Falling For Her Billionaire Baby Daddy

Zoe's birthday party was everything Rachel hoped for and more. Rob and Taylor outdid themselves with setting up the event.

Her backyard had been transformed into an Alice in Wonderland tea party scene. There were tiny blush pink furniture which were the perfect size for the celebrant and her little friends.

The tea sets on the table matched the furniture perfectly, and so did the balloon arch at the entryway to the backyard. There was a snack table filled with pastries and candies.

A cotton candy stand was erected nearby and a strawberry milk fountain dispensed delicious pink liquid that was accessible to everyone.

"This is amazing, Rob," Rachel whispered excitedly to her brother. "Thank you."

"Anytime, kiddo," said Rob with a smile. "Is Derek coming?"

Rachel shrugged. "I don't know, but I invited him yesterday, so..."

"Speak of the devil," said Rob with a nod towards the balloon archway where Taylor was ushering Derek into the party. "Here comes your baby daddy."

"Don't call him that," Rachel scoffed.

"And you are his baby mama," Rob continued, playfully goading his sister.

"Shut up, Rob."

"Mommy!" Zoe screamed when she spotted Derek. "Bye, Mommy. Bye!"

A hush suddenly descended on the party as all the adult guests zeroed their attention on the newcomer. Nobody knew who Zoe's father was and they'd never asked about his identity out of respect for Rachel.

But now here they were, hearing the child calling this unfamiliar guy her daddy. They could see that the child might be right because her resemblance to the man was uncanny.

"Hey, baby girl," Derek greeted his child cheerfully.

He dropped the bags of gifts he was carrying to make room for her. Zoe ran into his arms and they two embraced each other tightly.

"Wow," breathed Reese Donovan, Rachel's aunt. "This is what I call an epic reveal," she said with a shaky laugh.

The others were too stunned to say anything. They simply watched silently as Derek presented Zoe with the gifts he'd brought for her. "Happy birthday, Zoe," he said. "These are for you."

Zoe laughed and descended on the bags. Her friends joined her and within seconds, they were ripping everything apart.

"Zoe, say thank you," Rachel prompted her daughter.

"Bye," said Zoe happily.

"You're welcome, sweetheart," Derek said tenderly.

Rachel cleared her throat loudly to get everyone's attention. She was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the awkward silence that had descended on the party.

"Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to Zoe's father," she began tentatively.

She didn't know why she felt weird about making this introduction. There was something about the way everyone's eyes were now centered on her, that made her nervous.

"His name is Derek Fraser" she continued. "And he, um, recently came to Atlanta to see us."

"Hi, everyone," said Derek, rising to his full height. He knew some of them were already judging him and they were probably full of questions right now.

"Where have you been all this while?" Asked Reese's husband, Douglas.

He wasn't the type to pretend and he couldn't hide his dislike for this man. The same man who abandoned Rachel all through her pregnancy and then conveniently showed up now that the child was born and being well-taken care of. Reese nudged her husband in the rib with her elbow. "Shush, Doug. Don't be rude."

"I'm just asking a question," said an unrepentant Doug.

"I have been in New York running my businesses and living my life,” replied Derek, unflinchingly. "I had no idea of Zoe's existence until a couple of days ago."

"Is that right?" Asked Doug, unconvinced. "Rachel here told us that the father of her child rejected the baby when she told him about it. Was she lying about that?"

"No, she wasn't," said Derek boldly. "When she told me she was pregnant, I didn't believe her."

"Why?" Reese asked.

Her niece was one of the most honest people she knew, so she was curious to know why Derek didn't believe her when she told him that she was pregnant with his baby. "Because she wasn't the first woman to show up at my doorstep, claiming to be pregnant for me," Derek replied, "and all the others before her had turned out to be liars." "So, you are in the habit of sleeping with anything in skirts and-"

"Uncle Doug..." Rachel protested.

"You're right, sir," Derek said, looking straight into Doug's eyes. "I am a man who enjoys hanging out with any lady I fancy, but I was always careful until I met Rachel." Doug scoffed. He wasn't buying Derek's explanation.

"I was wrong to accuse her of lying even when I knew that there was a possibility that her claim could be true," Derek continued, unfazed. "I was a coward and I apologize for not being there for Rachel as I should have been. That is one mistake that I'll regret for the rest of my life."

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Everyone was quiet again except for Zoe and her little friends who were now running around and laughing. They were completely oblivious to the tense exchanges going on among the grown-ups.

"Has anyone ever told you that you look like that billionaire called Fraser?" Asked Hunter, Doug's oldest son. "Are you guys related?"

"Yes, we are," said Derek with a straight face and Rob laughed.

"What?" Hunter asked.

"He is the billionaire Fraser you are talking about, Hunter," said Rachel.

Hunter's jaw dropped and there was a collective gasp of surprise amongst the other guests.

"I don't care if you are the President, but I will not have you bouncing in and out of Zoe's life as if she's some random kid that you've suddenly taken an interest in," said Doug, unimpressed. "Zoe is a sweet child and I don't want you messing with her feelings as you did with Rachel."

"Doug," said Reese with a warning tone.

"You are right sir," said Derek seriously.

He was not offended by Doug's accusatory tone because he knew he would feel the same if their roles were reversed.

"I promise to do right by Zoe and Rachel. Believe me when I say that I have learned from my mistakes and I am ready to make up for the lost time."

"Good," said Doug, with a stern face. "Well, let's get on with the party then."

"Thank you," said Derek. He turned toward Rachel and smiled at her. "Thank you for inviting me."

"Sure," she said with a shaky smile.

Now that the cat was out of the bag, Rachel didn't know what else to say or how to act.

"Want a drink? We've got strawberry milk, lemonade, apple juice, and fruit punch."

"I'll go for the fruit punch," he said.

"It's PG," she warned him playfully.

"That's fine," he grinned.

She went to the drink stand to get his beverage and Rob came to join her there.

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"Uncle Doug is an OG for setting Derek straight like that in front of everyone," said Rob in a low voice. "I was beaming with pride behind you."

Rachel chuckled. "Yeah, he's a real one for that."

Their aunt's husband has been a substitute dad to them since their father died nearly two decades ago. He and his wife have always been there for them and their mom whenever they needed help.

That was why they didn't hesitate to take Rachel in when she was pregnant with Zoe and needed a place to stay and have a fresh start in life.

"Well, now that everyone knows who Zoe's daddy is, what next?" Asked Rob.

Rachel shrugged. "I don't know. Let's just see how it all works out, but I won't be holding my breath."

"Be optimistic, darling. He might surprise you and sweep you off your feet."

"Don't be ridiculous," Rachel dismissed him. "I am only being friendly with him for the sake of Zoe."

"Would it be so bad if you were friendly with him for the sake of yourself?" Rob teased her.

"Leave me alone, Rob. This party needs a clown and I think you're perfect for that role."

"Haha, very funny," said Rob before walking away from her to join Taylor who was shamelessly rolling on the ground with the children.

"Here you go,” said Rachel, presenting the glass of fruit punch to Derek.

"Thank you," he said, accepting the drink with a warm smile. "This is a great party. I wish I had known about it sooner, I would have contributed to making it even more fabulous. I would have also invited my best friend's kids too, with your permission, of course."

"You don't have any nephews or nieces that you could have invited?" Rachel asked, fishing for information.

"No. I'm an only child," he said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "I know this may sound presumptuous to you, but I would love for Zoe to have siblings."

"I beg your pardon?" Rachel said incredulously.

"Sorry," Derek apologized, embarrassed. "That was merely wishful thinking. I didn't mean to rattle you."

Rachel exhaled slowly. She was all for Zoe having her dad in her life and all that jazz.

However, if Derek kept making this kind of unsettling remark, she might have to rethink her decision to let him back into her life. She wasn't interested in traveling down that road with him again. Once was enough.