Tempting The Billionaire. Niobia Bryant

her mouth with the napkin before turning to face him. Wow. He’s fine.

      Chance was nursing his second glass of champagne and squinting from the sun of the late summer season as he eyed her.

      “You shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach,” she said, offering him the other half of the sandwich still on the saucer.

      He eyed it and then her. “My appetite isn’t for food, Ngozi,” he said before taking another deep sip of his drink.

      “The only thing I have for you is half of this sandwich, Mr. Castillo,” she said, keeping her voice cool and even.

      He chuckled.

       “Akwaaba. Akwaaba. Memo o akwaaba.”

      They both turned to find LuLu Ansah, Alek’s mother, standing in the open doorway looking resplendent in traditional African white garb with gold embroidery with a matching head wrap that was simply regal. Both the Ansah and Dalmount families surrounded her, with Alek and Alessandra beside her with the baby in Alessandra’s arms. Both she and Alek looked around before they spotted Chance and Ngozi, waving them over.

      They rushed to take their place, Ngozi gratefully handing the saucer and the remainder of the sandwich to one of the waiters.

      “Welcome. Welcome. We welcome you,” LuLu translated, looking around at everyone gathered with a warm smile that made her eyes twinkle.

      Ngozi leaned forward a bit to eye her goddaughter, who was just eight days old. She was beautiful. A perfect blend of Alek and Alessandra, with tightly coiled ebony hair and cheeks that were already round. She couldn’t wait to hear her name. Alessandra had not budged in revealing it early.

      “Today we are honored to officially present a new addition to our family. We will have both a religious ceremony to baptize our little beauty to ensure she is favored by God, and then an outdooring, which is a traditional Ghanaian ceremony when a baby is taken outside the home for the first time, given a name and prepared with the love and wisdom we all hope for her. Is that okay with you all?” she asked, looking around at the faces of everyone in attendance with a sweet, loving expression.

      People applauded or shouted out their approval.

      “And so, we welcome into our world, our community, our village... Aliyah Olivia Ansah,” LuLu said with pride. “May we all pray for her, guide her and love her.”

      Alessandra pressed a kiss to Aliyah’s head, and then Alek pressed one to her temple.

      She was so loved.

      Ngozi was happy for them and couldn’t help but smile.