8. Tests
Faith
It wasn’t much later that the intercom buzzed in the kitchen, causing me to jump. “Faith, it’s Gina,” a familiar voice said. “Can you please come to my office?”
“Of course, Gina.” I didn’t know what the Madam wanted, but I hustled to get dressed. I pulled on a simple black sundress, hastily pulled my hair back into a bun, and headed to the main mansion.
It was disorienting to leave the private enclave of Cassius’s home. The grand gardens seemed even more impressive, the all-knowing statues’ expressions even more impenetrable. But I was relieved that the grounds were quiet; the patrons had all left for the work week.
I made my way to Gina’s office, surprised to find both the Madam and the nurse inside. “Hello, Faith,” Gina said. “We’re going to do your follow-up test now.”
I swallowed hard. “Today?” I asked. “It’s already been a week?”
“It’s been long enough that we can check for a false positive,” the nurse said kindly.
Gina chatted with me while the nurse drew my blood, asking how my visit with my friends had gone and how I’d been feeling.
“Good,” I said. “I don’t feel any different.”
“You wouldn’t, dear. Not yet.” The nurse patted my arm. “I’ll bring this to the lab—be back in a few minutes.”
“I haven’t seen you in a few days,” Gina said. “Is everything okay?”
I nodded.
The Madam peered at me from behind her black-framed glasses. Waves of glossy hair tumbled over her shoulders, and her makeup was flawless; Gina always looked so pulled together. “You can talk to me, you know. I just want to make sure that you’re where you want to be. You don’t have to stay at Mr. Blackwood’s house, Faith. You can leave anytime—we’ve funded your account with all your earnings.”
“Thank you. I saw the deposit,” I said. I checked my banking app and saw the balance in my account. It was staggering: five million dollars—four for my double-platinum rights and one for my contract being bought out. The money was real. It was in my account. And yet it seemed impossible, a fever dream of wealth.
“Concerning staying with Mr. Blackwood—I’m enjoying it,” I said. How could I tell her I was the happiest I’d ever been and longed to stay with Cassius forever?
“Good.” She smiled at me. “I’m glad to hear it. It’s lovely that this is all working out so well.”
I longed to know what she meant and if she had any information about Cassius’s feelings about the arrangement. But the nurse returned, carrying an electronic tablet. She nodded at me. “The results came back, and they’re the same. You tested positive for being pregnant.”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
“It’s still early,” the nurse said gently. “But these tests are extremely accurate. I would say that you can be confident with the results of this secondary test.”
When she left, Gina turned to me. “I didn’t tell Mr. Blackwood we were testing you again this afternoon, but he needs to know. Are you comfortable telling him the results, Faith? Or would you like me to do it?”
“I’ll tell him.” The words came out slowly, stubbornly.
Gina watched me carefully. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I said, although I wasn’t sure that was true.
“I’m sure all of this is a bit of a shock.” The Madam folded her hands on top of her desk. “I’m happy to help however I can, including being here to listen.”
“Thank you, Gina.” But I rose to go. “It’s a lot to process. I’m going to need some time.”
“I understand.” Gina stood, too. “Do you need anything? Is there anything I can do for you?”
Tell me what to do? Tell me everything will be okay, even though my whole world’s turning upside down?
I shook my head. “I’m fine,” I said. This time, I knew I was lying.
I hustled back to the house. Cassius hadn’t returned yet. I returned to the pool, where I could pace in private. The sun shone down, the birds chirped, and the glossy aqua water rippled in the slight breeze. But I appreciated none of it. Lost in my thoughts, I paced back and forth. What would Cassius think of the news?
What the hell did I think of it?
“Are you pacing a hole into the pool deck?” Cassius asked, breaking my reverie. He strode down from the house, looking handsome AF in another custom suit.
“Maybe,” I said.
“Did you have fun with your friends?” Cassius raised his black designer sunglasses and perched them on his head. His icy blue eyes scrutinized me.
“Yes.”
He frowned. “Did something happen?”
“Yes.”
“What?” he asked, instantly on alert. “Did they make you upset?”
“No, it was nothing like that. They were great.” I wrung my hands together.
His gaze raked over me again. “So why do you look like you’re about to walk the plank?”
I took a deep breath. “Because Gina called me into her office this afternoon, and the nurse tested me again.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. “Cassius, the test came back positive. The nurse thinks it’s accurate—I’m pregnant.”
“I see.” Cassius stared blankly at me for a moment. He seemed to be in shock.
“I know it’s a lot to take in,” I said. “And maybe it’s another false positive, maybe we shouldn’t assume?—”
“It’s not a false positive,” Cassius said. “You’ve been tested twice. I read up on these new tests. They’re extremely reliable. If the nurse is confident in the results, we should be, too.”
He paused for a beat. He looked at me. I looked at him. Time seemed to stretch out, simultaneously empty and all too full.
“Faith,” he said, “I’ve been considering this as a possibility. And I have something I want to ask you.”
I clutched my arms tighter around myself. Cassius hadn’t reached for me. He didn’t look happy. Instead, the billionaire appeared resigned.
I steeled myself, waiting for the blow to land.
“Faith, will you marry me?”