Page 54 of Remember That Time

~ Janos ~

"Make sure to have copies of the updated cost analysis for everyone at the conference."

"Of course, sir." Lester tapped away at his tablet for a moment. "Is there anything else, sir?"

"Is there any new information on the investigation?"

"No, sir," Lester replied. "There have been no new leads or letters."

"I'm expecting one any day now," I replied. "This bitch said she would be sending details on where to take the money by the end of the week and we're almost there."

"Are you really going to give in to blackmail, sir?"

I sighed as I set my pen down and then pinched the bridge of my nose. "I don't want to, but I'm not sure I have any other choice." I dropped my hand from my face and looked up at Lester. "I don't want something happening to this baby."

My words weren't exactly truthful, but Gianni had suggested I play along with the blackmailer until his grandmother got back to him. That also meant keeping everyone except Gianni and family members out of the loop.

I needed to call my grandmother before she found out about Gianni and the baby. I'd never hear the end of it if I didn't tell her first—I smiled as I glanced down at the platinum ring on my finger—especially now that we were engaged.

"Sir, sir!"

"Huh?"

"Are you okay, sir? I called you out to you, but you didn't hear me."

Daydreaming. It'll get you every time. "I'm fine, Lester."

"You were smiling, sir."

My eyebrows lifted. "Am I not supposed to smile?"

"You never smile, sir."

Never?

"I smile," I insisted. Maybe I didn't smile in the past like I was now, but I smiled.

"You smirk, sir. You never smile."

Huh.

"Well, now I smile."

I might keep smirking though.

Lester gave me a peculiar frown as if he wasn't quite sure I had all my oars in the water. "Yes, sir."

"What time is the conference meeting?" I asked.

"Three o'clock, sir."

"Set it for two." If I could get off work early, maybe I could pick Gianni up at his apartment. He was supposed to start packing today. He also had to break the news to his roommate that he was moving out.

I wish he was moving directly in with me, but he wanted to stay with his parents until we officially told everyone we were engaged. I didn't like it, but I understood it.

"I have an appointment on the fifteenth at two o'clock. Clear my schedule for everything after noon on that day." It would be my first prenatal care appointment with Gianni. I wasn't going to miss it.

"Anything I need to be concerned with, sir?"