Page 41 of Daigo

"Just what am I supposed to do when I'm home?" she demanded, following him into the office.

"Make calls, do paperwork, check in on your employees. Knit, crochet, or play solitaire. I don't care. Your ankles are swelling up, and you're in that bathroom enough for me to consider putting in a bed. Three days, Shelby-Anne, for my peace of mind."

She leaned over on the desk, slapping her palms on the smooth surface. "You're being an arrogant ass."

His brows lifted. Sitting down, he leaned back in the chair. "I'm being your husband, and if I have to tie you to the bed, then so be it. I will not have you jeopardizing your health and that of the babies you're carrying."

"You think I would?" She threw up her hands in sheer frustration. "Oooh! I feel fine." She extended her left foot and twisted it from side to side. Not a swelling in sight. "It's almost March, and I have inventory-"

"How capable is your staff?" he interrupted her mildly.

"What?"

"Your staff. How much do you trust them?"

Her eyes flashed. "I trust them completely."

"Good. Your assistant seems like the capable sort. Have her come here for meetings if you don't want to do it over the phone." His tone became inflexible. "I'm going to be the jerk here and remind you how much you wanted this. You were aware of the consequences. You cannot have it both ways, Shelby-Anne.

"You want to be a mother; you're carrying triplets. You woke up bleeding and cramping just a few days ago. I already warned you that I'm not going to lose you, and I meant it. Pick the days; I don't care about the sequence, just that it stays the three days. I'm exercising my right as your husband and frankly don't care how mad you are at the way I'm doing it."

"I'm not a child."

"Then stop acting like one."

"How dare you remind me of the fact that I wanted this pregnancy. I know what I signed up for and would never do anything to harm these babies. I know my limitations, but the store is mine-"

"You don't need the money."

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "Is that it? You want me to stop working altogether and stay home? What, I go out to functions and look pretty? Basically, be your arm candy while you be the man and carry home the bacon? If that's what you require, you married the wrong fricking woman. I love my independence and have no intention of giving up my store."

"Are you through?" he asked coldly, frustrated beyond belief. Damn her for always doing this to him. With her, he felt everything. She was the only woman with the power to make him lose control. And it was frustrating.

"I knew who I married. And you're missing the bloody point. I want to keep you safe-"

"You want to put me in a bubble. I cannot drive anymore. You assigned a driver to me. I feel as if I'm losing control of my own life. I'm pregnant, not on the point of dying. And I refuse to be coddled.

"For God's sake, I'm not the first woman to be carrying babies. Others have done it before me, and others will after me. You cannot-" She jumped when he slammed his palm on the desk.

"You're my only concern! You're the only one I'm thinking of, damn you!" His dark eyes glittered. "You begged me for this, and against my better judgment, I agreed. There are risks involved, and still I agreed. I thought I was losing you.

"I rushed you to the clinic in the middle of the night, thinking, 'This is it. I'm going to lose her.' You will stay home and get the rest you need. Or so help me God-" He shoved from his desk and, to her shock, marched from the room and slammed the door shut behind him.

Shelby felt for the chair and lowered herself into it, her knees trembling. She had never seen him this angry before. Her husband almost never lost control, but he had been dangerously close to doing so just now. Clasping her trembling hands, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She felt good now, and the queasiness was not so bad. She was able to eat but was aware that could change in a second. Her blood pressure was stable, and she desperately wanted to keep it that way.

But the fatigue was her biggest worry. She would be walking around or doing things, and it would descend on her suddenly without warning, forcing her to take a nap. Her hormones were raging. She would be watching a movie, reading a book, or simply listening to the classics and would start crying. And there were the cramps in her legs. She understood why he was having someone drive her around and how dangerous it could be if she had an attack of the cramps while operating a vehicle.

He had asked if she thought her staff capable, and she had said yes. Maxine was a treasure. The woman was efficient, and she loved the store. The others were just as dedicated. She paid them well and offered incentives. She hardly took a salary because there was no need for one. She was well set.

Even though she had signed a prenup, her husband funneled money into her account every month, money that was barely touched. She did not pay for anything, not even her personal items. She had an account at Romano's as well as other high-end stores. She had taken on a charitable project along with her friend Tammy: a couple of children's homes they funded.

Daigo knew about it but did not care what she did with her money. She was on his accounts, all of them, and could purchase anything she wanted. And he was right, she thought with a sigh. She had begged for this. There were things she could do at home. He had transformed an office for her. She stopped and leaned back with a sigh.

He did everything for her, and she was behaving like a spoiled child. She could chalk it up to hormones, but it wasn't just that, and she owed him an apology, again. Sighing softly, she eased up from the chair and went back to her room to wait for his return.

Chapter 11

He came back an hour later. After driving around aimlessly, allowing his anger to run its course, he headed back home with the thought that she might need him, that something could happen to her while he was stewing. He also started wondering when his life had started revolving around her.