LITMIR.BIZ

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for wanting it are both business and personal. Your brother didn't leave on the best of terms. He was their top chemist and had created quite a number of successful products for them. Homer Morton took it as an act of betrayal when he left to form his own company.”

      Colby lifted a brow as she sat curled up in the chair. “And just how do you know all of that?”

      A tiny corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. “I have ways of finding out anything I want to know.”

      She stood and began pacing the room. After a while, she turned toward Sterling. “And you're absolutely sure about all of this?”

      Sterling eased out of his seat and came to stand before her. “It's all there in the report. I suggest you read it for yourself. So far, Morton Industries has acquired the minimum amount of outstanding stock they need before filing with the SEC. Since it appears they'll be doing a filing relatively soon, I can only assume their plan is to start going after a vast quantity of shares of Wingate's stock available on the open market. All Morton needs is enough stock to give them control of your brother's company.”

      Colby turned and walked to the window. She stood there stunned for several minutes and felt moisture gathering in her eyes. This couldn't be happening, she thought. She closed her eyes briefly, hoping that when she reopened them, the events of today would have been a dream. She wanted to open her eyes and find herself back in Virginia, in her classroom taking care of her rowdy third-grade bunch. But when she reopened her eyes, that was not the case.

      Sterling sat down and watched Colby. He knew she was upset. The anger and hurt had been obvious in her expression before she had walked over to the window. And he was perceptive enough to know she was crying. For some reason that bothered him, and he was surprised by the protective feelings she'd awakened in him. They were feelings he wasn't used to. He wanted to go to her and comfort her.

      In one swift movement he stood and walked over to where she was standing. Turning her to face him, he gathered her into his arms, enfolding her in the firmness of his form to absorb her trembling body.

      “Your brother means a lot to you, doesn't he?” he asked her softly.

      She nodded, then tearfully told him why James meant so much to her and the sacrifices he had made throughout his life for her.

      “Shhh, Colby,” Sterling whispered in her ear. “Maybe there is a way you can help your brother.”

      Colby's body was stiff and unyielding for a moment, before she drew in a deep, unsteady breath. She raised tear-stained eyes to him. “How?” she asked brokenly.

      “Come sit down with me and we'll talk about it.”

      Colby allowed him to lead her to the sofa and sit her down close to him.

      “If you'll agree to have my baby, I'll provide your brother with whatever financial backing he needs to keep his company. And I'll do whatever endorsements are needed to ensure the success of his newest creation.”

      Colby stiffened and pulled herself out of the comfort of his arms. She glanced up at him. “You just don't get it, do you? There's no way I could carry a baby inside of me for nine months and then turn it over to you, relinquishing my ties to it. I'm an elementary school teacher, Sterling. That means I love kids. I couldn't just give away my child.”

      Sterling's features hardened. “Not even to help your brother?”

      Colby swallowed. “James wouldn't want me to give away my child to help him.”

      “No, I'm sure he wouldn't,” Sterling said. His voice was like a soft caress as he continued. “A few minutes ago, you mentioned all the sacrifices he's made over the years for you, Colby. What real sacrifices have you made for him?”

      Colby rose from the sofa to face him, her expression pleading for understanding. “But you're asking me to give up a baby, something that will be a part of me, my own flesh and blood.”

      Sterling stood. “Yes. That's exactly what I'm asking you.”

      “But a baby needs its mother.”

      His jaw hardened. “You can't convince me of that. I didn't need mine.”

      Colby lifted a brow. From his remark she could only assume his mother was not around while he was growing up, and for whatever reason, it had left him bitter. “You may not have had a mother around, Sterling, but you can't convince me you didn't need one.”

      She watched him move to the window and gaze out. After a few brief minutes he slowly turned back to her, giving her a long, hard look. “It's important you understand that if you decide to go along with me on this, once I get custody of my child, you'll never be a part of its life again. I will be its only parent.”

      “But you constantly travel all over the world. You'll never get an award for being a stay-at-home family man. What kind of life can you offer a child? When will you have the time to spend with it?”

      “My child will be the most important thing in my life, and it's the quality of time and not the quantity of time that makes a difference. I will be both father and mother to my child.”

      Colby swallowed. What could she say? He was convinced a mother's love wasn't necessary. “What if the woman decides after the baby is born that she wants to keep it?”

      “I'll have the contract to back me up,” Sterling answered. “I've taken extra precautions to make sure it's not contestable.”

      Colby then asked the question that had nagged her since leaving Edward Stewart's office. Sterling Hamilton was known to be a man whose name was constantly linked to some of the most beautiful women in the world. He was the man both People and Entertainment magazines referred to as one of the country's most eligible bachelors, as well as an extraordinarily gifted actor. The media thoroughly enjoyed keeping the public informed of his bad-boy lifestyle. It was often rumored nothing in a skirt was safe from him, especially if that skirt-wearing female caught his eye. From everything she'd read about him, he preferred a certain type of woman—tall women with long legs and pencil-thin bodies. She had none of those faculties.

      “Why me, Sterling? Why was I the one chosen?”

      He stared at her a few minutes before speaking. “I found the information on you very interesting. Foremost were the facts that according to the medical information I obtained, I don't have to worry about you giving me anything other than a baby, and you don't have any gynecological problems, so there shouldn't be any difficulty with you getting pregnant.”

      “And what about you?” Colby snapped, angry that he had invaded her privacy by obtaining information about her. “Maybe you should be concerned about just what you might give me. You're the one with the widely acclaimed global sex life. And what if there's a problem with you?” Colby asked, lifting her chin belligerently. “What makes you so sure you can get someone pregnant?”

      An amused look glinted in Sterling's eyes. “The tabloids like to sell those sleazy papers, and the media likes to keep America's ears buzzing. You're too intelligent for me to stand here and deny every intimate detail you've heard about me, so I won't. But I will say most of what you've read is not true. Although I do date a number of women, I don't believe in taking unnecessary risks. I love life too much not to be selective and cautious. It's plain suicidal these days not to. And at the risk of sounding boastful, getting you pregnant won't be a problem. However, to address your concerns, according to a recent physical I had, my sperm count was more than adequate to accomplish what I need to do.”

      Colby blushed furiously. Then she asked her next question. “What about you and Diamond Swain? At one time the two of you acted like you were joined at the hip. Why can't she give birth to your child?”

      He was silent for so long that for a while Colby didn't think he would answer her question. When he finally did, his tone was serious, and the look in his eyes held no signs of humor. “Diamond Swain is very special to me but not in the way the media has claimed. She and I are very good friends and that's all you need to know.”

      “That's not all I need

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