Chapter 9 Chapter 9
NINE
I stood frozen, my hand on the doorknob, staring through the peephole at Jake's angry face.
How did he find me? How did he even know where I was?
He knocked again, harder this time. "Anita, I know you're in there. Open the damn door."
My heart pounded in my chest. I needed to call someone—Declan, the police, anyone.
But my phone was across the room, turned off.
"Anita!" Jake's voice got louder. "We need to talk about this baby. You can't just run away from me."
"Go away, Jake!" I finally found my voice. "We're done. You made that clear."
"That was before I found out you're pregnant with my child," he shouted.
I felt anger replace my fear. "It's not your child!"
The silence that followed was worse than his shouting.
"What did you say?" His voice was dangerously quiet.
I realized my mistake too late. I shouldn't have said that.
"Open this door right now, Anita, or I swear to God—"
The sound of the elevator dinging interrupted him. I heard another voice—a familiar, deep voice that made relief flood through me.
"Is there a problem here?" Declan's voice was cold and commanding.
"Who the hell are you?" Jake demanded.
"I'm the owner of this building. And you're trespassing," Declan said calmly. "I suggest you leave before I call security."
"I'm not leaving until I talk to Anita," Jake shot back.
I quickly unlocked the door and opened it, stepping out before Jake could try to force his way in.
"Jake, you need to leave," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.
His eyes were bloodshot, his clothes disheveled. He'd been drinking.
"So this is him?" Jake looked between Declan and me. "This is the bastard you cheated on me with?"
"You threw me out, remember? You don't get to show up here and act like you care," I said.
"I care about my child," Jake insisted.
"It's not yours," I repeated, standing my ground.
Jake's face twisted with rage. He moved toward me, but Declan stepped between us so fast I barely saw him move.
"Touch her and I'll make sure you regret it," Declan's voice was deadly calm.
"Oh, I see how it is," Jake laughed bitterly. "You traded me in for a richer model. Did you trap him too? Get pregnant on purpose to secure the bag?"
The accusation stung, even though it wasn't true.
"That's enough," Declan said. "You have ten seconds to get in that elevator, or I'm calling the police."
"You can't kick me out. I have a right—"
"You have no rights here," Declan interrupted. "This is private property. You're harassing a tenant. I'd say that's grounds for arrest."
Jake looked at me one more time, his expression full of hatred. "This isn't over, Anita. You think you can just move on and play house with this rich asshole? You're delusional. He'll throw you away just like I did once he's bored."
"Leave. Now," Declan's hand moved to his pocket, pulling out his phone.
Jake finally turned and walked to the elevator, but not before shooting me one last venomous look.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, my legs gave out. Declan caught me before I hit the ground.
"Hey, it's okay. He's gone," his arms wrapped around me.
"How did he find me?" I whispered against his chest.
"I don't know, but we'll figure it out," he helped me back into the apartment.
Once inside, he sat me down on the couch and poured me a glass of water.
"Drink this," he handed it to me.
I took a sip, my hands still shaking. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that."
"Don't apologize. He's clearly unstable," Declan sat down beside me. "I'm more concerned about how he found this place. Did you tell anyone you were staying here?"
I shook my head. "Only you and Rick know."
Declan's expression darkened. "Then someone's been talking. Or following you."
The thought made my skin crawl.
"I'm having security upgraded tomorrow. Key card access, cameras, the works," he said firmly. "He won't get past the lobby next time."
"You don't have to do all this—"
"Yes, I do," he cut me off. "Anita, you're carrying my child. Your safety is my responsibility now."
There was that word again. Responsibility. Was that all I was to him?
"Is that what this is?" I asked quietly. "Your responsibility?"
He looked at me, confusion crossing his features. "What do you mean?"
"The apartment, the protection, all of it—is it just because you feel responsible? Because of the baby and your inheritance clause?"
He was quiet for a long moment, his dark eyes studying me.
"At first, maybe," he admitted. "But seeing him go after you like that, seeing you scared—it made me realize this is about more than just responsibility."
"Then what is it about?" I asked, my heart racing.
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle.
"I don't know yet," he said honestly. "All I know is that when I saw him threatening you, I wanted to tear him apart. That's not just about the baby."
The air between us felt charged, heavy with unspoken things.
"Declan..." I started, but my phone buzzing interrupted us.
I'd turned it back on to call for help if Jake got violent.
It was a call from an unknown number. Against my better judgment, I answered.
"Hello?"
"Miss Blake, this is Victoria Laurence," the sweet voice on the other end made my stomach drop. "I believe we need to have a conversation."
I looked at Declan, who frowned when he saw my expression.
"About what?" I asked carefully.
"About you staying away from Declan," she said pleasantly, as if we were discussing the weather. "I saw him leave the office with you today. I know you went somewhere together."
How did she know that?
"That's none of your business," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Oh, but it is my business," Victoria's voice turned cold. "Declan and I have an understanding. Our companies are merging, and so are we. I won't let some secretary ruin that."
"I'm not a secretary," I corrected. "And there's nothing between Declan and me."
Declan raised an eyebrow at that statement, but I ignored him.
"Good. Let's keep it that way," Victoria said. "Because if you don't, I'll make sure you lose your job and your reputation. I have connections, Miss Blake. I can destroy you."
"Are you threatening me?" I asked incredulously.
"I'm simply stating facts. Stay away from what's mine," she hung up.
I lowered the phone, my hands shaking again.
"What did she say?" Declan asked, his voice tight.
"She told me to stay away from you. Said you two have an understanding," I looked at him. "Is that true?"
"What? No," he stood up, running his hand through his hair. "My father and her father discussed a potential merger years ago. Victoria's been under the impression that means we're supposed to be together, but I've never encouraged that."
"She seems to think otherwise," I said.
"She's delusional," he said firmly. "I have no interest in Victoria Laurence."
"You need to tell her that. She's threatening me, Declan. First the text earlier, now this call."
His jaw clenched. "What text?"
I showed him the threatening message I'd received earlier. His face darkened with anger.
"I'll handle this," he said. "Tomorrow, first thing, I'm making it clear to her that there's nothing between us and there never will be."
"But what about the merger? Your company—"
"I don't care about the merger if she's threatening you," he said. "There are other ways to expand the business."
His words warmed something inside me, but I was still scared.
"She said she has connections. That she can ruin me," I whispered.
Declan sat back down beside me, taking my hands in his.
"Listen to me carefully," he said, his voice intense. "Victoria Laurence can't touch you. I won't let her. And as for her connections—mine are better."
I wanted to believe him, but everything felt so overwhelming.
"Why is this happening?" I felt tears threatening again. "All I wanted was a job and a normal life. Now I'm pregnant, my ex is stalking me, and some woman I barely know is threatening me."
"I know," Declan pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry you're caught up in all of this. But I promise you, I'll protect you."
I let myself lean into him, breathing in his scent—expensive cologne and something uniquely him.
"You should stay here tonight," I said quietly. "In case Jake comes back."
He pulled back to look at me. "Are you sure?"
I nodded. "The guest room is empty. And honestly, I don't want to be alone right now."
"Okay," he said softly. "I'll stay."
°~
We ordered dinner—Thai food that Declan insisted on paying for. We ate mostly in silence, both of us lost in our thoughts.
After dinner, I showed him to the guest room.
"There are extra towels in the bathroom," I said awkwardly. "And I think there are some men's clothes in the closet. The previous tenant left some things behind."
"Thank you," he said.
We stood there in the doorway, neither of us sure what to say.
"Declan," I finally spoke. "Thank you for everything. For standing up to Jake, for protecting me from Victoria, for all of this." I gestured around the apartment.
"You don't have to thank me," he said. "I meant what I said earlier—this isn't just about responsibility anymore."
"Then what is it?" I asked again.
He stepped closer, his eyes intense. "I don't have all the answers yet. But I know that somewhere between that night at the club and right now, you became important to me. And not just because of the baby."
My heart raced as he reached out and cupped my face gently.
"I need to figure out what this is," he said softly. "What we are. But I can't do that if you're not honest with me."
"Honest about what?"
"About how you feel," his thumb stroked my cheek. "Because the way you looked at me when Victoria touched me during the meeting—that wasn't nothing."
I felt my face heat up. He'd noticed.
"I was jealous," I admitted quietly. "I had no right to be, but I was."
A small smile played on his lips. "Good."
"Good?"
"Because I was jealous too. When you mentioned Jake, when I thought about him having you first—it drove me crazy," he confessed.
The tension between us was almost unbearable now.
"This is complicated," I whispered.
"I know," he said, his face moving closer to mine.
"We work together."
"I know."
"I'm pregnant with your baby."
"I know," his lips were inches from mine now.
"We barely know each other."
"Then let's change that," he whispered against my lips.
And then he kissed me.
But this kiss was different from that night at the club. This was slow, tender, full of promise instead of alcohol and desperation.
When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathing hard.
"We should take this slow," I said, even though every part of me wanted to pull him closer.
"You're right," he agreed, resting his forehead against mine. "We should."
But neither of us moved.
"Declan, I'm scared," I admitted. "Of all of this. The pregnancy, my feelings for you, everything."
"Me too," he said. "But we'll figure it out together."
He kissed my forehead and stepped back.
"Goodnight, Anita," he said softly.
"Goodnight."
I went to my room and lay in bed, my fingers touching my lips where he'd kissed me.
Everything was such a mess, but somehow, having Declan here made it feel more manageable.
I was just drifting off to sleep when I heard my phone buzz.
Another text from an unknown number:
I warned you. Now you'll pay the price. Check your email.
My stomach dropped as I opened my email.
There was a message from an anonymous sender with the subject line: "The Truth About Anita Blake."
I opened it with shaking hands.
It was a detailed email addressed to Norex's board of directors, HR department, and several major clients.
The email claimed I had slept my way into my position at Norex. It included "evidence"—doctored photos that made it look like Declan and I had been having an affair for months, long before I was hired.
There were also screenshots of fabricated text messages suggesting I'd intentionally gotten pregnant to trap him.
"No, no, no," I whispered, my hands shaking.
I ran to the guest room and pounded on the door.
"Declan! Declan, wake up!"
He opened the door immediately, his hair messy from sleep, wearing only his pants.
"What's wrong?"
I showed him my phone, tears streaming down my face.
His expression grew darker with every word he read.
"When was this sent?" he asked, his voice deadly calm.
"Just now. But it says it's scheduled to send to everyone at 8 AM tomorrow morning unless I resign and leave town."
Declan's jaw clenched so hard I could see the muscle ticking.
"She's not going to get away with this," he said.
"What are we going to do? If this email goes out, my life is over. My career, my reputation, everything."
He pulled me into his arms. "We're going to stop it. And then we're going to make sure Victoria Laurence regrets ever threatening you."
"How?"
He pulled back, his eyes blazing with determination.
"Because I know something about Victoria that she doesn't want anyone to know. Something that could ruin her family's company."
"What is it?"
His phone buzzed before he could answer. He looked at the screen and his expression changed.
"What is
it?" I asked.
He looked up at me, his face pale.
"It's the hospital. Your blood work from today came back with some additional findings. We need to talk about your pregnancy."
My heart stopped. "What kind of findings?"
But before he could answer, there was a loud crash from the living room.
Someone had broken into the apartment.