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Worse, things are not okay between us. I can’t believe that she turned down the offer without giving it some thought. I mull over it, turning it over in my head, trying to understand. I accused her of being too proud to accept my help, but that’s not it. Olivia is not a proud woman. She accepted Ivy’s offer to look at her writing and waited nervously for her verdict. When she got it, she’d been so grateful to Ivy. Then there were the clinic brochures. She had gratefully accepted that assignment as well. No, it wasn’t that she was too proud. It had to be something else.
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and head to the bathroom. In the shower, a memory comes to me. Marcus, Charlotte, Chris, and I in Olivia’s living room, chatting. Their facial expressions when I talked about Olivia’s writing. They looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. What was that about? Had it sounded like an unachievable dream? Again, no. That doesn’t make sense. They were all high achievers in their respective fields.
I hate things that I don’t understand and this one ranks up there. I don’t get this woman of mine that I love so much. I dress, grab my phone, and turn it on as I head to the kitchen.
I start the coffee machine just as my phone goes crazy with notifications of messages and missed calls. I read a message from Heather from PR. Have you seen this? I click on the link. It takes me to an online article with a screaming headline.
“Couple Sues Fertility Clinic Over Embryo Scandal.”
Leanna and Morris Hills are suing an unnamed fertility clinic for implanting her with the wrong embryo.
I groan loudly. I move to the coffee machine and pour myself a cup of coffee and take a sip. I’m glad it wasn’t our clinic. I sit and read the rest of the article. It’s heartbreaking and disturbing.
Leanna had been waiting for the results of her IVF treatment that had been done nine days earlier. She finally got a call from the hospital confirming that yes, she was pregnant but with the wrong embryo. The news had been so shocking and devastating and she had started to bleed. She was in hospital at the time of going to press and they didn’t know if she had lost the baby.
I finish reading the article and then go to my messages. There are none from Olivia but my brothers have texted asking me to call them back. There are messages from the press. I click on one.
Rumor has it that the scandal is at The Anderson Clinic, can you confirm or deny this?
What? I curse under my breath. That’s the trouble with scandals. Everyone starts guessing which clinic it could be. There are only a handful in the state and I’m sure that most of us are feeling the heat right now. The other messages are the same, with different wording.
A call comes in as I’m going through my messages. It’s Heather.
“I’ve prepared a statement for you. The press is all over the embryo scandal and you need to speak to them. I’ve asked both Dr. Andersons if they can be present. Solidarity and all that,” she says, going straight to the point.
“Of course,” I say.
She clears her throat. “Another thing. We could do with a distraction. Give them something else to talk about when it comes to our clinic.”
“Go on.” I take a sip of my coffee, as I try to guess which clinic it could have been, just like everyone else is doing at this moment.
“Can you do the press conference with Olivia there? Maybe even introduce her if one of them asks who she is?”
I’ve been in business long enough to know how shallow the press can get. Who the CEO of a hospital is dating can become big news. Don’t ask me why. I just follow the rules and Heather is an expert in her field. We employ the best people and listen to their suggestions.
I make a conference call with both my brothers and we agree to meet at the hospital in twenty minutes. I check my email and click on Heather’s message. I read the statement, committing it to memory. When I’m satisfied, I grab my laptop and car keys and leave my apartment.
My timing is good. In a few minutes, I’m parked outside Olivia’s apartment building with five minutes to spare. I text her to let her know that I’m downstairs, and would she like a ride to the hospital.
Olivia: Of course. What a nice surprise. Thank you.
I keep my eyes glued on the main entrance willing Olivia to appear. I’ve missed her. It’s only been one night of not being together but it feels a lot longer. She emerges, looking gorgeous in a green belted dress that flows over her curves and shows off her small waist. I jump out of the car and we smile at each other as she walks to me.
“Hello, beautiful,” I say, holding her close to me and inhaling her signature scent. God, I love this woman. I hold her longer than an ordinary hug and she starts to laugh.
“I’ve missed you too,” Olivia says, her gaze locking on mine. She kisses me lightly.
Desire shoots through me but remembering what is waiting for us at the clinic, I usher Olivia into the car and go around to my side.
“Have you heard the news?” I say as I coast the SUV onto the road.
“What news?” Olivia asked.
I tell her about the couple who are suing the fertility clinic and she gasps, getting the implication for the rest of us right away. “Reporters are milling around the clinic and my brothers and I will give statements. We want you to join us. You’ll be a pretty distraction.”
I glance at Olivia. She has a stricken look. I let out a sigh. Are we back to that again?
“I’m sorry, I can’t,” she says in a voice that does not leave room for negotiations. “I’d love to help but not in that way.”
