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She hadn’t seen him since they’d boarded that morning in Singapore and taken off. She’d had far too much work to do while he’d been on the phone, talking to some of his advisors. She’d been glad. She knew they needed to talk, but she hadn’t felt like she could face him quite yet. However, it seemed as if her brief reprieve was now over.
He looked less tired today and it was clear his headache had gone, so that was something at least.
‘Of course, sir.’ She sat up, pushing her laptop closed.
His dark brows twitched, his gaze assessing. ‘You look tired.’
A little shock ran down her spine. He never noticed whether she was tired or otherwise, and he definitely never made any observations about how she looked. That was new. She wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it.
‘I’m fine,’ she said at last. ‘Just didn’t sleep well last night.’
He frowned. ‘Do you have a doctor? A midwife?’
‘Yes.’
‘And when the baby is born, what then? Am I right in assuming you’ll be coming back to work?’
Something twisted inside her chest, a kind of ache. She didn’t want to tell him that she was giving the baby up for adoption. She didn’t want to have to explain her reasons for doing so either. That would mean uncovering deeper truths, the extent to which she’d lied to him. She couldn’t bear that. The shame would suffocate her.
‘Yes, I’ll be coming back to work,’ she said carefully.
‘But what about childcare? Have you got something in place for when you return?’
So many questions. Why was he asking them? He’d never been interested in anything to do with her before, so why now?
‘Of course I do.’ There was an edge in her voice she couldn’t quite mask. ‘The baby won’t impact my job, sir. If that’s what you’re worried about.’ She took a silent, steadying breath, trying to hold on to her patience. ‘Do you have any other questions?’
His gaze had narrowed still further and he looked...focused. As if yes, he had many more questions. As if she was a puzzle he was trying to work out.
‘Who is the father?’
Another shock rippled through her. ‘Excuse me?’
‘I think you heard.’ He tilted his head, examining her. ‘I’m asking you who the father of your child is.’
Perhaps it was the fatigue or perhaps it was the pregnancy hormones, but before she could think better of it—and she always thought better of it usually—her patience cracked and she snapped, ‘That’s none of your business.’
His eyes widened in surprise. Because of course she never talked back to him, never raised her voice, never showed him anything but calm. Initially it was because she hadn’t wanted to lose her job and she hadn’t wanted to give him any cause for complaint. Then it became something more. She wanted to be a soothing presence in his life, someone who would always be on his side, whom he never needed to fight.
Except she was giving him a fight now.
It was the shock affecting her and all these lies piling on top of one another. So many lies, about everything. The only truth she’d been able to give him had been the fact that she was pregnant, and now it was looking like that had been yet another mistake.
You keep making them.
When it came to him, she did. Falling in love with him had been the worst thing she could have done, yet she’d done it anyway, because she was a fool. Because the past five years of safety had made her forget the lengths a person went to for love. Lengths she’d gone to.
‘It’s very much my business,’ Augustine said, his momentary surprise the only sign he’d even noticed her tone. ‘You’re my employee and I need to know if the father of your child will be arriving at some point and whether you might change your mind about working for me.’
Winifred clasped her hands in her lap, holding them very tightly. She didn’t want to answer these questions. She didn’t want him looking at her as if she was a puzzle. He’d never asked her any questions about herself before, not one. Not even when she’d come down with the flu last year. He’d merely sent her a doctor and told her not to return to work until she was well.
She’d returned to work before then, of course, because he’d needed her, yet he hadn’t asked her how she was feeling. He’d simply accepted her presence and handed her the latest batch of reports to read.
She didn’t understand why he was so interested now. It didn’t make any sense.
Perhaps he suspects it was you he slept with after all?
If he did suspect that then he would have said, and he hadn’t. He’d never given even the slightest sign he suspected anything. In fact, he’d probably forgotten all about that night.
