Chapter 13

Simone stared at herself in the mirror, making certain that everything was in place. She had called him and even though she had his personal number, she had gone through his wretched assistant who had coolly told her in the smug and professional voice of hers that 'Mr. Marsden was currently in a meeting and could not be disturbed.'

The woman had never liked her, and she had been planning on waiting until she was Mrs. Hayes Marsden to insist on her being fired. But that was not going to happen now, she thought bitterly.

Her father has been on her case for her to do something. "Get him in a room alone and take off your clothes. Surely, there must be something you are good for."

So now she was forced to play nice and confront a man who had thrown her over for his childhood sweetheart. It was galling and humiliating, but it had to be done. He had finally gotten back to her, and she had insisted on seeing him. She had suggested he come to her place, but he had refused.

"That would not be wise." He had suggested a very public restaurant. But for what she had in mind, that would do. She was about to play a hand and a lot was hinging on it being a winning one. She had everything in place and had to look the part.

Her father had warned her that there would be no second chance. "Handle this well and you will have my utmost gratitude and approval. Fail and you might as well be dead to me."

She blinked back tears and wished her mother was still alive. What a twist of fate, and what a horrible turn of events that had taken her mother away from her, instead of a man who had wished for a son and gotten a daughter instead.

And now she was paying the price. He refused to allow her to run the museum as she saw fit, even though she was more than qualified. Her ideas were dismissed casually with a flick of a wrist. She had tried so hard to get him to listen to her and pay attention so that they could move forward.

He had been pleased when she started with Hayes, had told her he was proud of her and had given her a more leading role in the running of the museum. That had stopped when Hayes broke things off with her.

Stepping back from the mirror, she took one last look at her pinched, pale face and realized that she did not need makeup after all to show that she was unwell. She was angry and vengeful, and she intended to strike where it hurts.

*****

Hayes had not told Camelia he was meeting Simone and was feeling guilty. He should have told her. In the past, their relationship had always been based on trust. He wanted it to be that way —it had to be in order for them to get over the hurdles facing them. Now, she was carrying his seed, and the plans for the wedding were already underway.

But he owed it to Simone to at least hear what she had to say. He had no idea what that could be. He had nothing else to say to her, and he did not relish the prospect of yet another scene. The fact that she had suggested they meet at her place had sent alarm bells ringing.

And she was running late. He had just pushed back his chair with the intention of leaving when she came hurrying in, followed by the Ma?tre d'.

"I am so sorry, Hayes. An emergency at the museum that I had to deal with."

Sliding back his chair, he greeted her with a perfunctory kiss on the cheek before pulling out her chair.

"I have less than half an hour, I am afraid." He nodded to the hovering waiter. "I ordered the soup du jour. I hope you don't mind."

"Soup sounds fine. How have you been?"

"Busy." His green eyes scanned her face, wondering at its paleness. "You?"

"Trying to cope." Picking up her glass of water, she took a sip.

"Look, I know I ended things between us hastily, but I want you to believe that I had no intention of hurting you."

"I do." She fussed with the gloves she had placed on the table. "I have news, and I would like you to know that I thought long and hard about telling you. My first instinct was to get rid of it, but that would not have been fair to you."

He stared at her with a frown. "What are you talking about?"

Picking up her glass, she took another sip of water and waited while their bowls were placed in front of them. "I haven't been able to keep anything down, so the soup was a very good idea."

Hayes' eyes were transfixed on her face, his body still. "What's wrong with you?"

Dipping the spoon into the thin liquid, she sipped tentatively before looking over at him. "I am pregnant."

"I hope you are not saying it's mine."

"Two and a half months, to be precise." Putting her spoon down, she reached for her tote and took out an envelope.

"What's this?"

"I know you would have a difficult time believing me, so I got an official note from the doctor."

Hayes forced himself to reach for the envelope and scanned the stamp before opening it. He read the medical jargon declaring that 'the fetus' was healthy and the pregnancy viable. Aside from moments of illness, which was normal for that period, the mother was doing very well.

Looking up from the document, he stared at the woman across from him. "What the hell are you playing at?" he demanded harshly. "I always used protection. I never wanted–"

She filled in the blanks. "You never wanted the mistake of an unwanted pregnancy, not even with me. And not even the fact that we were in a committed relationship, or so you led me to believe."

"Is this revenge?" His eyes glowered as he looked at her, and she had to force herself not to flinch. "Are you trying to pay me back for leaving you?"

"Do you honestly think I enjoy humiliating myself by coming to you?" she hissed. "I thought about terminating the pregnancy. You are with the woman you love; I was nothing to you, and I have accepted that. But the fact is—I am pregnant with your child, and you need to know about it. I am not asking you to marry me–"

"Because that's not going to happen."

She flushed at his scathing remark and wished to God she was really pregnant. "Well, that's telling me. Anyway, I am here because you deserve to know."

Pushing away his bowl, he leaned forward, his expression one of eerie calm. "Listen to me and listen well. I am a very powerful man who can make your life a living hell.

I don't give a damn about that piece of note from some obscure doctor. I looked into your father's finances, and you are both drowning in debt. If this is a ploy to gouge money from me–"

"It's not!" she cried softly. "Look at me, Hayes. I have been sick for days. Do you think I don't realize who I am dealing with? I am pregnant, and I am scared. I have no one to turn to. Daddy is furious with me and is threatening to take away my allowance." Pressing her lips together, she took a shuddering breath. "I had no one else to turn to."

She held her breath as he continued to stare at her for what seemed like ages until he pushed back his chair.

"You are leaving?"

"I am running late for an appointment," he said grimly.

"What are you going to do?"

"Deal with this at a later date. I hope you don't mind if I keep this?" He picked up the envelope.

"No, of course not. But why?"

He gave her a derisive look. "You don't honestly think I am going to just take your word for it, do you?" he asked sardonically.

"I am a very wealthy man, Simone, and women are always trying to trap me. I have not reached where I am by not exercising caution. I am with the woman I have loved since I was a child, and we are getting married, as I am certain you have heard about it.

I have waited all my life for this moment with her and I am not going to allow anything or anyone to get in the way of that. If this is a ploy to get money out of me, you should have simply come to me and be honest. I would have helped in any way I could. If I find out that this is a trick, I am not going to be very forgiving."

Simone felt the fear clawing in her throat and almost suffocating her, and for a minute, she thought about confessing, but she had gone too far to turn back now.

"I am telling the truth." she whispered, managing to force a few tears.

"Then I guess we'll just wait and see. I will be in touch."

Pushing the bowl away, she took a deep breath, realizing that she had made a very powerful enemy, and when he found out the truth, it was not going to be pretty.

*****

He couldn't concentrate, and the envelope was boring a hole in the pocket of his suit jacket. He had contemplated calling Camilia while he was on his way back, but a phone conversation was not going to cut it. He could not deal with this right now. He was in the middle of overhauling and firing several employees from the newly acquired airline.

He was anxious about Camelia being pregnant and wondering if this was going to be too much for her. Then there were the plans for the wedding. And he was also afraid that she was going to be upset when he told her what was happening to Simone.

He didn't believe her, not for one second. It was a ploy, had to be. It was her chance to get back at him and perhaps try to get money out of him. Camelia had told him that she had taken the news too calmly, there was no way she was okay with it.

He would call the damn doctor himself, and if he had to go and find him and wring the truth out of him, he was prepared to do so. But first, he had to tell Camelia what was going on. They had made a vow to tell each other everything, even the painful bits and he had been the one who insisted on it.

"You left without telling me what Mother said to you, and all the pain and grief could have been avoided. No more." He had been firm on that. Too much had happened to tear them apart, and he was not going to risk anything like that again. Not anymore.

"Give me a full ten minutes without interruption, will you?" he ordered as he moved past his assistant's desk, stopping her as she was about to hand him several messages. Without breaking stride, he marched into his office and closed the doors behind him.

Going straight to the liquor cabinet, he splashed bourbon into a glass and took it with him to his desk. Taking out the envelope, he stared at it distastefully before sliding out the note. Reaching for the phone, before he could change his mind, he dialed the number, surprised when it was answered by a professionally sounding female voice.

"Dr. Glendon's office. How may I direct your call?"

"What kind of doctor is he?" Hayes asked abruptly.

"I beg your pardon?"

"What kind of medicine does he study? I need to know if I am calling the right place. I am looking for a specialist for my wife."

"Dr. Glendon is an obstetrician."

"How long has he been practicing?"

"Ten years. I am sorry. What's this all about?"

"Is he in? I would like to have a word."

"I am afraid he is in consultation with a patient. If you like, I could take a message and have him call you back."

"No, that's fine. I will call back." Hanging up the phone, Hayes leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. The woman sounded legitimate enough, but that did not mean she wasn't part of this elaborate scheme.

But for now, he had some things to take care of and before this got any further, he was going to tell the woman he loved that he might have gotten his ex pregnant. He was not looking forward to it. Not one bit.

*****

"Mr. Marsden, I know you said no interruptions–"

"Yes, what is it, Gretchen?"

"Your fiancee is trying to get hold of you. She said she tried you on your mobile–"

"Put her through. I am sorry, gentlemen, but I have to take this." Barely waiting until the men had left and Gretchen closed the doors, he grabbed the receiver as soon as the call was put through. "Baby, are you okay?"

"I am spotting." She sounded scared and tense and transferred the anxiety to him.

"Where are you?"

"On my way to the doctor. Will you meet me there?"

"What did she say?" Pushing away from the desk, he got ready to grab a jacket.

"She is trying to assure me that there is nothing to worry about. She said that it's normal. But with my history–"

"You are not taking chances. Darling, hang up. I am going to call you on my cell."

Shrugging into his outer coat, he issued orders to his assistant. "I will be out for the rest of the day. Reschedule the appointments and only forward important calls to me."

"Yes, sir." The woman responded in her coolly polite and professional voice and immediately went to work.

Hayes called her as soon as he entered the car. "How are you? Where are you?"

"I am scared, Hayes. And I am just driving into the parking lot now."

"I am precisely ten minutes away."

"I am not going to wait on you."

"No, go on in." He hung up from her, his heart thumping inside his chest. He was sure it was not detrimental, or else the doctor would have insisted on her going straight to the hospital. But so much was hinged on them having this baby.

He would marry her whatever the result, but he knew she was depending on the baby surviving. He found himself praying earnestly as he sped through the light and made the turn.

*****

"I am going to do a thorough examination even though I know the fetus is not in any danger," Dr. Hensen said with a smile. "But to put your mind at ease, I am going to do a thorough examination. When did you start spotting?"

"I was at my desk, and my panties felt moist." Camelia barely stopped herself from twisting her fingers into a knot.

"How much blood?"

"Just spots, and they look dark brown, instead of red. Shouldn't we–you be checking? I could be losing my baby–"

"Any cramps?"

"Slight. More in my lower back. Why?"

"Because I have to get all the information before I do the exam. Spotting is normal during the first trimester."

"I cannot lose my baby." She was near to tears and hanging on by a thread. Where the hell was he?

"And you won't. Let's get you into the examination room."

She was in the middle of the ultrasound when Hayes came rushing in.

"Traffic," he said briefly, moving immediately toward the cot to take her hand.

"Dr. Hensen, I presume?"

"Yes. Very nice to meet you." The woman threw him a smile. "Just a routine examination. Your blood pressure is a little elevated, but that's to be expected. And there it is."

"What?" Camelia demanded, gripping his hand.

"The heartbeat. It's very strong, and everything seems to be in order."

"Are you sure?" Lifting their joined hands, Hayes brushed his lips over hers.

"I am. Nothing to worry about. Take the rest of the day off, the spotting will probably continue for the rest of the day, but like I said, it's normal. I am going to give you something for the nausea as well as some folic acid."

Putting away the instrument, she turned the machine off. "I will leave you to get dressed. Meet me in the office when you are done."

"I overreacted," Camelia said, blowing out a breath. "And you were probably in some life-altering meeting when I called."

"Not life-altering, and you are supposed to call. That's what I am here for." Plucking tissues out of the box, he wiped the gel off her belly gently. "It does not matter what kind of meeting I am in; I will always come running. I apologize. I did not hear my phone ringing."

"It's fine. I am fine now."

He was helping her with her sweater when his phone rang.

"You have to get that?"

"I told my assistant to only forward the urgent calls..." He stared at the number and realized it was the doctor calling him back.

"What is it?"

"Nothing important. I will let it go to voicemail." He shoved the phone into his pocket and finished dressing her.

*****

"Hungry?" They had decided to come to her place because it was closer.

"Just a little. I just want to rest for a little bit."

"How about I accompany you upstairs and come back to make some tea?" he suggested.

Cocking a brow at him, she shook her head. "I can make it upstairs on my own, and tea sounds nice. Remember what we agreed on?"

"That I would not hover?" he asked lightly. "I am just being very attentive."

"Uh-huh." Walking into his arms, she inhaled his scent. "I love you so much, and I am so happy you are my baby's daddy."

He smiled, his arms coming around her waist. "I consider that to be a compliment." Kissing her on top of the head, he eased her away from him. "Go and get some rest, I will be there shortly."

Waiting until she left the room and was halfway up the stairs, he went into the kitchen. Plucking the phone out of his pocket, he returned the call. "Dr. Glendon, please. I am returning his call."

"Just a second."

Putting the tea kettle on, he waited for the man to pick up.

"This is Dr. Glendon."

"You treated Simone Bledsoe."

"I confirmed her pregnancy, yes. Who is this?"

"It doesn't matter. Where did you go to medical school?"

"Pardon?"

"I need to verify your veracity. Where exactly did you go to medical school?"

"I resent–"

"My name is Hayes Marsden, and I am assuming you recognize who I am. I am going to ask the question again. Where did you go to medical school?"

"A university in China," the man said stiffly. "And I assure you that my degree is legitimate."

"We will see about that. I will be checking you out, Doctor, and if I find out that this is a ruse and you are colluding with Simone, there is no place you can go where I will not find you. Is that clear?"

"Of course. I have patients–"

Hayes hung up and went to get the poach to prepare the tea. The man sounded genuine, but he still believed the timing was off, that Simone was lying for some reason or the other. And he was going to get to the bottom of it.

"Took you long enough," she murmured as he approached with the steaming cup of tea on a tray. She was in bed, propped up on some pillows and feeling much better.

"Sorry."

"That wasn't a criticism." She watched him closely as he placed the tray over her lap. "What's wrong?"

"I want you to rest." Instead of climbing into bed with her, he went to sit on the sofa.

"I am not going to 'rest,' as you put it, until I know what's bugging you."

"Drink some of the tea," he urged.

"Hayes."

Propping his elbows on his knees, he dragged his hands over his face. "Simone asked to see me, and I suggested we meet at a restaurant."

"What did she want?"

This was even worse than he had anticipated, and he wished he was anywhere else or was being attacked at gunpoint than having to do this to her.

"At least take a few sips before it gets cold." He was stalling, and they both knew it.

Bringing the cup to her lips, she did as he urged and put the cup down, her brows arched as she waited.