Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

Ava

" G ood, you're still here," Maddie says.

"For five more minutes," I tease.

"I need a favor."

"Your favors tend to be time-consuming."

"I wouldn't ask if I had another alternative."

"What did you do?" I ask as I wipe the counter down.

"My babysitter just called. My kid is throwing up. Can you close for me?" I eye her. "Pretty please? I'll make you that cake you like."

"That's not fair. You know I'm a sucker for cake, especially your cake." She pulls me in for a hug, knowing I have already agreed. How could I say no?

"You're getting big."

My belly is getting in the way of everything.

"This little human inside me wants the world to know it's inside my belly and coming." I rub my belly.

"Enjoy it. They grow so fast. Thank you for helping me out. You won't need to do anything but close and lock the door. I've taken care of everything else."

"You're lucky it's only another hour. I want my payment on Friday." We laugh.

"I'll bring the cake. You bring your appetite."

I love working here, and everyone has been amazing. It's about the only silver lining besides my baby. Hopefully, in a week or so, I'll know the sex of the baby, I can't wait to hold him or her. I try to stay busy so time goes faster, but no such luck. It's like time has slowed down. My back is aching, and my feet are swollen. I rearrange merchandise, willing time to move faster. Finally, I'm excited when the clock tells me closing is in less than five minutes. My hope is no more customers will come in. No such luck. The door chimes and I look up.

"Welcome to…" I stop when I meet Oliver's eyes. "What are you doing here?" I look past him, hoping Viktor isn't with him.

"Don't worry. I'm alone." He walks toward me, staring at my growing belly. "Can we talk?"

"I don't think it's a good idea. Besides, I'm working."

"Aren't you closing in five minutes?" A reminder he's an all-knowing Manarch. "Please."

"Fine. Give me a few minutes. Meet me at the diner down the street."

"I'll wait."

"I have to close, as you pointed out. My boss won't like me doing so with you here."

"Ava—"

"Please, Oliver. It's the diner or nothing."

He says nothing and leaves. I let out the breath I was holding. If he's here, Viktor is sure to follow. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. I can leave through the back door and not talk to him, but I'm sure he has all exits covered. Oliver is always prepared for anything. If he's here, he knows everything there is to know about my new life. The truth is, I knew this moment would eventually come. I just thought it would be Viktor who would find me. But maybe he doesn't want anything to do with me after all. I turn off the lights and walk outside to lock the door.

"You're still here," I exclaim when I exit the store. "I thought we agreed on the diner."

"I didn't agree, and I'm certainly not taking you to a diner. You need a proper meal," Oliver says, looking at my belly.

"Are you bossing me around, Oliver? Because it doesn't suit you."

"I'm stating a fact." If I weren't standing in front of Oliver, I would swear it was Victor talking. Sometimes I forget how alike they are.

"There's a bistro about a mile down."

"I'll drive." He leads us to his car, and I'm surprised to see he's alone. But I need to know if that is the case.

"Did you come alone?"

"Yes, why?"

"I don't know. I would have thought you would come with other people."

"He doesn't know I'm here," Oliver replies

"I wasn't asking about him."

"We both know you were." He opens my door, and I slide in. He's right. I was asking about Viktor, even if I won't admit it to myself. We drive in silence, and he parks in front of the bistro.

"You can't park here."

"Let's see who will be brave enough to say something or steal my car," he jokes, relaxing me. We're led inside and are seated immediately. The power of a Manarch. Even on this side of town, their influence is limitless.

"Your server will be with you shortly. Enjoy your dinner."

"Thanks," I say.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Oliver asks, looking at my belly. I'm glad I don't have to answer right away since the server arrives at our table, giving me time to think about how I will answer.

"Good evening. I'm Bob, your server. Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Water, please," I answer.

"Same," Oliver adds.

"Would you like to hear the specials?" the server asks.

"No," Oliver barks.

"Manarch men!" I mutter under my breath.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I didn't catch that."

"Nothing. I'll have the mushroom risotto, a side of your seasonal veggies and bread."

"You, Sir?"

"Nothing," Oliver says.

"Oliver, you have to eat something. I won't eat alone."

"I'll have a medium rare steak with a side of your seasonal vegetables."

"Right away." Our server is nervous.

"Can you be less Manarch? You're scaring the poor guy," I say as the server leaves.

"Don't worry about him. He'll be fine. To more pressing matters. Why didn't you say something?"

"You know why. Besides, it's for the best." Before I can continue, the server brings our water and shares an update on our meal.

"Thank you," Oliver responds with an angry glare at the server. "Don't return unless it's to bring our food."

"Oliver," I snap.

"What?" He asks as the server leaves.

"Uncalled for."

"We need to talk, and he keeps interrupting," Oliver says, as if this explanation excuses his behavior. I shake my head. "Continue," he says.

"I found out shortly after I left. We both know if he learned about the baby…" I touch my belly. "… he would have come for me."

"It wasn't your call to make."

"It was, and it is. This is my baby, and I won't let him or her get caught in the middle of the Manarch family drama. I have to think about what is best for my baby."

"It's his child too."

"That might be so, but I won't take any chances."

"How are you? Do you need anything?" His tone is gentler, more like him.

"I'm good. I should know the sex pretty soon." I find myself sharing. "I don't need anything. Your brother saw to that." I'm still bitter about the one hundred thousand dollars deposited in my account.

"Then why are you working? You shouldn't be working."

"I love working. If I don't, I'll go crazy." The server returns with our food, fear written all over him. I feel bad for the man.

"Thank you," I say with a smile.

"Eat," Oliver orders.

"I don't take orders. I'm going to eat because I'm starving, not because you're ordering me to." He laughs, and I roll my eyes.

We eat and talk about everything but Viktor for the next thirty minutes. I'm not sure if it's deliberate. But it's for the best, and I'm grateful. I don't need that can of worms opened.

"Oliver, how did you find me?" I ask the burning question in the back of my mind.

"With great effort. To be honest, I was pissed when I learned you were just a few miles on the other side of town. Smart, hiding in plain sight." He sounds proud.

"I thought so. Does he know you found me?" I ask, bracing myself.

"Yes and no."

"What does that mean, exactly?" I push my clean plate forward.

"I'm glad you enjoyed dinner."

"Oliver," I snap.

"At first, he wanted you to be found at all costs, but then…" there's a pause like he's trying to choose his words carefully, "… he gave up. When I told him I found you, he said he wanted nothing to do with you anymore."

His words sting.

I swallow the lump building in my throat. "It's better this way. You have to promise not to tell him."

"I can't do that."

"You need to keep my secret. This isn't about him or me. This is about my baby. If he finds out, it will simply force me to disappear again." He stares in silence, his eyes boring into me like gimlets. I'm fucked. Of course, he's going to tell him. Viktor is his blood, and I'm no one.

"One condition."

I'm surprised by his answer.

"What's that?"

"You have to call me if you need anything."

"I'm fine. I swear."

"Just promise, Ava." His tone is serious.

"If I call you in the middle of the night asking you to get me ice cream or some other strange craving, you'll come?" I joke.

"Yes. Anything." His answer doesn't waver. It's sweet.

"I'm kidding."

"I'm not. You're carrying my niece or nephew. You're family." His conviction overwhelms me, and a few tears escape.

"Sorry, hormones."

"Does your father know?"

"No one knows. Just my roommate and work, of course. I would like to keep it that way." But I'm lying to him, there is one other person who knows, Fiona. But I can't tell him. Not without consequences.

"She checks out, by the way."

I look at him, confused.

"What do you mean? Did you run a background check on my roommate?"

"Of course I did. Your safety will always be a priority for Viktor. He wouldn't forgive me if something happened to you. I would say more now than ever." He looks pointedly at my belly.

"I thought you said he wanted nothing to do with me anymore," I ask in confusion.

"Just because he wants nothing to do with you doesn't mean he's stopped caring about you."

"That makes no sense."

"I don't want to debate with you," he says, his voice serious again.

"This is not a debate. I'm just questioning why it matters. Clearly, Viktor has made his choice." There's silence between us.

"I just want you and the baby to be safe," he says finally.

We're interrupted by the server nervously approaching us.

"I hope you enjoyed your meal. Any dessert?" he asks.

"No, thank you."

"The check," Oliver snarls.

"You're just like your brother." I roll my eyes, and he laughs.

He pays the bill, and we head outside. The night is beautiful, perfect for taking a stroll, but I doubt Oliver would agree, not that I would ask him. It angers me that Oliver found me. It means my quiet life is not so quiet anymore. I'm no longer hidden.

"I'll drive you home." He opens my door.

"Oliver, you have to swear you won't tell him. You know it's better if he never finds out." I look pleadingly at him. The tension in the air as I wait for him to answer is so thick you could cut it with a knife, and I think he will tell him, no matter what I say. The worst part is that I can't even blame him. If I were him, I probably would.

Oliver nods his head as if he has come to a decision.

"All I can agree to is he won't learn the truth from me."

"That's all I ask."

Hopefully, he can keep my secret. I'm not sure what will happen if Viktor learns we're having a baby. I'm not sure he would forgive me for keeping this from him. But more importantly, I can't risk his life. I know Viktor. The moment he learns the secret, he'll drop everything and come for me, and I can't let that happen.