ESTELLE
“So, there’s nothing we could do?”
I had been talking with my lawyers, but I could already see my future self before me, losing the battle.
“It wasn’t stated in the contract that you couldn’t file a divorce or when you could. To secure your assets, you have to convince Mr. Klayton to sign the tight prenup.” Atty. Randish said, somehow, it uplifted me.
“Thank you. I will do that.”
“It’s just marriage. You can get out anytime. Estelle, this is a free country,” Atty Tawny smiled with a nod over the screen.
“I can’t even look at him without gagging.”
Atty Tawny chuckled. “Well, there is that. It may have already been agreed on by both parties, and you can’t change the fact, but you still have control over your future. It’s not the end for you.”
“I hope so.”
After the conference call, Micah helped me with the outdoor movie ideas I had in mind. After two hours, I was sweaty and a little bit hungry.
The chef made some perfect and delicious chicken mango salsa bowl and Cajun shrimp fajita pan.
“It’s three. You should get some rest. I’ll wake up at six.”
“Thanks, Micah,” I called her when she was about to leave. “Don’t work. I want you to have time also for yourself. Next week, we will have shopping and spa together. Put that on our sked.”
“No more talking. Rest, baby mommy.”
I smiled. I couldn’t believe I would be a mom in less than eight months, and I hadn’t told anyone. I was thinking of telling Klayton I was carrying another man’s baby. I wondered if he cared. I bet he wouldn’t mind.
I cringed at the thought of his hands all over me. Given what kind of manwhore he was, maybe even if I was about to pop out my kid, he was going to use me.
“Oh, God.” I ran towards my bathroom and emptied what I just ate into the bowl. I threw up everything. My face was sweating. My abdomen was cramping, and I couldn’t ask for help.
Once I calmed a bit, I cleaned my mouth with enough mouthwash. Then I brushed my teeth. I washed my face and looked at myself in the mirror. At twenty-five, I would be married and a mother. Not exactly the best environment to raise a child, but did I have a choice?
I redialed Atty. Tawny.
“Estelle, is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Is it possible to transfer my money to someone I can trust?”
“Yes, it is, but why would you do that, and how much?”
“I’m pregnant.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell us about this?”
“The marriage wouldn’t be void.”
“That’s true,” he confirmed.
“Does your father and the other party know?”
“Nobody knows except my assistant and my doctor. And now you.”
He sighed. “To whom do you want to transfer your fund?”
“Linden. Gabriel Linden.”
“Do you trust him?”
“With all my life.”
“Does he know your situation?”
I blew a breath. “Some of it, but he can’t ever know I’m having a baby.”
“Is he the father of your child?”
“Yes. He is.”
“You have to tell him.”
“I can’t. If I do, he will move mountains, and I will not only lose the Chairman position, I might as well lose the control over Star.”
“Is your plan wise? No, but it works if this man is trustworthy, given that he’s the father of your unborn child.”
“At least if I give birth, my child’s future is secured. Can you do that for me?”
“I’ll have the documents ready on Monday. You can also make it your investment, Estelle.”
“That’s a great idea. He founded Osmium Resource Group.”
“I think I’ve heard of him. How much?”
“Twenty-five. Give it to my assistant for me to sign.”
“Are you sure you wanna do this?”
“Yes. Definitely.”
***
I just wanted to be with Linden before my life fell apart because I could already feel it beginning to crumble before me, so I set up an outdoor movie date.
He gave me what I wanted. He didn’t resist. I could hear the music as the credit rolled, but my eyes were so heavy I couldn’t even open them.
“Baby? Estelle?”
“Hmm.”
“Let me take you to your room.” I felt the bean bag dip as he moved. The next thing I knew was him scooping me and lifting me, and I felt him walking, kissing my forehead.
“Her room is by the end of the hallway to the left.” I thought it was Micah talking. I was just so tired and sleepy.
A few moments later, I felt the soft sheet under me. I could smell the lavender essential oil wafting in the room. Then I was wrapped with my duvet. I curled into a ball, and that was it.
I woke in the middle of the night with a full bladder. My doctor and what I read online were serious about the first trimester of having to pee frequently.
I was about to get up from bed when I felt that I wasn’t alone anymore. My heart leaped up my throat, thinking it was another man. The first thing that came into my mind was Klayton.
Thankfully, looking at the arm around my waist, it looked familiar, and the tattoo. Linden was shirtless and probably naked. What surprised me more was he didn’t leave. So unusual of him. I was grateful, though.
I slowly and carefully lifted his arm around me and got up from bed. He didn’t even stir. I tiptoed to my bathroom and peed. I gargled with mouthwash before I got back to my room. What was I thinking? That I would make out with him? Probably a good idea, but would he kiss me when he was adamant about not even touching me? Which was a bummer, by the way.
“Hi.” I froze in my place to see him sitting shirtless on the bed.
“Hey. Come here.” His voice was still groggy and deep but sexy.
“I’m surprised you didn’t leave. Sorry for snoozing on our movie—” I didn’t even know what to call it. A friendly date didn’t seem to fit, but yeah, whatever.
“Date.” He smiled lazily. “Micah said you did most of the decoration. I owe you a massage.”
I crawled back to bed. There was no awkward moment of hesitation between us. He cupped my face and kissed me, and I didn’t think twice, straddling him as I missed him terribly. Not the kind of miss that I would be okay seeing him. I wanted more. I didn’t know if this was pregnancy hormones, but I wanted him like I wanted my next breath.
I paused and looked at him. Linden’s eyebrows were drawn together. Then I looked at my clothes. I wasn’t wearing my dress anymore. I was in my pajamas.
“I changed you since I am the only one in this house who saw you naked.” He grinned. “I hope I’m right.”
“I don’t just walk around the house butt naked, Gabriel.”
“Can we go back to kissing now?” He barely finished his words.
I was already kissing him, ignoring the knot in my belly. I knew it was unfair to him, but I didn’t want him to get in trouble because of my recklessness than I already did. Also, I wanted to be happy with the limited time I had left. I deserved that.
As I ran my fingers on his broad chest, I rubbed his tiny nipples with my thumbs. Then I went to his abs. I already felt his bulge growing hard.
He pulled off my top. “I took the liberty to take off your bra. I thought you didn’t need it anyway. Stand up.”
I didn’t hesitate. He slipped his hands on the band of my bottoms and my panties and dragged them down my legs. I stepped out of them, and he carelessly threw them on the floor.
I was completely naked before him, and my pussy was just at his eye level. My toes curled the moment his hands gripped my hips, and the next thing I knew was hearing my voice echo in my entire room as he ran his tongue on my folds up to my clit.
He grabbed my thigh so I could place it on his shoulder, my hands gripping the headboard while his face was between my legs, doing something wild with his mouth and tongue.
When he gave a long lick from my forbidden hole to the center, I sobbed in pleasure, throwing my head back. My eyes fluttered close as my hips ground hard, following the rhythm of his tongue. He was thorough, did with his lips, his mouth, his teeth, his tongue.
I was lost in eliciting pleasure, in our emotional connection, in desire, in joy, and my orgasm was just around the corner. He felt it.
He hummed in approval.
“Gabriel.” Gasping for air, I called his name. My hips bucked against his face, and my orgasm turned nuclear. I felt it in every sense of my being.