Page 6 of Secret Baby for Dr. Billionaire

Two Years Later

“Youknowyoudidn’thave to do this, Frankie.”

“It’ll go to waste anyway, Chloe.”

Frankie dropped the last of my boxes in the furnished living room of the penthouse I’d be residing at for the next three months. He was in a plain black tee and worn denim jeans, making him look like the sexy next-door neighbor girls liked in films.

Frankie, my best friend, my ride-or-die. The only person I trusted with my life.

Right now, this young man was one of the most requested models in the world. They said his tan skin looked good with all the camera flashes, and his smile made the ladies go crazy.

He was supposed to have a gig in the area when he booked this beautiful penthouse with a view of the beachfront, but when his client called him a month ago and said they had moved their venue overseas. Frankie offered me the penthouse for free, knowing that I had plans to move out here in Miami.

The penthouse was everything I could ever dream of, but something I could never afford. Hardwood floors and a kitchen with white marble countertops and glass windows from the floor to the ceiling gave me a panoramic view of the ocean. Everything in the penthouse was white and gray, minimalistic and beautiful simultaneously. Not to mention, it was huge, with three bedrooms, a Roman tub, and walk-in closets. There was hot water in the shower and a TV with cable, which I knew Sofi would enjoy. Everything felt like a fever dream.

The building had two penthouses on one floor facing each other, and whoever lived across from me had access to their own personal infinity pool that overlooked the beautiful horizon of South Beach.

“Besides, Sofi will love it here, won’t you, baby girl?” Frankie made his signature baby voice as he playfully approached Sofi in my arms.

Sofi was one, and thankfully, she was as healthy as they came. Her baby teeth were already growing, and her molars were starting to hurt, which I prayed wouldn’t be a nightmare because I was sharing a living room wall with my new neighbor.

Despite Clyde ghosting me after I broke the news of my pregnancy to him, I was proud of what I had done to keep Sofi happy and healthy. I clearly didn’t need the man. But it wouldn’t hurt if I got a little help in the money department, seeing as diapers and formula didn’t come cheap.

Sofi squealed in agreement with Frankie, even though she had no idea what we were talking about.

“Won’t this be too much if we stay here?”

“Stop it already, Chlo,” Frankie argued. “There’s no refund, okay? You staying here is a good thing. You get a head start on things, and I get my money’s worth.”

“Frankie—”

“It’s not a big deal. I love you, and you know that.”

Frankie had made it clear that he loved me when he had confessed. He had feelings the moment we walked out the door of the foster care system. But I made it clear that he was more like the brother I never had, and I couldn’t reciprocate whatever he felt.

“I’d do anything to help you and Sofi. Besides, aren’t you happy to live near a beach?”

I was! I loved the beach. The beach had no bad memories for me. All the good memories I had ever had took place at a beach. When Frankie and I left the foster system, we celebrated by getting drunk at the New York beachfront. When I was discharged from the hospital after having Sofi, Frankie drove us to see the beach.

And now, as I was planning a new start, we were near the coast again. And to me, that was a good sign. There was just something about the salty air and the warm sand on my feet that gave me comfort and clarity—it was almost therapeutic.

“If it makes you feel any better, I can’t stay and help you unpack. My plane leaves for Vienna in a couple of hours.”

“Go,” I urged. “Me and Sofi have got it from here, right baby?” Sofi babbled and tried to put her fist in her mouth, perhaps feeling her molars.

“You’ll call me when you need anything, right?”

“I never call you for help, Frankie.”

He narrowed his eyes at me as he grabbed his duffel bag from the floor. It was true. Although I knew that I could, I didn’t call Frankie for help most of the time because it felt like I was taking him for granted if I did. I knew he still had lingering feelings for me, and I knew that if even if I called him to help me move the couch, he’d be on a plane immediately, even if he was in the middle of an important shoot.

“But tell me, anyway.” He gathered Sofi’s peachy cheeks with his hand and showered her with many smooches. Sofi shrieked in delight, trying her best to push Frankie away with her plump arms.

Then Frankie kissed my cheeks and squeezed my shoulder in…what? Reassurance maybe? I didn’t know, but it gave me a little bit of comfort, knowing that I might be on my own, but I’d always have Frankie.

He left, and I waved little Sofi’s hand at her favorite uncle before he could close the door behind him. And then, just like that, Sofi and I were alone again.

“Guess it’s just you and me again, baby girl.” I set her in the living room crib I got off of Facebook Marketplace last July for a very low price. Frankie had offered to buy Sofi a new one, but the crib was clean and in good condition.

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