Valeria’s POV I sank back on the plush leather seats on Noah's car. I kicked off my heels in relief. My feet were killing me. At the party, I had been going from one client to the other, talking, networking when I wanted nothing more than to lie down and drift off to sleep. I had gotten so tired so fast, and I suspected it was because of the pregnancy. Now, Noah was pulling out of the parking lot to drive me home and I thought longingly of my bed. My phone rang and picked it up. It was Dimitri. What on earth was he calling about? "Hello?" I said tentatively. "Where are you?" was Dimitri's reply. "I'm on my way home." "With him, I suppose." It was clear who he meant by 'him'. I did not answer. "Why did you leave without letting me know? Anyway, you can't leave yet. There is a very important potential client you have to meet. So, get back here. And also, don't bother telling him to wait for you. The meeting with this client is going to be a long one." The line went dead. I groa

Valeria’s POV Dimitri was already there, seated, sipping a glass of wine. His eyes were on me as soon as I walked through the door. He kept looking me over and his appreciative stare, though I hated to admit it, did things to me. So I concentrated on looking at the spot over his shoulder, while I walked to him. "Good evening," I said stiffly as I took my seat. I was careful to make it known by my tone that this was the last place I would rather be. I fiddled with, and pored over the menu in front of me while I kept feeling him x-raying me with his eyes. I shifted uncomfortably. Had he invited me here to continuously stare at me all evening? I was opening my mouth to say something cutting when he said quietly, "Nice dress." I made a noncommittal sound in my throat. "Did you get all dressed up for me?" My head jerked up immediately and I favored him with a glare. "Why on earth would I do that?" He smiled, undaunted by the acidity in my tone. "I just think you look exceptionally

Dimitri’s POV For what felt like the hundredth time in an hour, I dialed Valeria's number, hoping that this time it would be different and she would pick up the damn phone. I pressed the phone to my ear. It rang several times, yet no one picked up. I shoved my hands through my hair in frustration and pushed aside the documents I was supposed to be going through. There was no point in continuing anyway. I could not concentrate on work, not when I hadn't heard a word from Valeria for three whole days. She hadn't been to work for three days. After the first day, she had stopped receiving my calls. She was ill. I knew that, but was it the usual ailments pregnant women suffered, or was it something more serious? I had to know. I hesitated for only a moment before dialing Ivy's number. I had made her Reese's caregiver at the hospital without Valeria's knowledge. So far I got reports that she had been doing an excellent job with Valeria's grandmother. If it were possible, I would also hav

VALERIAMost of my attention was focused on my driving as I negotiated the turn that would take me to my house. The other part of me was sifting through what I would have to do at work the next day. I sighed in anticipation of a warm bath I would take the moment I got in, as my house loomed into view. Not wanting to return to the car for my stuff, I tried to hold on to my computer, some documents and my handbag all at the same time while I walked towards the front door.And then I felt it. The back of my neck prickled. It was the kind of feeling a person had when they were being watched. But who was watching me? My eyes scanned my surroundings swiftly. I didn't see anything out of place. All was as it should be. I sighed again, this time in annoyance. Ever since my encounter with Jack, I had become so jumpy.I kept telling myself that there was nothing for me to worry about. For two weeks now, I hadn't heard a word from Jack. I had not gone to visit him when I had planned to, partly m

DIMITRII thought of Valeria as I took the elevator to the top floor. Though she hid it well, or tried to, it was obvious that Valeria was not okay. She was much more absentminded than before. She perpetually looked haunted, as though she knew something that was eating up her up from the inside out. She wasn't ill anymore. Of that I was quite sure. The strain she was labouring under seemed to be of the emotional kind.I asked myself what news, or what new occurrence was capable of making her so sad and worried. The only thing I could think of was her health. Maybe she had finally gone for that checkup Ivy and I had been badgering her about. Maybe the doctors had found out that there was something seriously wrong with her. Maybe there was something even wrong with the baby. I had to ask her about it, or get my hands on the tests results somehow. But first, I would ask her. She wouldn't want to open up, but I would be very persuasive..."Sir. Good morning," Sasha chirped.She had sudden