Chapter 57

CHAPTER

FIFTY-SEVEN

THEN

It was hard to believe that four months had gone by since Cecilia and Garrick had begun to see each other. In so many ways it seemed like a dream come true. Yet in other ways, it did not.

Cecilia stared at the white stick in her hand, waiting another moment.

Then two pink lines appeared.

Her heart felt as if it might stop.

That couldn't be right. She couldn't be pregnant.

She'd bought more than one test, so she grabbed another one, ripped the package open, and tried again.

But this pregnancy test showed the same result.

Panic raced through her.

What was she going to do? How was Garrick going to feel? He'd always said he wanted to wait a while before having kids. And he was so busy . . . how would he squeeze a baby into his schedule? It would be one more thing to stress him out.

She had to tell him though. He had to know. It was only right.

Her hands trembled as she looked at herself in the mirror.

She tried to picture how Garrick might react. But she wasn't sure.

She needed to talk to him. She needed to hear his reassurance.

This wasn't about him. It was about her.

He would need to operate on her timing now.

She grabbed her phone and tried to call him. She didn't care if he fussed at her. They had to talk.

But he didn't answer.

He'd mentioned he had a meeting tonight. Maybe it would be over soon. Then they could talk.

Before she stopped herself, she grabbed her purse. She would walk to his building. She had to see him. This couldn't wait until morning.

Twenty minutes later, she arrived at his office.

Just as before, their receptionist claimed he wasn't in.

Cecilia didn't believe her.

She rushed past the desk to an elevator.

The woman called behind her, but Cecilia pretended as if she didn't hear.

She'd asked Garrick in a casual conversation what floor he worked on. He'd said the twentieth.

The elevator came right away, and Cecilia slipped inside and hit the Door Close button before the receptionist could reach her.

She practically held her breath as the elevator climbed higher and higher.

She hadn't planned out exactly what she would say. But she prayed this went well.

Amazingly, the elevator didn't stop. When it dinged, she was on the twentieth floor.

She was shaking by the time she stepped off. She glanced around but did not see anybody.

How hard could it be to find Garrick's office?

That was what she would do. She would find him here.

She rushed down the hallway, listening for any signs of where someone was. Looking at the nameplates on the doors. Since he was CEO, she could only assume he would have one of the larger offices, maybe even in the back of this space.

She headed that way.

Finally, she spotted a sprawling office ahead. His name stretched across a plaque on the door. Garrick Harding.

She rushed toward it and, without knocking, twisted the handle. She practically fell inside.

Garrick sat behind his desk, and a woman stood beside him. The two talked in low tones.

Cecilia stopped cold. Even though Garrick wasn't touching the woman, something about the moment seemed intimate.

"Cecilia?" He straightened. "What are you doing here?"

He didn't exactly sound thrilled to see her.

"There's something I must talk to you about," she told him. "It couldn't wait. I had to tell you now."

He glanced at the woman beside him. "Could you give us a minute?"

The woman nodded before glancing at Cecilia and then slipping from the room.

Cecilia paused in front of Garrick's desk. "Who was that?"

"She works downstairs, and we were discussing some marketing plans."

She supposed that that made sense. Maybe she was reading too much into things.

"What are you doing here?" Garrick asked, his voice unusually stiff.

He was annoyed, wasn't he?

But when Cecilia told him the news, he'd understand.

"I knew you came one other time before," he continued. "But I just assumed that was a once in a lifetime mistake."

His words felt like a slap. A once in a lifetime mistake ? What did that even mean?

And this whole time he had known she'd left him those cookies, and he hadn't said a word? Not even a thank you?

Cecilia wasn't sure what she thought about that.

"This couldn't wait, and you weren't answering your phone," she explained as she remembered her purpose in coming here.

"What's going on, Cecilia? It's a bad time."

She glanced at the floor beyond his desk, and something red caught her eye. Something silky and red.

Garrick seemed to know she'd seen it and used his foot to push it out of the way.

It was a negligee, wasn't it?

No, what sense would that make? It wasn't as if she ever came into the office. And that would just be weird anyway.

Maybe it was a silk pocket square. But why would he push it out of the way if that was all it was?

"You came here to tell me something," he prodded her.

Her hand went to her stomach. "I'm pregnant."

She watched his face carefully, unsure how he'd react. But she hoped it was one of delight.

Instead, his eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I took two tests. I'm definitely pregnant. I guess that explains why I've been feeling a little nauseous lately."

"Whose baby is it?"

Again, she felt as if she had been slapped. "Yours, of course. Whose do you think it would be? I haven't been with anyone else. You know me better than that."

He pressed his lips together and didn't say anything a moment.

Cecilia gave him some time to process the news. She knew it was a lot to swallow.

"I don't know how that happened," he finally said. "I thought we took precautions."

"I don't know what happened either. I didn't plan on having a baby anytime soon. But I was hoping we might speed up that timeline of you taking care of me."

He narrowed his eyes as he observed her. "What exactly did you think I meant by that?"

Why did he make it sound as if he'd never said something like that? She'd heard his tone when he'd asked that question. It had been intimate and full of promises.

She wasn't losing her mind.

"I thought that meant you wanted to be with me," she said, trying to keep the whine out of her voice.

Garrick stared at her, something hardening in his gaze. "Well, you don't need to worry. I will take care of you. I'll give you money to take care of the pregnancy."

"You mean, money to pay for my doctor's visits?"

His gaze remained cold. "I mean so you can eliminate the pregnancy."

She gasped, both hands protecting her belly now. "Why would I ever do that? A baby's life is precious. This is your child we are talking about. My child."

"Neither of us are in a good place to have a child right now. I think we both know that."

He said the words so matter-of-factly. He sounded so convincing.

But her mind was made up.

"I can't have an abortion," she told him. "I won't."

He stood, his demeanor suddenly changing. No longer was he all hard lines. Instead, his eyes grew soft. Using the back of his hand, he stroked her cheek.

"Sweetie, you really need to think this through," he murmured.

"I have thought it through, and I know I'll never terminate this pregnancy."

He glanced at her belly. For a moment, a shock of fear raced through her. She imagined Garrick taking matters into his own hands and ramming his fist into her gut to eliminate this pregnancy himself.

Then just as quickly as that thought occurred to her, the softness returned to his gaze again. "Then we'll figure it out. Both of us. Okay?"

Relief swept through her.

She'd totally misread his reaction earlier, hadn't she? He would get through this. They would get through this. Together.

That was the way couples went through life.

Maybe it would take him awhile to warm up to the idea, but they were having a child together. They would have a beautiful life as a family of three. She knew it in her gut.

Cecilia would stop working at the department store. Become a stay-at-home mom. Maybe some of the other wives here at the company could mentor her, show her how to become one of them. She would do whatever it took.

Whatever it took.

Cecilia hit End and lowered her cell phone.

Garrick wasn't answering.

It had been two days since she'd gone into his office.

Two days since he asked for the abortion but changed his mind.

Two days since he assured her everything would be fine.

Nothing felt fine.

Why wasn't he returning her calls? Sure, they had periods when they didn't see each other. But they usually talked at least once a day.

But not since she told him about the baby.

The silence was driving her crazy.

She didn't consider herself the obsessive type.

But she had to see him. Had to know they were okay.

She didn't think she could be a single mom. Didn't think she could support a baby on what she brought in from Balderston's. And she definitely couldn't afford childcare while she was working a minimum wage job. The bill for that would cost more than she even earned.

All those thoughts had been racing inside her for the past twenty-four hours if not longer.

All Garrick had to do was call her back, and he could reassure her that everything would be okay. That was all she needed. Was she asking too much?

She squeezed her phone harder and leaned against the buckling kitchen counter.

She'd worked this morning, and it had been a particularly rough day, especially with her morning sickness. She'd had to leave the floor a couple of times to throw up. Unfortunately, it had been in the middle of helping clients. Very entitled clients.

They hadn't been happy, and her boss had given her a stern lecture.

Cecilia hadn't wanted to say yet that she was pregnant. She wanted to wait a while longer just to make sure the baby was okay.

But what if she got fired? Then what would she do?

Maybe she could go see Garrick again. She knew the last time she'd gone to his office had been a mistake. But what if this time she simply waited outside the office for him? Then when he left work she could surprise him and maybe they could go to dinner together.

That sounded like a nice idea.

Yes, maybe that was what she would do.

Waiting outside wasn't as intrusive as rushing into his office. He would understand that.

This time, Cecilia fixed herself up before she went. She wanted to make sure she knocked the socks off him when they saw each other.

She dressed in his favorite color again—red.

Then she sprayed on her favorite perfume and put on that ruby necklace Garrick had given her.

She flashed a grin in the mirror. She didn't quite have that pregnancy glow yet. She felt too sick. But she hoped Garrick would find that sexy when it finally happened.

She touched up her red lipstick one last time before hurrying out the door.

By the time she arrived at his building, it was dark outside. Thankfully, this area of town was fairly safe. Especially compared to where she lived.

She dreaded the walk back home afterward.

Maybe one day she could see his apartment here in the city. Maybe even stay there. After all, it had to be a lot nicer than hers. And in a safer area of town too.

It was strange she hadn't seen it yet. Why was that?

Garrick had always told her it was nothing to be excited about. He'd insisted that he was immaculately organized at work but, in return, a messy slob at home. That his place wasn't suitable for a woman for that reason.

He'd insisted it was better if they dined at restaurants or went to his summer house. Once they'd even gotten a hotel room here in the city.

It had been fantastic.

Cecilia reached the doors to his building and paused. She would wait here. Look casual.

She knew now which office was his. She'd counted the floors to find his. Had seen the light on in his corner office.

But it was too high up to see anything else.

She rubbed her belly again as she often did these days.

She wondered what they might name the baby. If it would be a boy or girl.

She imagined she and Garrick sitting on the couch and talking about ideas. She'd always loved the name Samuel. And if it was a girl, Olivia.

What would Garrick think about those names?

She hoped he liked them also.

Finally, twenty minutes after Cecilia arrived, the light in his office flickered off.

She released a pent-up breath. She was growing weary of waiting, so knowing he would be coming down soon made her feel better. She'd been on her feet all day, and really all she wanted to do was kick back and relax.

Ten minutes later, someone exited the building.

It was Garrick. He was with three other men in suits. Two of the men walked beside him and one behind him.

When Garrick saw her, he glanced away.

Cecilia flinched.

He must not have recognized her. He probably hadn't been expecting to see her here.

Because that was not the reaction she'd been expecting.

Nowhere close for that matter.

"Garrick," she called taking a step behind him.

But he kept walking.

What was going on here? Was she losing her mind?

She quickened her steps, trying to catch up with him. Clearly, he hadn't heard her.

"Garrick! It's me. Cecilia."

Again, he kept walking.

The man behind him paused and turned toward her.

The look in his eyes wasn't kind. He raised a hand, and it hit her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to stop stalking Mr. Harding."

She blinked, certain she hadn't heard him correctly. "Excuse me?"

"We know about the gifts you've left him. How you ran past security and went to his office. How you've called his receptionist more than once. It needs to end. Mr. Harding is trying to be nice about this, but this is your last warning."

As her eyes widened, she shook her head. "You don't understand. He's my boyfriend."

"He said that you might say that. But we all know who you really are."

"What do you mean who I really am?" What was he talking about?

"Listen, I think I've said enough." He took a step back.

"What do you mean?"

"We all know you're an escort."

Her mouth dropped open. "No, I'm not. I'm his girlfriend."

"Ma'am, he's engaged—and not to you."

Cecilia's head swirled, and everything began to blur around her.

The man in front of her caught her elbows before she collapsed to the ground.

What was happening here? It was almost as if she had been dropped into an alternate reality.

But the man in front of her—was he a bodyguard?—looked dead serious.

And Garrick still hadn't turned around or acknowledged her.

Nothing made sense.

Cecilia had no idea what she would do to make things better.