Worthy: Cassius and Faith (Club 444)

1. NFW

Faith

Faith, you’re pregnant.

I stared at the Madam. She stared back.

“That can’t be right,” I said. “I only started having sex this week. I literally can’t be pregnant. It’s not physically possible!”

The Madam took a deep breath. “It’s physically possible, Faith—of course it is. You’ve had sex. That’s all it takes.”

“I don’t… I don’t understand. I thought it took much longer for one of these tests to work. Not three days.” I’d never looked into how a pregnancy test worked because I’d been a virgin before arriving at Club 444. Still, I had a rudimentary understanding. “I thought it took at least a few weeks for a pregnancy to take hold.”

“That’s true. However, the test shows any increases in hormonal levels, which indicates pregnancy. They’re ultra-sensitive,” Gina explained. “The old pregnancy tests couldn’t show a positive result this early. But the new technology can do it sooner.”

I licked my lips, which had gone dry. “Could it be wrong?”

“Yes.” Gina nodded. “The results aren’t a hundred-percent reliable. But we will keep testing you to see if it continues to result in an increased HCG level. I will have to take you off the floor until we know for sure.”

“Okay.” I was so rocked by the news I felt numb.

The Madam watched me for a moment. “I know you’ve been exclusively with Mr. Blackwood. Normally, I wouldn’t involve a patron in this situation, but he’s the owner. He’s also my boss. I have to tell him about this as soon as possible.”

I winced. “I don’t want to tell him.”

Gina took a deep breath. “I understand, Faith. And I respect your right to privacy. But this is a different—and delicate—situation. You’re a contracted employee at the club. He’s the owner. He’s also potentially the father.”

The room started to spin. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me.

“What if it’s not true—what if it’s a false positive?” I asked.

“Then it’s a false positive, and we’ll proceed accordingly,” Gina said simply. “I want you to know I have your back in this situation. I am here for you, and I am on your side. We are going to figure this out together.”

“Thank you, Gina.”

She nodded. “I do have to tell Mr. Blackwood, though. It’s my job to report everything that’s going on at the club—especially something that involves him directly. I’d be violating my contract if I withheld this information from him.”

“I understand.” I took a deep, shaky breath. “But let me be the one to tell him.”

The Madam arched an eyebrow. “This isn’t news that can wait, Faith. I’ll need you to speak with him this morning, and I will have to verify the conversation with Mr. Blackwood.”

I nodded. “I just think it’s best if it comes from me.” Honestly, the idea of discussing this with Cassius petrified me. But it was between us. Yes, we had a contract. Yes, he’d purchased my platinum rights and taken my virginity.

This was still personal.

“I promise I’ll tell him this morning,” I said and rose to leave.

“I intend to keep you to that,” Gina said. “And please don’t say anything to the other girls yet. I don’t want them to get upset. I’ll come and speak to you before lunch.”

“Okay, Gina,” I said, even though nothing was okay.

I trudged back to the employee wing from her office, grateful it was still early morning. The other girls were fast asleep. I tiptoed into my room and found Tate resting peacefully under her covers. I envied my friend. I had a feeling peace wouldn’t be a sensation I’d experience any time soon.

Cassius was meeting with his brothers. I planned to intercept him on the way back to his house; hopefully, we could speak in private. But my plan stopped there. I didn’t want to tell him the news. I’m pregnant. But it’s so early that the test might be wrong…

I glanced around the cheerful room I shared with Tate. I’d barely arrived at the club, barely lost my virginity. How had this happened? How could I be pregnant?

An image from last night flashed in my mind. Cassius was penetrating me from behind. My palms were pressed flat against the wall as I took him hard and deep. He screamed my name, then emptied himself into me. That’s how, stupid.

But I’d taken the contraceptive shot. All the girls had—it was part of our contract. Gina had explained that the shot was highly effective—ninety-nine percent—but that one out of one hundred women still got pregnant. We had to sign a waiver stating that we understood. I signed and didn’t give it a second thought.

The odds were so low that I hadn’t worried about it. The odds were so low that getting pregnant was basically impossible—except for that one girl out of a hundred.

Who was me.

I wrapped my arms around myself. The spark of hope I’d felt about a future with Cassius went up in smoke. It had been silly to let myself feel that way. We were from two different worlds. He was so much older than me and more experienced. I wasn’t sophisticated, rich, I wasn’t… anybody, except for his hired plaything.

And now I might be pregnant. If anything would scare the icy billionaire off once and for all, this would surely be it.

What would happen next? If I was pregnant, I obviously couldn’t work at the club anymore. Would they pay me for my double-platinum rights and then send me packing? Probably. I’d lose some of the money, but I’d still earn enough to care for Lucas.

Funny how that wasn’t the only thing I cared about anymore.

Funny, but not actually funny.

Because the idea of Cassius Blackwood casting me out once and for all made me cold inside, a frozen tundra of despair. I allowed myself some tears, even though they were self-indulgent. Even though my tears had never solved any of my problems.

I couldn’t even begin to think about being pregnant—what that meant for me and my life. What it might mean for the tiny life inside me if, in fact, there was one.

Sighing, I got up from the bed. I needed to go and find Cassius and tell him the truth.

There was no such thing as a happily ever after for a girl like me.