Chapter 5

Alice’s POV

Adma took me to a consulting room, where he told me he worked. There was a bathroom where I could clean up briefly, and there happened to be a change of clothes for a friend.

I was very grateful to him, but as I spoke I felt dizzy and almost fainted. Fortunately, Adma caught me in time.

He took my pulse, listened to my heart, checked my temperature, and checked my mouth before asking me about my symptoms.

“Fatigue, dizzy, lightheaded…”

Then he asked if he could do blood work and a urinalysis.

“What? Why?” I asked, my head still spinning.

“Just to be sure, though I suspect your symptoms are due to dehydration.”

“I guess so…”

“I’ll send a nurse in, and there is a cup in the bathroom,” he explained, smiling kindly at me. “Despite your health at the moment, I’m glad I got to see you again.”

“I had no idea you were a doctor,” I commented, standing from the medical table to go to the small bathroom.

“I’ll be right back with a nurse to take a blood sample,” he told me as he turned to the door. “The tests shouldn’t take very long. Our lab is pretty quick.”

“It’s fine, it’s not like I have anywhere to be,” I said, shutting the bathroom door behind me.

An hour later, a vial of blood and a cup of urine was analyzed and the results were in. Adam had given me some fluids, and offered me some food, admitting that my glucose levels were low. Then, he delivered the really shocking news. I had to ask him to repeat himself, just to be sure I wasn’t hearing things.

“I said, you’re pregnant, about four weeks pregnant, to be precise,” Adam repeated, his eyes on my face. “I guess it is too early to know without urinalysis but, it’s true.”

“I… I can’t be,” I replied, my mind reeling.

This couldn’t be. I only had three months left of my marriage contract. This news should have made me happy, I should have felt happiness. However, I didn’t. I felt nothing but dread and anxiety. Because I felt this way, the guilt was also setting in.

The reality of it was harsh; I didn’t want David or anyone else to know. The stakes were too high. I knew David would never love me but the reality of it was hitting me in the face now as I sat on that cold table.

If he or his powerful family found out, they’d take the child. They would say the child was a legacy asset and take it from me without hesitation. An heir was all grandpa wanted and he’d do anything to get it, even if that meant tossing me aside. I couldn’t let that happen. My hand went to my belly and I swallowed hard.

“You don’t want a child?” Adam asked, the worry on his face evident.

“Please, you can’t tell anyone,” I insisted, staring up at him. “Doctor patient confidentiality, right?”

“If that’s what you wish, then of course I will do as you ask,” he assured, reaching out and squeezing my shoulder.

“No one, I’ll tell people in my own time,” I insisted, standing now. I needed to leave, I needed to think this through. I needed to plan my next steps.

“You need rest,” Adam suggested, following me out of the room.

“Yes, rest…” I repeated, ignoring him.

I hadn’t realized, when I left the hospital, that the limousine was still waiting. The driver asked if I was okay and I just nodded, telling him to take me home. Sitting in that backseat I checked my bank balance, the only balance I had that was separate from David and his family assets.

Only $6000. That’s all I had to my name. I had to do something, to think of something, to build a wall of steel around me and this child. The first requirement was money – money to fight when the time came.

“He won’t have this baby,” I whispered, holding my stomach, looking at the wilting flowers and presents around me in the back seat. “I won’t let it be his consolation prize, to satiate his guilt for Lily. I won’t.”

David hadn’t been home in there days. He was not answering his messages or the one call I tried to make. He was, undoubtedly, holed up in Lily’s home, a grand place she shared with Lucas before his death. I don’t know why I was trying to contact him. I shouldn’t have even bothered.

However, a worried call from grandpa compelled me to try to reach out to David again.

“Alice, have you seen David? Where is he? He isn’t answering work calls, emails, or my calls,” grandpa explained. You could tell he was tense, anxious, because his voice which was always so calm and firm was wavering. For the first time in my life, he sounded his age.

“I’m sorry, but he’s been busy,” I explained, covering for David once again. “He didn’t tell me what he was busy with though…”

“He needs to call me,” grandpa urged, and I delved deeper, wondering what had this titan so rattled.

“What is going on? Can I help?”

“Oh, dear, if only you could,” he sighed. “Well, I guess I can tell you what’s going on. You’re family.”

“Is it that serious?” I asked, worried for his health.

“Yes, it seems Neighley Group is being hit with a CFIUS investigation,” he explained. He didn’t expect me to know what that was but I did. The CFIUS was the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and this was serious.

“They are alleging some scandalous things, my dear,” grandpa surmised, though I doubt it was minor if an investigation was open. “This could mean a 2 Billion dollar loss for the company.”

“Billion?” I questioned. That high of a number meant this was beyond serious – someone was out for blood.

“Don’t concern yourself, dear,” grandpa reassured. “You just tell David, when you see him, to call me. It’s important.”

“I will, I promise,” I replied, hearing the chuckle escape his lips.

“Good, good, have a good rest of your night, Alice,” grandpa replied before the line clicked and went dead.

I was sitting on our large couch in the living room, my old laptop closed in front of me on the coffee table. I hadn’t used it in a long time. I had no need, really. However, now that I was making a plan to distance myself, and my child, from David and his family, I knew it was time to open in.

The truth was, I’d been getting emails for months. I’d shuffle them into a folder but I never responded. They started getting repetitive. It was the same thing, usually, from the same sender.

Sidley Austin, the world’s top law firm, had been sending me emails for a while now. It wasn’t a surprise, not really. Though I had become a wife, and stepped away from practicing law, I had one hell of a career behind me.

Three years ago, before my marriage, I was the youngest partner candidate for the firm in New York. However, the law firm kept me secret, which was what I wanted. They only referred to me as “L” and my mentor, in particular, was devastated when I traded in my pantsuits for a domestic apron.

Justice Duke Arlington was the youngest justice on the U.S. Court of Appeals. He was legendary, fiery, smart, and my mentor for many years. Perhaps, if I reached out to him, or at least replied to one of these offer emails, I could get back into the game. I missed the thrill of a good case, the work, the tenacity it took to get to where I was. Though, I doubt anyone would want to welcome me back after ghosting for three years.

It was worth an email, at the very least.

After responding to their latest offer, which was a generous one, I sat back on the couch and waited for a response. I didn’t expect one today, as it was almost after working hours. However, when my phone rang, I jumped. It was Arlington, my friend and mentor.

“Hello,” I answered with a smile, happy to speak to him after so many years.

“Alice! It’s so good hearing from you. How have you been? I saw your email, or rather my assistant forwarded it to me.”

“I’ve been fine, though not as happy as I could be…”

“And what can I do to make you happy?”

“Does the offer from the last email, a couple weeks ago, still stand?” I questioned, the thrill rushing up my spine.

“Oh, absolutely. Anything for my prodigy, my all-star.”

“Truly?”

“Have I ever lied to you?” he asked, a laugh escaping his lips. “Alice, come back. I’ll give you whatever you need, even my own office if it’ll entice you back to the firm.”

“That’s not necessary, but what you can do is send me some of your discovery, on your most recent case,” I suggested, eager to jump back in. “Let me help organize it, catalogue everything. It’ll help me ease back into everything.”

“Done! Check your email shortly.”

I paused now, a grin on my face. “Thank you, Duke… truly. I need this. It’s time to put away my apron and come back out swinging.”

“Alice, you shark,” he sighed, relief in his tone. “I’ve been waiting for those words. It’s good to have you back.”