Page 51 of Perfect Stalker

I stare at the anatomical posters on the wall, trying not to think about why I’m here. The minutes tick by slowly. A knock at the door makes me jump.

A man in his fifties with salt-and-pepper hair enters, reading from a chart. “Ms. Graham?” He looks up with kind eyes. “I’m Dr. Matthews.”

“Hi.” My voice comes out as a squeak.

He sits on the rolling stool, reviewing my chart. “So, what brings you in today?”

“I’ve been feeling nauseated. Throwing up in the mornings, and...” I swallow hard. “I’m late.”

He nods, making notes. “When was your last menstrual period?”

I think back, counting the weeks. “About five weeks ago.”

“And you’re sexually active?”

My cheeks burn. “Yes.”

He makes another note. “We ran a test on your urine sample.” He looks up, his expression gentle. “Ms. Graham, you’re pregnant.”

The words hit me. Pregnant. I’m pregnant.

“We’ll need to do some blood work and schedule an ultrasound to confirm dates.”

His voice fades to background noise as my mind races. That would put conception right around... The first time Ivan and I were together. That passionate, unplanned encounter that changed everything between us.

“Ms. Graham?” Dr. Matthews’ voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts. “Do you have any questions?”

Questions? I have a thousand questions. How will Ivan react? Will this put me in more danger? What does this mean for us? “Uh…” I stare at him blankly. “I need a few minutes.”

“Of course.” He rises and leaves the room.

I sit on the cold examination table, the paper crinkling beneath me as I shift uncomfortably. The doctor’s words echo in my mind.“Ms. Graham, you’re pregnant.”I rest my hand on mystill-flat stomach and try to wrap my head around the reality growing inside me.

Ivan’s child. Our child.

My emotions swirl like a tempest. Fear grips me when I imagine Ivan’s reaction. Will he see this as a betrayal? A calculated move to trap him? I know how much he values control, and this pregnancy is anything but planned.

Yet, beneath the anxiety, a tiny spark of hope flickers to life. A baby. Our baby. The thought sends a rush of warmth through me, unexpected and overwhelming. For a moment, I allow myself to imagine a future where this child brings us closer, where Ivan’s protective nature extends to our little family, and where he’s happy about the news even though we’re surrounded by danger.

I shake my head, trying to clear the fantasy. I can’t get ahead of myself. First, I need to tell Ivan, and that conversation terrifies me.

The sterile smell of the examination room suddenly feels suffocating. I stand, pacing the small space. My mind races with questions. How will this affect my job? My safety? The delicate balance we’ve struck between Ivan’s world and mine?

A soft knock at the door startles me. Dr. Matthews pokes his head in. “Ms. Graham? Are you ready to discuss your options?”

I nod, sinking back onto the examination table. “Yes, I think so.”

He enters, closing the door behind him. “I know this is a lot to process. Do you have any questions for me?”

I hesitate before asking, “Is everything...okay? With the baby, I mean.”

Dr. Matthews smiles reassuringly. “From what we can tell at this stage, yes. There are no immediate red flags, but we’ll need to get labs before you leave to check hormone levels and your baseline health. We’ll want to schedule an ultrasound in the next week or two to confirm dates and check for a heartbeat.”

A heartbeat. The word sends a jolt through me. This is real. There’s a life growing inside me. “What about... risks?” I ask hesitantly. “I’m healthy, but my life… job can be stressful.”

He nods. “Stress is something we’ll want to monitor. It’s important to find ways to relax and take care of yourself. Are you in a situation where you can reduce your workload if needed?”

I almost laugh. I simply nod. “I’ll figure something out.” I already know Ivan will want me to quit and be at home, trapped in the penthouse, at the slightest hint of any issue. It will be a battle to keep working more than to get time off.

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