ESTELLE
“Estelle.” A snap of fingers on my face brought me back to reality. “Hey. Are you okay?” Micah’s eyebrows were drawn together, then pulled back.
“Yeah. Sorry.” I blinked.
“I’ve been calling your name, but you seemed in deep thought.”
I looked down at the shade of lipstick I was trying to mix. It came out candy red when what I wanted was vermilion.
“I think you need a break. Should I book you a spa?”
I shook my head and began mixing again. “I’m fine. I have to reset my eyesight. I’ll be just outside.” I quickly stood up. Suddenly everything spun around me, almost knocking me off the ground. I might have found my butt on the floor if it weren’t for Micah.
“Hey, hey. Deep breath. Close your eyes for a few seconds.”
I did as she said, shutting my eyes close and everything around me and doing deep breathing.
“You’re pale. Have you been sleeping well lately? I think you might just lose a few pounds.”
I cracked my eyes open. “I slept well. My appetite is good, and I don’t think I lost weight. I just weighed yesterday.” I just lied. I hadn’t slept well since I left Linden’s house last week. I was a coward and left a breakup note. I hadn’t returned his calls either. Though I listened to his voicemails, I couldn’t give us hope when it would only hurt us in the end.
The line between her brows deepened. “I’m worried about you. Just go home and take a rest for the whole day. No working at home. I’ll call your driver.”
I nodded. “I know what taking a rest means, Micah.”
A small smile appeared on her lips. Her brown eyes lit up. “Do you need anything before you go home?”
“Like what?”
“Latest issue of Vogue, yummy ice cream flavor, strawberries, chocolate?” Just mentioning chocolate reminded me of him. Jeez, I should really do yoga and pilates.
“I’m good. I’m sure I have ice cream and strawberries at home. I’ll text my driver.” Yeah, Quinn was gone to whatever adventure he had. I was sure he was happy to be out of my hair, considering he wouldn’t be alone on the job.
Yesterday, Linden gave up. He stopped sending me voicemails and messages. I could bet a penny. He had moved on, and maybe he had gone searching for his bride all over the world right now. He should go out there and find the best woman for him. And honestly, he was a good man deserving of a good woman without baggage.
I must have been so tired that I fell asleep quickly after putting my head on the pillow. I woke up at seven and still felt lethargic. I dialed Micah.
“Hey, you’re up?”
“Yeah. How are you feeling?” Micah was always enthusiastic, no matter how hectic her day was. I liked that kind of vibe in the workplace. When she appeared in my office for the first time, I knew she would be a good assistant.
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m calling you. I think I’m sick.”
“Let me call your doctor. And I’m coming over.”
“You don’t have to come. I have staff in the house.”
“I know, but I have nothing to do at home, and it’s my job. See you soon, bye.”
I sighed before I got up and went to the bathroom. I checked myself in the mirror. Micah was right. I was pale. After cleaning up, I went back to my bed and scanned through emails and messages. Yeah, he gave up.
After an hour, Micah arrived, and the family doctor, Dr. Scott.
“I’m here. I brought you dinner,” Micah announced.
“Do you realize I have a chef?” I sat on the bed, feeling grateful.
“I’m aware. I’ll let Dr. Scott check you up. I’ll be in the living.”
“Thanks, Micah.”
Dr. Scott was very thorough from head to toe. “Do you wake up in the middle of the night?”
“Yeah, sometimes to pee, then I had terribly falling back to sleep this past few days, so I went to the study to work.”
“How about your appetite?”
“I think it’s the same.” Then I thought again. “Sometimes I missed lunch, though, so I just ate salad.”
“Do you feel any pain, abdominal discomfort, headache, dizziness, heartburn, or chest pain?”
“Just dizziness. It was probably from sitting too long.”
“You’re pale, Estelle, and in your lower eyelids. I’ll withdraw the blood sample and get the result quickly. By then, I can decide whether you need another diagnostic.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you want spills to sleep?” He tried to distract me before he injected the needle into my vein.
“Ouch.” I winced. It wasn’t painful, but I hated needles. I shook my head. “No.”
“Done. Warm milk is always effective, decaf green tea, camomile, coconut water, calming music.”
“I don’t like milk.” I chuckled.
“Is your period regular? Is it heavy?”
I stared at him in shock. I swallowed hard before I replied, but my mind went blank.
“We’ll find it out. Don’t worry, Estelle.” He patted my hand.
I drew a deep breath before I spoke. “I didn’t realize I should have been having my period a week ago. I still haven’t, and I always have regular periods.”
Oh, my God! God, I hoped not, or I would lose everything.
We never used condoms once, and I took my pills every day until I slept in his house and missed a day.
Shit.
I closed my eyes, trying to calm down because deep inside, I started panicking, but Dr. Scott told me to do breathing exercises.
“It’s gonna be okay, dear.”
I nodded as I looked at the old doctor. “Can you keep whatever the result between us?”
“Dear.” He looked at me through his glasses. “Doctor-patient confidentiality, unless you have a life-threatening disease, but it’s still up to you to tell your family and loved ones.”
“Appreciate it.”
“Do you need anything else before I go?”
“What if I’m pregnant?”
He smiled. “I will recommend a good obstetrician for you.”
I smiled back timidly. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Call me if you feel sick, even just a slight dizziness.”
“I will.”
“Do you mind?” Micah came in and sat on the edge of the bed once the good doctor left.
“Please.”
“So, what did he say?”
“I have to wait for the result, and he said I’m pale, but he can’t diagnose until he has the blood result.” I kept the viral information to myself.
“I’m sure nothing serious. You just worked hard, your body screamed for a break, but you never listened.”
I laughed softly. “It’s really good to have you here, Micah.”
“If you want, I can take full advantage of the guest room.”
My brows shot up.
“Kidding. You have to loosen up a bit, lady boss.” She giggled.
“I was actually thinking. It’s a good idea. I always enjoy good company. You’re fun, understanding. I know your job is to do what I told you and what’s best for me, but I never see judgment in your eyes but appreciation and sympathy. You have a good heart, Micah. Your parents raised you well.”
“Just my mom. I don’t know my dad. He bailed us when I was three.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She suddenly reminded me of Linden. I had to breathe deeply to ignore the pain in my chest.
“It was ancient history. Mom worked two jobs to send me to college.”
“And you did it.”
“Yeah. When I got my first paycheck, I treated her to a fine restaurant, Jay Den.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.” She beamed as if she got an idea. “Let’s have dinner and maybe watch something?”
I beamed like a stupid. “God, I need a thousand like you.”
She laughed out loud as she got up from the bed. “I’m not enough?”
“You are. I think it’s an advantage to have an assistant your age. You’re relatable and fun. It’s really hard to find true friends when your family is loaded. Thank you for being here, not just as my employee but as a person, a friend.”
I had Chinese.
“I don’t know it’s this good.”
“Oh, it depends on the restaurant, but the one close to my apartment is the best. It’s clean, and the owner knows me already, so I called ahead of time because the shop is always jump-pack, and it will take time for delivery.” She stopped and eyed me as if I had come from another planet. “You haven’t had Chinese?”
“I did.”
“Let me guess, in a five-star?”
I smiled shyly.
“Oh, girl. You’re missing a lot. Do you eat burgers?” Jeez, there you are again. Everything seemed to remind me of him.
“I think I’m pregnant.”
“What?” Her brown eyes nearly popped from its socket, but I didn’t see judgments. “Wow. For real?”
“I’m delayed. Of course, you know how it happened because I definitely never had IVF treatment.”
“Yeah, I know. I might as well have an idea who the baby daddy is.”
I nodded as I looked down at the Chinese. I couldn’t believe I almost ate it all.
“If you are, are you gonna tell him?”
“No. Never.”
“I may be out of line here, but I don’t think it’s a good idea even if you are capable of raising your own kid.”
“I’m not sure if I will keep it. I haven’t thought about it, actually,” I admitted. I was not in denial. “I knew what I did. I knew I was reckless but still risked it because I really liked him.”
“It’s Mr. Linden, isn’t it?”
I looked at her, really looked at her. “How did you know?”
“He’d been calling the office every day for the entire week. Just yesterday, he stopped. He said he’s going somewhere, but if there’s any development, quote-unquote, he said to try to reach him out.”
“Have you?”
“You’re paying me to do the job. I may like him, but I can’t just share info about your personal stuff. So the answer is no.”
“No one can know.”