Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Are you sure that’s what happened?”
Her face paled and she let out a long, long breath. “You know, don’t you?”
I nodded slowly. “One of those flyers fell out of your purse.”
She groaned and rubbed her head even harder. “Ugh, she really does have a way of ruining everything, doesn’t she?”
“She certainly has a knack for it.”
“Well, now you know. She plastered my work with those flyers and I worked myself into a panic trying to get them down. I was running around like a damn fool and now I’m sure my coworkers think I’m some sort of trashy drama pit.”
“I’m sure they don’t,” I assured her, squeezing her hand. “It’s very clear that you’re being antagonized.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“In fact, I think it’s clear to everyone that you’re being harassed, so I think we should take legal action.”
“Legal action?” she snorted. “Like I could ever afford tha- Oh. Right. That’s not a valid excuse anymore.”
“No, it’s not.” I said, chuckling lightly. “But it’s something I want you to think about. This woman has gone to extremes when you have literally done absolutely nothing to her. I don’t like to think what she will do after our baby comes into the world, and I don’t want her affecting your health. Especially considering the situation.”
“Yeah, the situation,” she said with a sigh. “You mean the fact that my body could kill our child at any second.”
“No, I don’t mean that, and I thought we agreed that this wasn’t your fault.”
“You agreed to that. I remember hearing it, but I don’t quite remember saying that I would be on board.”
“You’re awfully snarky for someone who lost consciousness earlier today.”
“Consider it a gift.” She shot back, sticking out her tongue at me.
“Uh-huh. Or at least your gift is avoiding the topic of conversation.”
She sighed and sat back. “You got me. Look, I know I should probably take this woman to court, but I’m just so tired. I just want to curl up in a ball and have her forget about my entire existence, but she can’t seem to do me the courtesy. Is that so wrong? I just don’t want to fight anymore. I’m tired.”
My heart broke and I stroked her hair once more. I couldn’t blame her one bit. If I was being harangued by a psychopath that had a vendetta against my very existence, I would want to pack up and move across the country as well.
“I understand,” I said, letting the subject drop. “You know what, the list mentioned that it’s important to get you on a regular diet, so how about I order some lunch?”
She paused, looking like she was considering the subject ever so seriously. “You know, I am pretty hungry.”
“That’s my girl.” I patted the top of her head and pulled out my phone, seeing what was available to order. But as I did, I made a personal note that this wasn’t over. Nicole and I may not have been in any sort of relationship, but she was the mother of my future child, and like hell I was going to let a hick from Timbuctoo terrorize her with no repercussions.
Obviously, I would have to take care of Nicole’s needs first and foremost, but it was amazing what a single email to my lawyer on retainer could do.
Chapter Thirty-Three
~Nicole~
Life on bedrest was… strange. As was having James there day in and day out. While the name was a little bit of an over exaggeration, it was still incredibly frustrating. I was allowed to get up to go to the bathroom, shower, go to the kitchen and have short, occasional walks around the living room, but that was about it. No stairs. No strolls along the river, and certainly no work. It was killing me to not go into the office every day, but apparently, James had handled all the necessary paperwork to make sure I got to keep my job when I went back.
The weirdest part was I felt basically completely back to normal, just really, really pregnant. Maybe it was just in my head, but I swore that my belly grew exponentially each and every day I spent ninety percent of my time on my back or side.
And of course, since I wasn’t feeling like some desperately sick mother, that meant I was feeling like a very horny mother. Almost every night I tried to drop enough hints for James to take the hint and sleep with me, but he never picked them up.
Well, tonight I was determined. One way or another, I had an itch that was going to get scratched.
I heard keys turn in the locked looked to the door from where I was laying on the couch, watching the TV that James had bought and set up so he could watch sports and a few other shows on when I was passed out in one of my naps. He had ever bought a cable package too, which I was generally against wasting money on, but it was for his benefit, so I didn’t see how I could object.