Page 99 of A Twisted Arrangement

I barely make it to the trash can next to my desk, thanking God there’s a bag before falling to my knees and emptying my gut.

The queasiness doesn’t subside until I’ve ditched what feels like every bite of food I’ve eaten in the last twenty-four hours. I’m not sure how long it’s been, but there are steady pats on my back when I finally recover.

“Are you okay, Mrs. Everette?” Oliver asks while handing me a bottle of water. His brows are knit together, and sweat builds at his temples.

I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that a puking girl is out of his comfort zone. “I’m fine now. Sorry about that. I don’t know what came over me?—”

I cut off my words as the weight of what’s happening lands on me. The first time I had sex with Matthias was… And we’ve been doing it consistently each day. Sometimes multiple times… My cheeks warm just thinking about it.

Pregnant.

I glance up at Oliver while taking a tiny sip of water, not willing to give my stomach anything else to reject.

“Oliver, I have a favor to ask.”

I peel my eyes open as Oliver pulls the black town car into the roundabout entry to the Empire Hotel. The valet’s already opening my door before I can process what’s happening.

“Why are we here?” After the nausea disappeared, I was immediately hit with a wave of exhaustion, making the details of us getting here a little fuzzy. I distinctly remember Oliver running into the store for me like I asked and coming out with a small opaque bag.

Then, one slow blink later, we’re at a luxury hotel between the farmhouse and my office.

Oliver reaches a hand down to me and guides me out of the car. “I thought it was best to go somewhere close because you aren’t feeling well.”

“Really?” I tilt my head, examining the intricate hotel logo scrawled in gold along the glass doors. I can already picture the pinched line between my husband’s brows.

I send him a quick text explaining what’s happening, then let Oliver help me out of the car.

I’m tired and hungry as we make our way through the lobby toward the elevators, where a man’s waiting, holding it open. My shoulder aches from the strap of my computer bag digging into it. Just a little longer and I’ll curl up into that bed. I cross both my fingers. God, if I am pregnant, please don’t let this be how I’m going to feel the entire time.

“Here, let me take that.” Oliver lifts my bag, taking my purse with it.

I sigh with instant relief as we head up to the penthouse. I lean against the elevator wall and give the man who held the door open for us a small smile. I may look like crap, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be polite. I can just imagine the field day the press would have if the new Mrs. Matthias Everette ended up being rude. Not that I think he’d care.

The stranger ignores me, choosing to face forward, and it’s honestly for the best. I don’t have the energy to pretend like I’m anything but miserable. That, plus the growing anticipation of what I’ll find out when I get up to my room, is taking over.

The man gets off one floor below ours, not bothering to look back. His shoulders are wide, and it looks almost artificially rigid, like there’s something underneath, but the doors close before I can take a guess.

“Here you go.” Oliver draws my attention back to him, handing me a white plastic bag just as the elevator dings to our floor.

“It’s in here?” I fist the handles, the material crinkling in my hands. How could something that can reveal such a life-altering thing be so light?

Oliver swipes the key to the hotel room. “I’m not sure how many you’ll need, so I procured six.”

Six.

My brain is repeating words as it struggles to catch up with the situation. Less than an hour ago, I was pretending to work so I didn’t have to go home. Now, I’m entering a hotel bathroom so I can take one of the biggest tests of my life. Kicking off my heels, I head towards the bathroom.

“Do you need anything?” Oliver is right behind me, and I swivel on my feet. The large man nearly collides with me as he struggles to come to a halt.

“I think I’ve got it. You can wait out here.” I start to close the door and see the way the blood drains from my guard’s face upon realizing where he was about to follow me.

Unfortunately, not even Oliver’s comically mortified expression can save me from the nerves crawling up my skin. I pull out a box, using my nail to crack open the seal and reveal the small white stick.

There’s a loud thudding in my ears, and my vision is going fuzzy around the corners. It’s only once my lungs burn that I remember to breathe. The test itself is easy. It’s the wait that’s killing me.

I’d left my phone in my purse, so I have nothing but my thoughts to distract me while I watch the second hand click by, counting down until the test results will be ready.

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

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