The Billionaire's Kept Woman

  Keira smiled at Connor's message about their baby. She was too happy that she listed a few girl names and boy names. She was busy scribbling when Vanessa entered with a smile. 

"You seemed to be in a good mood, madam." Vanessa approached her with the papers. 

"Yes, Jo and Connor have good news. That's why." 

"Here are the papers for today." Vanessa gently put the folders on her table as she opened her tablet to check on her schedules. "Miss Jo won't be here until tomorrow?" 

"She planned a month-long vacation." She said, "But I think she'll be back in two to three days." 

"Got it. And so, Mr. Crawford?" 

"Yes," Keira nodded and checked the files. "How's our rating for Louise Madison?"

"We have 4.5 million views today and it's increasing," Vanessa said with a big smile. "Also, about the advertisement that we released recently," She showed it to Keira. "It has a lot of positive comments." 

  At that time, Keira's phone started vibrating and she raised her hand to Vanessa with a smile. She answered her husband's call with a flirtatious greeting. 

"Hello, love." 

"Love! You are amazing." Alessandro said. "Our sales today reached their peak. You are something… really. You make me aroused today." 

  Keira laughed aloud and turned her swivel chair back from Vanessa. 

"I'll treat you well this lunch, my love." 

"Okay. I want to try something new! Surprise me." 

"In Zach's hotel then." He exclaimed. "I'll prepare other surprises." 

"Great! I love you and see you later." She said cheerfully. 

"I love you more and I crave for you… more." 

  She giggled and turned her swivel chair. 

"Bye." 

  She hung up and faced Vanessa. 

"How about my schedule from eleven-thirty to one thirty?" 

"You have to check a few documents…" 

"Cancel it. I'm going to work double today." 

"Yes, ma'am. You are free until two." She said again. 

"Great!" She smiled at her assistant. 

  Vanessa nodded. 

"Also, you have a meeting at three with the advertisement team." 

"Okay," She nodded at her. 

  After Vanessa left she continued with skimming and signing. Johanna did well by reviewing them well and every time that Johanna reviewed the documents, she put a stamp at the back of the end of the document to make sure that it was reviewed by her. The door from the walk-in closet opened and Harvey approached her with her favorite fruit tea. She smiled at him as he bent down and kissed her forehead. 

"I'm sorry." He whispered. 

"Don't be sorry to me. You know who you should be sorry for." She reached the fruit tea and stabbed the thick straw and sipped on it. "This is good. Zero sugar." She smiled. "Thank you, big bro." 

  Harvey sighed and leaned on the desk. 

"She hates me." 

"I know." She agreed to him and enjoyed the fruit tea while signing a few papers. "Let it cool off a bit." 

"Okay." He nodded and looked down at his shoes. "I don't want to ruin my plan. I was so obsessed with it. I'm sorry…" 

"I know that all you do is to protect us." Keira turned to him. "But don't be hard on her. She's our family too." 

"Right." He sighed and reached for her hand. "I'll be with you all day to protect you." 

"How about MJ?" 

"She hates me for a moment. We need space." He sighed in agony. "But, Connor was right. I am forcing her to kill an innocent." 

  Keira stood, took a step closer, and hugged her big brother. 

"You are the best brother I know." 

<><><><>

  Connor made her special beef burger with fresh lettuce and cucumber. She enjoyed it and pushed another plate of half burgers toward her. 

"That's for your lunch?" he asked. "I prepare smoothies?"

  She stared at it and shook her head. 

"Okay," He put it back in the fridge. "What do you want to drink? You need more nutritious foods, babe." 

"Let's go back to the clinic. I want to hear the baby's heartbeat." She said again. He nodded at her. He understands her anxiety and her mother's instinct just kicked in. 

"I already set up another clinic." He finished his burger.

  The couple went to her room and he chose a dress for her and he reached for the bulletproof jacket for her. Then, she prepared her purse with her favorite fountain pen and lipstick. He hugged her from behind and kissed her cheeks. 

"I love you," Connor mumbled and rubbed her tummy gently. "I love our baby." 

  Johanna held his hand over her stomach. 

"If I might not be able to survive… in childbirth, would you teach our baby self-defense and at the same time have a normal life?" 

"I will. And you will make it through labor." He said it was like a promise. "We just have to exercise, eat nutritious foods, and," he smiled. "You should take care of our baby." 

  She nodded at him and they kissed passionately. 

  Connor was careful while driving and he kept glancing at her. Also, he used the safest SUV with thick bulletproof materials. 

"You can drive normally." She told him. 

"I want to make sure that you are safe and we won't get in trouble." He said as he extended his hand and placed it over her lap. "Babe, I know that it's too soon that we date each other easily, had sex, and get pregnant. But I am serious about marriage." 

"You can have me and our baby even without marriage." 

  Connor smiled but he shook his head. The woman beside him had different views on life. It's the cause of her past. Marriage is a big thing for him and he never thought of any woman from his past to marry but her. His heart responded to her like crazy and every time he saw her, he saw life. It's odd but he will do everything for her. 

"I love you," Connor said softly. 

  Johanna only smiled as Connor continued driving. 

  When they reached the hospital, the doctor greeted them and checked her tummy with an ultrasound. Then, they also listened to the heartbeat as he recorded it on his phone. They were silent at that moment until one minute had ended. Johanna's anxiety faded after hearing her baby's heartbeat. She felt like she was finally free from something. 

  Connor bent down and kissed her lips and she responded passionately. Then, the couple went back home with groceries and baby stuff although she's just in the first trimester. Johanna listened to the heartbeat throughout their travel home. She indeed felt lethargic and so Connor takes her to bed while he will be busy preparing their dinner. It's four in the afternoon and he wanted to prepare everything including the pizza for midnight snacks and will only put it in the freezer. 

  The tablet chimed in the notification. So, he checked it and found a car outside the house. The woman approached the doorbell and he zoomed it in and the woman waved at the camera. He opened the gate and the woman entered the car and drove along the driveway. 

  He left the meat and vegetables that he's chopping and went to the main entrance to greet MJ. She came out and smiled at him bitterly. 

"Come on in." He said and she took out something at the back of the car. Cakes and other pastries. 

  He took her to the kitchen as he put the cakes and other pastries next to the cookie jar. 

"Well?" He asked. 

"I have never been in this house…" She said and looked around. She sighed and turned to him. She looked bothered and he knew why.

"It's fine." He said and waved it off. "I won't let Harvey do anything stupid again." 

"I should have said that." She reached his hand. "I know how hard it is to lose a baby and not be able to bear a child anymore." 

  Connor hugged her and patted her back. 

"Harvey will work hard to give you a baby." 

  She laughed and patted his back. Her thoughts flew quickly to her lover and she knew how hard it is for Harvey to protect everyone from a strong empire. The two laughed as Connor gestured to the seat. He continued chopping the vegetables. 

"So, what's with the cucumbers?" 

"I'm making a salad. Cucumber with fruits and vinegar. I'm playing samgyupsal for dinner. She'll get hungry easily. So, with protein and veggies, our baby will be very much active." 

"Well, you will be a great dad." She complimented. 

  Connor knew that she felt insecure about not being pregnant. But he prayed a lot and even helped with research so she'll get pregnant again. 

"Stay for dinner." He suggested. 

"I have to cook for Harvey." She told him. "Although, we are in a fight. I still have to take care of him. He's been taking care of our safety… every day and night." 

"Call him." He said and put down the knife. "Call him and tell him to have dinner here. I am preparing a lot. I also want to show him that I love his sister and I won't let anything bad happen to her or our baby." 

  She pursed her lips and nodded. 

"I understand. I am sure that Harvey already reflects on his actions." She pulled out her phone and texted her husband. "I'll help you. Tell me what to do." 

"Sure thing." 

  Connor smiled. He glanced at the tablet to check on his wife in her bedroom but she's not there. To his surprise, she's standing near the frame probably staring at them all this time. 

"Babe!" He called. And he wondered why he didn't feel her presence.