Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

remembering thebirthday present my Mr. Magic-Mike Clark had given me. Oh! My!Freakin! God! He was hot.

I giggled thensnapped out of my euphoric state, opening my eyes completely toscan my surroundings. Bryce wasn’t lying in bed next to me.Instead, in his place were a blue rose and a note telling me he hada mountain of work to do and for me to sleep in, take my time, andcome down when I was ready.

I picked upthe rose and sniffed it, still smiling from ear to ear then hoppedin the shower without hesitation. I wanted to go and see the sexydancing stud-muffin as quickly as I could and hoped that maybe,just maybe, I could get him to do an encore performance.

Continuing mypathetic adolescent school girl giggling, I started humming “MyPony” while swaying my hips from side to side as I washed myself. Irealised that Ginuwine’s song, and the visuals of Bryce creepingalong the floor to me were going to be permanently etched onto mybrain and inner eyelids. Awesome! Best birthday present,EVER!

Shaking myhead in disbelief at his devotion to please me—and the fact that hewas a pretty good dancer—I quickly showered and got myself ready sothat I could get to work and help him in any way that I could,knowing that he had a tonne of work to do. I put on my purpleVersace jersey wrap dress, which adapted quite nicely to myslightly thicker waistline, and paired it with my divinely gorgeouspurple Manolo Blahnik Kilis.

I hoppedalong, putting my heels on as I walked to the top of the stairs,making sure they were secured nicely before I started to make myway down. As I took my third step, I felt a sudden surge of terror,a feeling of imbalance and dread as if my senses knew what washappening to me before my brain had a chance to convey the message.My heart stopped beating, and my breath paused as I realised I wasfalling forward rather quickly.

My firstinstinct had me turning to the side to prevent tumbling face first,while reaching out and securing the railing with both hands. But asI gripped the safety rail, I felt a shocking surge of pain in myankle, forcing me to let go and slip further down, losing the fightto stay upright. I slammed into the stairs, hitting my head andinstantly feeling really strange before all went black.

***

BRYCE

I reallyneeded to fucking hire more staff. Ever since Alexis strolled intomy life like an angel, I had been up to my fucking neck in work.Why? Because she was just a major distraction in every possiblekind of way, and because of that, I kept pushing my work aside justto spend time with her. I couldn’t help it, and it was only goingto get worse, especially when the baby arrived.

I didn’t wantto spend day upon day working while the love of my life and ourhappy little family spent time with each other without me. No, fuckthat. I had every intention to back off work and devote more timeto what was more important. I had worked my arse off for a longtime and I was now ready to reap the benefits.

I picked upthe phone and dialled Arthur.

“ArthurGordon, speaking.”

“Arthur, itsBryce.”

“Good morning,Bryce. What can I do for you?”

“I need to setup a board meeting. Topic of agenda will be making you Senior VicePresident.”

Arthur clearedhis throat. “That is certainly not what I expected you to say. CanI ask why?”

“Arthur,Alexis is pregnant. I’m going to be a father. I need to relinquishsome of my duties and free up some time so that I can be the bestfather and partner I can be. I can’t do that without yourhelp.”

“Oh...well...Isee. Congratulations, Bryce. Good gracious, that was quick.”

I chuckled atmy late father’s best friend—my close friend, and the only man Ihad ever looked up to apart from my dad. “Thanks. It wasn’tplanned, but we are beyond thrilled. I’m going to sign over anadditional 6% stake in the company to you, giving you 15% in total.You will hold the title of Senior Vice President, Gareth will stillremain Vice President with his 10% stake, and his duties will gounchanged. Your duties however, will increase. If you require apersonal assistant to help with the additional work load then wewill hire one. What do you say? I don’t trust anyone else, Arthur.Please say yes.” I waited for his answer. “Listen think about itand—”

“No Bryce. Ofcourse, I’ll do it. I am honoured, thank you.”

“No. Thankyou, Arthur.”

“So, you’regonna be a dad. I couldn’t be happier for you, Bryce, and I knowyour parents are somewhere up above, incredibly proud and smilingdown on you.”

I almostchoked at the old man’s words. I respected Arthur and looked up tohim more than he’d ever know, and his kind words and thoughts of myparents pierced my heart in a big way. “Thanks, Arthur. I hopeyou’re right. Listen, I’ve got to go. I will speak to you about thechanges in a few days, okay?”

“Ofcourse.”

I ended thephone call, stood up from my desk and walked over to the window,taking in the view of Port Phillip Bay. Would my parents be proud?I hoped so. I’d never really given much thought to the notion thatthey could be smiling down upon me. I liked that idea though. Iliked the thought that they could somehow see me and Lucy all grownup and happy with families.

I looked at mywatch and noticed it was past 10 a. m. Alexis, you littlesleeping beauty. The thought of her asleep on her stomach, herbare back visible and longing to be touched, stirred my need to goand see her. Fuck, the things she does to me. No wonder I am sofar behind in work. I honestly didn’t care though. She made meso fucking happy, all I wanted was to be around her.

A devilishsmile appeared on my face as I made my way to the apartment door,already running ideas through my head on different ways I couldwake her.

***

I walked intothe apartment and headed for the stairs. I didn’t register thesight before me at first, because it was so fucking terrifying thatit just couldn’t be real. But it was.

“Fuck! Geezus!Fuck!