Chapter 8 Chapter 8
~EIGHT~
The tension in the room was so thick I could barely breathe. Rick looked between Declan and me, clearly sensing he'd walked into something serious.
"I'll give you two a minute," Rick said, starting to back out of the office.
"No, stay," Declan said, his eyes never leaving mine. "Miss Blake, we'll continue this conversation later. Please close the door on your way out."
I stood there frozen, trying to process what Rick had just said. Inheritance clause? Heir? What did any of that have to do with me?
"Miss Blake," Declan's voice was firmer now. "Please."
I nodded numbly and walked out, my mind racing with a thousand questions.
As I closed the door behind me, I could hear muffled voices inside. I knew I shouldn't listen, but my feet wouldn't move.
"—didn't know about the pregnancy, did you?" That was Rick's voice.
"I just found out," Declan replied, his voice strained.
"This changes everything. If she's really pregnant—"
"I know what it means, Rick."
Their voices got lower, and I couldn't make out the rest. I quickly walked away before they caught me eavesdropping.
Back at my desk, I couldn't focus on anything. My hand unconsciously moved to my stomach.
There might be a baby in there. Declan's baby.
And apparently, that baby might be the solution to some inheritance problem he had.
The thought made me feel sick.
~°~
I managed to get a doctor's appointment for 4 PM. The receptionist said they could fit me in for an emergency consultation.
As the clock ticked closer to 4, my anxiety grew. I hadn't heard from Declan since the morning, and I wasn't sure if he still planned to come with me.
At 3:45, my desk phone rang.
"Miss Blake, Mr. Harris is waiting for you in the garage," Rick's voice came through.
My heart jumped. "He's coming?"
"Apparently. He cleared his entire afternoon," Rick paused. "Anita, I don't know what's going on between you two, but be careful. Declan's under a lot of pressure right now."
"I don't understand—"
"Just be careful," he repeated and hung up.
I grabbed my purse and headed to the garage, where I found Declan leaning against his car, his phone pressed to his ear. When he saw me, he ended the call.
"Ready?" he asked, opening the passenger door for me.
I nodded and got in. The drive to the doctor's office was silent and uncomfortable. Declan kept his eyes on the road, his jaw tight.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.
"What did Rick mean about an inheritance clause?" I asked quietly.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. "It's complicated."
"I think I deserve to know if it involves me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He was quiet for a long moment before finally speaking.
"My father's will has a condition. I have to produce an heir within five years of his death or I lose majority control of the company," he said flatly. "That deadline is in three months."
My stomach dropped. "And if you don't?"
"The company goes to my uncle, Richard Harris. A man who will destroy everything my father built," the bitterness in his voice was clear.
"So when you found out I might be pregnant..."
"I saw a solution to a problem," he admitted, glancing at me. "I won't lie to you about that."
At least he was honest. But the truth hurt more than I expected.
"So what's your plan? Force me to have this baby so you can keep your company?" I felt anger rising in my chest.
"No," he said firmly. "Whatever you decide about this pregnancy, it's your choice. I won't force you to do anything."
"But you want me to keep it," I stated.
He pulled into the medical center's parking lot and turned off the engine. Then he turned to face me fully.
"I want you to make whatever decision is right for you," he said, his dark eyes intense. "But yes, I won't lie—if you choose to keep this baby, it would solve a massive problem for me. And I would make sure both you and the child are well taken care of. Very well taken care of."
"You mean you'd pay me," I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.
"I'd provide for you. There's a difference," he said. "But again, this is your choice. No matter what you decide, I'll respect it."
I didn't know what to say. Part of me was angry that he saw this potential baby as a business solution. But another part understood—he was being honest, which was more than Jake ever was.
"Let's just see if I'm actually pregnant first," I said, opening the car door.
~°~
The doctor's office was pristine and modern. The receptionist smiled warmly at us as we checked in.
"Mr. and Mrs. Harris?" she asked, looking at her computer.
"Just Mr. Harris and Miss Blake," Declan corrected quickly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. The appointment was made under Harris, so I assumed—"
"It's fine," I interrupted, wanting to avoid more awkwardness.
We sat in the waiting room, surrounded by couples who actually looked happy to be there. Women with visible baby bumps, men holding their partners' hands, magazines about pregnancy and parenting scattered on every table.
This should have been a happy moment, I thought. Finding out you're pregnant should be exciting, not terrifying.
"Miss Blake?" A nurse called out.
We both stood, and I noticed several people glancing at us—probably wondering about our story. We certainly didn't look like a happy couple.
The nurse led us to an examination room. "The doctor will be with you shortly. You'll need to change into this gown," she handed me a paper gown.
Declan stood to leave, but the nurse stopped him. "You can stay if Miss Blake is comfortable with that. Most partners like to be present for the initial examination."
I felt my face heat up. "He can stay."
After the nurse left, Declan turned his back while I changed. Despite everything we'd already done, this felt more intimate somehow.
"You can turn around," I said once I was on the examination table, the gown covering me.
He turned, and for a moment, something soft crossed his features as he looked at me sitting there, vulnerable and scared.
"Whatever happens in the next few minutes, we'll figure it out together," he said quietly.
Before I could respond, the doctor walked in—a kind-looking woman in her fifties.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Peterson," she smiled at both of us. "So we're here to confirm a pregnancy?"
I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.
She asked me several questions—when was my last period, any symptoms, when the possible conception occurred. I answered as best I could, very aware of Declan standing stiffly in the corner.
"Alright, let's do a blood test first. It's more accurate than the home tests," Dr. Peterson said. "Then we'll do an ultrasound to see if we can detect anything."
The blood draw was quick. Then came the ultrasound.
"This will be cold," Dr. Peterson warned as she applied gel to my stomach.
I felt Declan move closer, his eyes fixed on the screen.
Dr. Peterson moved the wand around, her eyes focused on the monitor. The room was silent except for the sound of the machine.
Then suddenly, a rapid whooshing sound filled the room.
"There it is," Dr. Peterson smiled, pointing to a tiny spot on the screen. "That's the heartbeat."
I felt tears spring to my eyes. There was really a baby in there. A tiny, living baby.
"You're about four weeks along," the doctor continued. "Still very early, but everything looks good."
I looked over at Declan. His face had gone pale, his eyes wide as he stared at the screen.
"That's..." he couldn't seem to finish the sentence.
"Your baby," Dr. Peterson finished for him, smiling. "Congratulations."
The word felt surreal. Congratulations. Like this was a planned, happy occasion.
After the doctor gave us some information and prenatal vitamins, we left the office in a daze.
We sat in Declan's car in silence for several minutes.
"It's real," I finally whispered.
"Yeah," his voice was rough. "It's real."
"I don't know what to do," I admitted, tears starting to fall. "I just got this job. I have nowhere to live. The father of my baby is my boss. And my ex-boyfriend just threw me out. I'm not ready to be a mother."
"Hey," Declan reached over and grabbed my hand. The gesture surprised both of us. "You're not alone in this. I meant what I said—whatever you decide, I'll support you."
"You say that now, but your company—"
"Screw the company," he said fiercely. "This isn't about that anymore. This is about you and this baby. Our baby."
Our baby. The words made it feel even more real.
"I need time to think," I said, pulling my hand away.
"Take all the time you need," he started the car. "But tonight, I'm taking you to the apartment. You're not spending another night in that motel."
I was too exhausted to argue.
~°~
The apartment Declan provided was beautiful—a spacious two-bedroom on the twentieth floor with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
"This is too much," I said as he showed me around.
"It's been sitting empty for months. Might as well have someone use it," he said, setting my motel bags down in the master bedroom.
The bedroom was huge, with a king-size bed and an ensuite bathroom that was bigger than my old bedroom at Jake's place.
"Thank you," I said, meaning it. "For everything. You didn't have to do all this."
"Yes, I did," he said simply. "You're carrying my child. The least I can do is make sure you're comfortable and safe."
He moved toward the door, then stopped.
"Anita," he said, using my first name for the first time. "I know this is complicated and messy and not at all how either of us planned our lives. But I want you to know something."
I waited, holding my breath.
"If you decide to keep this baby, I won't be an absent father. I'll be there, every step of the way. And if you decide you can't do this, I'll support that too. Either way, I'm here."
The sincerity in his voice made me want to cry.
"I'll let you know my decision soon," I promised.
He nodded and left, leaving me alone in the beautiful apartment with the biggest decision of my life ahead of me.
I walked to the window and looked out at the city lights. My hand moved to my stomach again.
There was a tiny life growing inside me. Half mine, half Declan's.
What was I going to do?
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:
Stay away from Declan Harris. He's mine. This is your only warning.
I stared at the message in shock. Who would send this?
Then it clicked—Victoria Laurence.
Before I could process this new threat, another text came through. This time from Jake:
I heard you're pregnant. Is that why you cheated? Because you're a whore who can't keep her legs closed? You disgust me.
How did he know? I hadn't told anyone except Declan and the doctor.
My phone rang, making me jump. It was Evelyn.
"Anita! Oh my God, is it true? Are you really pregnant?" she sounded frantic.
"How did you—"
"Jake's been telling everyone. He's saying terrible things about you. I tried to defend you, but Anita, what happened? Who's the father?"
I felt my world tilting. Jake was spreading rumors about me. Victoria was threatening me. And I still hadn't decided what to do about this pregnancy.
"Evelyn, I can't talk right now," I said, my voice breaking.
"Anita, please, just tell me—"
I hung up and turned off my phone.
I sank onto the couch, my whole body shaking.
Everything was falling apart.
And the worst part? I realized I was developing feelings for Declan—feelings that went beyond our one night together.
But how could I sort out my emotions when my entire life was in c
haos?
A knock on the door made me jump.
I wasn't expecting anyone. Nobody knew I was here except Declan and Rick.
I looked through the peephole and my blood ran cold.
Jake stood on the other side, and from the wild look in his eyes, he wasn't here to talk.