The Billionaires Hired Baby Mother: When the wife and surrogate are two different people by BWWM Club, Tyra Small Page A

Well I’m leaving now. Ettie again
make yourself at home,” she said turning on her heels.
    Ettie suddenly felt very uncomfortable and was beginning to
understand why Roy was upset earlier. She turned back to the dishes,
her face flushed.
    “ I’m sorry you had to see that,”
Roy said quietly.
    Ettie turned to him, biting her lip. She didn’t know exactly
how to respond to him.
    “ I should go check on Lily,” she said
finally.
    “ Yes. Of course. I’ll be in the den if
you need me,” he said, a sad smile on his face.
    Roy sat in the den his hands in his head. Melissa had asked him to go
to a networking party. In a way he thought she knew he would say no.
What he didn’t expect was for her to still go without him. What
was happening between them? Melissa was so distant. She was always
working. They didn’t even talk anymore. She was always
preoccupied lately. Her first priority was always work and never him.
It wasn’t even about the baby all the time. Just everyday
conversations. She seemed annoyed with him. About every little thing.
There was this chasm between them and he wasn’t exactly sure
how to fix it.
    Melissa still hadn’t returned several hours later. It was
almost midnight. He went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water when
a movement caught his eye. It was Ettie. She was sitting by the pool,
her back to him, dipping her feet in the water. He walked outside.
    “ Hi,” he said.
    She jumped.
    “ Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to scare
you,” Roy said sitting beside her.
    “ Mom and Lily are sleeping. I couldn’t
sleep,” she said as way of an explanation.
    “ I couldn’t sleep either,” he
said sliding off his shoes and dipping his feet in as well.
    “ Is Melissa back?” Ettie asked. “I’m
sorry I didn’t mean…”
    “ It’s okay. And no she isn’t.
These network things could go on for hours,” he replied.
    “ I’m sorry you didn’t go.
Seriously you don’t have to obligate yourself to us. We can
take care of ourselves,” she said.
    “ Can I tell you a secret Ettie?” Roy
asked.
    “ Sure.”
    “ I hate those things. You actually saved
me,” Roy chuckled. “I only go to galas because my father
insists. If I had it my way I would rather be here. Teaching my son
to swim,” he said with his million dollar smile.
    Ettie swallowed.
    “ I’ve never been a party type of woman
myself,” Ettie added.
    “ No. I didn’t think you were. So are
you comfortable? Do you need anything?” he asked.
    “ Yes. Thank you. Everything is fine. I just
have trouble sleeping in a new place.”
    “ Thank you for doing this. It was a lot to
ask.”
    “ I understand. And in a way it’s good
for Lily. She has been bugging me to teach her how to swim.”
    “ She’s a great kid. She reminds me of
you in many ways. Not just that she looks like you, but her feisty
spirit,” Roy said.
    Ettie smiled. They sat in silence for a while, just enjoying the
peace and the company.
    “ Ettie,” Roy said after a while. “Do
you want a Roy Gardner famous midnight snack?” he asked.
    “ Well that depends,” she laughed,
“what is it?”
    Roy jumped up and helped Ettie to her feet.
    “ It’s a secret,” he said
winking.
    Ettie sat at the counter while Roy went about making them something
to eat. His famous midnight snack turned out to be grilled peanut
butter and strawberry jam sandwiches, complete with two frothy
glasses of chocolate milk. They had a great conversation. Ettie
teased him about his choice of snack and admitted she thought it
would be some fancy contraption with truffles or some other
ridiculous ingredient. He jokingly called her a snob. They were
eating and laughing when Melissa unexpectedly was standing in the
doorway.
    “ Mel,” Roy exclaimed. “I didn’t
hear you come in.”
    “ I just got back,” she responded.
    Ettie smiled at her, she didn’t return the gesture.
    “ We were just having a snack. Neither of us
could sleep,” Roy said.
    Ettie cleared her throat. She