Page 88 of Rivals Next Door

Maybe I was being selfish for not telling him about the baby, but I panicked, just as I had when he kissed my stomach earlier. Logically, I knew it was impossible for him to see my pregnancy at this early stage, but I freaked out anyway.

The way he made love to me had me so disturbed. It all felt too intimate… too real, and too much like the past when there was mutual love between us. I couldn’t afford to get sucked into that fantasy. At this point, I’d probably never survive a broken heart. Therefore, it was best to pull away completely and keep the baby a secret for now.

Besides, I was terrified of telling him only to have him reject me. I’d never survive that humiliation. Just thinking about it triggered my morning sickness, which shouldn’t be called that since it attacked at all hours of the day. I peeled myself off the door and sprinted to the bathroom to throw up my misery.

“Livy, please, just answer the phone,” Elena pleaded as she looked up from her computer for the umpteenth time.

I felt guilty about the many interruptions, so I grabbed my cell off the coffee table. “I’m sorry. I’ll put it on mute.”

My friend glowered at me. “I didn’t say put it on mute. I said answer it. I’m sure if you do, and just talk to him, he’ll stop burning up the line.”

Rolling my eyes, I put the phone on mute and stared at the device as the screen flashed with Alex’s name.

Elena shook her head and made a humming noise to which I scoffed and responded, “Stop judging me.”

Wide eyes flickered back to me. “I didn’t even say anything.”

“I know the tone of your mhmms and what they mean,” I reasoned. “That was a judgmental mhmm.”

Elena threw her head back and cackled. “You know, you’re even funnier pregnant.”

I gave her a dirty look and went back to staring at my phone. Alex had reached out to me several times in the last week. He even tried my office a few times, but I had my assistant take messages. All he ever said was that he wanted to talk, but I didn’t want to talk…

As if reading my mind, Elena asked, “Why won’t you talk to him?”

My heart stuttered. “Because he could be calling to tell me that he’s one step away from owning BioTech.”

“Or he could be calling to discuss a number of other things like Don Weaver and the unborn child you two share…”

Guilt wracked me as I gazed at Elena, who had been my savior. I’d been staying with her since I fled Manhattan to get away from Alex because being alone in my apartment would drive me crazy. My friend’s company and comfort had been the only things keeping me from going off the deep end. And I lied to her… She thought I told Alex about the baby, and I didn’t correct her. It was too embarrassing to admit that a grown woman was afraid to tell the man she’d been sleeping with for months that she was carrying his child.

“It’s not about Weaver,” I muttered. “He sent me an email with an update yesterday.”

Interest sparked in Elena’s eyes. She’d practically been salivating to write the expose Alex and I promised her she’d get to do. “And?”

“And his FBI friend is making progress. They’re solidifying enough evidence to bring Weaver down for good. Then you can work your magic and give the information to the people.”

Elena rubbed her hands together with glee. “I can’t wait. Now, back to Alex. If he has an FBI friend, that confirms that the White Knight really does work for the government.”

“It proves nothing. He’s an affluent man. I’m sure he has plenty of friends in high places.” I really didn’t want to prolong our chat about Alex. Thinking about him in any context hurt too much.

“Maybe…” Elena studied me intently. “When are you going to talk to him?”

I sighed. “When I’m ready. Can we drop it?”

She narrowed her gaze on me and then muttered, “I know it isn't pregnancy that has turned you into a big wuss, so what are you really afraid of?”

I scoffed and stared at her in disbelief. Then again, what was so hard to believe? Elena was one of the few people I could count on to be honest with me.

So I reluctantly admitted, “I’m hanging on by an emotional thread, Elena. If I talk to him… if I even get a glimpse of him right now, I’ll likely fall apart.”

Maybe she wouldn't understand because she didn’t know the finer details about our history and our breakup. Alex didn’t even know all the details. I just couldn’t deal with all the guilt and regret right now. Not when I was living in fear of Alex—ironically, the man I loved—destroying my entire life…

Who knew what progress he was making to snatch my livelihood and family legacy from me? We hadn’t been in contact, so it was hard to figure out his next move. My guess was that he was coming after me with renewed vengeance.

“Alright,” Elena said, holding up both palms. “I get it. No more pushing.”

I gave her a grateful look as I rested a hand on my stomach.

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