Chapter 36: Stress Isn’t Good for the Baby

Janet exchanged a glance with Ivan, her grin returning. “Alright then. Anyway, we were about to grab something to eat. Want to come?”

Brian glanced at her screen, then back at Janet. “Give me a minute to finish this,” she said, her tone softening slightly.

“Sure,” Janet said, sliding off the desk. “Take your time. Now that you’ve left the losing side, we’re going to be real close friends now that you've ditched the loosing side.” She winked at Brian, earning a chuckle from Ivan.

Brian rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. “Alright. I’ll be done in a sec.”

Janet and Ivan stepped away, their quiet laughter fading as Brian refocused on her screen. Her fingers danced across the keyboard, wrapping up the final details of her task. A minute or two later, she stood, grabbing her phone from the desk.

“Okay, I’m done,” she announced, smoothing out her blouse.

“Finally,” Janet said, spinning around dramatically. “Let’s go.”

The three of them made their way toward the elevator, their footsteps echoing in the spacious room. As they walked, Brian could feel the eyes of her coworkers following her every move. Whispers buzzed faintly behind her, but she ignored them, her focus on Janet and Ivan’s easy banter.

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'WEEKS LATER'

Carlos stirred awake, his body sinking into the plush embrace of his half-a-million-dollar royal master’s king bed—twice the size of a standard king. The room was shrouded in darkness, save for the faint glow from the city skyline seeping through the towering, bulletproof windows. The distant hum of Manhattan at 5 a.m. was muffled behind layers of reinforced glass, leaving nothing but silence in the grand estate.

Beside him, Megan lay curled on her side, her back turned to him. Her long, tousled hair cascaded over the silk pillow, her breathing deep and steady. The delicate curves of her body, still unchanged by her month-old pregnancy, pressed lightly against the sheets. Carlos pushed himself up on one elbow, taking a moment to admire her in the dim light before leaning in. His lips brushed against the back of her head, his warm breath teasing the strands of her messy hair.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.

Megan let out a soft sigh, shifting slightly before stretching her limbs. A lazy yawn escaped her lips. “Mmm… morning.” Her voice was thick with sleep, sultry without even trying.

Carlos smirked, watching as she blinked herself awake, her delicate fingers running through her tangled locks. He reached out, tracing a featherlight touch down her arm. “How’d you sleep?”

Megan turned onto her back, her eyes still hooded with drowsiness as she met his gaze. “Like a baby,” she murmured. “You?”

Carlos chuckled. “Same. Especially with you right here.”

She gave him a drowsy smile before he leaned down, capturing her lips in a soft, unhurried kiss. Megan responded lazily, her hand coming up to cup his jaw before she pulled away slightly, looking up at him with a teasing glint.

“You’re in a good mood this morning,” she mused.

Carlos smirked. “How can I not be?” He let his hand drift over her flat stomach. “Knowing there’s a little version of me in there?”

"Any changes with your body?"

Megan rolled her eyes playfully, placing her hand over his. “It’s too early for that,” she said, laughing softly. “I haven’t noticed any changes yet.”

Carlos arched a brow. “None at all?"

She shook her head. “Not yet. It takes time.”

He hummed in response, letting his hand linger for a moment before she stretched again, sitting up slightly. “Wait,” Megan said, rubbing her temple. “Isn’t today the day you’re flying to Russia?”

Carlos exhaled through his nose, running a hand through his dark, tousled hair. “Yeah. And I'll be taking Cynthia with me.”

Megan glanced at him, her sleepy gaze sharpened instantly. “And you’re taking Cynthia with you?”

Carlos nodded. “She’s good with business, Megan. That's why she’s one of our top officials here in the U.S., and her insight might be useful for securing new investors in Europe.”

Megan’s face fell, her lips pressing together as she looked away. “Well that's just a polished excuse of finding a way to spend quality time with her behind my back."

Carlos groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. “Megan, it’s not like that.”

“But that’s how it feels,” she countered, turning to him fully now. Her voice was quiet but laced with something sharp, something raw. “You’re going across the world for business, and instead of taking your pregnant wife, you’re taking her?”

Carlos let out a slow exhale, tilting his head as he studied her. “You really think I’d do this to spite you?”

Megan crossed her arms, her bare shoulders rising slightly. “It doesn’t matter what you 

mean to do, Carlos. All I can hear is you picking her over me. And it’s breaking my fucking heart.” She placed a hand over her stomach, her gaze darkening. “And stress isn’t good for the baby.”