Page 42 of CEO's Baby Scandal
He picked up his case and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry for causing such a stir. I just care about you as a friend, and I care about this firm. A lawsuit like that won’t sink us, but the media circus around it just might. I don’t want to see you gothrough that, or the firm you’ve built. And I also don’t want my reputation tarnished with the fallout either. Neither does Grace. Just let us handle this, and swear to me you won’t make contact with her until she’s terminated.”
I hated it, the way he thought he could handle me—because that’s what he was doing. He wasn’t managing a situation, he was controlling me, micromanaging my actions and reactions to mitigate damage.
“Yeah, I swear. Okay? I know how this works.” My mouth said the words, but my heart screamed to ignore him. I knew he was right, though. Any court in the world would see my response to Evelyn’s threats against me and the firm as hostile. Even if Emily called me again, I needed to ignore it.
I waited a full twenty minutes after Michael left before making my way downstairs. I didn’t want the uncomfortable conversation to continue in the elevator or on the street while waiting for my driver. I had a hard enough time clearing the notifications and pretending my heart didn’t really want to call Emily and clear this whole thing up. She didn’t know it, but I loved her enough that if money was what she wanted, I’d give it all to her. I just wanted her too, not just a settlement.
I stepped off the elevator and headed out the front door, locking up behind me, and when I turned to walk toward the car, I saw Evelyn standing there. The glare on her face, coupled with the way she stood with arms over her chest, told me she was angry again. At least I knew who she was this time as I walked into the confrontation.
“Mr. Jacobs, I think you remember who I am.” Her nose seemed pointier than it did last week, or maybe I was confusing her with the Wicked Witch from that old movie.
“Yes, I know who you are,” I said, walking past her toward my car. That face had been burned into my conscience. I didn’t think I’d ever forget it or get it out of my nightmares.
“Listen, buddy?—”
“Look, if you’re going to file a lawsuit, just get it over with. Okay?” I spun around, still several strides from the car. I heard the driver’s door shut and knew he’d be opening the door for me.
She scoffed, snarling her lip up like a rabid dog ready to attack. “Tell me, when you hired Emily, did you think about how you’d fuck up her life before you did it? What about when you screwed her in your office? Did you plan to knock her up and then dump her in the ditch when you were done with her?” She gestured with her hands as she spoke, but I wasn’t intimidated. I still clung to the hope that she was speaking out of turn. My heart had to believe that this was not what Emily was like.
“Have you even spoken to her? Has she put you up to this?” I took a few steps forward, but my conscience told me to stop. Acting in an aggressive or threatening manner would only make things worse.
“Didn’t you hear me?” she asked, ignoring my question. “Emily is pregnant. You knocked her up, and now she’s pissed and thinking about getting rid of it.” Evelyn’s nostrils flared as she moved closer to me, clearly not afraid of me.
So many thoughts raced through my mind. “You’re lying.” I clenched my jaw and shook my head. “If she was pregnant, I'd have been the first person she told.” It made sense, the sickness, calling into work, being overly emotional. But she’d have told me.
“I’m not lying. She went home to visit my parents, and my mother took her to an abortion clinic… So you’re right. Maybe she’s not pregnant anymore. But either way, you are going to cough up money to help her. Because she’s refusing to let her family help her, and I for one won’t stand by and watch her fail.”
Her words fell on deaf ears. I turned to my car and tried to stop the rage boiling in my chest. I heard Evelyn following me. The driver grimaced at me and stood aside as I neared, andEvelyn grabbed my arm and tried to get me to turn around. I yanked my arm out of her grasp and whipped around, leaning over her. She wasn’t as short as Emily, but I still towered over her small frame.
“You need to back off. And you need to listen to me carefully. I have enough power and resources to bury you, your sister, your parents, and their business so deep, they’ll never dig out. Do you understand me? And my firm is one of the most powerful in this city, hell, even the country. You’ll find yourself so swamped in litigation, it will cost you everything and I’ll still win.”
I turned and climbed into the car before she could respond. The driver shut the door, and I locked it while he attempted to get Evelyn to step away. She was so angry, even after he climbed in, that she was pounding on the window and screaming slurs at me which I could only just barely hear thanks to the soundproof glass. As angry as she was, I had to believe part or all of her story could be true. If it were my sister and I believed she was being played, I’d be furious too.
But I knew Emily, or at least I thought I did. She’d have told me if she was pregnant. That only made me more confused and frustrated. I was glad I hadn’t answered the phone during that meeting. After that display, I could only imagine how that conversation would have gone if Emily really was going to sue me. And it all would have played out right in front of Michael.
“Are you alright, sir?” the driver asked after rolling down the window that separated us.
“Fine, thank you. I appreciate your taking the lead there at the end.” I felt my phone buzz again, and for a split second, I hoped it was Emily.
“You’re welcome, sir. Just going home now?” he asked, glancing in the mirror.
“Yeah, home…” I pulled my phone out to see a text from Michael reminding me of a meeting first thing in the morning. It was not the message I hoped to receive.
I laid my head on the headrest and closed my eyes, listening to the sound of the window going back up. This was too overwhelming. I wanted to wake up and find it was all just one big nightmare. Except, if that were true, then every single second I’d spent with Emily would have been part of that nightmare, the intimate moments, the love I felt. And how could that be true? How could love be such a cruel and twisted figment of my imagination?
29
EMILY
Iwas nervous as I dressed for work. My skirts were all just slightly too tight, which made them snug across my hips. I knew Olivia would judge me, but I had no choice. Until I found some maternity clothes, I had to make do with outfits that were too tight. It wasn’t any tighter than a pair of skinny jeans, but it wasn’t exactly professional, either. I checked myself out in the mirror. The extra snugness accentuated the curve of my ass. I thought it was sexy, but sexy wasn’t how I was supposed to look at work.
Instead of the jacket that went with my suit, I chose a sweater that hung low, covering most of my backside. It was a bit warm for a sweater, but it would be better than hearing the lecture. It also was a bit loose around the middle, which would hide the tiny bulge I had. Though, I did stand and look in the mirror as I pulled the outfit tight against my stomach to see how my body was changing. The nurse at the clinic was right. I was well on my way to showing quite early.
Shaking the sweater out so it hung loosely again, I put on some earrings, a touch of makeup, and picked up my purse. With a new routine of regular tiny meals and the addition of the anti-nausea medicine, I felt well enough to work. I also felt badlyfor missing so many days, and I was ready to jump back in the saddle and catch up on any missed assignments Daniel had for me.
I was eager to speak with him too, maybe over lunch, and discuss exactly why I had been absent. He hadn’t called or texted me, which made me think he was very upset, but I knew when I told him what was going on, he’d understand why I hadn’t been at work. I just hoped that he’d also be happy about the babies and not angry with me for delaying telling him. And as for the bit about his not seeing himself as a father, well, he’d have to get over that. Like it or not, he was going to be a father. Even if he didn’t want a relationship with me.
The subway was packed, standing room only, and my feet hurt already from the walk to the station. I wished I was really showing. Maybe one of the men seated around me would give up his seat, but no one did. So I stood, clinging to the pole in the center of the aisle as the train took me to my station. I arrived early, no rushing to the building, so I stopped and got Daniel his favorite blend of coffee and one for myself as well. I smiled as I thought about seeing him again. God, I’d missed him.