The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 70

"Cybil," Miles said glancing up from the cards, "there are some papers on my desk for you. Manila envelope."

Frowning at his interruption she nonetheless circled to the desk and found the folder. Marcus recognized it but said nothing as he turned his attention to his grandfather and kids. Cybil read over the papers her brow furrowing.

"What are these?" she suddenly demanded.

"I think you should be able to read simple test results by now," Miles said without looking up.

Cybil glared at him then looked at Marcus replaceing no support but there simply wasn't anyway these results could be accurate. Finally she said, "Well, I will just have to have Tailor look into this."

"By all means," Miles said, "he has the originals."

"He what?"

"Those papers in your hand are just copies," Miles said. "Tailor has the originals."

"...He does?"

A knock at the door interrupted as Abraham stepped inside, "Master Miles, Master Marcus, the kitchen wishes to know how many for dinner."

"Eight, of course," Miles said. "You'd like that, won't you? Dinner with your pappy?"

The kids eagerly nodded.

"Can I call you lito?" Gabriella asked.

"Lito?"

"Abuelito," Savannah explained, "it means grandpa."

"Of course, sweetheart," Miles smiled back at Gabriella. "Nothing would make me happier than if all of you called me that."

Gabriella snuggled into him. Miles squeezed her tight. He knew nothing about her maternal grandfather and simply enjoyed the title she had bestowed on him.

"Oh shit," Regina hissed. "I need to get to the club. I'm singing tonight."

"Cancel," Marcus immediately said.

"What? No. I can't."

"Regina," Marcus shook his head keeping his voice low. "I will never tell you no or stop you from doing what you want to do but...not the club. You took that job to take care of our kids but you don't need it anymore. You don't belong there." "I can't just quit without notice."

"Why not? It's not like you'll need a reference from them."

"Marcus..."

"Fine. Then we go together. You'll sit with me between sets and we'll come home as soon as you're finished."

"You don't have to do that."

"Yes. I do. I'm not letting you go there alone and get mugged again," Marcus insisted glancing at the kids but they were distracted by their grandfather's magic tricks.

Regina glared at him but she only saw concern in his expression. It seemed interrupting the mugging had a greater effect on him than she realized. He wanted to protect her and she could hardly argue with that.

"Mommy, can we all eat together?" Gabriella suddenly asked. "We can be one big, happy family."

Regina hesitated. Gabriella looked so hopeful sitting in her great-grandfather's lap. She didn't really understand what was happening and just wanted the family meal she had always craved.

"All right...just let me call so they know I can't make it in tonight," Regina sighed frowning at the smile gracing Marcus's face. "This doesn't mean I'm quitting."

"Yet."

***

It was a rather boisterous meal for Miles, Cybil and Marcus as the boys horsed around in their seats between their great-grandfather and grandmother. Miles was like a kid in a candy store delighting in the antics of his great-grandchildren. He asked all sorts of questions to learn their preferences from Savannah and Gabriella who sat on his left.

Marcus and Regina sat on the other side of the girls. Whatever reservations the kids might have had about coming here were long gone. They loved the attention their newly found great-grandfather showered on them. It was as if they had been starved and were suddenly given a feast. The fact Cybil sat nearby pensive and silent had no effect and didn't dampen their spirits in the least. It wasn't until Gabriella suddenly began coughing amidst a fit of giggles that the others suddenly fell silent.

She gasped struggling to catch her breath as Marcus quickly scooped her up. Stroking her back he whispered soothingly to encourage deep breaths. It seemed there was too much excitement for her in a single day.

"Her pills," Regina exclaimed. "They are in my bag in the study."

"I'll get them," Savannah was off like a lightning bolt.

By the time she returned Gabriella had calmed down and her coughing ceased. Regina smiled at Savannah in gratitude before digging into her bag and removing the weekly pill container. She brought it along since they were having lunch with her mother and now she was grateful to have it as this meal was unanticipated. Opening the lid she dumped the evening dose of pills into her hand just as Abraham delivered a glass of water.

"Do I have to?" Gabriella protested.

"Yes, baby," Regina said. This was usually enough to get her to comply; however, she looked at Marcus next.

"Do I really have to?"

He smirked at her attempt to delay, "You know you do, princess."

Sighing Gabriella finally relented. Sitting up she obediently took the pills one at a time as her mother handed them to her. When she was done Regina kissed her forehead for a job well done. Gabriella snuggled into her father's arms enjoying the devoted attention of two parents.

Abraham cleared his throat, "Dessert is cheesecake if anyone desires."

"What kind?" Carlos asked suspiciously.

"Blueberry," Abraham assured him. "Be at ease Master Carlos, strawberries have long been banned from the household."

"Cool," Carlos nodded and his brother quickly agreed.

"Me too," Gabriella perked up.

"Miss Savannah as well?" Abraham inquired before turning his attention to the adults and departed.

"Why no strawberries?" Cybil asked eyeing the boys.

"They are allergic, just like me," Marcus answered with a smirk.

Cybil frowned her attention shifting as Regina put away the pill container and asked, "Does she have to take a lot of pills?"

"Every meal," Regina said. "For her heart."

Cybil fell silent again as Regina turned her attention back to Gabriella who now seemed perfectly fine. She couldn't help but see the parallels. The boys had the same allergy as their father and Gabriella suffered from a heart condition similar to their deceased grandfather. It was too much to simply be a coincidence. Her gaze darted to Regina wondering how on earth she managed to hide them for so long and never once asked for assistance.

She watched as Marcus positioned Gabriella on his knee so she could eat her dessert with greater ease. He had smiled more in the last hour than he had his entire life. Cybil had forgotten he even had dimples. There was no mistaking the teasing look he gave Regina whenever he reached for her hand.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?" Miles asked.

"Well, first thing will be to get a moving truck," Marcus declared.

"Moving truck, why?" Regina asked.

"To clear out your apartment," Marcus said.

"What? Why?" Regina stared at Marcus in disbelief. What was he talking about? Why now all of a sudden?

"Well, you and the kids will be more comfortable with your things here," Marcus said. "What you want to keep anyway. We can donate the rest and I'll get professional cleaners so you won't have to worry about that."

"Wait, wait. I can't just break my lease."

"Regina, I'm sure we can handle any penalty they want to charge."

"That's not the point...where are we going to live?"

"Here."

"But...we can't."

"Of course you can," Marcus argued. "This is your home. You belong here. You belong with me."

"But..."

"Can we mommy?" Gabriella suddenly chimed. "I want to live with daddy and lito too!"

"Yeah, and servants!" Carlos said. "We'll never have to clean again!"

"I wouldn't go that far. Abraham has a thing or two to say about that," Marcus chuckled recalling some of his own punishments.

"Please? Please, please?" the kids chorused.

"...All right!" Regina finally snapped. "All right. We'll stay the night...but we have to go back home tomorrow."

"Fine...then I'll move in with you," Marcus declared.

"Marcus!"

"Either you move in here with me or I move in with you," Marcus shrugged. Regina glared at him but he wasn't budging. "That's the deal. I'm not letting you live somewhere with no security."

Regina sighed. It wasn't that she was particularly fond of their apartment and she would be lying if she said she didn't worry about break-ins but it was too much too soon. What if he changed his mind later? Where would they go when he decided it was too much? "... Fine, we'll give it a try."

"Excellent," Miles said, satisfied. "The Prescotts are holding a charity dinner at the end of the week. It will be an excellent time to introduce Regina to everyone."

"I was planning to take Regina and the kids shopping anyway," Marcus nodded already anticipating how she would look in a dress. "And we'll have to see about getting you a new car." "What? That's not necessary."

"That car of yours is old, a death trap," Marcus shook his head. "And it's too small. The boys and Gaby aren't going to stay small forever."

"You don't have to."

"Regina, let me spoil you like I should have been doing for the last five years."

Regina blushed even as he reached for her hand and kissed it. Why did he have to be so charming and sincere? He made it very difficult to resist.