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“Between my mother and Caroline, you've probably had enough tonight, huh?” Anne asked.
“I sure as hell have.”Thank God no one else has bothered us. He’d noted two other familiar female faces in the crowd this evening, but neither paid Will any attention.
“I had a chance to chat a little with Elizabeth,” Anne said. “She's very nice.”
He looked at her suspiciously, and she squeezed his hand.
“I'm serious! I like her. You're obviously crazy about her, and I can see she feels the same. Don't worry about my mother. She'll come around.”
“Frankly, Anne, I couldn’t care less what your mother thinks.”
“Good.” She paused. “You seem to be getting along okay with Lauren.”
He shrugged. “I don't have anything against her, it's just the situation. You do know that she's his assistant?”
Anne nodded. “But what can you do? When the arrow strikes, it strikes. Maybe she shouldn't have taken the job, but she did, and she can't leave now, not with the baby coming. I know Richard will do his part, of course, but she needs the job.”
Will froze. “What did you just say?”
Anne’s mouth hung open. “You–you didn't know. Oh, shit. Forget what I said. I wasn't thinking.” She looked at Will with pleading eyes. “I thought you knew. I thought he told you.”
He stepped away from her and headed straight for Richard and Elizabeth. Elizabeth turned and smiled, probably expecting him to cut in as Richard had, but her smile disappeared and she looked at him in confusion.
“Can we find somewhere to talk?” he said to Richard.
Richard frowned. “Right now?”
“Yes.”
Will turned and walked away, knowing his cousin would follow, and made his way into a long hallway that led behind the ballroom and into the hotel kitchen.
Richard leaned back against the wall while Will repeated what he’d just learned from Anne.
“I was going to tell you,” Richard finally said, “even though it’s none of your business. Still, I—we—thought it best if you knew. We’ve known for a little while, and only wanted to wait until you were more comfortable with us being together.”
“You wanted to wait until I was comfortable? That’s blown out of the water now, isn't it? Anyone over the age of thirteen knows what it takes to get pregnant and knows how to avoid it, Rich. It's not rocket science.”
Richard’s expression darkened. “I don't owe you an explanation, and you’re about to cross a line you don’t want to cross.”
“It’s the oldest trick in the book. The poor girl gets herself knocked up by the rich boy. But this time, the rich boy happens to be the poor girl's boss, and he makes a six-figure income because he works for his cousin’s company—which he’s now put in a perilous position.” Will shook his head. “Maybe she planned it. Maybe she wanted to make sure you wouldn't go anywhere. Are you even sure it's yours?”
Richard shoved Will, sending him against the wall, and Anne’s voice suddenly came to them from the end of the hall.
“Stop it, both of you!” She stopped when she was in front of them, her hands on her hips. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Will shook his head. “Nothing. We’re fine.” He noticed then that Elizabeth was standing in the hall as well, watching them.
“There'splentywrong with you,” Richard said icily. He stood face to face with Will and looked him in the eyes. “Fuck you, and fuck your company. I quit.”
He turned and walked away, striding past Elizabeth without acknowledging her. Anne glared at Will before turning to follow Richard down the hall.
Will slowly made his way toward Elizabeth, straightening his jacket as he walked. She was pale, her eyes wide, and when he reached for her she pulled away.
“Is that what you really think about Lauren?” she asked softly. “That she got pregnant to trap him?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time, right?” He sighed. “I'm sorry you had to hear that.”
“I'm sorry, too. And I'd like you to tell me how Lauren's situation is different from the situation I found myself in years ago.”
