“That sounds like a great plan, but isn’t it going to take you some time to get a return on your investment? I mean, I thought Kane was all about high-risk and quick dividends,” Joanna said, but when Addison tilted her head, Joanna blushed. “I’ve been doing some reading.”

“Yes, I see that,” Addison said, her eyes widening in surprise. “And you’re right. When it comes to Kane Holdings, we prefer our portfolio to be fluid, ever-changing, and to do that, we invest in higher-risk avenues, and if successful—”

“If?”

“Very good,” Addison said with a grin. “When successful, the dividends will speak for themselves, but when it comes to my personal business, I prefer a little less risk knowing that, in the future, if I played my cards right, I’ll get my return.” Addison got up to refill her glass, and as she pulled the stopper from the decanter, she looked back at Joanna. “Would you like some more?”

“No, I’m good,” Joanna said. “Thanks.”

Addison returned to her seat, and after drinking an ample amount of the single malt, she placed her glass on the desk. “And speaking of the future, I know given our relationship now, this is something I should have talked to you about before tonight, but...um...I didn’t make up my mind until this past week, and it’s...it’s definitely something you need to know.”

“Oh yeah,” Joanna said, lifting her glass to her lips. “What’s that?”

“Well, I hope you don’t mind, but...um...I’m going to have a baby.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

The smile on Joanna’s face slowly faded as she gawked at Addison. Her mouth opened and then closed, and then opened again. She jumbled the words in her head like a puzzle believing she hadn’t heard them correctly, but the anxious look on Addison’s face told Joanna she had. “Did you just say...did you just say you’re having a baby?”

“Well, technically it’ll be a surrogate, but yes.”

“A baby?” Joanna said, cocking her head to the side.

Addison nodded. “Yes.”

Joanna kept her eyes on Addison as she got to her feet and headed straight to the liquor decanters. She took her time as she filled her glass allowing her mind to sift through all that had transpired since she had met Addison, and before she placed the stopper in the bottle, Joanna knew the subject of children had only come up once. Returning to her seat, she sat down, crossed her legs, and took a swig of her scotch. “This is about what that man, Firth, said at dinner, isn’t it?” she said, setting her glass aside. “The one who showed you the photo of his sons.”

“How did you—”

“I overheard more than you thought.”

“Oh.”

“So, am I right? Is this about winning some sort of corporate contest of wills?”