Page 85 of Maverick

“Nova?” I whispered, pushing the door closed behind me.

Her voice crackled through. “Hey, Lex. Busy?”

“I’m at work,” I said softly, leaning against the counter. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, reflecting off the polished sinks. “But I’m free enough to talk.”

Nova sighed. “Just checking on you. You never texted back after that appointment.”

I closed my eyes, imagining the latest ultrasound, how I saw the baby’s tiny limbs, the flutter of a heartbeat. “Everything’s normal. The baby’s healthy, measuring fine.” My throat tightened. “I’m four months in, Nova. But it’s actually five. And I’m living a lie.”

She made a sympathetic noise. “I know. Mark’s still clueless, huh?”

I nodded, though she couldn’t see. “Totally. He’s doting, sweet, treating me like a queen. I can’t take it anymore, feeling all this guilt. I think he’s going to propose soon. I actually saw a ring in his drawer. I can’t let it get that far.”

Nova sighed. “So, what’s your plan? Tell him the truth?”

My stomach twisted at the thought. “Yes. I have to. I can’t marry him, letting him believe he fathered this baby. He deserves honesty, even if I’m terrified of how he’ll react.”

A pause. “Yeah, you gotta do it,” Nova agreed. Then her tone turned cautious. “By the way, I ran into Chigger the other night. He was skulking around the bar where I was meeting a friend. Looked anxious. Told me he’d… well, asked if you wanted him to pass any message to Maverick.”

My heart lurched, unexpected hope stirring.Maverick.But just as quickly, anger and sorrow swelled. “No,” I said firmly. “Don’t say a word. He left me. He never looked back. Why would he care that I’m pregnant? He didn’t fight for me, or even check in. So, no. Let’s keep it quiet.”

Nova hesitated. “All right, Lex. If that’s what you want.”

“It is,” I lied, voice wavering. “Look, I gotta go find Mark before I lose my nerve. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck,” she whispered. “Text me if you need bail money.”

A strained laugh slipped out. “Let’s hope not. Bye, Nova.”

I hung up and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My belly curved under my blouse and pencil skirt, a gentle swell that was impossible to hide now.This is it.I had to be honest, or I’d never forgive myself.

I left the bathroom, heart hammering. My heels clicked on the polished floors as I navigated the maze of cubicles and offices in the firm’s main suite. The place smelled of coffee, paper, and expensive cologne, the usual. A few paralegals nodded as I passed, offering polite smiles. They probably thought I was lucky to be dating a senior associate who’d eventually inherit the firm. I felt sick.

Mark’s corner office had frosted glass walls, a mahogany desk, and a stunning view of the city. The blinds were drawn. My pulse spiked as I noticed the door was closed.He’s probably on a call.But I needed to do this, so I rapped softly.

No response. Strange. Usually, Mark shouted a come in or told me to wait. Hesitant, I turned the knob and stepped inside.

I blinked in the bright light, and my stomach did a flip. Behind Mark’s desk, I caught a glimpse of bare legs and an unfamiliar skirt hiked up. A woman was kneeling there, hidden mostly by the desk’s wooden panel. Mark’s chair was pushed back, his suit pants around his thighs.Oh, my God.

For a moment, my brain refused to compute. Then it crashed in horror. Mark’s head jerked up, eyes wide, faceflushed. The woman whipped her head around, hair disheveled, cheeks burning.He had a woman under his desk. A blow job at the office.

I froze, a wave of revulsion and shock crashing over me. This man was supposedly my boyfriend, the father of my unborn child, in his mind, and he was cheating on me in broad daylight. A nauseating swirl warped me.

“Lexi,” Mark gasped, leaping up from his chair, fumbling to pull up his pants. “What are you? This isn’t what it looks like.”

The woman scrambled to her feet, face bright red, tugging down her skirt. She’d been getting hers, too. Rebecca, a young college intern, cast me a mortified glance, then brushed past me in a flurry of stiletto clicks, darting out the door. The scent of cheap perfume trailed her.

I stood rooted, anger and disgust roiling. “Really, Mark?” I rasped. “Not what it looks like? Because it looks like you’re getting off with someone else in your office. Aren’t we supposed to be dating?” My voice trembled with fury.

He ran a shaky hand through his hair, struggling with his zipper. “God, Lexi, calm down. It’s just a fling. You know how things are. I was stressed, needed… release.”

Disbelief speared me. “Stress relief? You do realize I’m pregnant with your so-called baby, and you’re screwing around behind my back?”

He huffed, straightening his shirt before he flew to the door to shut it and lock it. Of course, he doesn’t want anyone to hear. “Lexi, we never had an exclusive talk. We’re not married yet.”

My throat burned with rage. He called me his girlfriend. “You think that justifies it? You were prepared to propose, for fuck’s sake.”

He paused, confusion flicking across his face. “You… you knew about the ring?”

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