His question took me off guard, its sincerity wrapping around me like a warm hug. But a part of me still pushed him away. Still questioned him. Why the sudden kindness? Is he just trying to protect himself, thinking I would go public with all this? I studied him briefly, trying to make sense of him.
“Nothing,” I said, though it was a lie. I needed a lot, but this was a mess I had made for myself. Not the baby. Clearly, that took the two of us. But the fact that I was in debt in an apartment that wasn’t technically mine was my mess to figure out.
He cocked his head, not quite believing me.
“I have to make a doctor’s appointment.” I shrugged. “I guess I’ll just go from there. I don’t really know what I’m doing. This is all new.” I looked around the apartment and sighed. “So terrifyingly new,” I whispered.
His jaw clenched and unclenched as he followed my gaze around my temporary home.
“I have to get out of here too. This apartment is too much,” I said, my thoughts falling off my tongue in a to-do list of sorts.
He looked slightly taken aback. “But where will you go?”
“Oh, I have a friend who will probably let me crash at their place.”
Erica was that friend, yet I hadn’t told her any of this yet. I knew she would take me in without hesitation, but I hated to ask that of her. She was one of my best friends, but had her own trust issues when it came to wealth and status. Coming from a wealthy background herself, she pushed that part of herself away for a long time for a lot of the same reasons Jeremiah hid behind his work.
“At least until I can find an apartment I can afford. I’ll find a studio or something. Babies don’t need a lot of space, right?” I laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood.
“You’re not crashing at someone’s apartment…” said Jeremiah tightly.
“It’s not really up to you.”
“Let me help you,” he said, scooching slightly closer on the couch.
I looked at him warily.
“Come stay with me,” he continued, covering my hand with his gently. “I have a guestroom with a California King that overlooks Central Park. It has an ensuite too, complete with a soaking tub. My private chef can cook for you all the healthy meals that you and baby will need. Let me take care of you.”
It all sounded like a dream, but dreams were always too good to be true.
“In exchange for what?” I asked pointedly.
“In exchange for keeping this between us for now,” he said.
I raised a questioning brow.
“If this got out, it would open a whole can of worms. The press would have a field day and then the world would burn me at the stake. Could you imagine if they found out I was fucking my assistant and got her pregnant? It would ruin me.”
His words were harsh and hurt me more than I would like. More than he intended them to. But he was right. It would be the year’s biggest scandal, and I had no interest in being at the center of it.
“You understand that, right?” asked Jeremiah, squeezing my hand.
I gave him a solemn nod.
“It’s just the first year of business is crucial. I can’t screw it up.”
“I understand,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
It hurt, but Ididunderstand. It was a small thing to ask when he wanted to provide so much for me and the baby. I found it strange how willing I was to accept him taking care of me. Usually, I was the one taking care of everyone else. Maybe it was because I was thinking of the baby. Or maybe it was because I liked the idea of spending more time with him.
“Thank you,” he said with relief. “For now, our relationship and this pregnancy have to be kept secret.”
My brain got caught on one word, making my heart foolishly flutter more than I would like to admit.
“Relationship?” I asked.
“Don’t overthink it.” He patted my hand before standing up from the couch, leaving me full of questions and high hopes that I knew could easily come crashing down. I opened my mouth to press further, but thought better of it.
