The Ceo's Contracted Mistress
The Ceo’s Contracted Mistress Chapter 14

Three minutes later a single knock on the door had both kids clutching at each other on the sofa, their stuffed toys hanging by their ears, their faces tear stained and biting their bottom lips nervously.

Bobbie looked at them, “you sure?”

They both nodded vigorously, and she walked briskly to the door, leaving them to sit together while she opened the door a fraction. The man on the other side had clearly been pulling at his hair. His shirt he’d obviously buttoned and unbuttoned several times as a middle one was undone, and the top done. His face was serious and unsmiling.

“They’re not a firing squad,” she mocked him and reached up with her fingers to fix his hair and then his buttons. She stepped past the door making certain the kids couldn’t see her and lowered her voice, “they’re scared Olivier. Pull it together. You’re the adult.” He nodded at her words. “And for God’s sake, try to smile. You look rougher than I did coming down to this room.” At her comment, a smile tugged the corner of his mouth. She took his hand and brought him forward into the room.

She closed the door behind and then led him to the sofa. “Max, Ollie, this is Olivier Villeneuve. Olivier, this is Max and Ollie.”

“We have the same eyes,” Max said quickly as he studied the large man in front of him. He looked to his mom, “will I be as tall as my dad?”

Bobbie noted Olivier tense at the word dad, and she patted his back as she answered Max’s question, “if you’re lucky. You could be short like me.”

Olivier grunted when suddenly Ollie charged him and threw her arms around his waist, nearly knocking him to the floor. When the little girl started sobbing something about swearing, he gingerly picked her up in his arms and rocked her back and forth, running his hands over her hair gently, whispering soothing words to her. He held an arm out to Max who at first seemed hesitant and then the boy was running at him too and he held him against his body. Tears coated Olivier’s face as he rubbed the hair of both of his children, holding them in his arms for the first time.

Bobbie wiped her own tears off her cheeks and met his eyes over Ollie’s head. She gave a small smile and stepped back to give him a bit of space with the kids. She moved to sit on the edge of one of the beds and watched the scene unfolding in front of her. When Olivier knelt to scoop the now also crying Max up in his arms, holding both kids on his h**s and moving to stand near the patio doors as if trying to control his emotions with a change of scenery she leapt up and moved to open the sliders to the balcony. Their patio wasn’t near as extravagant as the one in his penthouse suites, but it was fresh air. He stepped past her to sit on a wide lounger, holding both kids to his lap, neither child willing to relinquish their grip on him any more than he wanted to let them loose.

It was easily ten minutes before the kids both stopped their crying and Olivier was taking measured breaths. She left them sitting for a moment and then reappeared carrying bottles of water, running her hand over Max’s back, and pushing hair off Ollie’s cheeks. She met Olivier’s eyes with a sad smile. “You, okay?”

“Are you kidding? This,” he squeezed the kids to his chest, “is the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life. When we all stop crying it will be even better,” he gave a laugh.

“You’re crying too?” Ollie sniffed and looked up at him, her little hand cupping his jaw as she searched his face.

“Of course,” he kissed her palm. “There is nothing wrong with crying. It is good for the soul.”

“You’re really our dad,” Max whispered unable to meet Olivier’s eyes.

Olivier kissed his forehead, “I am really your dad, and I am so sorry it took me this long to know you.”

“It’s not your fault,” Ollie told him earnestly, “mom said someone lied to you and made her think you were a bad guy but you’re really a good guy just like she thought.”

He closed his eyes as the kids both nodded at Ollie’s words, clearly forgiving him for whatever his role might have been in the situation.

“Mom said you were going to replace out why and take care of it. I hope you punch the liars right in the nose,” Ollie said her face scrunched up. “They deserve it.”

He threw his head back and laughed at Ollie’s words, “chérie, I promise you, I will do more than just punch them in the nose. You don’t ever have to worry about the liars again.”

“Will you kill them like the Hulk?”

“Oh my god,” Bobbie sighed and dropped her face into her hands as Olivier continued to chuckle.

“No, I will not kill them like the Hulk.”

“Will you punish them? How will you punish them?” Ollie was seriously excited about someone paying up.

“I think you should let the grown-ups handle those things and I would encourage you to simply focus on enjoying the fact you have your dad now and thinking of all the things we get to do in the future as a family.” Bobbie changed the subject away from the negativity.

“Mom,” Ollie whined, “bad guys should get punished.”

Olivier lifted an eyebrow in her direction as she faced off against three similar faces all demanding the same thing. As she gave him a pointed glance expecting him to have her back, he shrugged, “fine, your mother is right. There is no need for you to worry about how I will make sure the liars get what they deserve.” He whispered suddenly to the kids, loud enough for Bobbie to hear, “I have more money than Batman. I’m going to take all of the liar’s money and make him poor.”

“Ooo,” Ollie clapped excitedly as Max bounced up and down with glee.

“Jesus Christ!” she slapped her hands to her knees.

“That’s the first one I’ve noted today.” He wiggled his fingers at her to come closer. He winked at Ollie, “every time your maman swears, she has to give me a k**s.”

Ollie loved this idea, squealed with delight, and screamed at Bobbie to k**s him. Max grumbled it was gross, but he was grinning as Bobbie rose up and kissed his lips with a frown.

“One,” he winked and tickled Ollie’s ribs. “I don’t even care she swears. I just want the k****s.”

“You like my mom,” Max grinned, his cheeks pink as his mother kissed a man near him for the first time in his life.

“I like your mom very much.”

“Do you love her?”

“I do,” he didn’t even hesitate to answer Ollie’s question. “She gave me you. How could I not love her?”

Max spun to Bobbie, “do you love our dad?”

Bobbie smiled self-consciously, “of course I do. Didn’t you hear what he said? He’s richer than Batman.”

The kids squealed with delight at Bobbie’s teasing and how Olivier playfully grabbed her and hauled her into his arms holding all three of them captive on his lap. “Your maman is being sassy.” He tickled her and the kids helped him.

“Olivier, you said maman, do you speak French?” Ollie asked.

“Oui, chérie, I do.” He tweaked her nose. “I understand you are learning to speak French.”

“Oui,” Ollie spoke proudly, “je peux parler en français.”

“Moi aussi,” Max spoke with a grin.

Bobbie rested her head against Olivier’s chest, closing her eyes, her body held against him on the lounger with the kids tucked beside them, listening to them converse back and forth. The kids being braver and bolder with the questions they were asking of their newfound parent. She let him answer them all the way he wanted to. She was tired. “Welcome to parenthood, buddy,” she thought with a smirk.

Suddenly Ollie sat up and gripped Max, “we have to tell Lark!”

“She knows,” Bobbie said not opening her eyes. “Her mom was telling her while I was telling you.”

“I want her to meet my dad.” Max said excitedly.

“Me too.”

“Why don’t you go ask them if they’re ready for breakfast,” Bobbie g*****d. “We’ll go have breakfast together. Everly already made reservations in the private room in the restaurant downstairs for eight.” She tilted her head up to look at Olivier, “we didn’t think you’d mind.”

“You two think of everything,” he said kissing her forehead.

“Ew, he kissed mom again.” Max grumbled but he was grinning as he slid off the lounger. He jumped up and down excitedly forgetting himself for a moment and squealed at Ollie, “we have a dad! Let’s go tell Lark.”

The kids raced off the patio through the room.

“You just let them run through the hotel?” Olivier started to sit up

“I promise you, the minute the hotel door opens, the door to the suite the Hoffmans are in will be open. Their kid has been bouncing on the other side of the door itching to get in here.” She pulled his arms around her middle and sighed contentedly. “This went far better than I feared.”

He was still looking over his shoulder in the direction of the hotel door. “Bobbie, it is not safe.”

“Olivier, nobody knows but us. My friends are not going to go blathering it to the world. Grady hates the press. We lay low every time we come here. We call Houston the city of the ghosts of Christmas past.”

“Ouch,” he spoke in her ear.

“I was hiding from who I thought was a trafficker and Grady,” she chuckled, “Grady is hiding from an ex-wife and his best friend who put on a show which made reality television look boring and whenever they replace out we are here, one of them tries to contact him.”

“His wife and best friend?”

“Uh-huh. The best friend impregnated his wife. Grady knew the kid wasn’t his because not only did they use condoms every single time, but he swears he pulled out too just in case. She miscarried not long after he punched out the best friend on national television.”

“Every time you tell me something about Grady, the more I like him.” Olivier grunted with appreciation.

“He got Everly pregnant their first time together. She swears he did it intentionally.”

He laughed at her words. “Did he?”

“He refuses to confirm or deny her allegations, however he agrees the condom was quite possibly not correctly put on in his attempt to very quickly seduce the woman of his dreams.” She giggled as Olivier’s chest rumbled behind her with laughter. “You did not use protection last night by the way.”

“I know.”

“I’m on the pill,” she looked at him watching for any emotion to cross his features but there was nothing displayed outwardly, “I might have lied when I said I wasn’t.”

“Good, then we can forgo all the condoms moving forward.” He whispered hotly, “it’s much more fun to just –”

Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the squealing of children in the hotel hallway and Bobbie reluctantly sat up. “Get ready to meet your unofficial third child. Where they go, she usually goes. They’re a package deal. Before I forget, Grady wants alone time with you. He is very protective of us all. If his kid is going to spend time with us and us now includes you, he wants to know you.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he took the hand she offered. He turned his head suddenly, “I didn’t notice the mark there earlier.” He brushed his thumb on her neck where her hair had moved away.

“Yeah, Max noted it immediately. Little s**t thinks I burned myself with a flat iron.”

He yanked her close and kissed her mouth, “that’s two for today, chérie. We didn’t get to ten yesterday. I’m very much hoping for ten today.”

“Mom, dad,” Ollie voice screaming excitedly through the hotel room made Olivier grin.

“She adapts fast,” Bobbie shrugged and headed back inside. “We’re right here. Stop screaming you little demon.”

Ollie was yanking Lark through the room with excitement, “Lark, Lark, this is my dad. Dad, this is Lark.”

“Not fair!” Max shouted from the door. “I wanted to do it.” It was clear he was furious, his fists clenched at his sides.

Olivier held his hand up, “come here, Max. It’s not too late. I haven’t said hello yet.” He sat down and patted the spot on the sofa and Max raced in and sat with him. Olivier held out his hand, “hi Lark. I’m Olivier.”

“I’m Lark Hoffman. Are you really Ollie and Max’s dad?”

“Yes.”

“Will you make them move away from us?”

“No,” he furrowed his brow at her question. “Why do you ask?”

“Cause my dad said you have more money than God and living in a quiet cul-de-sac five bedroom house in a gated community in Dallas is probably roughing it for you. Nana Prue said you probably live in a mansion.” It was evident the girl was reporting verbatim information she eavesdropped on.

Olivier laughed at Lark, “well, I don’t own a mansion. When I’m working here in Houston, I stay here at this hotel. When I’m in London or New York, I have a condo I stay in. I don’t have a house but I’m hoping Bobbie, Max and Ollie are going to let me share their home so I can be part of their lives every day.”

“Wouldn’t you rather live in a mansion?” Lark clearly thought he was nuts.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged, “I heard there is a pretty cool set of treehouses in the backyard which connect with a bridge.” He met the eyes of the adults who had entered the room and held them seriously, daring them to argue with him. “I think it would be very mean of me to force the three of you to be apart when clearly you’re meant to be together.”

Lark flung himself at him and hugged him tight, “oh thank you, thank you. I didn’t want you to take my best friends away.”

He patted her back gently and grinned at Bobbie. “One down, three to go?” he gave a pointed glance at the trio by the door.

“Nah, just two,” Nana Prue spoke up. “I can tell my girl went dancing last night and she’s still smiling, and my grandkids are smiling. I’m good.” She waved at the kids, “we need food. Let’s go.”

“Did you go dancing mom?” Max asked as they all made their way to the door. He made a face when Bobbie held his glasses out to him.

“You old hag!” Bobbie hissed at the woman who was cackling. “No, I didn’t go dancing. I stayed in and looked at photos of you with your dad.”

“Do you know how to dance?” Ollie asked her seriously.

“Your mom is an amazing dancer,” Olivier spoke up and grinned when Prue held her fist out for a fist bump. “Best I ever danced with.”

Bobbie blushed as Grady roared with laughter. Everly was giggling and Prue was ushering the kids down the hall in the direction of the elevator. A door to a room at the end of the hall opened and an exceptionally large man stepped out and got into the elevator with them at the last second.

Bobbie looked at Olivier who simply nodded at the man. Nine people in the tiny elevator were a tight fit and yet Olivier appeared to be quite at ease with the chattering of the kids. As they scampered in the direction of the hotel restaurant, the big man followed at a distance.

“Is he your security?” Bobbie asked when the kids stepped away.

Everly looked surprised at Bobbie’s question. “He’s just a hotel guest, Bobbie. He was in the room by the elevator.” She looked at Olivier as Bobbie stared him down. Her mouth dropped open as she realized Bobbie was right.

“I told you, Bobbie. My family is to be protected at all costs. Speaking of, I need the address of the house. My team wants to make certain your ensure security in the house is up to par before you go home at the end of the week.” He looked to Grady, “your house too. If the yards connect, both houses need to be secure. People do stupid things to try to get my money.”

“Are you joking right now?” Bobbie was pissed.

“Your choice is to let me upgrade the current house or relocate you.” He stopped suddenly and held Bobbie’s eyes, his glare very clearly telling her those were her only two options. “Decide now. Either you go home to your current house or a new house at the end of the week but whichever you choose will have state of the art security.”

Grady elbowed him, “give me your phone number. I’ll send you both of our addresses, the school contact information and all of their extra curricular activity schedules.” As Everly and Bobbie hissed in furious rage, he shrugged, “he’s right. He’s loaded and people always want what they don’t have. If they can use the trio of terror to get it, they will. I want my kid safe. If he wants to pay for it, have at it.”

“This f*****g sucks,” Bobbie grumbled as she marched away from the way Olivier and Grady clapped shoulders.

“Chérie, you are already at three. You’re well on your way to ten,” he called after her laughing.

“What does he mean?” Everly whispered as they approached the restaurant.

“He thinks I swear too much.”

“So?”

“He created his version of an adult swear jar. A k**s every time I curse.”

“It’s not so bad. Worse things to do. Look at him. What happens at ten?”

“Blow job when I hit ten.”

“I’d be spitting and sputtering if I were you,” Everly giggled, “he’s gorgeous.”

“Why do you think I’m at three before eight am?” She giggled back as they reached the private room they’d reserved for breakfast. Sure, enough the big beefy guy was sitting at a table right at the door to the room. She nodded curtly and then looked to Everly, “told you so. We’re never going to walk freely again.”

“Well, could be worse,” Everly whispered.

“How?” she questioned at the sound of Olivier and Grady laughing loudly coming up behind her made her look over her shoulder in annoyance. Why were they this chummy this fast?

“He could have grown old, fat, balding and broke. You have hair to tug on,” she looked over her shoulder longingly at Olivier’s thick head of hair. “God, I miss a man with hair.”

“Speaking of hair,” she whispered. “I haven’t been to a spa in ages.”

“Your hair looks great.”

“Not the stuff on my head,” she corrected.

“Oh s**t,” Everly clapped her hand over her mouth. “When’s the last time you tamed the jungle?”

“Kindergarten?” she looked to the kids.

“You’ve just let it go freestyle for three years?” Everly was horrified as she slid along the bench on the wall beside the kids. “Oh my god. Last night?”

“Was like a snake in the rainforest,” she held the menu up over their faces as they whispered. “What is the current trend? Last time I did garden and landscaping it was bald or landing strips.”

“There was the vajazzled thing for a while, you know where you put shiny jewels on your bits.” At Bobbie’s horrified expression she shrugged, “I don’t recommend it. They hurt when they get pulled off. Grady likes a triangle. Ask him what he likes?”

“He told me not to change it.”

“He’s into seventies porn bush?” Everly was impressed.

“Why are you two hiding behind a menu?” Grady asked as he pulled a seat out at the table.

“We’re discussing gardening and landscaping. Do you really need to be part of this conversation?” Everly glared at her husband over the menu.

He looked between them in disgust, “that’s gross.” He pointed at Everly, “you, it’s not gross.” He pointed at Bobbie, “you, it’s gross. I don’t even want to know.”

Olivier lifted his menu clearly catching on to the topic of conversation, “I spent many years of my youth playing in the swamps of the bayou. Messy, overgrown, and wild. Best times of my life involve those three words.” He gave a mocking grin to Bobbie who was shaking her head at his words her cheeks glowing red. “I like things a little untamed.”

“What’s a bayou?” Max asked.

As Olivier began explaining about where he grew up in Louisiana, Bobbie sat back and felt more of her worries disappear. Any reservations she might have had about him fitting in with their group of seven were quickly and easily being dismissed. As he explained to the kids about snakes swimming in water and climbing the vines, he winked at Bobbie and Everly caught the wink nudging her under the table. Yes, he was fitting in just fine.