Chapter 5

"Front desk, Olivia speaking. How can I help you?" I ask as I answer the phone.

"Yes, I'm in room seven-fifteen. I would like to request a turndown service for this evening," the guest tells me.

"Of course. I'll get that scheduled for you. Can I help you with anything else?"

"No, that would be all."

"Wonderful. One of the staff will stop by your room around eight this evening and get that done for you."

"Lovely. Thank you."

"Of course. I hope you have a wonderful stay at The Williamson," I say before hanging up.

Sighing, I eye the lobby. Right now, it's quiet, which I'm thankful for. This morning, when I came in, I was cornered by Max.

"Good morning, Olivia."

I offer my boss a smile. "Good morning, Mr. Williamson."

"How are you?"

"I'm well, and you?"

He smiles. "I can't complain."

"Good. Well, I'm going to get to work. I hope you have a great day."

"Wait, before you go, can I talk to you for a second?"

I feel my body tense. "Is everything okay?"

Max waves away my question. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I was just wanting to know what you think of the hotel so far."

I relax slightly. "The Williamson is the place to stay. The staff I've met so far are lovely."

His eyebrows wing up. "So no complaints?"

Slowly, I shake my head. "None that matter. Every hotel has its flaws, and don't get me wrong, The Williamson has its own, but this place runs smoothly. I don't think you have anything to worry about."

His shoulders relax. "That's what I like to hear. Thank you."

"You're welcome." I point my thumb over my shoulder. "If that's all, I better get out to the desk to relieve the night shift.

"Yes, yes, of course. Have a great day."

"You too."

After I replaced Claudia, it was one thing after another. There was an incident in the gym where a guest dropped a fifty-pound weight on their foot. Once the EMTs got him loaded up and out of here, I got word that there was water coming through the ceiling in one of the rooms. While waiting for maintenance to show up, the health inspector showed up wanting to inspect the restaurant again, even though they supposedly had it done not even three months ago.

When it rains, it pours, it seems.

Discreetly, I reach into my pocket for my phone, only to come up empty.

Shit. I was so distracted by Max this morning, I forgot to grab my phone from my bag before starting my shift.

It's fine. I try to convince myself. The day care has never called before, and they won't start today.

Still. I wish I had it on me.

You can grab it once Hannah comes back from her break.

With the decision made, I push through and start working on things that need done. I'm so consumed with busy work that I don't even hear her when they approach.

"Liv."

I turn and see Chloe walking up to the desk with Ari in her arms.

My eyes widen as I make my way out from behind the counter. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm so sorry. Day care called me to take her since you didn't answer. Littles isn't feeling well. I'm sorry, I would stay with her, but I have to get back," Chloe says frantically as she hands me Arianna.

As soon as her head hits my skin, I can feel the heat. My little girl has a fever.

My heart is hammering in my chest. This is the last thing I need today.

Even though I haven't seen him yet today, I need to get her out of here before he makes himself known and accidentally sees her. I don't want him to say anything to hurt my kid.

"It's fine. You go. I'm going to get my stuff and head home."

"Will they be okay with that?" she asks as she looks around.

"They have to be. Besides, it's not like we have any other option."

Regret crosses her face. "I'm sorry. I would have taken her home, but?—"

I cut her off. "No, it's fine."

She gives Arianna one last kiss before she rushes off. Then I think about how I'm going to handle this.

"Mommy. I don't feel well."

I rub her back, trying to soothe her. "I know, bug. Hold on, okay?"

Picking up the front desk phone, I dial Bianca, my immediate supervisor.

"What's going on?" Bianca asks right away.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but my daughter is ill. My best friend just dropped her off because the day care couldn't get a hold of me. I need to take her home."

"Oh shit. Okay, I'll be right down," she says quickly before hanging up.

I tap my foot as I wait for her. Every second Arianna is in this hotel, the more my stomach sinks.

I've been so careful. I haven't let on that I went through with the pregnancy his mother tried so hard to convince me to terminate. I didn't want him to tell me himself that he wished I would have ended her life. Not this precious girl.

I would rather have him pretend that she doesn't exist than have a change of heart and want to be a part of her life.

God, if he tried to take her from me, I would die.

"You're hurting me, Mommy," Arianna says weakly.

"I'm sorry, sweet girl. You know how I hate it when you're sick," I say, relaxing my hold.

Finally, Bianca shows up. I let out a relieved sigh. She even has my bag in her hand.

"Oh, she is so precious. Go on and get her home. I hope it's okay, but I stopped by your locker and grabbed your bag. Let me know if you can't make it tomorrow."

"Thank you. I'm so sorry about this," I say as I take my bag from her and place it over my shoulder.

Bianca waves away my apology. "It's fine. Things like this happen. Now go and keep me updated."

I nod and go to move toward the door. Then I freeze.

There he is.

This is a nightmare.

"Livvy?" Mason asks, using the name only he has ever called me.

My throat drops to the floor, and I feel lightheaded.

Of course. He couldn't have come minutes later.

"I need to go."

He looks at the girl in my arms, his eyes confused.

"You have a daughter?"

Arianna takes that moment to raise her little head from my shoulder and look over at Mason.

My precious little girl implodes our world with one simple word.

"Daddy?"

* * *

Did that little girl just call me Daddy?

She moves from Olivia's arms, her little ones reaching for me.

Without a second thought, I reach for her as well.

Olivia looks pained. She doesn't want to let the girl go, but surprisingly, she does.

The little thing curls into my arms, holding me tight, making my chest expand.

"I knew you would come back. Mommy said you wouldn't, but I prayed you would," the little girl mumbles against me.

She's burning up. She must have a fever.

I look back to Olivia doing some math in my head. The little girl has to be four or five. If I'm correct, she very well might be mine.

What am I saying? Of course she is. Not just because she called me Daddy, either. I can tell from the look on Olivia's face that this is my kid. I'll do a DNA test to prove it, but I have no doubts.

Olivia has been keeping huge secrets from me. I'm so angry, I can't see straight. This is what she's so mad about? That I knocked her up? I get that it isn't ideal, but all she had to do was tell me, and I would have been here for her. For our child. This isn't on me. It's on her.

"We are going to talk about this," I grumble to Olivia.

Tears fill her eyes, but she nods. "I have to get her home. She's sick."

"Lead the way," I growl.

"You can't possibly think you are coming."

"You can't possibly think I'd let you walk out of here with my kid after keeping her a secret for the past four years. Move your ass."

"Daddy, don't yell at Mommy," the little girl whispers against me.

I rub her back softly. "Sorry, honey. We are going to get you home."

"You'll stay?"

"I'll never leave your side again," I promise the girl.

Olivia looks pissed, but good. She should be. I'm pissed too. How could she keep this from me? How many firsts have I already missed? I am beyond angry.

Olivia moves to lead the way out the front door. She stops at the curb as if she's not sure what to do.

I pull out my phone and dial my driver.

"Pick me up out front," I say as soon as the call connects before hanging up.

I don't have a car seat, but the little one can ride in my arms until I can get her one. I won't let her go right now.

When the car finally pulls up, I open the door, motioning for Olivia to get in. Once she's in, I slide in next to her, our child fast asleep on my shoulder. Olivia gives the driver her address.

After several minutes of silence, I finally ask, "What's her name?"

"Arianna Rose."

"When is her birthday?"

"September sixteenth," she says softly.

I clear my throat, suddenly thick with emotion.

"I want to know why. We're going to get her home and get her in bed, then you are going to tell me."

"I don't have the answer you want. I can promise that."

"There's no excuse for what you did."

"I'm sure you feel that way."

The rest of the ride is silent. Once at her apartment, I frown at the area we are in. It's not the best. Then we get inside, and I see what Olivia and my daughter have been living in. This apartment is barely a one-bedroom. More like a studio that happens to have a door to another room.

Taking Arianna into her room, I lay her in bed. Olivia comes in behind me, coaxing our daughter to take some medicine before tucking her in. Once she is settled, we move to the living room.

My anger comes back in full force. All I can think about is what I have missed.

"I'm going to be part of her life. Don't fight me on this. If you do, I will take full custody," I say, my temper getting the better of me.

She snorts. "Full custody? You didn't want her to begin with. Why would you want her now? Just so I can't have her?"

What the fuck is she talking about? Why would I not want her?

I take a deep breath, not wanting to wake up the little girl in the other room. I need to keep my cool.

"You will never know what I wanted because you never asked."

Olivia scoffs. "You're wrong. I came to you. I showed up at the hotel begging for your information. They called you and said you were on your way. Then your mother showed up and made all kinds of threats. She said you didn't want the baby and tried to give me a huge check to get rid of it. I refused the money, by the way." She points back at the bedroom and hisses. "That little girl is my miracle. I don't care what you say, I was never going to get rid of her."

My heart stops. "My mother?"

"Yes, I recognized her as the woman you talked to the night of the gala. I never planned to work at your hotel, but it was the only job available. I'm sorry I came back into your life and that I didn't do what you asked, but whether you wanted her or not, I was keeping her. She's mine. Not yours, so don't act like you care now."

My heart is hammering in my chest. My mother did this? She kept my daughter from me?

Everything starts clicking into place.

Olivia's hatred every time I've cornered her.

The way my mother freaked out when she saw Olivia at the hotel.

I swallow hard. "I never knew. I know you won't believe me right now, but I never got that call. If I had, I would have been there. I would never want you to…" I rub my face, not even able to say the words.

My mother told her to end my child's life. I've given her so much leeway over the years. She's overstepped time after time, acting like the puppet master of my life, but it stops now. This is unforgivable.

"It doesn't really matter now, does it?" she whispers, her eyes filling with tears.

I reach out, grabbing her hand. "I want to be part of her life now."

She nods numbly. "On a trial basis. I might not have much money, but if you try to take her from me, I will fight you with everything I can."

The fierce mama bear in her makes me smile.

"I would expect no less."

After a moment of silence, I ask, "What did she mean she knew I would come back? How did she know who I was?"

I watch as Olivia swallows hard. "You're her father. Even if you didn't want to be part of her life, I wanted her to know you. You probably missed it, but there's a picture I got off the internet of you next to her bed. She's not old enough yet to know the truth, so I told her you had to go away and would likely never come back. When she was older, I planned to tell her a watered-down version of the truth. That you weren't ready to be a father, but that you cared for her, which is why you left. You only wanted what was best for her."

My eyes prickle with tears. Even thinking I wanted nothing to do with our child, she still tried to keep my memory alive within her. She wanted her to know me even if I never came back.

I clear my throat, trying to keep the tears at bay. "Thank you. God, I missed so much."

"You're welcome." She pauses. "I'm sure you have questions. If you want, I have a scrapbook laying around here somewhere that I can show you, and of course the photos I have on my phone."

"I would like that. Truly, I would, but I can't. Not right now. I'm too angry at my mother for stealing this from me, and going through all of that would only make it worse."

"Of course. Let me know when you're ready."

"Can I stay the night? I'm not sure I'm ready to leave yet," I admit.

She looks around the apartment. It's obvious that Olivia sleeps on the couch, while Arianna has a little toddler bed in the other room.

"You can have the couch. I should probably sleep closer to her anyway." She points to Arianna's room.

"On the floor?" I question.

She nods.

I shake my head. "Absolutely not. You take the couch. I'll sleep here on the floor. Tomorrow, we will figure everything else out. Today, you tell me what we need to get to make our little girl feel better."

She sucks in a breath when I call her ours. That's what she is, though. She is our little girl.

Like it or not, we are in this together now. I won't ever lose Arianna again.

Even as mad as I am, a little thought in the back of my head whispers I won't lose Livvy again either.

She doesn't know it, but she's still mine.