Chapter 25
Addison
I checked my phone for what felt like the hundredth time, but didn’t see anything from Daniel.
This was hardly unusual, as we had never texted or talked on the phone before.
We had always communicated through email for business or through mysterious notes in Bloomingdale’s boxes.
Still, after our weekend together, I was hoping there would be a text waiting in my messages.
I sighed as I placed my phone on my desk. Then I reminded myself that it had only been two days since I watched him drive away from my apartment after another passionate kiss. I closed my eyes, remembering his hand on my neck and his tongue in my mouth. You couldn’t fake that.
Still, he wasn’t on the curb waiting for me this morning.
I had grown used to seeing his sleek, black town car in front of my apartment with him waiting for me.
I had to swallow down my disappointment as I walked to the subway, feeling like a peasant again.
It was as if after our date, the bell had struck midnight and I was back to my regular life again.
I’d had to hold back tears as the subway screeched to life on the tracks, making its way through the tunnel to Manhattan.
I felt stupid sitting there blinking back the tears that were threatening to fall down my cheeks in front of strangers.
Because what? I didn’t get a ride to work.
God, these pregnancy hormones were wrecking me.
My eyes snapped open and I shook my head, trying to rid the doubts from my mind.
He was probably just busy. He was a freaking CEO of a billion-dollar corporation.
I began sifting through the emails that had found their way into my inbox on my lunch break.
They were just another reminder that it was Monday.
My phone buzzed then, and I quickly snatched it up. I hated feeling disappointment when I saw it was a text from Monica, and not Daniel.
Monica: What time is the class tonight?
Me: 6 PM. Do you want to meet there?
Monica: Sure. Dinner after?
Me: Definitely. I can’t stop eating.
Monica: Haha. I love pregnant Heart.
I smiled weakly at my phone. Tonight was my first birthing class.
It felt way too early to even be thinking about how to breathe and push a baby into the world, but I wanted to feel prepared.
Everything else I had such little control over, but at least I could feel in control of some things, like taking classes and buying various baby books.
The class suggested I bring a partner. For a millisecond, I thought about inviting Daniel along, but quickly changed my mind.
I could only imagine the looks we would get in that classroom.
A well-known billionaire helping me breathe through a pretend labor.
The thought was almost laughable, if it also didn’t make me want to cry.
Not wanting to show up alone, I invited Monica instead. She was so excited. She had even been reading baby books herself. I really didn’t know what I would do without her.
My phone buzzed and I picked it up, expecting it to be Monica again. Instead, it was a call from a number I didn’t recognize. My heart beat a little faster in my chest as I pressed the green button.
“Hello?” I asked, feeling hopeful.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there this morning.”
It was the calm, deep voice of Daniel on the other line.
“Oh, it’s okay,” I said, my voice jumping an octave.
“I got caught up in a meeting with someone in London. The time difference had me up way too early. Afterward, I actually fell asleep with my face on my laptop.”
I laughed. “You did not.”
“I did. Just like the movies. I even had the keyboard marks to prove it.”
“Aww.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I had my assistant find your phone number for me.”
“Not at all. I’m happy you called.”
“Me too. I can’t stop thinking about our night together.” His voice was almost a whisper.
I felt my ears burn and I looked around my office to make sure no one was listening. Of course, there wasn’t anyone. I was alone and the door was closed. Plus, it wasn’t like my cell phone was tapped. Still, it felt almost like this was forbidden, him calling me at work.
“Me neither.”
“Do you think I can see you this weekend?” he asked.
“Hmm, let me see…”
I pretended to tap on my keyboard, as if I was checking my embarrassingly free schedule. I didn’t want to seem too eager, even though I wanted to yell “yes” and do a happy dance right there in my office.
“I’m free Friday,” I said after a moment.
“Friday it is,” he said. I could hear the smile behind his voice.
“Oh, I won’t be able to get out to Brooklyn this week. This deal with London has a lot of fine print and early mornings at the office. I hope you understand.”
I did, but it didn’t make me miss him any less.
“I never asked you to be my personal chauffeur,” I replied sarcastically, to show that I was more than capable of getting to work myself, even though I wished it were with him.
“I liked it,” he said.
“Me too.”
“Especially our drive home on Friday night…”
“Daniel!” I exclaimed.
“What?” he asked innocently.
“Don’t you start. I’m at work.”
“What are you wearing?”
I giggled. “You are a real piece of work, you know that?”
“So they tell me.” He chuckled.
I was sure they did.
“I have to go,” I said, cupping the phone and looking at my office door feeling paranoid.
“Goodbye, Heart,” he said.
Just him saying my name like that made my arms break out into goosebumps. I didn’t let many people call me that. Most didn’t know that was the name I preferred, but only if you meant something to me. Somehow, Daniel had earned that right, and it sounded best coming from him.
“Goodbye, Daniel.”
I hit the end button and slid my phone across my desk. I couldn’t help but smile. The hold that man had on me was either going to ruin me or change my life forever. I hoped it would be the latter.
After work, I took the subway home and made the short walk back to my apartment.
I had just five minutes to change out of my work clothes and get back to the subway to meet Monica at the birthing class.
In my apartment, I kicked off my shoes and found a pair of black leggings and slid on an oversized white tee. I wanted to be comfortable.
It felt like I had popped overnight. There was most definitely a little bump.
I doubted anyone else could tell, but I could.
My clothes fit differently and my belly was bigger.
Firmer than my normal pudge. I hoped I could get away with no one noticing for a little while longer.
I didn’t need anyone asking questions at work.
If the truth came out that I had intimate relations with Daniel, I could lose my job.
Then I would be jobless, without benefits, and trying to bring a child into the world.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to hide this pregnancy from my coworkers or my boss in the months to come.
Suddenly, I thought back to the check Daniel had given me. I had almost forgotten until now.
I walked to my nightstand and opened the drawer.
Inside was the baby book I was currently reading.
I opened the glossy cover and saw the check staring at me with all those zeros that felt like eyes.
I still wondered about the motives behind it.
A wave of nausea hit me then. I wasn’t sure if it was morning sickness, which should really be called ‘any time of day sickness,’ or the exorbitant amount written on the check.
I slammed the book shut and put it back in the drawer.
There was no time to think about that now. I was already running late.
On the train, I gave up my seat to a woman who had an adorable baby boy. He giggled as she bounced him on her lap. I couldn’t help but stare as I wondered what I was going to have. A boy? A girl? The thought excited me and scared me all at the same time.
I made it to the class with one minute to spare. Monica was standing outside, leaning against the building waiting for me.
“There you are,” she said.
“Sorry, I got caught up with Elma. You know how she is.”
“That woman is way too invested in the lives of her tenants.” Monica rolled her eyes.
“You have no idea.”
We walked into the class and were met with smiling couples all seated on the floor in a circle. I noticed I was the only one there without their significant other. I tried not to let it get to me as I found an empty seat on the floor, Monica sitting beside me.
The teacher walked us through various breathing exercises and then positioned us into a few birthing positions. I felt ridiculous with Monica sitting behind me with her hands on my stomach, repeating after the teacher.
“Hee-Hee-Hoo,” she breathed loudly.
“I think I’m supposed to be doing that,” I said with a laugh.
Monica giggled, and the teacher looked over at us curiously.
“God, could you imagine if Mr. Billionaire was here doing this with you?” said Monica, her voice low. “What’s going on with you two, anyway? You never told me about your fancy date.”
“Oh, Monica, it was amazing. Perfect even. We ate at this amazing French restaurant and he took me to see a Broadway show. You should have seen him. He was dressed to the nines.”
“Wow. He’s really wining and dining you. Without the wine, of course.”
“Unfortunately,” I muttered.
“Then what?” she asked.
“Then what, what?”
“How did the night end?”
“Oh…” I said, pausing.
“Oh, my God. You totally did it again, you little floozy,” she said, her voice rising.
The teacher looked over at us, now with a frown on her face.
“Shhh!” I said. “You’re going to get us in trouble.”
“What is this? Middle school? Am I going to get sent to the principal?”
I put my hand over my mouth and stifled a laugh.
“I guess he already got you pregnant. What else could happen?” whispered Monica with a shrug.
“True.”
“Did he stay the night?”
I nodded as the teacher instructed us to get on all fours for the next position.
“But the next morning, he asked to borrow my clothes.”
“Wait… what?” asked Monica.
“He didn’t ask for a pair of heels,” I said. “He just didn’t want to wear his fancy suit.”
“Ah, makes sense.”
“Yeah, but I got the feeling he was trying to go incognito. Like he didn’t want to be seen with me.”
“Get out of your head, Heart. He’s into you.”
“You’re the writer. How is this going to turn out for me?” I asked as I arched my back like the teacher instructed.
“This is a classic bad boy turns good trope.”
“This isn’t a romance novel. This is my life.”
“Well, your life is certainly going to serve as inspiration for my next novel.”
I rolled my eyes at her as I arched my back and pressed my hands into the floor.
Monica seemed so sure, but this all felt too good to be true. This stuff didn’t really happen. Maybe it did in her literary world, but not in real life.
“So, tell me, is this how he got you pregnant?” whispered Monica.
I burst into laughter and the teacher shot us another warning look. Leave it to Monica to get us kicked out of a Lamaze class.