This latest update is up! hope you enjoy reading it and thanks for the feedback! I know it's a bit off the wall, lol.
The stock market opened the next morning with the news that while Houston Enterprises was now in the hands of some mysterious cabal, its founder had formed a cabal of his own and had started a new business.
Not much was known about it so far but people talked about it a lot including on local radio shows. His investigative agency was wrapped up in it which drew him more business because he'd won an award from the LAPD for a case he'd solved with the police. When news about it got back to his old pal, Vince Novelli back in Miami where he was getting ready to do some deep sea diving at a sunken pirate ship, he had just shaken his head. Matt laughed at his email at the irony of it all.
He'd read about it in bed while he and C.J. ate the oatmeal with cinnamon and sugar that he'd prepared for her. The proper breakfast of eggs, bacon and grits still didn't appeal to her yet but her morning sickness appeared to be winding down, much to her relief.
She had spooned the oatmeal in her mouth while reading about their company launch.
"Houston…if the day comes when I never have to eat any of this…"
He kissed her on the mouth to quiet her.
"It's beginning to grow on me," he said, "It's good for the baby too."
She settled back to read the newspaper which Matt had also fetched for her and she was so proud of what they had done and the man beside her. Many a businessman would have folded after a move pulled like the one Elizabeth had done. First of all, blackmailing him into marrying her and when he stood firm against it, taking his company away. He didn't get really upset about it, because he knew the two of them had built an empire once that had hit the Fortune 500 and of course with hard work, they could do it again.
Only Matt didn't have the same zeal he'd had the first time. After all, much of it had involved trying to prove a point to his daddy that he didn't need his money to be a success. Now, Matt just wanted to do what he loved and have plenty of time for his family. Coaxing C.J. to the altar was one of his first major projects and then getting ready to greet his first child in a little more than six months from now.
Chris would call them with news on some of the purchases they had made to get their company up and running. Mostly office equipment and a cappuccino machine for her and her staff…and of course the hot tub for her man.
"Houston…so what do you want to go today? You want to go to the office?"
He turned to his side to face her.
"I was thinking maybe part day and then we could go look at some properties for our new place."
The ranch that he wanted to buy, as she knew he now regretted selling the old one. It seemed like the prudent thing to do given that he wanted to be closer to his office headquarters in the city and the commutes even by helicopter were getting tough.
But she knew why he wanted it all back. They'd both grown up on ranches and both wanted their children to share in that rich experience, growing up away from the bad air and endless chaos of the big city. Better to have them grow up breathing clean air and being in the outdoors in more rustic surroundings.
"There's some properties near Hidden Hills," he said, "We could start there…there's one I like next to Malibu Canyon."
That sounded good to her. She just wished she could get started because she felt drawn to what the future held for her with a baby on the way. But they had work to do as well and employees who depended on them to get the new company up and running.
Then the phone rang and Matt picked it up.
"Hello…"
It was Chris on the other end.
"What is it?"
She sighed.
"Houston, you should pick up a copy of the Mirror."
"I try to avoid it," he said, "What has Delilah done now?"
Chris paused.
"She wrote the article, front page story about your sex scandal."
"My what…?"
"How you played and dumped a heiress," she said, "and that your engagement was just a ploy to get her trust fund."
"Why would I do that? I have more money than I know what to do with Chris."
"I'm just reading it right now," she said, "Murray…well anyway it just hit the stands all over L.A. and god knows where else…"
Not to mention the internet, Matt thought, this could be tricky territory to navigate given the launch of his new company. He knew Delilah timed it that way, to sabotage his launch so that his company would fail and he'd be back to relying on Elizabeth to hand him back his old empire. But Matt knew how to bounce back from just about anything, even a scandal or two.
"Oh and did you leave your Rolodex in the office?"
Matt tried to think back…he hadn't had time to get everything out of his office given that Elizabeth had brought security there.
"Maybe…"
Chris sighed.
"Parts of it have been published in a two page pull out section of the article…of your conquests."
"Two pages…?"
He hadn't thought he'd had that many girlfriends. It wasn't like he kept count of them all. None of them mattered anymore because he had the woman he wanted where he wanted…almost.
"Yes…and there are some choice quotes Houston," she said, "I guess you broke a few hearts."
Matt knew that not all of his relationships had ended well. Some including his one night stand with the more than a little unhinged Erin had ended badly. He didn't want to think that his bad judgment in jumping into the sack with the attractive but unbalanced blonde had nearly cost C.J her life.
"I'll get a copy of it Chris but I'm not giving Elizabeth what she wants. She's got my company and now she's got to figure out how not to run it into the ground the first week."
Chris sighed.
"No sign of her silent partners yet," she said, "I hoped it was that whacko Courtney but I don't know…I think you should hit Pam again…she's still in town."
"I'll do that…wish she'd reconsider and come back to work for me but I understand why she vetoed it."
Chris chuckled.
"She's very happy Houston…and Slim…I'm so glad their lives turned out so well."
"They deserved the best," Matt said, "but I do miss them…well I'd better get going. C.J. and I are doing a part day and then we're looking at real estate."
"Great…I hope that you find the perfect place and that you get her to the altar quick Houston."
He planned to do just that as soon as he could get her to see reason…and that it wasn't about giving their baby his name. It was just something he'd wanted to do for so long but didn't realize it until they'd gotten together.
"You made progress yet?"
"What….?"
"Now Houston…I know you think you're some fancy stud knocking my best girlfriend up like that but you've got to get it together. She needs you right now."
"She's got me…"
"She needs you at the altar," Chris said, "I'm a good Catholic girl…at least most of the time and I was raised right and you need to hurry up Houston."
He sighed as that had been his intention but C.J. had ideas of her own as to how she wanted the marriage to go down.
"I really am working on it Chris…talk to you later."
She hung up and Matt caught C.J. looking at him, amusement in her hazel eyes.
"Chris hit you with the marriage bit again?"
He looked at her, reaching to caress her skin with his fingers.
"I'm on board with that…so when do you want to set a date?"
She got up, putting the newspaper down. He knew his words hadn't made her happy.
"Houston…it's not that I don't want to marry you," she said, "The timing's so bad with Elizabeth and Delilah running amok and launching a new business."
"We're having a baby C.J…"
She rolled her eyes at him.
"You don't think I know that Houston," she said, "I got up three times last night because I think my bladder just shrunk and pretty soon…I won't be able to wear my clothes!"
He smiled at her.
"That'll be fine with me."
Oh, she wanted to swat him. How like a man to want his woman to prance around naked but there were times to do that happily enough as long as he shucked his clothes too…and then there were times to be the serious businesswoman and partner to him.
To do that, required not only clothes that fit but clothes that projected a professional appearance. She knew that finding her three piece lawyerly outfits would be tough though Elise had helpfully emailed her a list of maternity stores.
She started pacing and Matt couldn't have that. She had to relax more and not put herself under any undue stress. But he knew if he suggested packing her up to spend time at a spa resort could be dangerous for him so he tried something else.
"Tell you what…after we do the real estate business…we can go to that steak place…"
"Houston…"
"Come on…it's going to be just fine," he said, "They've got a new sauce for the tri-tip…"
She put up her hands.
"Okay Houston, stop with the hardball tactics," she said, "I'll go with you but we've got to help Chris set up the databases this morning."
He nodded, marveling in how beautiful she looked this morning. He thought back to the Mirror article, not wanting her to see it as long as possible. He could manage that; avoid the newsstands and the stores. Hope Delilah would stay in her corner for a while. He didn't worry about how C.J. would handle his past romancing history because he knew she felt secure in how he felt about her. But he didn't want to put undue stress on her and the baby….so he had to be careful.
The doorbell rang and he grabbed a robe to go answer it. He saw his cousin, Will standing there with Elise…what were they doing together?
Will's face looked serious and Matt saw that he had a copy of the Mirror in his hand.