Page 47 of Exposed

“I am and you’ll be very happy as well. We hit our target goal of twenty million sales in four hours. Their project will surpass a hundred million by the end of the night.”

“Seriously, in four hours!”

“That doesn’t even include the online pre-sales we did or the international market. Lauren, I want to do a second collaboration with you if you're interested. I’m prepared to offer you a contract today.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes, Zoe is on the phone with our international markets to see about a second tour. This is bigger than we’ve ever thought it could be.”

“I should tell you that I’m pregnant.”

“Congrats! So happy for you.”

“Thanks, I know this will mess up my chances of doing any more work with the company.”

“Lauren, you're pregnant, not dead. We can work around your schedule and when you get closer to the due date, things can be put on hold. What else is on your mind?”

“Wondering if Dominic will be upset?”

“That I can’t answer. I know he loves his niece and nephew and you very much.”

“Might cause him to be overly protective or even dump me.”

“Dominic loves you and wants to be in your life. He told me about your first encounter in the elevator. The look in his eyes when he talked about you was amazing.”

“You’re friends with him, tell the truth. After Jacinda's situation, did he ever fall in love with another woman?”

“No, and never compare your present to the past, learn from the mistakes and move forward. Dominic made it clear that he’s all in with you now, and I kind of gave him a little warning to not break your heart again or he’d have to deal with me, Zoe, and the other girls.”

“Okay, I’ll sign. This time, I’ll start to have more of a work life balance. Trying to live up to the world of the social media status and celebrity lifestyle is too exhausting. I like my peace and calm with my friends and family. It took me a while to understand.”

“That’s called maturity,” she said, standing up, walking to her desk and picking up what I assumed was a contract for me.

“How long would this one be for?” I asked.

“Take it home and discuss it with Dominic, you have to take his input into consideration now. Plus, about that little cupcake that’s baking in your tummy. I put ten years with you having your exclusive makeup line, with over twenty products and another collaboration for the holidays for first rights.”

“Danielle, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you will think about it and let me know tomorrow.”

“Sure. I'll have an answer tomorrow.”

“Perfect.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Dominic

“What’s on your mind?” I inquired. We sat in the tub together as I rubbed her back and she laid against my chest. She came over after running around all day. Emmanuel told me she stopped off at Raven for about twenty minutes and then left. I was stuck going over new contracts for new vendors we might take on as clients. I ordered her favorite Chinese food and sat out on the patio to watch the stars and have dinner. Then I asked for a dance and gave her a bubble bath to relax.

“Being here with you relaxing in the tub. Nobody's ever done this for me. So thank you, baby,” she replied.

“My pleasure, princess,” I said and we both laughed at my nickname for her.

“You're never going to let me live that down. I wasn't that much of a diva.”

“Baby, the word diva in the dictionary has your photo,” I joked.

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