Page 57 of Flawed

I curse myself for everything I've put off doing. I haven't started getting anything for the baby, but I need a bigger apartment and haven't even begun looking. And it's the only way to make sure Luca stays away.

Massimo waits for me to answer, arching his eyebrows.

I confess, "I need to find a new apartment on the other side of town so he doesn't know where I am."

Massimo glances behind him then leans closer, lowering his voice, "Are you sure you don't need me to step in on this?"

"Yes, I'm sure he's harmless. But I don't want him in the baby's life. I just want him to forget about me," I insist.

More tension fills the air. I think Massimo will keep pressing me about Luca, but he finally drops it, saying, "Okay."

Relieved, I smile. "Thanks for the offer."

"It'll always stand. But, Chanel, you're six months pregnant. You can't run away from this or hide it forever," he lectures.

"Yes, I know."

"What can I do to help you?"

His kindness makes me feel good for the first time in a long while. I answer, "You don't have to do anything, Massimo. I appreciate you bringing me here."

A little bit of hurt crosses his face. He asks, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Another round of embarrassment eats me up. I answer, "I'm sorry. I didn't want to lose my job. I still don't. Can I continue to work for you after I have the baby?"

Shock fills his features. "Do you really think I would fire you because you had a baby?"

I wince, confessing, "I don't know how this works."

He sits back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest. He asserts, "You take all the time you need. I'll put somebody in your place for the meantime, and the minute you're ready to return, they get kicked to the curb. That's how this works."

I smile. "Just like that?"

He snaps his fingers. "Just like that."

Relief fills me. It's one less thing I have to worry about. I add, "Thank you, Massimo. You've always been a great boss to me."

He shrugs. "Don't be telling people that I have a sweet spot for you. I don't have it for most people."

I laugh. "Noted."

Several more moments pass then he asks, "So who does know that you're pregnant?"

More uncomfortableness fills me. I scrunch my face and reveal, "My doctor."

Massimo gapes at me. "You've really not told anybody? Not even one of your friends?"

"No. What was I supposed to say? 'I'm pregnant, and I don't want anything to do with the father, so I'm going to raise my baby on my own'?" As I say it, it doesn't sound that ridiculous. For some reason, it did in my head.

Massimo chuckles. "Yeah, that sounds perfect to me."

I put my hands over my face, groaning and revealing, "I don't know what I'm doing."

"Well, that's to be expected. You're having a baby," Massimo teases, then rises. "I've got to make a couple phone calls, then I'll see when we can get you out of here. I'll be right back." He leaves.

I pull the blanket under my chin and close my eyes, exhausted from everything.

When I wake up, Massimo's back in the room. "I've got your discharge instructions. Let's get you home. I'll stay with you tonight."

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