Baby Daddies Can Be Hard to Forget

Schuyler Square
Day Two

Veronica

Sitting in the waiting area outside Ron Schuyler's office, Veronica Channing was having a hard time accepting the fact that it had been over two decades since she'd last been there. Shouldn't have something have changed in that time? Like the carpeting or the curtains or the furniture? But no, Ron Schuyler's waiting room was exactly how it had been when she had sat there twenty-five years ago, waiting to be interviewed by Mr. Schuyler and as nervous as a cat strung out on caffeine.

Veronica bit her lower lip as she remembered how incredibly anxious she'd been that day. Well, of course she'd been anxious. She was a kid who needed a job and the one at Schuyler Enterprises sounded like the best thing in the small town had to offer. Veronica's plan had been to get the administrative assistant position, save every dime she could and then move on before her twenty-first birthday.

Funny how life worked out. She'd gotten the job, all right. She'd managed to save a lot more money than she had anticipated and she had moved away the day she turned twenty-one--but she'd taken a secret with her when she left. A secret that was now twenty-seven and who was undoubtedly old enough to finally meet his daddy.

Taking a small mirror out of her purse, Veronica studied her reflection and wondered if Ron would even remember her. Everyone in town knew the man had trouble keeping his pants zipped. Their summer fling had been just that: a stupid, ill-considered foray into area motels where the chambermaids smirked at them and Veronica had ended up feeling cheap and used and suddenly much older than her years.

With a small sigh, Veronica shoved the mirror back into her purse before doing any more inventory. The last twentysome years hadn't been easy but she didn't look too bad. She supposed she looked on par with other  women in their forties. The thing she had to remember was not to let Ron see the fear in her eyes.

She glanced at the receptionist. "Would you mind asking Mr. Schuyler when he'll be free?" she asked.

"I'm sure he'll be right with you." The receptionist smiled at her. "He's a very busy man," she added.

"Oh, I'm sure he is," Veronica murmured. Busy cleaning his nails, checking the stock market and setting up his next golf date. Busy, busy, busy that was Ron Schuyler. At least that was the Ron Schuyler she remembered.

The door to Ron's office began to open and Veronica felt an unexpected sensation of free falling panic. In about three seconds she would be looking into the sky blue eyes of the man who had fathered her only child.

Veronica tried not to faint.