DRAMA NOVEL ONLINE Chapter Sexting the Don: Epilogue I
Seven months later …
In the opulent conference room of Acumen Investments, I stand poised at the head of the gleaming mahogany table.
My audience includes some of the most influential figures in the real estate sector: Jonathan Hales, CEO of Hales Development, and Angela Torres, director of urban renewal for the city.
The centerpiece of our discussion is the proposed Atrium Towers, a high-rise luxury apartment complex poised to dramatically reshape the city skyline.
Holding their gaze, I extend my hand toward the large screen displaying the project’s blueprints. ‘As you can see, Atrium Towers integrates energy-efficient systems, extensive green spaces, and state-of-the-art smart-home technology to set a new standard in urban living.’
Jonathan leans forward, his interest piqued. ‘Your plans are ambitious, Mr. Martelli,’ he observes, scanning the details. ‘The sustainable features are particularly impressive. They could serve as a benchmark for future developments.’
Angela nods in agreement. ‘The impact on urban renewal could be significant,’ she adds. ‘This project could catalyze further investments in the area. Can we delve deeper into these environmental technologies tomorrow? I believe there’s substantial potential here.’
‘Absolutely,’ I respond. ‘I look forward to expanding on how these innovations can benefit our city. Shall we reconvene here at nine in the morning?’
‘Perfect,’ Jonathan confirms with a satisfied smile, extending his hand for a shake, which I accept with a confident grip. Angela offers a nod of approval, and they both rise to leave.
As the door closes behind them, the hum of the city seeps in from the large windows lining one wall of the room. I take a moment to reflect on the journey of Acumen Investments.
From its gritty beginnings to its rise as a pillar of legitimate business, each step has been a calculated move toward distancing myself from my past toward something lasting and impactful.
Leaning against the window, I soak up a few moments of quiet, looking out over the busy city.
But the peace doesn’t last long. Sean, now my executive assistant, busts in with news that flips my mood instantly—Mandy’s here.
I can’t help but smile as I leave the conference room to find her. Walking through the bustling office, I’m reminded of how fast things are moving with Acumen Investments. We’ve just hit a hundred employees, and I’m already scheming about adding more floors or maybe even constructing a building just for us.
But all that fades to the back of my mind when I see my woman.
There she is in the lobby, looking gorgeous and very pregnant with our twins. She’s got a glow and energy about her that knocks me off my feet every time I see her. We meet halfway, and her kiss pulls me right out of the business mode and into something a lot more personal.
She lifts a bag of sandwiches, giving me a cheeky look.
‘I brought food since I know you’d starve without a reminder,’ she says, and I laugh, taking the bag. ‘You always know what I need,’ I tell her, and it’s the truth.
‘Let’s go sit down,’ I suggest, guiding her to the quiet corner where my office is located. It feels like stepping into another world where it’s just the two of us.
As we head to my office, the hustle of the main floor fades as soon as we step into my personal space. Mandy whistles appreciatively, her eyes sweeping the expansive space. “This place never gets old, does it?” she says with a grin, making herself comfortable in a plush chair as I hand her a sandwich.
“How’s the fitness class going?” I ask, curious about her new routine.
“It’s surprisingly fun,” she laughs, unwrapping her sandwich. “Who knew guiding workouts for a bunch of super pregnant ladies could be so energizing?”
I can’t help but watch the way she handles herself with such ease, even heavily pregnant with twins.
“What?” she catches me staring.
“You’re glowing,” I admit, my sandwich forgotten.
Chuckling, she teases, “Is Mr. Big Shot getting distracted by a little pregnancy glow?”
I stand up, shutting the office door with a click. “You could say that” I smirk, leaning in for a kiss, the kind that says we might be about to blur some professional lines.
She meets my kiss with equal fervor, pulling back with a playful glint in her eyes. “Mixing business with pleasure, Mr. Martelli? Isn’t that a bad idea?”
“I’ve always had a thing for bad ideas,” I murmur against her lips, but just as we’re about to dive deeper into that bad idea, she pauses, a confused look crossing her face.
Mandy’s eyes go wide, her hand flying to her stomach. ‘Enzo, something’s not right,’ she says, her voice tinged with surprise more than fear.
‘What’s up?’ I ask, worry slicing through the playful mood.
“I think my water just broke.”
I look down to see a small puddle forming on the floor at her feet. “I think you’re right.”
“The doctor said twins can come early, but I still have a month to go,” she says, looking slightly panicked.
I squeeze her shoulders. “Everything is going to be okay; I promise. Let’s get you to the hospital.”
‘The 405 is going to be a nightmare right now,’ she half-laughs, half-groans, her usual humor flickering even through her nerves.
I shoot her a reassuring smile, all business now. ‘Don’t worry about the traffic,’ I say, the corners of my mouth ticking up in a smirk.
‘Don’t worry about traffic in LA?’ she shoots back, arching a skeptical eyebrow.
I pull out my phone as we rush toward the elevator. ‘Sean, get the chopper ready,’ I command into the receiver, not missing a beat.
The elevator ride to the roof is quick, the city sprawling out beneath us in a dizzying display of lights full of activity and life. The helicopter’s rotors throb in the background, ready and waiting.
“Seriously?” she asks.
“Seriously,” I say as we step onto the roof. I nod to Sean, who’s already on the phone with Florence. ‘Tell her it’s go-time,’ I say, then turn my attention back to Mandy. ‘Hang tight; we’ll be there in no time.’
The helicopter lifts off, the city slipping away beneath us as we soar over the congested roads. The flight is smooth, the skyline of Los Angeles a sprawling canvas below. Mandy squeezes my hand, her other resting on her belly, eyes wide as she takes in the view.
The landing on the hospital’s helipad is seamless, the urgency of our arrival cutting through any red tape as hospital staff rush out to meet us.
‘We’re in good hands,’ I assure her as we’re whisked into the building, zooming through the hospital corridors.
The hustle into the delivery room is a blur of medical staff and urgent orders. I stand by Mandy’s side, each of us gripping the other’s hand tightly as she endures the waves of labor. Florence arrives soon after, her presence a calming force, and Natalie isn’t far behind, bringing an air of nervous excitement.
“I’ve been pestering Flo here daily for pregnancy updates,” Natalie says with a smile as she sweeps into the waiting room.
The hours stretch endlessly, each longer than the last. I keep my face composed in a mask of control, but inside, the tension coils tightly. I just want my babies here, safe and sound.
Florence leans in, her voice soothing as if reading my mind. ‘They’ll be just fine, Enzo. These little ones are fighters, just like their mom and dad.’
The medical team is efficient; their movements are practiced and precise. I stay close to Mandy, my focus entirely on her, trying to give her strength with my presence. I take her hand and let her squeeze the hell out of it as she breathes through each contraction like a champ.
‘Almost there,’ I whisper to her, continuing to endure the painful squeezes of her hand, supersonic strength coming through, her face etched with determination and pain.
One after the other, the twins make their entrance into the world. The room fills with their first cries, a sound that stirs something profound and elemental in me. The team works quickly, examining, cleaning, and wrapping them before they’re gently handed to Mandy.
I look down at them cradled in Mandy’s arms—a boy and a girl.
They are the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. Suddenly, the room seems to brighten, as if they’ve brought their own light with them into the world.
‘We did good, huh?’ I whisper to Mandy, overwhelmed with emotion.
She looks up at me, her eyes shining with tears of joy. ‘We did great,’ she replies, a tired but radiant smile on her lips.
We decide on their names then and there amid the soft beeps of machines and the murmurs of awe from everyone in the room.
‘Connor and Callie,’ I say, feeling a surge of pride as I speak their names out loud for the first time.
I gently lift Callie from Mandy’s arms, cradling her against my chest. She’s so tiny, so perfect. My little girl. The reality of being a father, of holding my daughter, hits me with overwhelming force. I’m a dad—a protector, a guide, a constant in these little lives.
Natalie and Florence crowd around, cooing and fussing over the babies with an enthusiasm that makes me chuckle. They take turns holding Connor, their expressions of pure joy.
Mandy and I share a kiss, a soft, lingering connection that seals this moment as ours. ‘I love you,’ I tell her, my voice steady and sure.
‘I love you too,’ she replies, her gaze flicking between our children and me.
It’s a perfect moment, surrounded by love and new life. As I hold Callie and watch Mandy with Connor, I know these are just the first of many perfect moments to come. This is our beginning, a new chapter where every challenge feels surmountable, every joy magnified.