plate. A smirk tinged the edge of his lips. “Why are you so ceremonious?” She returned his smile. “I have to. After all, you’re Mr. Vice President.” “I said that we’re friends tonight. I’m Zacharias, and you’re Shirley. There’s no Vice President in this room,” he reiterated, raising a brow.
Shirley nodded in agreement. “Okay, then I’ll spend your birthday with you as a friend tonight,” she said and pointed at the bag on the couch. “Look, I even prepared a birthday gift for you.” “I can’t wait to find out what it is,” he said, smiling.
“You’ll find out for yourself later,” she said. The element of surprise would be gone if she had revealed what the gift was.
Zacharias nodded. “Okay, but no matter what you’re giving me, I’ll treasure it.” Her eyes turned into crescents as she smiled. “As long as you don’t mind it.” “I won’t. It’s a present from you, and I’m more than happy to receive it.” His deep eyes looked at her, and she lowered her head to avoid looking into them before saying, “You should have told me earlier. I’ve bought such a huge cake, and it’s going to waste.” “We can give it to Roy later and let them have it,” he suggested.
She nodded. “That works out because the cake is big enough.” After dinner, Shirley cleared the table and even did the dishes. In the meantime, Zacharias was watching the news on TV. As it was still early, he wasn’t in a rush to have the cake. However, a few times, his gaze drifted to the bag, and he wondered what she had prepared as a gift for him.
Around 8.30PM, Shirley came into the room. “Would you like to blow the candle and make a wish first?” “Sure,” he answered with a nod. So, she brought the cake to the coffee table and took out the candles in the shape of the number twenty-nine. At the sight of that, Zacharias couldn’t stop himself from grinning. “How did you know that it’s my twenty-ninth birthday?”
Chuckling, Shirley answered, “It’s a guess.” “You must have looked up information on me,” Zacharias teased.
“That goes without saying,” she admitted. “Before coming here, I have to find out what kind of person you are.” “Oh, what kind of person am I, then?” he asked out of curiosity.
All the previous information and reports she had gathered about him flashed through her mind. Looking in retrospect, she concluded that before getting into contact with this man, all the reports that categorized him as an aloof man couldn’t exactly define what kind of person he was. But now, she knew what kind of person he was-outstanding, capable, and a little playful. “After working by your side for so long, I have a pretty clear idea about what kind of person you are,” she answered.
His smile was increasingly charming. “So, tell me.” “No, I don’t want to.” She rejected him haughtily, picking up a match and striking it before lighting the candle. When that was done, she paced to the switches and turned off all the lights in the living room.
Some light from the second floor poured down, but it didn’t affect the light from the candle, and the room was blanketed under a misty light. Sitting across from him, she said, “You can make your wish now.” “Sing a birthday song for me!” he requested. Struck with embarrassment, she muttered, “I’m not good at singing.” However, he wanted to hear it. “Just a couple of lines will do.” So, she cleared her throat, clapped her hands, and sang softly.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…” When she finished singing, her face started to burn brightly in the candlelight because he had stared at her unblinkingly while she was singing, his eyes burning with passion.
“Okay, blow the candles and make a wish now,” she urged. And don’t ask me to sing again.
Only then did he smile and clasped his hands together in front of his chest, resting his forehead lightly on the tips of his fingers, just like a pious, good looking sculpture. The candlelight danced on his handsome, deep-set features, and Shirley was so mesmerized that she held her breath, forgetting to breathe for a few seconds. Although she wasn’t a superficial person, she was overwhelmed by his looks.
While she was staring at him, his eyes suddenly popped open, and he raised his head, catching her right in the moment when she was in a daze. There was a shimmer in his eyes so tender that she couldn’t look away immediately..
A grin spread across his face. “I’ve made my wish. He looked deeply into her eyes as though. telling her telepathically that his wish was related to her.
Sensing his hidden message, she urged nervously, ‘Blow out the candles.” Zacharias leaned forward slightly and blew softly at the candles, then she stood up and turned on the lights.
The bright lights seemed to lighten her up a little, and she took out two plates before slicing a piece of cake and placing it on his plate. Then, she cut a smaller piece for herself since she wasn’t a fan of desserts.
As Zacharias didn’t have a sweet tooth, he merely took a couple of bites symbolically and pointed at the bag. “Shouldn’t you give me the present now?” Shirley reached out and grabbed it, passing it to him. “This is for you. I took time to pick it out.” First, he ripped the tape on it and reached into the bag to take out something.
The tie was lying on the bottom, and the wrapped underwear was on top of it.
Right now, the thing Zacharias was holding in his hand was a small package. He looked at it curiously. Then, he opened the packaging and retrieved a satin-like item from within.
Opposite him, Shirley had her head lowered, picking out the fruits from the cake instead of watching him.
At the same time, the man’s eyes wavered a little at the black underwear spread out flat in his hands. Is this the gift this woman specially picked out for me?
Just then, she looked up for a split second and saw that he was admiring the black underwear in his hands. Her face turned scarlet, and she snatched the underwear from his hands out of panic.
“That’s not the present. The present is a tie,” Shirley said, blushing. Clutching the underwear in her hand, she didn’t know what else to say. The gift that the cashier mentioned is actually a pair of men’s underwear!
Equally stunned, Zacharias then burst into laughter. He picked up the tie and admired it before extending his hand at her, demanding, “Give me the underwear, too.” “N-No!” She hid the underwear behind her back. “I’m giving it to my father.” “You’ve already bought it. Why won’t you give it to me?” he grumbled.
“This is a free gift,” she explained, blushing.
“I want to wear it,” he demanded, extending his hand at her. This time, her face was a bright red. An underwear as a birthday gift? It sounds like an ambiguous relationship, no matter how I look at it!
“You’ve already brought it back. Why won’t you just give it to me?” he asked with quizzical, narrowed eyes.
Shirley contemplated for a second before handing over the underwear into his hand. “Alright, you can have it.” Taking it from her, he then placed it into the bag and smiled. “I like the presents very much.” Staring at the huge cake, Shirley said, “I’m sending the cake to the dorm.” “Sure.” Zacharias nodded. After she packed the cake properly, she carried it outside and sent it to the dorm by car. Learning that it was Zacharias’ birthday today, Roy was delighted to share the cake with everyone else, too.
Shirley asked Imogen over as well, and the latter took a slice of cake with her before they returned to the room.
When the door closed, Imogen asked with a smile, “Shirley, are you the only one who celebrated Mr. Flintstone’s birthday with him?” As Imogen had already guessed it correctly, Shirley nodded and answered honestly, “Yeah, Mr. Flintstone didn’t invite his family over today.” “You’re so lucky to spend the evening alone with Mr. Vice President on his birthday! Spill the beans. Did anything interesting happen?” The eagerness to hear the latest gossip was written all over Imogen’s face.