Prologue

"Please, I really need to talk to the man who rented that room on December twenty-third," I beg the woman at the front desk.

She glares at me. "Miss, we cannot give out personal information. Besides that, that particular room wasn't rented that night. I think you must be mistaken."

My eyes start to tear up. I know I didn't imagine it.

On December twenty-third, I went on a single date with a man who rocked my world. We went to a charity gala at The Williamson Hotel. We ate, drank, and danced. Then he took me up to room 3514 and proceeded to give me the best sex of my life.

We didn't exchange last names or phone numbers. We didn't share anything too intimate. Hell, I didn't even get a photograph of him.

All I have is his first name and the room we stayed in.

I've tried everything I can think of to contact him. I looked up Masons in the area, and there were too many of them. I tried to reach out via Lovers Inc., but because we chose one date, it wouldn't let me send the message. According to their customer service, we have to match again to connect. The representative questioned why we didn't exchange phone numbers.

I don't know, Karen, maybe because we thought it would be a one-night stand. I don't think either of us planned on him knocking me up.

Either way, their support team was not helpful at all.

This was my last resort.

What am I going to do if I can't find him?

Shaking my head, I look back to the woman.

"His first name is Mason. Surely that will help you find him."

She sighs. "Miss, I told you I can't help you."

Feeling desperate, I lean across the counter, "Please. I just found out I'm pregnant with his child and he deserves to know. Please help me find him so I can tell him."

Her eyes widen slightly before she clears her throat.

"Let me see what I can do."

She moves away from the desk before going to talk with another woman. That woman picks up a phone and speaks in it for a moment. Then the new lady comes over to me.

"If you will follow me."

"Wait, why?"

"We've let Mr. Williamson know that you are here. He will come see you shortly."

My heart races as I take in her words.

Mr. Williamson.

Mason owns this hotel? What the fuck?

I don't get time to dwell on it, though. The woman starts walking, expecting me to keep up. We don't go to the guest elevator. Instead, she leads me through the employee area until we come to the back of the building. There, we get into a service elevator and go up two floors. When the door opens, I'm shocked. It's a little office area with several workers in cubicles.

She ignores them all, leading me to a conference room.

"Have a seat. Don't go wandering."

With that, she leaves.

I glance around the room. It's a normal conference room. Nothing fancy. I almost wish it was glass like most of those fancy places you see on television. That way I could see him coming.

Oh great. Now I'm feeling nauseous again. I press a clammy hand over my mouth and pray for my stomach to stop churning.

Several minutes pass before the door opens. My heart skips a beat, ready to see Mason again, only he's not who enters.

Instead, it's the woman he was speaking with at the gala. She looks exactly the same as she did then. All made up and elegant.

"I'm sorry. I was waiting for Mason," I tell her, standing.

She nods. "I know. Sit, dear. We need to have a talk."

A lump forms in my throat. This can't be good. No one ever wants to hear that phrase.

"I really need to talk to Mason. I have something I think he will want to know," I tell her as I sit back down.

She looks down her nose at me. "That you're with child. I've been told. Mason doesn't want to have a child with you. He asked me to come here and let you know that he knows that he protected himself, so if you want to continue your lies, he will have you prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

My eyes start to tear up. He thinks I'm faking it. That I'm after him for what? His money?

I thought we had connected. Even if only for one night. How could I have been so wrong?

"Don't be so upset. We get this a lot. If you would be willing to sign this paper agreeing to never mention this again, we will give you a large sum to terminate the pregnancy."

My heart stops. They want me to kill my child?

Fuck no.

Over my cold, dead body.

Standing, I march over to the woman.

"I don't want his money, nor will I need it. You tell Mason that he's a piece of shit. This is his child, but don't worry. I'll never seek him out again. Have a good day."

I don't look back as I stride down the hall, my head held high.

If Mason doesn't want anything to do with this baby, that's fine. My mom never needed a man to raise me, and I won't need one to raise this little bean either.

Placing my shaky hands over my stomach, I whisper to my whole world.

"We are going to be okay."