Page 169 of Say My Name

I have no reason to believe anything is wrong, but I’m leaving Chicago during the earliest days of a pregnancy I spent months trying to achieve. I find a practice that serves the Telluride area, read its guidance for new patients, and save the office and after-hours numbers. Knowing who to contact if I need care quiets one small part of my brain.

Once the cabin address, flight details, and local practice number are organized, I send Maya the necessary emergency information and flag the email as private.

Then I call Olivia.

My close college friend answers on the second ring. “Hey. How did the mystery acquisition call go?”

I stare at the open suitcase on my bed, the chaos of my life spilling out. My voice is flat, stripped of all emotion. “Daniel is the CEO.”

Silence.

“Oh, Elena.”

“Weller Strategic Holdings. I didn’t know until the identity-release call.”

“Was he there?”

“On video.”

“Does Dominic know?”

“No.”

Olivia exhales. “What else happened?”

She knows me too well. I turn toward the bathroom, where the test is still hidden behind the towels.

“I’m pregnant.”

Her breath catches. “You’re sure?”

“I took a test this morning. It was positive before the timer finished.”

“Oh my God. You’re having a baby.”

Tears slide down my face. “I’m having a baby.”

“And you haven’t told Dominic.”

“No.”

“How many times did you try?”

“Three.”

“Elena.”

“I know.” I sit on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under my weight. “I can’t do this in Chicago right now. I can’t see Dominic through those glass walls every day and pretend I don’t love him. I can’t sit across from Daniel and act like five years ago didn’t change me. And I can’t think clearly about the baby while I’m trying to survive both of them in the same building.”

“Where are you going?”

“A cabin outside Telluride.”

“You know you still have to tell Dominic.”

“I will.”

“When?”