Chapter Five

~ Gianni ~

"Ouch!"

Fuck a duck!

I quickly grabbed some toilet paper and held it to my finger.

"You okay?" Tony called out. A moment later, he appeared in the kitchen doorway. "What's wrong?"

"I cut myself shaving." I held up said finger, wincing when I saw the blood dripping from the small cut near the middle knuckle.

"Let me see that." Tony walked over and grabbed my wrist. He turned my hand one way and then the other. "It doesn't look too deep, but you're going to need at least a butterfly bandage.

Oh, yippee.

"How in the hell did you cut your finger while shaving?"

I shrugged because I didn't know. "At least it wasn't my face."

Tony reached under the bathroom sink and grabbed the first aid kit we kept there. He opened it up and then began grabbing what he'd need to fix my finger.

"This thing is bleeding like the dickens."

Well, at least my blood flow was good.

Tony cleaned up the blood, put some antibiotic cream on the wound, and then covered it with a small bandage. "There, good as new."

"Do I get a lollipop?"

Tony reached back into the first aid kit and grabbed a lollipop, handing it to me. Yes, we kept them in the first aid kit just for occasions like this.

Didn't everyone?

"I'll clean this mess up," Tony said as he put the first aid kit away and then started gathering up the garbage. "You shave. Try and skip the cutting this time."

"I'll do my best, Dad."

Tony snickered as he left the bathroom.

I finished shaving, washed my face, combed my hair, and then headed back into my bedroom to finish getting ready for my day. After dressing in a simple pair of faded denim jeans and a white button down shirt, I grabbed my wallet and slid it into my back pocket.

And then I went to grab my cell phone.

It wasn't on the nightstand.

I looked on the dresser, the bed, the floor, under the bed, and the closet. Finding nothing, I went to search the bathroom.

No dice.

Where the hell was my cell phone?

"Tony, have you seen my phone?"

"Look on the kitchen counter," Tony called out from the living room. "That was the last place I saw it."

I walked to the kitchen and began hunting around for my cell phone. I know I'd had it yesterday because I'd taken a call around noon, but I don't remember what happened to it after that.

I was pretty sure it was due to my stress from that call that I couldn't remember. The hospital had called to confirm my appointment to get an abortion and I had instantly felt everything inside of me freeze up. I had been shocked at my reply even after I hung up the phone.

I had canceled the procedure.

I just couldn't do it.

In that instant, I realized that I didn't want to give my baby up, not even for adoption. I might not know who the father was, but when it came right down to it this was my kid and I was keeping him or her.

Now, I had to break the news to my family.

That wasn't going to be easy. My parents would be upset and they would fuss. I shuddered to think what my father would do once he found out. If he ever discovered who the father was, the guy wouldn't live long.

My mother would fuss over me. I was her youngest kid after all. She would fuss and cry and probably read me the riot act, but she would also hug the stuffing out of me.

My brothers would go into protective mode. Hopefully, Henry and Ryan could talk them down.

Nonna was the wild card. She was the one I was most afraid of disappointing. Her beliefs were a little outdated for this modern world. I had no idea how she would react.

I was already twelve weeks into a forty week pregnancy. I'd been able to hide everything up till this point, but I was going to start to show pretty soon. I already had a small bump, but it was easily hidden by my clothes. At some point, that wouldn't be possible.

I didn't want to deal with all of the questions that would come with people knowing I was pregnant. I especially didn't want to deal with the questions and disdainful looks I'd get once people learned I was an omega.

People could be rude at the best of times. When faced with things that were unexpected or situations they didn't truly understand, they became worse and my family's money could only protect me so much.

I searched the entire kitchen for my cell phone and then moved on to the dining room and then the living room. I'd already searched the bathroom and my bedroom.

No cell phone.

Maybe I'd left it somewhere?

I tried to think of all the places I'd gone yesterday. Luckily, there weren't that many. I'd been to the lab, the library, and a little cafe near the edge of the campus. That was pretty much it.

I needed to find it and now.

"Tony, can you call my phone?"

"Yeah, sure," Tony replied. "Give me a minute."

After a moment, he walked into the kitchen with his cell pressed to his ear. "It's ringing, man, but no one is answering and I can't hear it anywhere in the apartment."

Damn.

"I'm going out," I told Tony as I headed for the door. "If you spot my cell phone, just drop it on my bed."

Tony waved a hand at me, too engrossed in texting on his cell phone to pay me too much attention. "Yeah, yeah."

I never understood why Tony didn't study more, but his education wasn't my problem. He seemed to do okay on his tests and pass all of his classes, so he must be doing something right. Once he started his residency, he wouldn't have time for video games.

The apartment I shared with Tony was just off campus. The lab was on the other side of the campus from our apartment. The library was on this side of the campus and the cafe where I liked to stop for lunch was on the far side of the lab.

It wasn't too long of a walk to get to the library. My first stop was the reception desk. I asked the lady behind the counter if anyone had turned in a lost phone. After she searched lost and found and didn't find anything, I hurried up the stairs to the second floor where I had been studying.

Again, nothing.

I left the library and began making my way across campus to the lab I worked in. I had worked a full shift the previous day, but I had taken time to have lunch. Keeping my body healthy was extra important at this point.

It helped that most of the morning sickness had started to go away over the last week. Puking my guts out every morning like clockwork was not my idea of a good time.

How I had kept it from Tony I would never know.

When I got to the lab, I checked my locker first. When I didn't find it there, I checked the lab. Again, no cell phone. I searched the lost and found...found a sweater I had been missing for a couple of months, but no phone.

I felt a little desperate as I headed out of the lab and to the last place I could remember going yesterday. If my cell phone wasn't there, I'd have to start thinking about getting a new one. Having a phone on me was kind of a must. I could be called in to work at any time. Besides, my parents would freak if they couldn't get a hold of me.

That was worse.

When I reached the cafe, I went up to the counter and asked if anyone had turned in a lost cell phone. When I was told no, my heart sank. I had to consider the possibility that someone might have found it and decided to keep it.

I pressed a hand to my stomach when it rumbled. I had been really, really good about my diet as of late, but for once I wanted to cheat. I ordered a double iced mocha, decaf, of course, a ham and cheese croissant, and some fresh fruit.

Maybe I could balance out the bad with the good.

After paying for my order, I walked over to one of the tables by the window. I usually sat toward the back of the cafe where there was less traffic, but I was usually studying during lunch, too. This time, I didn't have a single book with me.

"Is this seat taken?"

I glanced up and then smiled when I saw the man gesturing to the seat across from me. "Mr. Kostas."

Janos draped his jacket over the back of the seat and then sat down. "Is the coffee any good here?"

"It's very good," I said enthusiastically. "I usually come here for my lunch breaks. Much better than the cafeteria at the lab."

"And how are things at the lab?"

"Pretty much the same as they were yesterday." I know that didn't explain a lot, but being a researcher didn't bring about quick results. Things happened slowly in a lab, significant discoveries sometimes taking decades. "What about you? Buy any new properties lately?"

"A couple." Janos chuckled. "I'm attending an auction tonight to buy a tract of land over near Brentwood. I hope to turn it into commercial building use."

My brow flickered as I tried to remember where that was. "I don't think I've ever been to Brentwood."

"I can have my driver take us out there if you wish to see it."

"Thanks, but I'm on the hunt for my phone at the moment."

Janos's eyebrows lifted. "Your phone?"

"I lost my cell phone sometime yesterday. This cafe was the last place I looked. I've already looked everywhere else I went yesterday. Still no phone."

Nothing else was said by is for a moment as my lunch order was delivered and Janos ordered his own coffee and sandwich. I took a bite of my sandwich first before drinking any of the double mocha. I was going to need the buffer for the sugar rush.

I still groaned in delight when I took a sip.

When I glanced at Janos, he was staring intently at me, his eyes narrowed. "What?"

Did I have something on my face?

"Good coffee?"

I knew my face was flushing when I glanced at my cup. "I don't get it very often, but every once in awhile you just need chocolaty goodness, you know?"

"I'm not much of a sweets person, so I can't comment, but I do know what a good cigar is like. I don't indulge often, but every once in awhile you just need it, so I get the concept."

Never had a cigar in my life, never planned to.

"Those are bad for you, you know?"

Janos gestured to my double chocolate mocha. "And that isn't?"

Okay, he had me there.

"I guess moderation is the key, huh?"

"I have one or two cigars a month."

That wasn't as bad as I thought.

"Your life, your choice, but please don't smoke them around me."

I'd puke for sure.

Janos gave a single nod. "I won't, I promise."

I gestured to the empty spot in front of Janos with one hand, took a bite of my sandwich with the other. "Are you going to eat?" I asked him after I chewed my food.

One corner of Janos's mouth curved up in a half smile. "Coffee is enough for now."

"I'm a doctor and I can tell you with my professional opinion, man cannot live on coffee alone, although I have tried."

"I was actually on my way to a lunch meeting when I saw you sitting here through the window. I thought I'd drop by and say hello."

That was sweet of him, but... "Shouldn't you get to your meeting?"

Janos waved a dismissive hand. "It can wait."

This did not seem like the real estate tycoon I'd read about online.

Yes, after that first meeting I had gone home and researched him. Although Janos had started in real estate over fifteen years ago, his name hadn't really been known until the last ten years. Now, he was considered one of the best in the business.

He was the one that said, "Oh, let's buy there and do something crazy" and then make billions on the deal.

"I'd like to ask you to attend the auction as my date."

I blinked at Janos. That had come out of nowhere.

"How do you know I'm gay?" I asked. I knew I didn't look like the Hollywood stereotype.

Janos smirked. "I had you checked out."

Okay, so now I didn't feel so bad about checking him out.

"You're under no obligation to say yes to me," Janos said. "I'd like you to be my date for the evening. If that makes you uncomfortable, just say no. Believe it or not, I can take rejection."

I set my sandwich down because eating right now didn't seem like a good idea. The food already in my stomach was threatening a return.

"It's not that I want to reject you...Under normal circumstances, I'd be all over that invitation." Who wouldn't? The guy was gorgeous. "But my life is really chaotic right now. I'm not in a place where I can start dating someone."

Janos's face grew pensive for a moment before he smiled. "Okay, then how about as a friend? Everyone could use a friend."

Man, this guy was trying hard. I did have to give it to him, though, he wasn't being overly pushy about it. He was just asking.

"Two conditions." I held up one of my fingers. "One, you really need to understand that I can't start dating someone right now. There are things going on in my life that I can't discuss and it's taking all of my energy not to go stark raving mad. Dating isn't even on my scope right now. I'll only go if you accept the fact that we can only be friends."

"Understood," Janos said. "And the second condition?"

"You can't wear anything around me that smells like cigar smoke." If he did, he'd learn real quick why I couldn't start dating.

"Agreed." Janos smiled wickedly, his brown eyes sparkling with delight. He was looking way too handsome. "The auction is at seven. What time should I pick you up?"

This was a really bad idea.