Page 50 of Daddy Billionaire Dragon

I sigh and close my eyes. I know I’m deluding myself. When Nic leaves me, it will leave a gaping hole in my heart that will never, ever heal.

Then claim her! My dragon growls. I ignore him.

When I open my eyes, the others are staring at me like I’ve grown a pair of horns.

“What?” I snap.

“You’re looking… unwell,” TJ says tactfully. I rub a hand over my face.

“I’m alright. It’s this not knowing what’s around the corner and not being able to do anything about it is killing me.”

I stand up from my chair.

“Time to head back. Let’s not dawdle. Lots to do yet before we call it a day.”

Without waiting for a reply, I head out of the conference room, heading straight to my office.

“Lex, Nic stopped by,” Rachel says the minute she spots me. My eyebrows shoot up my forehead. Nic was supposed to be resting today. She hadn’t even protested when I told her to take the day off.

“Oh? Did she say why?”

“She said she had forgotten to drop off something important. She left it in the top drawer.”

I thank Rachel and try not to run to my desk. I don’t notice that Pat and TJ are close on my heels.

When I open the drawer, I feel the blood freeze in my veins. I’m staring at the pregnancy test stick and the note. It’s the note that has my innards churning.

Lex,

I never meant this to happen. I know you don’t want to have anything to do with it, and I want to assure you that you don’t have to feel obligated in any way. Don’t worry. I’m going to take care of it.

Nic.

I hear a distant thud of a door snapping shut as I collapse into my chair.

Somebody is shaking me by the shoulders. I think I hear my name being called, but it’s difficult to tell with all the blood pounding in my ears.

“Lex! What’s the matter?”

“Lex, are you alright?”

I feel the Ziplock bag with the note attached to it being snatched from my hands. I want to stop them, but my hands and legs feel heavy.

“Oh God!” I hear TJ whisper. He passes the note and the package to Pat. Some part of my brain registers that Pat looks as shocked as TJ.

TJ spots something in my waste paper basket and bends down to retrieve it. He is holding crumpled up Post-It notes. He smoothens the two scraps of papers and passes them to me.

I swear steadily under my breath when I read them. If there was any doubt about the meaning, it is dispelled when I read the crumpled-up notes.

“What do I do? What does she mean she’s going to take care of it? Does it mean she’s going to get rid of the baby? Or does it mean she’ll care for it without my help?” I finally croak.

“I don’t know, man. You know her better than any of us.”

“She’s always said she doesn’t want to be a single mother,” I say as the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach intensifies.

Neither TJ nor Pat say anything. They merely exchange worried glances.

“The baby! Our baby!” I say, dropping my face into my hands.

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