A month Pregnant

I walked to our room and swung the door open. JETHRO’s POV

She was asleep. I smiled at her as I walked toward the bed — for the first time in my life, I don’t think I’d ever smiled that way before. She looked cute. I snapped a picture and used it as my wallpaper.

Walking to the balcony, I called Tiffany, the most exclusive jeweler in town.

“Get me the most expensive jewelry you have.”

“From which brand?”

“The most expensive and beautiful one you have.”

“Well, it’ll cost 105 thousand dollars.”

“You’ll get the full payment tonight. It should arrive tomorrow morning.”

“Okay, Mr. Blackstone. For whom?”

“My wife.”

“Okay.”

“Remember — any mistakes, and your shop closes for good.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Good.” I ended the call.

***

I found her eyes resting on the box I’d left on the bed.

She picked it up, and her breath caught when she saw the necklace inside — gold, heavy, unmistakably real. “They’re so beautiful,” she said, almost to herself, running her fingers over it.

“Do you like it?” I asked.

She looked up and saw me standing there watching her, and just like that, her face closed off. She frowned down at the necklace like it had personally offended her.

“It’s ugly.” She dropped it back onto the bed like it burned her.

“Do you want something else?”

“I don’t.”

“Mel—”

“I don’t want anything from you. You saving me from Richard doesn’t change the way I see you. I hate you.”

“Fine.” I picked it back up, threw it in the trash, and walked out before she could see what that did to me. The door slammed behind me harder than I meant it to.

***

“I don’t know what to do,” I admitted, pacing.

“Take it easy, boss,” Brandon said, trying to calm me down.

“Shouldn’t she be happy about the gift?”

“Are you angry about the money, or that she didn’t accept it?”

“I don’t care about the money. I could demolish a house worth millions and have it standing again in three days. It’s the fact that she refused it — that’s what got to me.”

“I can’t believe you’re this far gone,” he said, studying me. “You always swore you’d never love anyone. And here you are, completely wrecked over her.”

“I don’t need you lecturing me.”

“Sing her praises.”

“What?”

“Sing her praises.”

“I don’t know how to do that.”

“Really?”

“Teach me.”

“Tell me you’re joking.”

“I’m dead serious.”

“Well—”

Before Brandon could finish, we heard voices outside — two people arguing — and within seconds the door burst open. A woman stormed in with Liv trailing behind her, flustered.

“Sorry, sir, she—” Liv started, but I cut her off with a look and waved her out. She bowed and disappeared.

The woman smoothed down her clothes as she crossed to my desk, and I looked at her the way you’d look at something you’d already thrown away.

“Hey, babe.”

“What do you want, Alexa?”

“Brandon, give us a minute.” She didn’t even glance at him.

Brandon didn’t move until I nodded. He gave her one last look — equal parts warning and disgust — before he walked out.

“What do you want?”

“You.” She pointed at me like it was obvious.

“How many times do I have to tell you we’re done?”

“I’m sorry for what I did.”

“Get out of my office.”

“No. I’m not going anywhere.” She sat down like she owned the place.

“Don’t test my patience, Alexa.”

“I’ve apologized more times than I can count. Why won’t you just forgive me so we can go back to how we were?”

“You were a sex machine to me. Nothing more. I made that clear.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“You should.”

“We made love. I thought you were going to marry me.”

“We had sex. Not love.” I let out a short laugh. “And marry you? You’re every man’s hole, not his wife.”

“I don’t care what you think of me.”

“Get out.”

“If you don’t love me, why did you lose it when I slept with your stepbrother?”

“Because I hate him. That’s the only reason.”

“Save whatever dignity you’ve got left,” I said, standing. “Get out.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Get out.”

“Jethro—”

“Get out!” I yelled, and she finally stood, backing toward the door.

“I’ll get you back,” she promised, before turning and walking out.

***

MELANIE’S POV

A month had passed since the incident of my kidnapping. I still didn’t want to know the reason for Jethro’s sudden change of attitude toward me. I didn’t know how to explain things to Preston, but I knew he’d be mad at me either way.

Breakfast was quiet, the way it used to be before all this. Staying home for a month had made me do things I naturally wouldn’t. I zoomed off after breakfast, straight to the office. I’d missed it — missed everyone there. I began walking into the building but was stopped by a woman standing near the entrance.

“Melanie, right?” she asked, making me stop. I looked at her, trying to place her face, but nothing came. It didn’t seem like we’d met before.

“You don’t know me,” she said, scanning me up and down with her eyes.

“Who are you?” I asked, thrown off by how rudely she was speaking to me.

“You shouldn’t care about my name.” She turned her gaze toward the building. “Stay away from Preston,” she said, pointing a finger at me.

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t pretend to be innocent. You’re a married woman, yet you keep your eyes on someone’s boyfriend,” she half yelled.

“Preston’s your boyfriend?”

“Not just boyfriend, but also the father to my unborn child,” she said.

“What?” I blurted.

“Didn’t he tell you?” Irena grinned. “I’m a month pregnant,” she added.

“What do you want?”

“Stay away from him. You’ve caused him more than enough pain.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Then you’d better watch your back,” she said before walking away, leaving me dazed.