Chapter 4
FOUR
EMBERLYNNE
After wrapping up the second meeting of the day, I make my way back to the office for a quick lunch and to get ready for the acquisition meeting later in the day.
When Silas is away, my days at work are hectic but I enjoy the challenge of handling things independently to show our employees that they can rely on me in my husband's absence. Initially, some board members doubted my ability to handle the demands of a COO, but I have not only proven my competence in the role but also earned their respect. Upon entering my office, my assistant Londyn, who has become one of my closest friends, is setting our lunch down on the table in front of the couch. It couldn’t have come at a better time because I’m starving.
Earlier, I felt a bit queasy, but now, my stomach has settled.
Maybe I'm just overthinking things. Work has been incredibly stressful recently, so that could be the cause, right?
However, there's a nagging thought at the back of my mind - what if I'm pregnant?
I noticed this week that I've missed my period for the second time. We’re always careful, but nothing is foolproof.
My periods have always been irregular, and while birth control was meant to help regulate things, I still tend to skip cycles occasionally.
This second missed period prompted me to stop by the drugstore before work and buy a test. But for now, I'll take a moment to relax and have something to eat.
“Thanks for joining me for lunch, Londyn. I need a break from all those meetings.”
“Anytime, Ember. It's nice to get away from the desk for a bit and catch up. How's your day going so far?”
“It's been non-stop! We had that budget review earlier this morning, which went very well, by the way. Followed by the strategy meeting on buying Stephens Global Inc. How about you?”
“Pretty busy too. I managed to complete the travel arrangements for the conference next week, and I’m almost done with the quarterly report.”
“Great job as always. That puts me well ahead of my schedule for the rest of the week. Which is actually a good thing. Silas called in between meetings and said he needs to stay longer than expected,” I relay solemnly, disappointed that my husband won’t be home until next Sunday.
I was hoping we could take an impromptu trip up to Blue Ridge with Piper, our Pitweiler, this weekend and get a hike in but oh well.
We’ve had our fur baby for three years and she loves hiking the trails with us.
She is a rescue pup that we both fell in love with and has been a great addition to our family.
“Which means you’ll be handling the acquisition, solo,” Londyn says, breaking my reverie.
“Yes, but, I’m prepared for this and it should go smoothly.”
“It’s a lot of pressure, but I know if anyone can do this, you can.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence. Silas believes I can pull this off, but there’s nothing like having your bestie on your side,” I tease, giving her a smile.
She has been my rock in more ways than one.
I’ve shared things with her that I’ve yet to share with my husband and I’m not sure I ever will.
I suppose at some point I have to, but for now, I just don’t have the courage.
Londyn has been my assistant since I became the COO of Barrister Holdings.
Over the years, she and I have become more like sisters than colleagues.
Although we’re not equals in business, I don’t treat her that way. Our friendship means everything to me.
“You guys deserve some time to unwind,” she comments between bites of cobb salad.
The chicken soup with crackers she brought me, has done wonders for my upset tummy.
“Well, I wanted to drive up to the mountains with Silas, but since he’s going to be away until next week, I’m not sure it would be worth the trip.”
“That would’ve been so good for you two. It’s been a long time since your last vacation and I heard about the new trails up there. It would be great to get away and get a break from the office.”
“Well, since he won’t be home, would you care to join me,” I ask, hoping that I’ll get some time away from the city despite Silas not being here to join me. Although we live in the suburbs with at least a mile from our nearest neighbor, there’s nothing like spending time in the mountains.
“Sounds amazing! I’ll come over Friday and we can leave early on Saturday.”
“It’ll give us time to catch up on our reading as well,” I add. We’ve been reading, “It Ends With Us” by Collen Hoover. It’s been all the rage lately because the book has been made into a movie and we already have our tickets.
“That sounds absolutely perfect!”
“Have you thought more about telling Silas about your past?” She inquires. “You’ve always been so open with each other and I know you try to hide it, but I can see that it’s starting to weigh on you.”
“You’re right, it has. We have always been honest with each other, and that’s what makes this even harder. It wasn't relevant at the time, but my father called me this morning and a threat which I assumed was taken care of, has resurfaced.”
“Is it something serious? Do you think it could change how Silas feels about you?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I keep telling myself that he’ll be understanding and we’ll work through this together, but it’s still difficult.
I don’t want him to feel like I’ve been hiding things from him.
Then there’s something else that’s come up,” I admit hesitantly, unsure of how this will affect my marriage.
“Something else?”
Instead of revealing my suspicions, I walk over to my desk and retrieve my purse from the drawer.
A small wave of dizziness washes over me as my stomach roils with nausea.
Dropping the purse, I rush to the en suite bathroom, making it just in time to throw up my entire lunch.
A light sheen of sweat breaks out over my skin and I’m no longer able to stand.
Sinking to the floor, I lay my cheek against the cool tiles, welcoming the relief to my warm, flushed skin.
“Are you okay, Ember? Should I call Silas?” Londyn asks, concern clear in her voice as she rushes to my side.
“No, please don’t. I’m pretty sure I know what’s going on with me,” I mumble, taking her offered hand. Turning on the faucet, I splash my face with cold water and rinse my mouth.
“I think I might be pregnant.”
“Did you take a test?” she utters in shock.
“I was going to show you before I got sick,” I reply, exiting the bathroom to grab my purse “The plan was to tell Silas this weekend while we were away, so we could take the test together. But it looks like that won't be happening,” I say, rummaging through my purse for the purple and white box that could confirm my suspicions. I know my husband would be overjoyed by the news, but I can’t ignore the threat to my own life.
The past is finally catching up with me, and telling Silas the truth could destroy everything.
We’ve discussed having children and we both agreed that we would wait a few years just to enjoy each other and do some traveling.
“I should’ve told him then, but he was so happy about the possibility of a baby that I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.”
“Well, you know I'm here for you no matter what.
Silas loves you, and I'm sure everything will work out,” she says, trying to reassure me.
“How about you wait until this weekend to take the test, and we can celebrate together, regardless of the outcome?” she suggests, gently taking the box from my hand and putting it back in my purse.
“Thanks, Londyn. I already feel a bit better and that would be great,” I reply, giving her a quick hug.
Moments like these make me miss my mother.
I could tell her anything, and she never judged me.
She passed away when I was just sixteen, a victim of a rival motorcycle club.
That tragedy was one of the reasons I wanted to distance myself from that world and create a new life far away from them.
My older brother chose to follow our father's path, and that was the final straw for me.
Sure enough, he found himself in trouble not long after he joined, and now his life hangs in the balance.
The day my mother was taken from me will always haunt me, forever etched in my mind as one of the worst days of my life.
During a ride with the Rebel Riders, my father's motorcycle club, a rival MC ambushed them at a bar, shooting at them while they were taking a break to enjoy a beer.
According to my father, my mother was hit by a stray bullet as she exited the bathroom.
When they returned home to break the tragic news to me, I was heartbroken and held my father responsible for risking her life.
Not long after, my brother, EJ, sought revenge on the Savage Knight's VP who had not only bragged about killing my mother but also made threats against me.
While I respected my brother's actions in defending my honor, he went too far.
Now, he is a target with a bounty on his head.
When I expressed my desire to leave the MC and move across the country for college, my father readily agreed.
It was too dangerous for me to stay, especially with the Knights out for blood.
Reflecting back, I understand that my father never intended to endanger my mother, but being involved in a motorcycle club was not compatible with having a family.
Glancing at my phone, I notice it's nearly time for my meeting with the acquisition team. We’re currently in discussions to take over a fledgling company that is struggling and requires help to regain stability.
“Hey Londyn, can you please retrieve the documents from our previous meeting with the acquisition team?” I ask, setting aside my personal concerns to focus on work.
“Of course, I'll get those for you right away. Do you need the minutes and the presentation deck, along with any notes on the financials and projected timelines?”
“Yes, I’ll need all of that. We need to go over our plan and put this deal in the books.
” I add, thinking about the hoops we’ve had to jump through to get the CEO of Stephens Global Inc.
to the table. He’s been a hard ass and difficult, always finding something wrong with our terms. His board of directors are ready to move on to a new chapter, but have gotten several pushbacks from Robert, their CEO.
“Got it. I'll have them ready for you in a few minutes.”
“Great, thank you. Do you mind double-checking that we have all the necessary signatures on the documents?” I add, recalling the earlier acquisition mishap when a board member did not sign off on the final draft, almost causing the deal to collapse.
“Understood. I'll bring the files to your office as soon as they're ready and include the latest market analysis. Anything else you need?” she asks, heading towards the door.
“That should cover it. Thanks for your help, girl, and thank you for listening. I’m going to talk to Silas when he gets home. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to our girl’s weekend to unwind,” I say gratefully.
“You’re welcome, Ember,” she responds. “I'll bring you everything you need, and I’m excited for our weekend too.”
As she leaves, I take a moment to collect myself, breathing deeply to settle my mind. If I’m pregnant, our lives will change drastically. The looming question remains; will Silas forgive me for keeping my past a secret?