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“Alright,” I sigh, standing carefully and grabbing a towel to wrap around my body, “time to do something productive.” The firm is fine with me working from home on Mondays and Tuesdays until I need to take maternity leave. Or at least, Ben is fine with it.
As I’m wrapping my hair in another towel, my cell lights up on the counter. Stretching quickly, I get a glimpse at the name on the screen and almost drop the phone.
Collin Weaver.
What can he possibly want? Iknowhe’s not apologizing.
If anything, I’m surprised he didn’t cut the project short—but we’re close to the end anyway, and we do good work. Even if Collin doesn’t like that I won’t hand over his son’s will.
I momentarily consider not picking up and forcing him to leave me a message. But, then, I would eventually have to call him back. I may as well get it over with now.
Taking a deep breath, I answer calmly. “Hello?”
“Miss Morrison. I thought I made myself clear.”
I go completely still, clutching the towel to my chest. “Excuse me?”
“I thought I made myself clear. You’re not to rope my son into this mistake. I told you to leave him out of it.”
My mouth hangs open, mind blank, scrambling to figure out what’s going on. “I’m not really sure what your concern is, Mr. Weaver. I’ve told Nick that I want to handle this alone.”
“So what was he doing at your apartment Friday afternoon?”
The words are deadly calm, with just a hint of a triumphant edge.I caught you. I’m sure that’s what he’s thinking.
“I had a feeling you weren’t being honest with me, Blair, so I had Nick followed. I know he was there. I know you two are spending time together. And I warned you.”
Fear, and then anger, flood through me. A hand covers my belly—it’s not just me now to worry about. I am in no condition to put up with this kind of stress. How dare he?
“Let me make this perfectly clear. This is an ultimatum. If I hear that you and Nicholas are seen together again outside of the firm, outside of wrapping up this estate business, I will cut him off. Immediately. I already have my personal lawyers working out the details to do so.”
My heart plummets.
“Collin, I—”
“Mr. Weaver.”
I swallow. “Mr. Weaver. I’ve spoken to Nick several times about my desire to raise this baby alone. I don’t know what else I can do—”
“You’re a smart woman, or so I’ve been told. Figure it out, Miss Morrison.”
The line goes dead. I pull the phone away and stare at it in shock.
He can’t mean it, can he? A wave of panic goes through me and I sit on the floor quickly, tears brimming. What I said was true–I’m not sure what else I can do to push Nick away.
Maybe don’t invite him into your apartment, a dry voice in my mind chides.Don’t let him take you to bed. Don’t let him bring you food, no matter how sweet it seems.
With the tears, a longing rises within me, and in moments I’m crying, clutching a fist to my mouth to quiet myself.
I can see Collin Weaver doing it. That’s the thing. I don’t doubt for a minute that he’d cut Nick off, and if that happens, then Vanessa and her girls won’t have the safety net of Nick’s inheritance if something happens.
Collin Weaver cut off his own daughter, despite using her husband as a company minion and despite the man’s grief-filled death. I can’t see him having any problem dropping Nick the same way, even though Nick has sacrificed everything for the company.
I’m torn.
I’ve been lying to myself this whole time, but I’ve fallen hard for Nick. The further I try to run from him, the harder I get pulled back.
And now I have a permanent link to him. This baby.
