She looked like she was about to cry.
When I explained that I wanted to know the results of the test so we could know if we were guessing at something that wasn’t even happening, she looked mad.
But itwascritical. I didn’t see how she would enjoy the unknown. She couldn’t have been having fun playing a game of what-ifs with herself about whether she was pregnant or not. We had to know if she was expecting. Because if she was, there was so much to do!
We’d need to move her into the main house, something that I wished she could’ve asked about and made it easier on me so I wouldn’t need to bring it up. I’d wanted her in my bed, but I couldn’t tell if she would think I was making her “move” too soon or not.
We’d need to get her set up with prenatal care. Vitamins and bloodwork and all.
We’d need to start planning a nursery, and so many other details about the baby.
I’d spent hours yesterday looking up what to do for expecting parents—that was how excited and hopeful I was.
And then we’d need to plan a wedding. She’d be my wife before our child arrived. That would take some thought as well.
Hell, even if she isn’t pregnant, I’ll marry her.
With the idea of her carrying my child so prominent in my mind, there was no reversing on it. There was no backtracking and removing this possibility now.
If she wasn’t pregnant now… I’d marry her as soon as I could. And we’d practice until we could start a family.
I nodded along with something Rico said on the screen, hardly caring whether he could tell I wasn’t listening.
In my mind’s eye, I was taken back to the car ride from Morovov Financials. When she’d told me that her name was Elena.JustElena, because she no longer saw herself as a Morovov with her father giving her to me.
I’d told her curtly that she wouldn’t be a Volkov, either, to stress that she was given to me as a transaction.
Famous last words, huh?
I rubbed my hand over my mouth to hide a wry smile.
Now, she would be a Volkov. As soon as I could marry her. There was no complication in letting a woman into my life. I saw that now. It was only complicated when I fought that and tried to resist what was so strong between us.
She would never be a complication as my wife. She’d be?—
Oh, fuck this.
I can’t stand waiting.
She hadn’t texted me about the test. No call. Sacha and Igor would’ve let me know if she showed up for work.
Worrying that she was still at the other house and dreading taking that test, I gave up pretending to care about this meeting.
I shot to my feet. Maksim glanced up from scrolling on his phone. He was out of the video range but just there in case I needed him to relay something to me.
“I need to go.” I didn’t tell the pain-in-the-ass politician. I told my brother. He could handle it.
I’d never gotten up abruptly and left in the middle of a meeting or engagement. Not like this. I hadn’t when I was my father’s right-hand man. And I hadn’t since I started taking over.
But this matter with Elena was too important. And this asshole on the call was too unimportant to keep me away from her.
Without giving any further explanation, I grabbed my phone—since the call with Rico Johnson was on a tablet—and I left. I strode right out of my office and practically jogged down the stairs to exit the house. Sunshine baked me and roasted me as soon as I set foot outside, but I didn’t slow on the short trip to the guest house.
Waving off guards, I indicated for them to stand by outside the guest house. Privacy mattered here, and I didn’t intend to let anyone have a piece of my attention until I could know where things were with Elena.
I had to see her. I couldn’t get her or the chance of our child out of my mind.
“Elena?”
