Delilah called up Elizabeth as soon as she got the press release.

"What is it?"

Elizabeth had been struggling with the tutorial for Quick Books. Why did the software have to be confusing and why couldn't have at least one of Matt's secretaries stayed at Houston Enterprises to explain it all to her? After all, she'd heard all of them from Adeline to Zelda that Matt had driven them crazy with his attempts to avoid their requests to sign legal documents even after they'd staked out the front lobby of his old headquarters.

But they'd gone with him off to his new company without hesitation. Zelda had just looked at Elizabeth with what looked like pity in her eyes. Saying something about the great benefits package and the timeshare in Tahiti they all shared.

Delilah sounded excited.

"It's Matlock he's just issued an announcement for a press conference for tomorrow at 10a.m. at his new office."

Elizabeth frowned.

"What for? He's already announced his plans to launch his company at a gala and we're not even invited of course."

Delilah snorted.

"Don't even worry about that. You can have a bigger party on the same night. You've got the brand name after all. He's just got another startup in a sea of them right now."

Elizabeth bit her lip.

"Yeah but he's attracted so much attention…attention which should be aimed at me. I'm famous too. I mean not in a good way but fame is fame."

Delilah sighed.

"Yeah that's true but…I suppose we'll find soon enough what this press conference will be about…I wonder why he sent me a release since he'd threatened to sue the paper."

"Only because he insists you've defamed his associate, assistant or whatever it is C.J. is these days besides a pathetic hanger on. Matt and I…we'd be happily married if it weren't for her."

"Yes that and the psycho slasher who crashed your wedding."

Elizabeth shivered. She couldn't help it. She still had nightmares over that harrowing experience and Matt wasn't there to hold her until they went away like when they'd been doing the whirlwind courtship.

"It's not my fault. I just wanted the wedding to be so perfect. The right dress…the loveliest flowers, wedding cake and I thought I had the perfect groom."

Delilah chuckled.

"Hardly…he's still a man after all and thus prone to testosterone. But at least he's got some standards. His Rolodex of ladies rings like the "who's who" of the socialite scene. C.J…she ran off and had some jailbird father her baby."

"Matt says that's not true. He'll sue anyone who prints that."

Delilah didn't seem impressed.

"I'm going to offer up a DNA test and I'm sure Robert Tyler will volunteer," she said, "I just know he's the daddy. He just has to be."

Elizabeth shivered again.

"If that did happen…I couldn't believe it. She seems low-rent but always with some tact. She's not almost royalty like me but it's hard to believe she'd consort with a felon."

"They were nearly engaged. If he hadn't been caught faking a kidnapping story, they might have made it to the altar."

Elizabeth sighed.

"I just wish I'd made it to the altar with Matt. I so wanted it to work and it still could if he'd just give us and our overwhelming love a chance. I don't know what's gotten into him lately."

"I'll find out at the press conference but regardless I'm still going to go through with my jailhouse interview with jilted almost fiancé Robert. As soon as the warden gets back to me…"

Elizabeth brightened.

"Maybe Matt's press conference means that he wants to join forces with my company," she said, "I really think that's what he wants deep inside…yes that's why he wouldn't marry me when I held his company over his head."

Delilah didn't respond to that. Maybe she was busy with one of her staff members. But Elizabeth decided she had to go shopping. Buy herself some clothes to wear to the press conference…when she knew Matt would call her to the stage with him when he announced their new partnership…the one that was such a grand secret at this point, he couldn't even tell her yet.

Matt looked up at Murray and Chris who'd just walked into the conference room. His corporate president tugged on his collar.

"What is it Big Guy?"

Matt smiled at him.

"I want you at the press conference…the one that's tomorrow morning right here."

Murray's eyes squinted behind his glasses.

"Press conference…why? We've already gone public and we haven't started our new product line so what are we announcing to the media?"

Matt beamed as he kicked his cowboy boots on the table.

"About my being a daddy."

Chris looked elated.

"It's time the world knew what we did already," she said, "I think that's wonderful Houston."

Murray hyperventilated in front of them. Chris just eyed him critically.

"Hey…it'll boost us up a couple share points on the stock exchange."

Murray's breathing began to slow. He shot Matt a look then smiled.

"Okay…I'll be there and I'll bring the early drafts of our first quarterly report…imports, exports…percentages, projections…"

Matt put his hand up.

"Murray…I just want to talk about my being a daddy. Share that with the world okay? C.J.'s going to be there with me."

"Where is she now?"

"She's doing a workout in the gym."

Murray frowned.

"In her condition, is that good for the baby?"

Chris put her hands on her hips.

"Murray they actually let pregnant women do things now rather than be hidden away. C.J. is not going to let it disrupt her life."

"Well then…are she and Houston going to get married," Murray pressed, "are we going to announce the wedding date along with the quarterly report and the other news?"

Matt didn't know how to answer that question.

"I'm still working on that part of it. The lady in question's a bit stubborn."

Chris rolled her eyes.

"I could have a talk with her but I'll wait until she starts showing."

Murray's eyes widened.

"She…you…not getting married?"

Matt put up his hand again.

"I didn't say that Murray, I said the lady was a bit stubborn."

Murray's blood pressure started going up again.

"Well you better get moving Big Guy…you don't have much time until the baby's born and…"

Matt had heard enough and got up to leave the conference room. He knew that he'd get C.J. to the altar before they hit the labor and delivery room but not soon enough for his liking. Like he told Murray and Chris, he was working on it.

C.J. had been doing some light weights in the gym thinking about the press conference. She looked to see Matt walking towards her.

She put her dumbbell down and picked up a towel to wipe her face.

"How'd it go?"

Matt smiled at her.

"Murray lost his breath a couple of times but he's excited about the quarterly report and projections."

She nodded.

"He should be…we're doing great Houston. This company's taking off."

He slid his arms around her and pulled her closer to him.

"I'm more interested in our other venture. How you feeling?"

"I'm feeling good…great…I think I might like this middle trimester thing...I'm almost there."

He released her long enough to take a look at her.

"You look beautiful…why don't we cut out and do some more private preparations for tomorrow?"

She bit her lip. God, that sounded temping but…she shook her head.

"We got work to do here…but maybe later."

He kissed her softly on the mouth.

"Later then…"