Page 39 of Knocked Up By the Silver Fox

WILL

Abby's hands finessed my tie right into the perfect bow and she patted my chest. Her smile said everything. She thought I looked handsome and ready for the event.

"So are you picking Beth up then?" she asked as she backed away. I stood in front of my dresser checking my appearance in the mirror and Abby stood beside me with her arms crossed. I hadn't told her anything about Beth since the night we had dinner. It was too painful to bring up and it wouldn't affect her anyway.

"Uh, no. We're not going together." I smoothed my graying hair back and thought of everything that had been happening. I tried not to think of it—of Beth and how much I missed her or Nevil and how much I hated him. Mostly I kept myself busy with work or helping Abby fill out college applications. She'd been accepted to several but was leaning toward King's College.

"Oh no…" I saw her frown in the reflection in the mirror and turned toward her. "Dad, I'm so sorry. She broke up with you?"

Abby reached for me and I let my shoulders droop as I pulled her in for a hug. "Not exactly, honey. She wants some space because things are a little tense at work. So we haven'tbeen speaking a lot." I couldn't even admit to myself what was happening. It was obvious to my daughter who barely knew anything about Beth that she was distancing herself on purpose, but my mind wouldn't let me accept that. I wasn't okay with that.

"Space?" Abby said, pulling away. She looked up at me but her arms were still around my torso. "Dad, when a woman says she wants space, she's breaking up with you."

Her words stung because I refused to believe that. Beth wasn't breaking up, but she wasn't reassuring me that we had a future. She admitted to loving me. She admitted to wanting a future with me. I didn't see how the circumstances of Nevil buying up shares would change that at all. I didn't know what else was bothering her either. And if I was on her side and appointed her the CTO of the company, who could say a thing? Why would they? If they did, I'd fire them.

I took Abby by the arms and gently pried her off me and she sighed sadly. "It's because of my post, isn't it? She is dumping you because of what I put on my socials? Dad, I'm so sorry." Abby backed away and hugged herself, her pouty expression showed so much remorse. "And I was hoping to talk to her about college because she's really smart." Her head hung and I felt bad for her. Even this conversation made me so angry at the situation. It made me wish I hadn't pushed Abby toward Beth in the first place. Now my daughter was carrying the weight of this crappy situation.

"Look," I said, pulling my phone out. "I'll send you her contact info, alright? I told you, she is not breaking up with me. She is making a hard decision right now." I hit send on the contact card and heard Abby's phone chime. "She wants me to let her think things through, but she never said she didn't want to talk to you. I know she will be thrilled to hear from you and she will help you. You go ahead and reach out to her."

I hooked my hand around the back of her head and pulled her forward, kissing her forehead. When I let her go, she nodded at me, but her bottom lip was quivering.

"I'm really sorry, Daddy. I know how much you liked her. I sort of liked her too." The tears threatening to spring out at any second got my heart, and I had to turn away so I didn't cry too.

"It's going to be great, baby. You'll see." My words weren't fooling anyone but if I gave up hope now, I really would have nothing. "I have to run. It'll be a late night, okay? But we'll have breakfast in the morning."

She stepped aside so I could pass her and she blew me a kiss as I left the house. I wasn't angry with Beth for any of this. How could I be? It was my choice to drag her into a messy situation, but I thought I could control the narrative. I just never stopped to consider that she was sensitive and might not be able to deal with the gossip like I did. And no one expected Nevil to turn into a slithering reptile and try to steal what was mine.

My car took me to the gala venue and I got out. There were several men and women heading inside, most of whom I knew on a first-name basis. I didn't see Beth immediately, but she knew this was a required thing. I hated her reaction when she immediately rejected my invitation. I had thought maybe we could attend together, but her cold reluctance proved maybe Abby was right.

Still this was a mandatory work function, and any employee who didn't make an appearance would be questioned by the board and probably written up. Beth had no choice but to come, so I knew I'd at least get to admire her from across the room.

I walked into the hall and checked my coat. After a pitstop in the men's room to fix my hair and tie, I strolled into the main ballroom. People milled about everywhere with drinks in their hands. Men were in tuxes, women in ball gowns and fancy attire.I hardly recognized some of them all dressed up like this, and my eyes scanned the room for Beth.

Red hearts had been hung everywhere, banners of pink, red, and cream splashed on the wall. The glasses were filled to the brim with champagne and cocktails, all with a tiny heart charm dangling from the side. The hired band played love songs and tiny candy hearts in heart-shaped dishes adorned every standing table. The entire theme was "I Love to Make Money—For My Clients." Something Sarah and Allen's secretary cooked up. In my opinion it was over-the-top.

I weaved through the faces and tables, searching the crowd with my eyes hoping to see her, and when her smile came into view I stopped and admired her. I could only see her from the shoulders up, but her strapless gown revealed a diamond pendant, and the way her hair was swept up on top of her head had me drooling.

The distance between us lately was excruciating. It had me desperate to connect with her but painfully hesitant of closing the gap. The last thing I wanted was to hurt her or cause her any upset, but I had to know what was going on. I couldn't keep going to work every day, fighting the board's decision and pretending everything was okay when it wasn't. I'd still fight for her even if she dumped me or quit and went elsewhere, but my heart would at least know where it stood then.

I found a waiter with a tray of champagne flutes and grabbed two. Then I started in her direction. Tonight, in front of all my employees, wasn't the way to address our specific situation, nor was the location appropriate. But if I could make her feel comfortable enough with me to give her a ride home, perhaps we could have that conversation when the night was over.

The closer I got to her, the more the crowd seemed to thin out. Beth was smiling as she spoke to Kevin—another change that was positive once she left my team. She seemed to fit inbetter with some of her peers, while others truly did not accept her.

Then I saw Sarah approach her and Beth's expression soured. I didn't know what Sarah said to her, but it looked very hostile. Sarah had a self-righteous expression and Beth looked hurt and her face blanched.

The people around her started to walk away, and I saw something shocking. Beth's hand rested on her belly where she'd gained a bit of weight—a bit too specific of a weight gain to hide. Her belly protruded slightly under the formfitting dress and her head hung.

I stopped two strides away from her, and my chest constricted to the point I thought I was having a heart attack. It physically hurt me to look at her. I stood there in shock, staring, hands trembling with champagne in the flutes jostling and sloshing.

Beth's head lifted and her eyes met mine, and I shook my head. Was this why she moved to a new department? Was this why she wanted the space? She was pregnant and keeping it from me, and no one had offered her a good enough job yet, so she was stuck working for my firm… And she was planning to leave town and never tell me?

I couldn't breathe.

"Will?" she said, and all I could do was stare.

Horrible, painful thoughts raced through my head. I swallowed a lump in my throat and shook my head again.

"Will, please…" Beth reached for me but I backed away, moving my hand out of her grasp, spilling the champagne.

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