Page 177 of Triplet Trouble For My Billionaire Boss

His fingers brush against my arm, grounding me. “It’s just dinner, Annie.”

“Yeah, dinner with the most well-known businessman in this city,” I mutter. “Which means people are going to stare. They’re going to talk.”

Cole’s expression darkens slightly. “Let them.”

Easy for him to say. He’s used to it. Me? Notso much.

And if people start putting two and two together and figure out I’m pregnant—

No. One thing at a time.

I force a smile. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Cole smirks. “That’s the spirit.”

He steps back, offering me his arm, and I roll my eyes but take it.

We step out into the hallway, and that’s when I see Ellis standing near the entrance, waiting.

Right. The staff knows now.

And suddenly, things are… weird.

Ellis has been treating me differently since we told him and Evelyn about the pregnancy. Not in a bad way—just more formally. Like he doesn’t quite know how to act around me anymore. Like he’s suddenly taken a step back.

I hate it.

I just want things to go back to normal.

“Your car is ready, sir,” Ellis says, his voice as professional as ever.

Cole nods. “Thank you.”

Ellis glances at me, and for a split second, I catch the hesitation in his eyes beforehe gives me a polite nod. “Miss Fox.”

I grimace. Sure, he always called me that, but it just seems so much more formal now.

“Ellis,” I say, forcing a small smile.

His nod is stiff, and then he turns to open the door.

I barely have time to process the awkwardness before I hear another voice from the kitchen.

“Are you two leaving already?”

I turn to see Evelyn standing near the doorway, wiping her hands on a towel. Her sharp brown eyes land on me first, scanning me from head to toe before she gives an approving nod.

“Well, don’t you clean up nice,” she says, smirking slightly.

“Thank you.”

Evelyn glances at Cole, then back at me. “You sure you’re up for this, hon?”

I sigh. “I’m fine, Evelyn.”

She raises a brow, unconvinced. “Mmm.”

Cole shifts beside me. “She’ll be fine,” he says smoothly, resting a hand at the small of my back. “I’ll make sure of it.”

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