Absolutely not.
"If you go back to Tuscany, we'll be separated." I look at her intensely. "I want to be with you." My gaze drifts to Aurora's belly. "And with our baby. I want to be there as it grows. I want to put my hand on your belly and feel it kick."
Aurora's cheeks go pale; she swallows heavily. "That would be wonderful."
"That's exactly why we have to do it." I nod my head toward Madame Durand's office door. "Soon, rumors will start spreading like wildfire. It's better if she hears it from us first. And if she..."
She lets out a breath. "We have a plan. As long as we stick to it, we have a chance."
For a moment, I look at her, then I clench my fists. "Okay."
Together, we take the last steps to the door, and I knock and push down the handle. Madame Durand is already expecting us. Or rather, she is expecting just me. I kept Aurora's presence a secret when I requested the appointment yesterday.
"Mademoiselle Olivetta?" With a furrowed brow, she stands up from her imposing leather swivel chair and walks around the solid wood desk. She gestures toward the 1930s-style seating area next to the double window.
I hear Aurora's breath catch as she sits beside me. She clasps her hands under her thighs and bites her lower lip so hard that it turns a deep shade of red.
The boss looks between us, puzzled. "Is there a problem?"
It seems she can tell something is going on. Well then, I'd better get straight to the point.
Where did I want to start again?
"Um... thank you for accommodating us on short notice." I sound as if I've swallowed a rasp. Quickly, I clear my throat.
Madame Durand's already skeptical face twists into an irritated grimace. "Save the pleasantries. What is so urgent that it can't wait until the next team meeting?"
Yes, we've thought everything through, but I still feel unprepared.
Come on, Maxime, just say it!
"I'm pregnant." That bursts out of Aurora all of a sudden.
The corners of the boss's mouth turn downward, fine creases forming along her lower lip. Fear flickers in her eyes. "What did you say?"
Aurora is about to say something, but I hold her back by placing my hand on her thigh. "She's pregnant," I repeat with a calmness that surprises even me.
While Aurora exhales heavily, Madame Durand inhales so deeply that I'm not sure she won't burst at any moment. Her gaze fixates on my fingers, now unmistakably caressing Aurora's thigh.
"Oh my God," she murmurs, then jumps up from her chair and paces the office like a madwoman. The slender heels of her shoes leave marks on the parquet floor. "This is..."
Aurora's legs tremble, but she raises her chin.
The boss abruptly stops and points her finger at me. "You're fired, but that should be clear to you." Her gaze then shifts to Aurora. "And you're out. Immediately."
Just as we expected. "Let's not make hasty decisions, Madame Durand," I say, sticking to our agreed-upon plan with Aurora. With a nervous gesture, I invite her to sit again. "Consider that we are all in the same boat."
She wrinkles her nose. "Nonsense," she grumbles but takes a step closer to us. "Only you two have a problem. I haven't done anything wrong."
"Not yet," I correct her, surprised by the sudden calmness in my voice.
Even more surprising is that Madame Durand actually sits down again. With her forearms resting on her legs, she leans forward.
I edge closer to the edge of my seat and straighten my back. "Thank you," I say first, as the fact that she's willing to listen to us is not taken for granted.
An exasperated snort escapes her mouth. She signals me to get to the point.
For a moment, I glance at Aurora. Courage and strength reflect in her expression. I'd love for her to lead this conversation, but we agreed that it's better if I take charge. After all, Aurora officially knows nothing about the academy's internal processes.
