Page 22 of Coerced Kiss
Saverio holds the officer’s gaze squarely. “That’s right.”
“What time was that again?” the officer asks, looking at a piece of paper that lies in front of him.
“Not long after midnight.”
“Did you meet her outside the building?” the officer asks.
“A little farther down the road,” Saverio says. “I was running a couple of minutes late.” Raising his shoulders, he smiles. “Traffic.”
The officer continues to ask me a few questions about when I last saw Mr. Lewis and what happened after I left. One lie after the other tumbles from my lips, each one twisting my insides into knots.
All the while, Saverio rubs soothing circles over my wrist with his thumb, but I see the caress for what it is. It’s not designed to bring me comfort as I sell my soul and commit an unspeakable crime. It’s a warning, straight and simple. He can crush my bones by simply closing his fingers.
When the ordeal is finally over, I’m exhausted. Keeping up a pretense is harder work than I thought. Lying takes its toll.
The officer who showed me in opens the door and stands aside for us to exit. He shoots Saverio a condescending grin without acknowledging me.
Ms. Price and the female officer are still in the reception area outside the office. They lift their heads when we approach, their gazes glued to Saverio’s face. It’s one of those faces that attracts attention. I suppose in his line of work, a face like that must be an occupational hazard. There’s no chance of slipping unnoticed in or out anywhere.
He heads straight for Ms. Price and says in a no-nonsense manner, “I’m taking Anya home.” Intertwining our fingers, he continues, “In her condition, she shouldn’t be here.”
“What condition?” Ms. Price asks, narrowing her eyes on me.
Shit.
I tug on Saverio’s hand, trying to catch his attention, but before I can stop him, he blurts out, “Why, she’s pregnant.”
Ms. Price pulls her eyebrows up to her hairline, but she doesn’t say a word. She purses her lips and stares after us as he swiftly pulls me by the hand toward the hallway.
Surprisingly, no one stops us. I suppose there won’t be any work done today.
Zack wears a surprised expression when I tell him goodbye. He must be wondering who Saverio is, especially since Saverio is gripping my hand in an unmistakably possessive hold. I never mentioned a boyfriend to anyone at work, but then again, there are plenty of things I haven’t told them. I keep many aspects of my life secret.
Once we’re in the street, I untangle my fingers from Saverio’s and take two steps away. “How could you?”
He observes me with a neutral expression. “How could I what?”
“Tell them,” I say, pinning my arms at my sides.
“Tell them what?”
“That I’m pregnant.”
He raises a brow. “You didn’t tell them you were pregnant?”
No, and yes, that was wrong. Unable to admit that I’m that person, a deceptive employee who abused my employer’s trust, I spin around and try to escape, but I don’t make it two steps before his fingers curl around my bicep.
He flings me around to face him. “Why didn’t you tell them?”
I blink, trying to come up with an excuse, but nothing can justify my behavior.
“They should know.” He loosens his hold, but he doesn’t let me go. “You’ll need time off for medical checkups, and later, you’ll go on maternity leave.”
I jerk my arm from his grasp. “Don’t lecture me on how to run my life.”
“Lecture you?” He gives me a baffled look. “These are simple logistics. You shouldn’t take these arrangements so lightly. Your health is at stake.”
“There you go again, carrying on about my health, talking as if you care.” My voice rises in volume. “I just want you to leave me alone.”