Page 59 of Landen

“I am not yourconcern.” She clicked on the spreadsheet, hoping he would takethe hint and leave her alone.

“I received acall earlier.”

“Oh?”Concentrating fiercely on the numbers before her, she tried to blockhim out.

“From oneMargaret Chapman. Rather, lady Margaret Chapman.”

He gave her a smuglook as she straightened and stared at him. “Why would she becalling you?”

“She wanted meto fire you,” Ronald told her mildly.

“What?”

“She claimedthat you pursued her son and that such a behavior is unacceptable.”

Tessa’s handscurled into fists as she stared at him. “What did you say toher?”

“I told her shehas no influence or say in whom I hire or fire. And I also told herthat her son pursued you. I saw it with my own eyes.”

“What did shesay?”

“She soundedvery displeased.” His expression turned sober. “I don’thave to tell you that having that woman as an enemy is not somethingyou want to do.”

“How am I herenemy?”

“You are takingaway her son,” he pointed out. “And that is unacceptable.I warned you this would end badly, and you did not listen.”

“Am I fired?”She asked stiffly.

“Of coursenot.”

“Then thisconversation is over.”

“Tessa-”

“Please. Justdrop it.”

He sat there staringat her for a few moments, stretching her nerves to near breakingpoint before getting to his feet. “You look drawn and unhappy,darling. I cannot tell you who to get involved with, but LandenChapman is clearly out of your league.” With that, he swept outof the room, leaving her shaken and nauseated.

His mother had calledand demanded that she be fired. She never thought the woman would goto such lengths. It showed how much she hated her, and they had nevermet. Leaning back, she closed her eyes and felt her stomach roiling.

Landen had asked ifshe was pregnant and told him it was too soon to know, but she hadlied. She was pregnant. She had not seen a doctor to confirm it yet,but three pregnancy tests and a missed period had done the job.

Pressing her handagainst her flat stomach, she heaved a breath. She was pregnant withhis child and was going to have to tell him.

But she was waiting.If she told him now, he would drop everything and come running. Andhe was needed there. She could deal with this on her own for the timebeing. How on earth had everything become so tangled and complicated?

Six weeks ago, herlife had been normal. She enjoyed her career and was not looking forromance. She stopped looking, in fact, and then came Landen waltzinginto the gallery, and her life was turned upside down.

What kind of lifewould they have with his parents hating her and not approving of her?What would they tell their child about his or her grandparents? Herparents were dead, and their baby should have a right to know hisgrandparents.

She was black, whichmeans their child would be of mixed race. He would not look likethem; they would inherit her skin tone, perhaps a little lighter, andthe hair would be curly instead of straight.

She was bringing achild into a world where his father was related to royalty, and hisgrandparents would never accept him. Tears leaked from her eyes, andshe wished she had never met him - no! She shook her head wildly.

No matter whathappened, she would never regret meeting and loving that wonderfulman who had stormed his way into her life and shown her so muchpassion, so intense that she could barely stand it.

She had not used hiscard but kept it on her dresser and stared at it daily. She slept inhis shirt and had not washed it since he left, wanting to maintainthe scent of him.

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