Page 15 of Love Unexpected

Chapter 14

Emma

Thursday morning arrives too fast. I’m back in the office, too afraid to take any more time off. Physically, I’m feeling better, but my mind and heart feel like they're being tossed around in a violent storm. I’m still staying with Marcus for now, the unexpected refuge I didn't know I needed. Finding an HVAC company with availability has been extremely difficult. They are all completely booked for at least two weeks out.

Not even five seconds after sitting at my desk, Noah strides by. His presence is cold and causes me to shiver involuntarily.

“I need these reports on my desk before lunch,” he says, dropping a stack on my desk with a loudthudthat makes me jump. The noise captures the attention of a few people lingering in the halls. Without missing a beat, he continues on to his office. With my cheeks reddening, I get busy.

The hours pass by in a blur. Twice I’ve ventured out to ask a question, but each time Noah looked at me like I were an idiot and he couldn’t be bothered to help me. As the clock ticks closer to noon, my heart races with urgency. Frustrated and desperate, I decide to ask Marcus for help instead.

“I’m worried about you," he looks at me with a frown. "I know how my brother can be.”

“I can handle it.” I tell him confidently. I'm trying to convince him as much as I’m trying to convince myself.

“If it gets to a point where you can’t, please come to me,” he pleads.

“Thank you, Marcus. I really appreciate you not saying anything to him,” relief floods me. Marcus wraps me in a firm hug, his warmth spreading through me. It feels good to have a friend around.

“Ahem.” A throat clears behind me and I freeze in Marcus’s arms. "If you two are done flirting now, I need my assistant to get back to work." Noah's voice is icy. I back out of Marcus’s embrace to face Noah head on. He stands there with his arms folded—the picture of impatience.

“Sorry, I was just asking him— “ I start to explain, but he cuts me off.

“Ms. Sterling, I don’t have time for excuses. The reports are due in ten minutes.”

My cheeks heat up as I walk past him towards my desk. Neither one of us says another word.

I drop the files off on Noah’s desk and quickly slip out to lunch before he can stop me with some other ridiculous task.Already feeling the weight of the day, I opt for a nap in my car rather than a meal.

After a much-needed power nap, I return back to my desk. The gloomy weather outside directly reflects my mood. The tension with Noah isn't easing, it's intensifying, and I don’t know how it will get better. With every assignment I tackle, I can feel Noah’s piercing gaze on me, scrutinizing every move I make, waiting for me to make a mistake so he can pounce.

I tell myself I just have to make it long enough for him to give up. He can’t stay mad forever. Surely, eventually, he'll come around and understand why I had no choice but to hide my pregnancy from him. As a woman, it’s hard enough to make it in corporate America when you’re going up against men. To reveal I'm pregnant before getting hired would have been plain stupid. Men don’t understand the invisible barriers women face in the workforce.

The afternoon hours crawl by painfully slow. Noah has spoken to everyone on the floor, but me. And right now, he's deep in conversation with that same HR lady from a few weeks ago. I’m convinced he’s doing it on purpose, he knows I have the perfect view of them from my desk. My mind drifts and I get lost daydreaming. The unwelcome memories come flooding to my mind—his warm body against mine, his deep voice calling me ‘baby’ that night in Japan, the way he held me after. I can almost taste him on my tongue. I can smell his scent that I literally crave. Who knew a scent could be so addictive?

Noah glances my way as if sensing my eyes on him. His face shows disinterest. Raising an eyebrow, he turns hisattention back to her, leaving me feeling frustrated and hurt. I hate that I’ve given him the satisfaction of catching me looking at him.

By the end of the day, the small triumph I felt for completing every task thrown my way fades and fatigue takes over. I send a quick email to Noah, reminding him that I'll be late in the morning for a doctor appointment. I don't mention it's a prenatal appointment, I wouldn't want to poke that bear again.

Stepping outside, I inhale deeply. It feels as if I'm breathing for the first time today. The cold air burns my lungs in a refreshing way. I stare up at the night sky and silently pray for a better day tomorrow.

Chapter 15

Emma

“Would you like to find out the gender of your baby today?” the ultrasound technician asks.

“Oh wow, I didn’t realize we would be able to tell this soon,” I reply, my heart racing with anticipation.

“You are twenty weeks along today, so we should be able to see, unless the little one doesn’t cooperate," she chuckles.

“Yes, I would love to know now.” I focus on the screen in front of me as she moves the wand around, taking longer than I would expect. For the most part, I can make out the images on the screen—the baby’s head, nose, legs, arm, hand. Everything is so tiny.

“There we are," she says finally, her smile widening. "It looks like you’re having a boy! Congratulations!" She continues talking, handing me the pictures, and explaining something about how they will fade in the heat. I don’t catch everything she says, I’m too stunned to pay attention.

A boy. This moment makes my pregnancy feel so real now. Now that I know what I’m having, every emotion hits me at once. Happiness, sadness, anger.

“Thank you so much,” I mumble, staring into space as the technician gathers her things and walks out.

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