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*****
“Want me to send and get Wade?” Kelly asked her a little anxiously.
“No. It’s just cramps.” She closed her eyes briefly and pressed a hand against her stomach. She was just starting to show, but the style of the dress cleverly hid the slight bulge. “It has been coming on more frequently, since I hit the second trimester.”
She blew out a breath and settled back against the padded chair. “I don’t want to be the kind of pregnant woman who runs to her baby daddy every time she feels something off.”
She grinned at the women seated around her.
It was a charity event and people had come out to donate to the very worthy cause.
“Besides, I told myself that I am going to enjoy every minute of this pregnancy. When the baby comes, I am going to be stuck in the loft for a long time.”
Kelly lifted her brows at that. “You obviously do not remember the man you are pregnant with. You can afford to hire a dozen nannies.”
“I understand that all of you took time off for the first six months to bond with your kids. I know I read something about that. I intend to do the same.”
“You are forgetting that we had more or less resigned our lucrative and very demanding careers.” Leesa pointed out.
“By the time I had my first son, I was in charge of a division of Romano’s that took most of my time. But I wanted to stay home with him for a little bit,” Monique recalled with a smile.
“I know I will have to hire someone eventually, but it is not going be for the initial stage.” She rubbed her belly absently. “I never thought I would want a child, because of what I went through growing up. But I am bonding with this baby. I find myself reading all the books I can get my hands on. I do the thing while I am doing my work out.
I play classical music during my stretches and I have to tell you that before that, I was not a fan. Now everything I do; I think about him/her. If I eat this, will it affect him? Should I have that last piece of pizza I am craving? Things like that.”
She laughed shakily. “It’s like I am consumed and I want to be the protective mother bear and the baby is not even here yet.” She looked at the women. “I am guessing I am preaching to the converted.”
“You certainly are.” Hayley told her with a fond smile.
“I was forty-five when I got pregnant and was scared as hell. Now I look at my children and thank God that I did not allow David’s age to stop me from getting involved. Pregnancy changes us for the better and no matter what we go through during the nine months or whatever, it is well worth it.”
*****
Angela sat on the sofa with her hands clasped in front of her. “What do you suggest?”
“That you go to the police.” Wade sat on the edge of the desk facing her. “You already said he is making more demands of you.”
“Yes.” She pressed her lips together.
“And he is not going to stop. The feds are working assiduously to bring down his operation.” Nickolai added.
“And in the meantime, he is pressuring me to find out what they have on him.” She gripped her fingers tight. “I am at a breaking point and it is affecting everything. I have told my sister, insisted rather, that she takes the family and go somewhere and not to even tell me.”
“Will she?”
Angela looked at him and shook her head. “I don’t know.” She spread her hands. “I keep asking myself how did I get into this? I am smart and selective. I knew who he was, knew of his reputation, but I thought I was in love with him.”
She pressed a hand to her throat. “He knows that something is off. I canceled on him twice and when I left the firm the other day, there was a car tailing me. He did not even hide the fact that he was following me. I don’t feel safe at my place anymore.”
“I think you should just get the hell out,” Andrei told her firmly. “I have a yacht- “
“I cannot involve you.” Angela shook her head and firmed her shoulders. “I should not have said anything to you Wade and I thank you for taking the time to try and help.”
“We want to help.”
“But you can’t.” She looked at the three powerful men in the room and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for what they were trying to do. “I got myself into this mess and I am going to get myself out of it.”
“How?” Nickolai wandered over to sit next to her.
