Filed To Story: Finding the Secret Daddy for My Baby Novel
The little hiccup with the underwear came into Shirley’s mind, but she didn’t plan to share the story. So, she smiled and shook her head. “Nothing interesting happened. It was just a regular birthday celebration.” “Shirley, Mr. Flintstone is such a dreamboat. Aren’t you attracted to him even a little?” Imogen asked curiously. To that, Shirley shook her head. “No, he’s merely my superior.” “Are you sure? We’re such good friends, so don’t lie to me, okay?” Imogen pressed on. Nodding, Shirley assured, “I swear I’m not lying to you.” A grin spread across Imogen’s face. “You sure have my trust, but I’m different from you. The moment I first saw Mr. Flintstone, I felt my heart beating out of my chest.” Surprised and curious, Shirley asked, “Do you like Mr. Flintstone?” Imogen was honest and lowered her voice as she leaned closer to Shirley.
“Keep this a secret, okay?” Hearing that as an answer, Shirley was sure that Imogen had fallen for Zacharias and nodded, “Alright, my lips are sealed.” “As you know, I’ve never fallen for anyone, but when I saw Mr. Flintstone for the first time, I understood what ‘love at first sight’ means.” Imogen’s eyes were filled with her adoration for Zacharias, and Shirley could read them so clearly. However, she didn’t expect that Imogen would develop romantic feelings for him.
“Shirley, will you please keep it a secret for me? I’m just going to like him in the dark and won’t let it affect my work,” Imogen added, looking at her pleadingly.
Shirley nodded her head earnestly. “You have my word.” Picking up the cake, Imogen then took a bite happily. “Mmm, it’s really sweet! I think it’s especially delicious because it’s Mr. Flintstone’s birthday cake.” “I don’t like it because it’s too sweet,” Shirley commented.
“Looks like we like different types, Shirley,” Imogen pointed out.
Images of the times when Zacharias was acting intimately with her appeared in Shirley’s mind, and her heart was unsettled. Just then, her phone beeped from receiving a message, and she took a glance; it was Zacharias urging her to return.
“Rest early, Imogen. I’m going back first,” Shirley said.
“I’m so envious of you, Shirley! How amazing it will be if I can come and go from the Flintstone Residence just like you,” Imogen blurted, thinking out loud.
However, Shirley didn’t know how to console her. “Well, you’ll need Mr.
Flintstone’s permission for this.” “If he needs more help in his residence, will you recommend me?” Shirley nodded. “Sure, if this opportunity pops up, you’ll be the first I recommend.” Delighted, Imogen hugged her arm. “Shirley, you’re my best friend. I’m so lucky to be your friend.” Patting her softly, Shirley repeated, “Rest early, okay?” Imogen watched Shirley from the back as she left, and an unscrupulous smile tinged the edge of her lips. She knew Shirley’s personality, so she first got her to deny liking Zacharias, and then, immediately afterward, she admitted her affection for him. Given the nature of their relationship, Shirley shouldn’t fall for Zacharias in the future.
Even if she did, she would have an extra concern in her mind because it was akin to stealing the man she carried a torch for years.
This was truly an underhand tactic, and, considering Shirley’s personality and the years of friendship they shared, Imogen was pretty sure that Shirley wouldn’t date a man she had a crush on.
While on the drive back to the Flintstone Residence, Shirley thought over the things Imogen just told her. The fact that Imogen told her about this out of the blue surprised her.
Nevertheless, she wasn’t surprised that Imogen had fallen for Zacharias because the women around this man were smitten with him, just like Corrine from before, as well as Jesslyn. This man had what it took to have a woman fall in love with him at first sight, so she couldn’t blame Imogen for falling for him.
When Shirley was back at the Flintstone Residence and entered the living room, she thought that Zacharias was already in bed, but when she opened the door, she found him on the couch as though he was specially waiting for her to return.
“Why are you still awake?” she asked.
“I’m waiting for you,” he answered honestly.
“Why are you waiting for me?” she asked instead. “I’m waiting for you to return because I have a gift for you.” He gazed at her tenderly.
Shirley saw a box in front of him, and it was the one that Freddie sent over this morning, which she remembered was his birthday present.
“Come here and take a seat,” he invited, patting the couch. Although she went over, she didn’t sit as instructed. “It’s getting late. You should go to bed.” Despite what she said, he opened the gift box, and there were two watches lying quietly inside -one for men and another for women. Zacharias picked up the men’s watch and put it on himself, and then he passed the women’s watch to Shirley. “I’m giving you the female watch.” Blinking, Shirley couldn’t accept the gift that came so suddenly. Moreover, just from one glance, she could tell that it was pricey. “No, I can’t accept it.” Her first thought was to reject the gift.
Even though he had already expected her to reject it, he insisted on giving it to her. “It’s not like you have to wear it now. You can wear it in your free time later.” “This gift is too expensive. Keep it for your future girlfriend,” she suggested. With a burning passion in his eyes, he gazed at her and smirked. “That’s exactly what I’m doing now.” Dumbstruck, she jerked her head up at him. “Pardon?” He reached out and held her wrist. Slipping the watch through her palm, he put on the watch for her. “Miss Lloyd, I’ve decided to court you.” It took Shirley a full second to realize that she was wearing the watch. Hastily, she wanted to take it off and return it to him, but he pulled her into his arms and whispered into her ear in a husky voice, “Do you know what I wished for?” Shirley’s body stiffened. “Let me go.” “My wish was for you to be mine,” he muttered. Blood rushed to her head all of a sudden, and she blurted, “Don’t tell it to me, or it won’t come true.” He chuckled. “Are you concerned that my wish won’t come true?” Helplessly, she said composedly, “Zacharias, I don’t plan to be your girlfriend.”
Despite the dejection in Zacharias’ heart, he wouldn’t be holding his current position if he was a person who would give up easily. Putting on an understanding smile, he released her. “No rush. You’ll need time to know me better.” Stunned, Shirley thought, Any man who has been rejected on the spot will be a little upset, but this man appears unexpectedly calm!
“I’ve given the watch to you. If you don’t like it, you can give it to someone else or sell it. Do whatever you want with it,” he commented. With that, he picked up his cell phone and started upstairs.
Shirley took off the watch from her wrist and went after him, grabbing his hand.
“I don’t want it. Please take it back.” In reply, he merely turned back at her and said kindly, “The bin is right there.” Annoyed, she thought, How can he tell me to throw such an expensive gift away?
Ignoring her, Zacharias headed for the staircase, leaving Shirley behind with a woman’s watch in her hand and at a loss for what to do. Every word he just said had thrown her heart into a mess, and she decided not to think about anything and went upstairs.
Around midnight, while Shirley was in a daze in her sleep, she heard noises from the staircase outside. Alert as she was, she sprang up and walked nimbly to the door. Softly, she opened the door and tiptoed out in her pajamas.
Rapidly, she jogged to the foyer and heard sounds coming from downstairs.
Step by step, she went down the staircase. When she saw the man standing next to the wine cabinet, a huge sigh of relief escaped her lips. Why is this guy wandering around instead of sleeping in the middle of the night?
Meanwhile, Zacharias was opening a bottle of wine. Turning his head, he saw the girl coming downstairs in her pajamas and cordially invited, “Would you like a drink?” “It’s already so late. Aren’t you going to bed?” Shirley asked.
“I can’t sleep,” he replied. Nobody can sleep soundly after having their confession rejected. After Zacharias returned to his room earlier, he thought about his situation so much that he ended up not being able to sleep.
Pacing over to his side, Shirley saw that he had prepared two wine glasses and turned him down. “I’m not drinking.” Still, he insisted on pouring half a glass for her. Placing down his glass, he picked up the other one and passed it to her. “It’s my birthday today. Have a drink with me for my sake.” “It’s already midnight, so your birthday is over, no?” Shirley corrected him.
From Zacharias’ unruly hair, it was clear that the man had slept a little before.
Presently, he said in an authoritative tone, “Please have a drink with me.
Shirley took the glass from him, and he clinked his glass against hers before throwing his head back and taking a huge gulp. Then, he fixed his deep, dark eyes on her, taking in every detail of her face.
Her long hair framed her face, which was clear and bright like a pearl, radiating a pearly-white glow. She was stunning and gorgeous, filling his mind with imagination.
“You still can’t forget Cole?” Zacharias asked out of the blue.
Shirley’s brows knitted together for a second. This is odd. Ever since I last saw Cole the other day, it seems like he’s out of my mind, and my liking for him has somehow disappeared without me realizing it.
“I’ve been thinking, if I had met you a little earlier before Cole did, would we have a chance at it?” A wry smile touched his lips.
His words caught Shirley by surprise. As she only had a short relationship before, her knowledge of romantic love was still very shallow. To her, loving someone was a highly sacred matter.
“It’s late. Go to bed after having one drink,” she said. Because she was wearing nothing under her pajamas, it was a little awkward for her to face this man right now.
After saying that, she put down her glass, turned around, and was about to leave. However, the man suddenly took a sip of wine in his mouth, grasped her wrist, and hauled her into his embrace.
Before Shirley could react, she bumped into Zacharias’ chest and felt him holding her chin. Then, along with his passionate kiss on her lips, he fed the wine in his mouth into hers. Her eyes widened, and her slender throat swallowed the liquid from his mouth out of reflex.
Frustrated, she wanted to shove him aside, but he gripped her hands and pinned them on the wine cabinet. His tongue explored her mouth like a tornado ravishing through the fields, and she was breathless from his kissing, her mind going blank.
Shirley felt dizzy as her body reacted strongly to Zacharias. This was a feeling she had never experienced when she was with Cole, as her feeling toward him was more of an innocent puppy love. However, the feeling Zacharias gave her now stirred something inside her, something more primitive.
“Let go…” she forced the words out through her lips, but he didn’t listen and reacted more passionately. Shirley felt light-headed, and an unfamiliar feeling buried her reason. She forgot to push him away as her body told her she liked this pleasurable kiss and wanted more.
Her hands unconsciously wrapped around Zacharias’ waist as she clumsily responded to his kiss, pleasantly surprising him as he sucked on her sweetness.
Under the chandelier, the kissing couple sat beside the wine counter, making the air around them get hotter.
Then, Zacharias lifted Shirley onto the counter. It was only then that she regained her senses. She pushed him away shyly, embarrassed by the position they were in.
Her legs were around his waist as she sat dangerously near the edge of the counter with their waists touching. This ambiguous position made her face and ears turn red.