19. Isabella
Chapter nineteen
Isabella
I tap away at my keyboard, the clack-clack echoing in the quiet of my office. It’s been a week since the whole “surprise, we’re having a baby” debacle, and my work has become my sanctuary. Mom called, her voice a mix of excitement and worry—standard mom cocktail. Dad, on the other hand, is still processing the idea that his daughter is not walking down the aisle anytime soon—if at all.
As I bury myself further into the legal briefs, trying to ignore the lingering sting from Adrian’s words at my parents’ place, a gentle rap on my door pulls me from my refuge of legalese. The door opens, and there he is—Adrian Cole, in all his infuriatingly handsome glory. He shuts the door with a soft click, trapping us in the silence that follows.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, feigning nonchalance while my heart does a little tap dance.
“Checking in on you,” Adrian replies with that easy charm that should be illegal. “How are you holding up after last week’s baby reveal fiasco?”
“Doing okay,” I lie smoothly. His eyes drop to my stomach, and without asking, his hand follows suit, resting gently on the curve that’s started to form. It’s a bold move for someone who hasn’t quite figured out where we stand, but then again, Adrian’s never been one to shy away from bold moves.
“Got an appointment today,” I say, shifting under his touch. “To find out if it’s team pink or blue.”
“Ah.” Adrian’s brow furrows, and he’s got this look like he’s about to deliver bad news. “I’ve got a meeting I can’t miss. Think you can hold off on finding out the sex? We could look at the results together later.”
“Sure, why not,” I nod, because what’s one more secret between us?
“Great,” he says, smiling that smile that both melts and maddens me.
The moment his gaze snags mine, I know I’m in trouble. There’s that all-too-familiar twinkle of mischief in Adrian’s eyes—like he’s got a secret joke only we’re privy to—and it’s heading straight for me. He closes the distance between us with a few purposeful strides, leaning down for a quick peck that’s supposed to be just that, quick. But like most things with Adrian, it escalates fast, the kiss deepening into something that probably has no place in an office environment—or any professional setting, really.
I giggle, pushing him back slightly, though my hands betray me, pulling him closer once more. “You do realize this is wildly inappropriate for office hours,” I tease, attempting a stern look that doesn’t quite make it past the flutter in my chest.
“Only if we get caught,” Adrian counters, grinning that damned irresistible grin. He’s unfazed by my accusation, and why wouldn’t he be? Rules have always been more like suggestions to him.
But our playful banter is rudely interrupted when the door swings open so vigorously it practically bounces off the wall, and there stands Kate, witness to our current lapse in judgment.
“Oh my god, I—sorry!” she exclaims, her hand flying up to her mouth as her face turns a shade that would give tomatoes a run for their money. She whips around to leave, but I can’t let her flee—not without damage control.
“Kate, wait!” My voice comes out a little too shrill as I beckon her back. Flustered, cheeks burning hotter than the Sahara at high noon, I try to salvage what’s left of my dignity. “We can explain.”
“Are you two ... a thing?” Her voice is tinged with hope and a hint of scandal, like she’s stumbled onto the set of some torrid soap opera.
Adrian and I exchange a brief glance—a silent conversation in a split second—and I decide to take the plunge. “We are,” I admit, feeling the weight of our secret tighten around me. “But it’s more than that.” I suck in a deep breath, bracing myself for the shockwave. “I’m pregnant—with Adrian’s baby. We’re keeping it under wraps for now, so—”
Kate’s eyes widen, then her entire face lights up. “Oh my god, congratulations!” she says, her excitement bubbling over as she glances between Adrian and me. “I’m so happy for you two! And don’t worry—I won’t say a word to anyone. Your secret’s safe with me.”
Adrian chuckles softly beside me. Honestly, her enthusiasm is contagious. “Thanks, Kate. We really appreciate it.”
Kate nods, still beaming. “No problem! Seriously, I’m rooting for you guys. You make a great team.” She raises her fist in a playful little fist pump, and I can’t help but smile at how genuine she is. “You’ve got this,” she adds with a wink, then pivots on her heel and strides out of the office, probably cataloging this moment for future water cooler gossip—but at least we can trust her.
As soon as the door clicks shut, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Well, that went better than I expected. ”
Adrian leans back against my desk, his smirk telling me he’s just as relieved. “Yeah, no drama. I’d call that a win.”
I smile, the tension in my chest easing a little. “At least we don’t have to worry about her spilling the secret. Hopefully the rest of the firm has similar reactions.”
We exchange a glance, and a quiet laugh escapes me, the weight of the moment feeling just a little lighter now.
***
The envelope with the gender results feels like a brick in my purse as I tap my foot, waiting for Amelie outside the bistro in West Hollywood. Since Adrian’s still in his meeting and I have a couple of hours to spare, I arranged a late lunch with Amelie before heading to Adrian’s place.
My phone’s battery icon flashes red, a pathetic 2% staring back at me—a fitting metaphor for my patience level at this point.
“Come on, Amelie,” I mutter under my breath, flicking my gaze across the street to kill time.
And that’s when I see him—Leo. He’s all cozy with a slick-suited guy at an outdoor café, looking more like they’re plotting a bank heist than enjoying lunch. Curiosity nips at me, replacing my impatience. I debate whether to stroll over and play the “fancy seeing you here” card, but my gut tells me to play it cool. So, discretion wins.
I slip into a seat behind them, my own personal stakeout spot, and angle my ear toward their murmurs. They’re speaking in those hushed tones reserved for secrets or surprise parties—and knowing Leo, this isn’t about cake and balloons .
“Once we pin the leak on Cole he’s orchestrating a corporate coup. The baby flip-flops inside me, either in agreement or because it’s sick of the cappuccino fumes wafting from the café.
My thumb hovers over Adrian’s name in my contacts, the air around me thick with espresso and intrigue. I shoot off a text, trying to sound as casual as a cucumber in sunglasses: “Leo with you today?”
The reply is immediate just as my phone drops down to 1%, “Nope, he’s meeting with his wife today to work out all the marriage stuff.” Marriage stuff, my left foot.
“Of course,” I mutter under my breath, fingers still itching for proof.
Just as I’m about to go to my voice notes app and hit record, the battery icon blinks its final, pathetic goodbye before the screen plunges into darkness.
“Seriously?” I whisper-yell at the inanimate traitor in my hand.
Defeated tech in pocket, I’m stuck in my seat like gum, the corners of my eyes gluing themselves to Leo and his suit-clad sidekick. Their handshake seals whatever devilish deal they’ve cooked up just as Amelie waltzes in.
“Isa—”
“Shh!” I cut her off with a finger to my lips, my eyes screaming volumes of “sit down and zip it”. She plops beside me, all silent questions and eyebrows that are practically reaching her hairline.
Once Leo and Mr. Suit have vanished like magicians after a trick, Amelie turns to me. “Okay, spill. What’s the 411 on this situation?”
“That’s Leo, Adrian’s partner. He’s been sketchier than a two-dollar bill lately,” I start, keeping my voice low, “said he was patching things up with his wife. But Adrian just confirmed he’s not where he claimed to be, and I just caught him red-handed making deals that smell like trouble.”
“Wow,” she says, her face mirroring the shock waves rippling through me. “And here we thought the most drama we’d have today was finding out if you’re having a mini-you or a mini-Adrian.”
“Life’s full of surprises,” I say, but really, this is one plot twist I could have done without.
Amelie’s nod is slow, thoughtful. “This all makes sense, if you think about it. Adrian wouldn’t suspect a thing if Leo played the ‘troubled marriage’ card,” she muses, her fork idly pushing around the remnants of her salad. “Nobody wants to meddle in someone else’s relationship mess.”
“Exactly,” I agree, tapping my fingers on the table, impatient and restless. The envelope with the gender reveal sits like a hot potato in my purse. I’ll share it with Adrian later, along with this whole twisted saga. “I’m seeing Adrian after work to find out if we’re pink or blue brigade. That’s when I’ll drop the bomb about Leo.”
“Will he believe you, though?” Amelie’s eyes are saucers of concern, scanning my face for doubt. “If he and Leo are partners, he may have a difficult time without tangible proof. ”
I shrug, trying to appear more confident than I feel. Adrian didn’t want to believe that someone within the firm would leak those financial documents either. Amelie may have a point.
“Who knows? But staying silent isn’t my style. Especially not with stakes this high.”
“True. You’ve never been one to zip it and sit pretty.” She smirks, but there’s an edge of admiration there. I’d preen at the compliment if I weren’t so wound up. “And how exactly do you plan to prove all this?” Her voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper.
“Working on that bit.” I glance across the now-empty street where Leo’s duplicity had unfolded. “Gotta catch him with his hand in the cookie jar, don’t I?”
“Or any jar at this point,” she quips, raising her coffee cup as if toasting to my future detective endeavors.
I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Nothing like a side of corporate espionage with your baby news, right?”
“Spices things up, I guess,” she says dryly.
“Right,” I say, standing up with a renewed sense of purpose. “Don’t mean to cut this off early, but I should get going. Got a traitor to catch and a baby daddy to inform. You know, just another day in the life of Isabella King.”