The Billionaire's Unwanted Bride novel Chapter 85

Aidan's POV

"Boss?" I feel someone tapping me. I groan and sit up, before opening my eyes to see Natalie. I can't believe I slept here on the sofa. My face becomes red with embarrassment, I am in nothing but shorts.

"Pamela is inside already", she informs me. The memories of what happened last night came rushing and I feel ashamed of myself again.

I want to stand up and go to Anna's room to see if Pam has convinced her or not so I can call Evelyn to come and also my mother to come and plead on my behalf. I know she will definitely listen to one of them. I also need to call Chloe, I won't go to the office today. I am afraid Anna will use that opportunity to run away with my child.

"Boss?" Natalie stops me as I begin to walk towards Anna's room. She shakes her head. "I think you shouldn't go in now. I just woke you up so you can freshen up and go to work. It's almost 7 am."

I don't know why she doesn't want me to go in but I feel there must be a reason.

"She didn't listen to you and Tania last night, right?"

It is obvious she didn't. Anna blocked her ears to the pleas of the women. It is apparent that her mind is made up already.

"Yes, but don't worry. Just freshen up and go to work. I will make sure she goes nowhere", she utters firmly.

"I'm not going to work", I move back to sit.

"Really? Then you should freshen up and come down so we can talk", she insists, making me stop from sitting down.

Why is she insisting that I go and freshen up? What is she hiding from me? Does she want to assist Anna to escape?

"Ok." I beam. "Lock the front door and give me the keys", I instruct her.

Her eyes widen. "Why?"

"I will be happy if you simply comply", I say to her with a smile.

My mind can only be at rest that way. There is no other way out of the house, except for the other door which can only be controlled with a robot. Anna can't go out without my notice if the front door is locked.

Natalie walks slowly to the front door and locks it. She has the key to all the rooms in the house, except for the back door which uses Artificial Intelligence. She oversees the affairs of the entire building.

"I think this is unnecessary", she says after dropping the keys in my stretch hand.

"Thank you", I say only before jumping upstairs to freshen up as she instructed.

****

"Do you love her?" Pamela asks me and I almost spill the water I am drinking, at the question.

I gulp the water down my throat and exclaim. "What?"

She shrugs. "Why don't you want her to leave then if you don't love her?"

"I want her to stay with our child", I say strongly as if to convince myself that it is what I want. I drop the glass cup and turn to her with arms akimbo.

"Tony loves Anna, that's why she is choosing him. I can't be on your side if this is based on your selfish desire to have your daughter within the confines of your home. Another man has a better thing to offer Anna", she mutters and I begin to wonder what she told Anna.

Why is she talking about love?

"What did you tell Anna? What did Anna say? Is she still going?" I bombard her with my questions.

She shrugs nonchalantly again. "She says she wants to go."

"To him?" I point to the door, fuming in anger and referring to Tony.

"I have a feeling he is going to propose to her soon, you should divorce Anna now."

"Pamela, this is not why I called you here", I snap at her in annoyance.

"Why did you call me here then?" She retorts back. Pam and I have never had a serious conversation before and I am surprised at the way she is talking. I don't even know if she is siding with me or with Tony.

"I called you here to help me stop her from going", I grit my teeth.

"I have done that already", she folds her arms and faces me squarely. "Can I go now? My father said he wants me to meet someone."

"Pam", I call when she takes a step towards the door. "I'm sorry."

She glares at me coldly. "Anna is my friend and I want the best for her. If I convince her to stay, what do you have to offer her?"

"I don't know", I shake my head. I have no idea what she wants me to offer Anna.

What do they want?

"I told her you love her." She confess.

"What?!" I can't believe my ears.

Why the hell will she do that?

"Yes, don't you love her?"

"Of course not", I shout. We are in my room and Pam insisted that we come here for privacy.

"What then do you have to offer her so she can stay?" She asks me. I don't understand the point she is driving at. I was asked to marry her and I did.

Do I need to love her before she can stay in the marriage that is going to end after four years?

"We can't love each other", I chuckle.

"Do you like her, then?"

"Of course, she is the mother of my baby", I reply to her.

"Richard says you are in love with her but you don't know", she folds her arms again and crosses her legs.

"Richard? And you believe him? He is nothing but a clown. I don't love her."

"Why then do you want her to stay when you don't love her? A man behaves this way with a woman he is in love with. If you are not in love like you said, then let her go and meet the man who loves her, simple." She concludes.

I don't know why Pam isn't understanding me. I am doing this because I feel guilty for what I did. How can she say I have to love her?

"Pam, I don't know what this is all about but you can't force me to love someone I don't love. Does love even exist?"

"Yes, it does." She walks to the door. "Good luck with your lonely life."

"Pamela", I hurry after her. I know she can help me. It is obvious she can help, she just doesn't want to because she feels I need to love Anna before she can stay.

"Please, wait", I beg. She face me. "I want you to help me, please."

"I have helped already, my job is done here."

"But you haven't convinced her yet", I assert.

"You should go and do that yourself", She says with a wicked smile.

"That's why I called you here, Pam. How many times do I have to say I am sorry?" I am getting tired of all this drama. I should have gone to work instead. This is frustrating. I walk back to the bed and sit in with my hands on my head. I don't want her to go but if that's what she wants, fine.

"I have a plan", she mutters and I look up with a furrowed brow.

"What plan?"

"A plan to make her stay", she grins. "I will tell her there is going to be a party to celebrate my engagement and she needs to come shopping with me and go to the party. I will persuade her to wait till tomorrow before she leaves and that way, we can still convince her not to go on the condition that you won't mistreat her anymore", she explains.

I don't understand how she wants us to do it but I am interested in doing anything.

"Ok?" I peer at her in curiosity.

"Anna loves shopping, so the idea is this; we will go shopping and when we are back, don't try to talk to her about leaving so she won't get upset, avoid crossing paths with her and by evening, I want you to get dressed and find a lovely restaurant that you would like to take her to."

"On a date?" I frown.

"Yes. You will take her on a date to make up for your silly behavior but we won't tell her about the date, I will just tell her to get dressed for the engagement party and bring her to you at the restaurant. I am going to leave you guys there and you will do things yourself, find a way to stop her from going."

"What if it doesn't work?" I am back on my feet now.

She looks thoughtful for a while before saying. "I will bring her home here so we can talk to her together."

"Ok, thank you Pamela", I am deeply satisfied and I am hoping it will work. I also need to think of what to say to her.

"Can I go now?" She demands and I nod.

"I need to go and prepare to meet my father's guest, I have a feeling it's going to be my mom", she smiles broadly and turns to go out. I remember Anna once said something about Pam not having a mother here in New York, her parents are separated and I wonder if they are trying to get back together.

"Pam?" I call, making her stop in her tracks. She turns around to stare at me.

"I think Anna should stop dating Tony, seeing him alone makes me go mad. Doesn't he know she is married? Should I talk to him myself?"

I didn't notice the smile on Pam's face until I look closer at her, surprised that she is silent.

"Are you sure you are not in love with Anna?" She questions with a laugh before running out.