Page 53 of The Plus-One Deal

“Claire, ah, I’m sorry. Did we have an appointment?”

I almost laughed. An appointment? Who was I? His two o’clock, here to broker some deal?

“We need to talk,” I said, and walked into his office.

Conrad caught the door as I tried to close it. “I’m late for a meeting.”

“Well, I’m late for—” I bit my tongue. I wasn’t about to tell him likethat. Conrad must’ve seen something in my eyes, because his expression softened and he stepped back from the door.

“Listen, I know I’ve been… this has been weird. And you’re right, we should talk. But this isn’t the time. I have meetings all day, and?—”

“Conrad, I’m pregnant.”

His jaw dropped like a hinge with the nail taken out. He stood gaping, wide-eyed, the effect almost comic. For a moment, I felt for him, then he shut his mouth with a snap. He scratched his chin, shook his head, and his face went neutral.

“This is a big conversation,” he said, monotone. “I’ll call you tomorrow, and?—”

“What?”

“We’ll talk.”

“What?” Was he walking out on me? Putting me off for tomorrow? I snatched at his sleeve as he went to edge past me. “I’m not going to take up a lot of your time. I just came to tell you?—”

“Claire, please?—”

I dug my nails into my palms and willed myself to keep going, to keep my voice steady and say what I’d come to say. I wanted to scream, to cry, to punch him, but by some miracle, I kept my composure. “I came to tell you I’m pregnant. I’m having your baby. It’s your choice, if you want to be a father, or if you’re content in your role as sperm donor. You have about seven months to decide.”

I felt the tears coming, so I spun away. Conrad caught my arm, but I wrenched loose. I strode back down the hall and out of the building, and my part was done.

The ball was in his court.

CHAPTER 22

CONRAD

Ichased Claire down the hall at first, then stopped in my tracks. She was pregnant? She…what?Hadn’t we used protection? I bit my tongue hard, relieved I hadn’t said that, chased her down just to question her story. If Claire said she was pregnant, that was it. She was pregnant. But what…

It’s your choice, if you want to be a father.

But I was, wasn’t I? That wasn’t a choice. If I kept my distance, I’d still be a father. I’d still have a child out there, wondering?—

“Conrad?”

I turned. Joe was leaning in the door to his office. His brows drew together.

“Everything okay?”

Nothing was okay. I couldn’t tell Joe that. We were work friends, not close friends. He didn’t know me that way. He didn’t know my own dad had walked out, that I barely remembered him beyond his coarse beard. I had one vivid memory of him taking me skating, and me tripping over and busting my nose on theice. He’d held me and soothed me, and then… that was it. That was my father, there and then gone.

“I, uh… my phone died.” I brandished it at him. “I’m meant to be somewhere…”

Joe frowned. “Are you kidding?”

It came to me then, he’d just been in my office, maybe ten minutes before Claire had come in. We’d been talking about me heading to my alma mater. Doing a guest lecture for kids like I’d been. I’d soon be late for that if I didn’t hurry.

“I meant after the lecture,” I said, to save face. “I’ve got that, then a meeting?—”

“A call with the London team.” Joe shifted, impatient. “Look, if you can’t make it, I’m fine taking over. If you want to take more time to talk to those kids?—”

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