“Yes,” Nick says in a smooth tone.“No cruises for me, unfortunately.Sorry.”
With that pronouncement, Laila spins on one high heel and disappears into the crowd, her svelte form swallowed up by the other partygoers within seconds.
“Well, that was awkward,” I say in a low voice.“Your friend seemed surprised to see me.”
“Ella, you are always a delight and a surprise,” Nick says diplomatically.“How could you not be?You’re a vision, sweetheart, outshining any of the other women here.”
“Thanks,” I say in a dry tone.I’m about to add another quip when suddenly, a second woman appears from the crowd, just as beautiful as Laila.This one resembles the heroine fromAladdin, and is even wearing a long black braid and a filmy blue dress like Princess Jasmine.
“Nicky!”she squeals before leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek.“Where have you been?We knew you were expecting, but we had no idea you’d be back so soon.”
Oh, she knew that he was expecting a child?I suppose word gets out fast, although I’m not sure through which channels, seeing that I’ve never met this crowd before.Nick, meanwhile, appears unperturbed.
“Yes, the world has a funny way of working, doesn’t it?”he asks in a smooth tone.“Good to see you, Alizeh.”
“Call me Elisa!”she trills merrily.“I only use Alizeh when I’m with family, and you know that, Nicky!My father and brother keep asking when you’re going to come around to play golf.They re-did the course so that it’s even more beautiful,” she adds.
I try not to look startled.This woman’s family owns a golf course?Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised because this is obviously a gala where filthy rich people bump shoulders and hobnob.Meanwhile, as I look on, Alizeh continues.
“We’ve missed you,” she coos to Nick again while fluttering those spidery lashes.“So when are you coming around?”
“After my baby is born,” he says in a diplomatic manner.“I’ll have my hands full for a while, as you can see.But where are my manners?Alizeh, please meet Ella.Ella, Alizeh.”
With that, Princess Jade turns to me but stops abruptly upon seeing my pregnant form.
“Wait a minute,” she says in a slow tone, her eyes going up and down over my Grecian dress.Her gaze pauses on my belly, before moving up to my face and studying it.Her scrutiny goes on so long that I wonder if I have something in my teeth, and subtly try to run my tongue around my mouth to loosen any food bits.But Alizeh doesn’t acknowledge me.Instead, she turns to Nick with confusion in her gaze.
“Is this...?”she asks, one brow rising.
“Yes, Ella is expecting my child,” he says without missing a beat.“Ella conceived unexpectedly, but we’re over the moon about the pregnancy.”
Alizeh nods.
“I see,” she says in a low tone before biting her lip.“Well, good luck, Nicky.You’ll need it.”Then, this second woman also disappears into the crowd, her black braid swishing back and forth.
“Let me get you that juice,” Nick says.“Sorry, we keep getting accosted by different guests, but they’re all friends.Everyone wants the best for us.”He gestures to a waiter, and within seconds, there’s a drink in his hand.
“Here you go, sweetheart,” he says, handing me the tall, cool glass of OJ.“Let me know if you want anything else.”I take the opportunity to lean in.
“Nick, something weird is going on,” I say in a soft tone.
“What is it?”he asks, one black brow going up.“Tell me, and I’ll fix it.”
I shake my head.
“I don’t know,” I reply in a low voice.“But I’m getting weird vibes from these women.Seriouslyweird vibes.”
The billionaire pulls me close to his side and slings an arm about my shoulders.He’s casual, but it’s almost too casual and alarm bells go off in my head.
“It’s to be expected,” Nick drawls in a nonchalant tone.“You’re a beautiful woman who’s obviously very pregnant with my child, and it’s a shock to their systems.These ladies have never met you before, and yet you blow them out of the water with your grace and elegance.Even in your last trimester.”
“Yeah, but I’m a lumpy whale,” I say dryly.
“You’renota lumpy whale,” Nick corrects in a low, intimate tone.“You are a gorgeous goddess, and you’ve got to remember that, Ella.”
His words pump me up a bit, but within minutes, another woman materializes, cooing and fawning over my date before looking at my tummy with surprise.What’s going on?Some folks definitely knew Nick was expecting a child, and yet they’re super-surprised to see me.
It’s nothing, the voice in my head whispers.Maybe they’d only heard rumors of your pregnancy through the grapevine, and seeing you in person drives it home.
