Chapter 3

it wasn't until Julian disappeared off into the fray that Dani could breathe again.

Then, even then, the tightness in her chest refused to leave her alone.

“What’s the matter with you?”

The inquiry stayed on repeat in her head long after he dissolved back into the sea of people.

Because she knew exactly what the problem was.

A baby.

His baby.

Gnawing inside her.

It made her gut churn just to think about it.

She grabbed onto the corner of a cocktail table and plastered on a smile for one of the donors walking by.

The party still had its uses.

Thankfully.

“Miss Mitchell.”

She spun around.

One of Stella’s assistants stood before her, holding a tablet.

“Mrs. Vance requires the updated seating plan for the Harringtons.”

As usual.

Dani tried to keep from rolling her eyes.

“I will have it sent.”

Nodding, the assistant disappeared through the doorway.

Exhaling slowly and steadily, Dani closed her eyes.

Work.

Think about work.

Forget about Julian.

Forget about being pregnant.

Forget how every time she would cast a quick look at him from the ballroom, she would catch him looking back at her.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Julian stood with a group of investors now.

More listening than talking.

Watching.

Thinking.

Planning.

Julian Carter Vance was nothing if not controlling.

But even what happened two months back was never entirely clear to her, then or even now.

For one evening…

He had lost control.

A chorus of clapping erupted somewhere close to the stage.

Dani gasped and then winced inwardly at her response.

She needed fresh air.

She moved through the swirling crowd in the ballroom.

Away from the donors.

Away from the servers.

Away from the paparazzi.

Towards a more peaceful passage.

Once she got away from prying eyes, she searched through her purse.

There it was.

The pregnancy test.

It lay before her eyes.

Two pink lines.

They were still there.

They were still true.

They were still frightening.

She felt her stomach clench.

She must destroy the evidence.

Immediately.

No proof.

No reminders.

No risks.

Her hand grasped the test, then released it.

Because throwing it away was like casting away evidence that she had become someone new.

“Dani?”

She almost let it fall to the ground.

Her heart thudded in her chest.

Stuffing the test back into her purse, she turned around.

Julian was standing at the end of the hall.

Watching her.

Once more.

His dark eyes flicked shut only slightly.

“What are you doing out here?”

“Nothing.”

Lying was becoming a second nature.

Julian wasn’t very pleased.

“You’re being predictable.”

Dani crossed her arms over her chest.

“You should be entertaining your guests.”

“They don’t need my attention right now.”

Warmth pooled low in her stomach.

Dangerous warmth.

One she could not afford to entertain any longer.

“Julian—”

“Meet my eyes.”

The words came out softly.

But they were hard to miss.

Dani did as told.

Big mistake.

Julian’s gaze locked with hers in an instant.

Intense.

Focused.

Like everything around him was erased.

“You’ve been lying to me all evening.”

Her pulse raced.

“I haven’t.”

“Really?” he replied in a whisper.

“Something happened.”

She might give herself away just by staring. And truth has a way of ruining things.

A tense silence fell between them.

Then Julian breathed out. The noise seemed to shock her. Tiredness, frustration.

"Why don't you speak to me?"

It stung more than Dani thought it would.

Even with all the icy demeanor... There was more to him. Something real.

Dani despised feeling that way about him.

"Haven't we done enough damage yet?"

Julian looked like she was finally getting to him. He clenched his jaw. His eyes darkened. Not with fury though. Something more complex.

Suddenly, footsteps approached. The two froze, automatically stepping away from each other. Necessity.

Stella came into view. Regal. Perfect. Smiling.

"Hi Dani."

The sweetness in her voice sounded artificial. Almost too sweet.

"Mrs. Vance."

Stella's eyes flickered from one to the other. For just an instant. But Dani sensed that, and evidently so did Julian by the stiffness in his body language.

"There you are." The other woman said. "I've been searching for you."

"I've been looking at the donor reports."

"Of course."

“You’re always working.”

It’s a barb, one meant to sting.

But Dani doesn’t know why it hurts.

Julian anticipates her next words before she has time to speak them.

“The Harringtons need to be moved.”

Her gaze flickers back to him; her mouth turns up at the corners.

“Always so opinionated.”

The affection in her words doesn’t match the ice in her tone.

Not even remotely.

An icy chill moves between the couple, hidden beneath impeccable manners.

They stand there, locked in silent battle between two deadly beasts.

One who is openly aggressive.

One who pretends otherwise.

Dani stood trapped between them, equally afraid of both.

Then her gaze flicks to the hand reaching toward her purse on the end table.

Her hands let go reflexively, allowing the leather bag to fall to the floor.

Lipstick.

Phone.

Keys.

Pad of paper.

And a white object.

Plastic.

Familiar.

The pregnancy test half-emerges from her planner.

Dani feels a chill move through her.

Stella looks down and smiles.