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“I know, and I don’t care how cold it is. We are going to venture the weather and go to the Worth’s Christmas Eve bash this year. I’ve had to RSVP with regrets for way too long.”
“Great,” he mutters.
“You can handle it for a few hours.”
“How about we do a tit for tat exchange?”
I giggle at the use of his terminology. “What kind of exchange?”
“The ribbon cutting ceremony is in a few days. I need you there.”
My body goes solid, and the playful mood is gone. Icy sensations prickle down my spine. I’ve backed away from anything related to the laboratory since discovering Lawson’s affiliation with Morris. The last thing I need is Dad to be smeared with rumors of favoritism since his daughter was dating the architect that won the bid. He doesn’t need to be dragged through the mud because of my stupidity.
“This is important to me, Greer. It’s important to your friends, too. It’s not lost on me how you’ve turned into a recluse since you broke up with Lawson. I wish you’d tell me exactly what happened, but I’m trying to respect your privacy. Now, you’re refusing to be a part of something that is going down as our legacy.
“My legacy, your legacy, your future children’s legacy. I can’t let you do that because of a broken heart. You have to bounce back.”
My stomach seizes when he mentions my children, and my eyes fall to the tiniest dot that’s almost invisible in the mass of black and white in the pictures.
Mine and Lawson’s baby.
His grandchild.
I’m holding in my hands the very legacy he’s referencing, and a wave of guilt washes over me. He’s oblivious to the circumstances surrounding my break-up since I’ve been vague in my details. He let me stay at the penthouse without any questions and has put up with my moping for weeks—never prying or questioning.
“Dad—”
“It’s important you be there.”
That’s all he has to say before I find myself agreeing. “Okay, I’ll be by your side.”
“So will the rest of the crew.”
“Okay,” I whisper, fear kicking in. If Lawson shows at the ground breaking, there is no way I can keep my dad from knowing the truth. Especially if Enrique and Jonas try to murder him.
“Greer, it’s been a while now, and you seem to be getting worse. Is there something else I should know about your break-up?” I picture the expression on his face and let guilt gnaw at me again. Brows furrowed, lips pursed, his green eyes wide and questioning; the powerful business magnate meets the concerned dad.
“No, Dad, I’m just taking this a little harder than I thought. But I’m excited to get away for the holidays and regroup. I’m sure it’s exactly what the doctor ordered.”
He seems to accept the answer and promises to send me a schedule of events for the ceremony before we hang up.
The emotional swing kicks in again, and I fight back tears.
Because, now, if everything goes well, I’m going to have a baby.
Because, now, this is a reality.
I know without any academic medical knowledge, I’m going to have a son, and he’s going to look exactly like his father.
I’m going to have to tell my dad.
And, eventually, I’m going to have to tell Lawson.
Chapter 22
Lawson
I stare out of the conference room windows, my focus in the direction of the Palmer Laboratory site. An hour ago, Kevin Palmer cut the ribbon to break ground and start the preliminary stages of construction. A local reporter drones on the big screen behind me, detailing the event. I kept the television on with hopes to catch a glimpse of Greer, but only saw her for the brief moment she hugged her father and then stepped back into the crowd, his team shuffling to the forefront of the action.
