Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Jenna
I was in my bedroom lying in bed and browsing the internet when Lucas walked in.
“Do you need anything?” he asked.
“No. I’m good. Thanks for asking.” I gave him a small smile.
“Are you sure?” His eye steadily narrowed at me.
“Yeah. I’m sure.”
“You absolutely don’t need anything at all? Nothing? Not a thing?”
“No. I’m good.” My brows furrowed at him. “Ah, wait. You’re asking if I need sex.”
“Jenna, I was not asking that.”
“Yes, you were! Admit it!” I threw a pillow at him.
“Fine.” He grinned. “I just thought I’d check before I head to bed.”
“You’re sweet for thinking about my sexual needs, but I’m good.”
“Okay. Just so you know, I’m available if you have a sudden hormone surge or something.”
“Good to know. Thanks, friend.” I grinned.
“Friend, eh? Yeah. I guess we are friends.” He smiled and left the room. “Oh, by the way,” he said as he walked back and stood in the doorway. “You’re only working half days at the office until your foot is fully healed. You’ll rest at home while working the other half of the day.”
“You’re the boss.” I smiled.
Three Weeks Later
It was my first night alone in my new apartment, and I felt a little down.
It reminded me of the first night when Bri moved out.
Even though I hadn’t stayed with Lucas for very long, I grew used to him being around all the time.
As much as I loved my alone time, it was still nice to know that someone would be walking through the door.
My job at Thorne Tech was going well. I liked it, and I liked the people I worked with.
I even started to make friends with some of the men and women there.
Everyone knew I was the one who saved the multi-million-dollar deal, but what they didn’t know was that I was pregnant.
I hadn’t told anyone yet, and it wouldn’t be too long before I started showing.
The next morning, as I was sitting in my office, Lucas walked in and shut the door.
“Do you have a minute?” he asked.
“Sure. What’s up?”
He took a seat across from my desk.
“How was your first night in your new apartment?”
“It was good. Those sheets are amazing. Thank you.” I smiled.
“You’re welcome. Listen, Jenna, I’ve been thinking about something. You’ll start showing soon, and I was wondering what you’ll tell everyone. I don’t think it’s a good?—”
“If you’re worried that I will tell people you’re the father, don’t be. I’ll tell them I had a few one-night stands and don’t know who the father is. Let them think I’m a whore.” I smirked.
“Jenna.” An unamused look crossed his face.
“I’m kidding. I’ll say things didn’t work out with the baby daddy and leave it at that. Your secret is safe with me, Mr. Thorne.” I winked.
“Okay. I appreciate it.”
He got up from his seat and walked to the door. Before walking out, he stopped, turned his head, and looked at me.
“Not having you around last night or this morning was strange.” He tapped on the doorframe and walked out.
A small smile crossed my lips as I looked down.
“Hey, Jenna.” Lindsey smiled as she stepped into my office. “A bunch of us are meeting tonight at Rudy’s for appetizers and drinks, and we want you to join us.”
“Sounds like fun. Count me in.”
“Great. We’re meeting around six-thirty.”
“I’ll be there.” I smiled at her.
I wouldn’t be able to drink, but appetizers I could definitely do. Plus, tonight would be as good a time as any to tell them about the baby and start the rumor mill around the office.
When I entered Rudy’s, I saw my coworkers seated at a table.
“Jenna, over here!” Lindsey shouted as she waved her hand.
“Sorry, I’m a little late. Traffic is horrible tonight.”
“I’m heading up to the bar,” Jake said. “What are you drinking?”
“Just water for me.” I smiled.
“Water?” Lindsey cocked her head. “Are you a recovering alcoholic?” She laughed.
“Recovering, never. I love a good scotch more than I should sometimes. But I need to stick with water because I’m pregnant.”
“You’re pregnant!” Amara shouted.
“Oh, my God!” Lindsey exclaimed. “Did you just find out? You never mentioned you had a boyfriend.”
“I’m almost twelve weeks. I didn’t want to say anything just in case?—”
“Totally understandable.” Amara grinned.
“Who’s the baby’s father?” Lindsey asked.
“This guy. We didn’t work out, and I’m moving on.”
“Aw. That’s so sad,” Amara said as she reached over and placed her hand on mine.
“Not really.” I smiled.
“Here’s your water, Jenna.”
“Thanks, Jake. “Who needs a man in their life anyway?” I held up my drink. “No offense to you, Jake. Or to you, Cameron.”
“None taken,” they both spoke at the same time.
“Oh my, look who just walked in with the new flavor of the week,” Lindsey said as she stared straight ahead.
Turning my head, I saw Lucas with some woman: five foot five, with long brown wavy hair, and as skinny as an anorexic teenager. I quickly turned around as I sipped my water. What I wouldn’t give to have a scotch in my hand at this moment.
“So, Jenna, does Mr. Thorne know you’re pregnant?” Cameron asked.
“Yeah. He knows. I told him when he asked me to come work for him.”
“By the way, how did you know about the project?” Jake asked. “That was top secret.”
“A mutual friend mentioned to him that I might be able to help out. So, he contacted me, and the rest is history.” I smiled.
“What’s it like being a total genius?” Amara asked.
“It can suck sometimes.”
I turned my attention to the table where Lucas and the woman he was with were sitting, and he spotted me.
Giving him a big smile, I waved at him. He slowly lifted his hand and gave me a small wave back.
While talking with my coworkers, I noticed the woman walk by and head toward the restrooms. I shouldn’t.
Yes, I should. Don’t do it, Jenna. Do it, Jenna. You know you want to.
“I’ll be right back. I need to use the ladies’ room,” I told the group as I stood up.
Walking into the bathroom, I stood at the sink and waited for her to come out of the stall. When she did and walked over to the sink, I gave her a friendly smile.
“I love your dress,” I told her as I pretended to check my makeup in the mirror.
“Thanks. I love your hair. It looks so healthy.”
“Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. I honestly think it’s the prenatal vitamins I’m taking.”
“You’re pregnant?” she asked.
“I am. Almost twelve weeks.”
“Wow. Congratulations. You and your husband must be thrilled.”
“Oh, I’m not married.”
“I’m sorry. I just assumed.”
“It’s fine. I got knocked up from a one-night stand, and the father doesn’t want anything to do with the baby.”
“That’s awful. I’m so sorry. Some guys are such assholes.”
“It’s okay. I’m totally fine with it. Besides, he’s a billionaire, and a kid doesn’t fit into his lifestyle. Plus, he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s the father.”
“Oh, my God. What a jerk. Who is it? I promise your secret is safe with me. I know a few billionaires myself.”
“I don’t know.” I slowly shook my head. “I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone. But you seem like a sweet girl who can keep a secret. He’s actually my boss.”
“What?!”
“Right?” I arched my brow at her.
“Where do you work?”
“Thorne Technology.”
“Seriously? Lucas Thorne is the father of your baby?”
“Yeah. He’s my baby daddy. Do you know him?” I cocked my head.
“I guess I don’t.”
I could see the anger in her eyes.
“Please don’t tell anyone. He’ll kill me if he ever found out.”
“Don’t worry.” She placed her hand on my arm. “I won’t tell a soul.”
I walked out of the bathroom with a smirk on my face as I sat back down at the table.
“Oh, look!” Lindsey said as she gestured to Lucas’s table. “Looks like Mr. Thorne won’t be having a good night after all.”
I glanced over and saw the woman grab her purse and walk out of the restaurant in a huff. Oops. A moment later, I felt a hand grip my arm.
“Jenna, can I speak with you for a moment in private?”
“As much as I would love to get up and have a chat, I can’t. My foot has throbbed since I returned from the ladies’ room. Can it wait?”
I could tell he was angry, but he needed to keep his cool in front of his employees.
“Of course, it can wait. Maybe you should go home if you’re in that much pain.”
“Maybe I should.” I smiled at him.
“Anyway, enjoy your evening, everyone, and I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.” He shot me a look before heading out of Rudy’s.”