Chapter 37
I finish the speech, determined to go find her, because when I scanned the hall from the stage, I didn’t see her.
Elodie was very upset when we split off, and I know the night will only get worse after I tell her what I have to.
But the moment I step off the stage, I’m surrounded by other project partners as well as journalists.
I truly care about the cause, and I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made, but tonight, my attention is on my woman.
As soon as I manage to shake everyone, I start circling the hall looking for Elodie. Suddenly, I think I’m hallucinating: Abaddon is standing there in a tux almost identical to mine, looking completely at ease.
I’ve never seen him wear anything but a leather jacket, and I’m as shocked as if a pig had just flown by.
He approaches discreetly and sidelong, almost as if he isn’t looking at me, and says, “We need to talk, but first, if I were you, I’d head to the ladies’ room. Elodie went in about ten minutes ago and hasn’t come out.”
Without greeting him, I stride toward the back of the hall, trying to get my bearings.
“Straight, then left,” he says, and only then do I realize he’s moving with me.
There’s no one outside the restroom in the corridor, and, worried by what Abaddon said, I go in without caring what anyone will think about me being in a women-only space.
The moment I push the door open, I hear someone shout, “I saw you slam her head on the counter. For God’s sake, Capria just told you she’s pregnant!”
I cover the last few steps and then see what looks like a horror film.
Capria is on the floor, arms protectively around her belly, while Elodie stands with her back to me a few paces away. There’s a woman I vaguely remember from a party, though I don’t know her name. She’s the one who shouted.
“Elodie?” I call, but she doesn’t move.
“Gianni, help me. Our baby. . .” Capria whimpers.
I’m a man of action. I never hesitate when a problem appears, but right now, I don’t know what to do.
“Elodie?” I call again.
She was staring at Capria on the floor, but she finally looks at me. “She’s pregnant with your baby?”
“Yes,” I answer quickly, because at the moment, that seems like the least of our problems. “What happened here?” I look for any sign Elodie is hurt, but there are none.
“Gianni, please, I don’t want to lose our child,” Capria says.
“Tell me what you did,” I say to Elodie, even as I pull out my phone to call an ambulance.
I know whatever happened started with some provocation from Capria. Pregnant or not, I know her well enough to be sure Elodie was probably just defending herself, especially since it was two against one.
“I did?” There’s hurt in her voice.
“It doesn’t matter, bella. I’m with you. I’ll handle everything. We’ll talk later.”
I see Abaddon step into the restroom, but Elodie stays frozen, as if in shock.
All I can think about is what Capria will do to drag my girlfriend’s name through the mud. I don’t want Elodie involved in any kind of scandal.
“Take her to my apartment,” I tell him. “I’ll meet you there in a couple of hours.”
Elodie just looks at me, but it’s as if she doesn’t see me.
“You think I hurt her,” she says.
“No, I know there has to be an explanation. I know you. You wouldn’t act out of malice. Do us a favor—go home. I’ll find you as soon as I can.”
She looks down at the floor where Capria lies. “I pity this child,” she says. “No human being deserves a mother like you.”
She turns her back, and the last thing I see is Abaddon’s arm around her shoulders.
“Gianni. . .our baby. . .” Capria says again as I crouch to check the severity of the injury.
It’s just a small cut, barely a scratch. That’s not what worries me right now; it’s my child’s safety.
This morning, she texted me about the pregnancy.
I went out to meet her knowing I was walking straight into a nightmare, both because she’s the last person I’d choose to be the mother of my heir and because the timing couldn’t be worse. I’d been determined that once we were back in Italy, I’d ask Elodie to move in with me for good.
“What happened?” I ask, doing my best to stay calm.
“She attacked me.”
“The ambulance is on the way, Capria, and you’ll certainly have to give a statement to the police, if that’s really what happened. I hope you remember this place is covered by cameras.”
Her eyes go wide. “The ladies’ room?”
“Yes,” I bluff, and watch her go pale.
The other woman is the first to admit the lie. “I’m not getting in trouble with the police for you, Capria. My parents will kill me if I get sued.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask the redhead.
“She slammed her own head on the counter,” the woman says.
“Henné, don’t!”
“Sorry, friend, but I’m not going to jail over your jealousy. They argued, sir, both insulted each other, but your girlfriend was leaving. Capria wanted her out of the picture and banged her head on purpose.”
Is there honor among thieves? I don’t think so.
I stand and help the viper carrying my child to her feet as well.
At first, when she told me she was pregnant, I thought she was lying, but she showed me the tests and the ultrasound, confirming it.
The restroom door opens, and the paramedics come in.
“What happened?” one of them asks.
I wait for her to explain, holding her gaze. She knows the future of our relationship depends on what she says.
As I told her this morning, I’ll give all support during the pregnancy; that doesn’t mean we’ll be together as a couple. Elodie is the one I want, but I would never turn my back on a child.
“I slipped and fell,” she tells the man, then looks at me. “Forgive me. I got jealous and didn’t think about what I was doing, but I did get dizzy and actually fell when I hit my head. I’m scared for the baby. I’ll never forgive myself if something happens.”
The contempt I feel for her right now can’t be measured, but at the same time, I remember Elodie’s words. She’s right. No child deserves Capria as a mother, and by a twist of fate, my child is trapped in the prison of her body. I have to protect him.
“Ma’am, if you truly are pregnant, we need to take you to the hospital for tests.”
“Gianni,” she begs through tears, “forgive me. I know I don’t deserve your kindness, but come with me. You can go back to your girlfriend afterward, but right now, I need you.”
I nod, my jaw clenched so tight it hurts, and watch the paramedic guiding her out on foot.
She tries to come closer, to grab my arm, but I pull away.
“Don’t touch me. You will never touch me again, Capria.”
Everything that follows plays out like a nightmare.
I grab a cab and follow the ambulance, since I assume Abaddon took my driver to get Elodie back to the apartment.
The whole way, I try calling Elodie’s phone over and over, but it goes straight to voicemail. I can’t even reach Abaddon. He’s the one who always contacts me, then he gets rid of the phone.
An hour and a half later, I’m going out of my mind while I wait for Capria to be seen.
Because of the pregnancy, they’re cautious with the exams and finally decide she should stay overnight.
At eight in the morning, after a sleepless night trying to reach Elodie, Capria is discharged.
I walk her to a taxi and tell the driver to take her to the apartment her family owns in the city. As soon as she’s in the back seat, I tell her:
“I intended to handle our shared responsibility amicably. Today, you made that impossible. I’ll have my lawyers draw up an agreement for the period you’re carrying my child.
I want monthly reports on the baby’s development, but listen carefully to what I’m about to say.
No, better, record my words: I want nothing from you, with you, or about you. We’re finished.”