Page 7 of Conquered (Highgate Preparatory Academ:y Compendium)

CHAPTER SEVEN

A few weeks pass with the same tiring routine.

Waitressing at the club in the evening, sleeping most of the day, and getting up at lunchtime.

Often myself, Lexi, and some of the other girls go into town, Lexi insisting that she show me the sights of London.

I don't have the heart to tell her I've seen many of them before, and anyway, going with her and the others is like seeing London for the first time.

They all have such life and vitality about them, it's as if I'm waking up from a deep slumber and seeing the world in all its technicolour.

Luckily, I've not suffered from any morning sickness, although I've had a couple of episodes of vomiting that I managed to easily explain away.

What I can't do anything about is the tightness of my high-waisted uniform skirt around my middle.

It's becoming more obvious that I'm getting bigger, and I’ve finally gotten my curvy figure back.

Although I have put on weight by eating properly for the first time in years, it can't explain the roundness of my stomach.

One evening, just before I'm due to start, Sami tells me that Grey would like a word with me in his office. I can't stop the nervous butterflies that flutter in my stomach as I climb the stairs to the top floor. Or they could be my baby, I’m sure I’ve started feeling it move a bit.

Reaching the upper landing, I stop outside his door, knocking lightly.

“Come in, Laura,” his deep voice invites me in from the other side, and I open the door to find Grey sitting behind his desk smiling warmly at me. Lexi is also in the room, and I feel myself hesitate as my flight mode kicks in.

“Please take a seat, Laura,” Grey gestures to the other empty chair next to Lexi, taking away my decision to flee with the kind way he makes the order almost a request.

I can feel my chest rising and falling with shallow pants as I sit on the edge of the chair, looking down at my hands which are wringing in my lap. Lexi’s hand reaches over to grab one of mine, stilling the movement and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“You're not in any trouble, gorgeous, no one is angry,” she assures me softly, ducking her head and catching my gaze, giving me a smile.

“Lexi is right, Laura, please don't worry. You're not in any kind of trouble. We just want to help,” Grey says kindly, making me look up at him.

“O-okay,” I stammer out, trying to calm my racing heart by taking deeper breaths.

“Am I correct in assuming that there will be a happy occasion in a few months' time?” he asks gently.

There's genuine warmth in his eyes, and it gives me the courage to nod my head in confirmation.

“Congratulations my dear, what wonderful news.” He beams at me, his handsome face becoming even more devastating than before.

Tears prick my eyes as my breath rushes out of me in relief. Lexi squeezes my hand again, and I look into her green eyes only to see a touch of excitement there as well as happiness.

“Do you know how far along you are, babe?” she asks me.

“Um, maybe about three months, I think. I've just started feeling flutterings.”

“Well, may I suggest we get you seen by someone as soon as possible to check you and baby over and get a scan?” Grey proposes in his business-like manner. “I know an excellent consultant and midwife on Harley Street who I can call in the morning.”

“Oh, um, I'm sure I can see a local doctor. I don't want to be a bother.”

“Nonsense.” he assures me. “I told you before that I look after my girls, and I meant it.”

“Your girls? I thought once you…” I trail off when I see him shake his head grinning, like I'm amusing him.

“You thought that when I found out, I would terminate your employment?” he asks kindheartedly.

“You're not?” I'm so confused. Why wouldn't he?

“No, Laura. I'm not going to terminate your contract. Although, I can't have you serving drinks in your condition, especially with the stairs,” he tells me, and I nod, still a little puzzled as to what exactly I'll be doing.

“Have you ever considered dancing, Laura?” he asks, fingers steepled.

“Dancing?” I repeat, still none the wiser.

“Like Lexi and the others do,” he prompts me, and I just sit and stare at him.

“But...I'm pregnant! Surely no one would want to see a pregnant stripper?” I question. He can't be serious, can he?

“On the contrary, my dear. A great many men find pregnant women incredibly attractive. It's a primal urge. You see, many men will seek out women who are fertile, it’s an evolutionary tactic, and none are more so than a woman who is already carrying a child,” he informs me, and I must confess I'm in shock.

I had no idea this was even a thing men would find so attractive.

“You don't need to decide right now, take time to think about it. And be assured that I'm having a maternity package drawn up as we speak so that you can have plenty of time off to prepare before and after the baby arrives,” he says, and my head reels.

I'm lost for words. I can’t find any to express my delighted surprise at this turn of events.

“Excellent. Now, take the night off. I'll have Ryan drive you back so you have time to think. Let me know what you decide, say in a week, but Laura,” he looks at me seriously, “there's no pressure if you don't want to dance. We will find something else for you to do.”

“Th-thank you,” I say around the lump in my throat. Getting up, I head towards the door with Lexi by my side.

My mind swirls with questions. Would I want to dance like Lexi and the others? Take my clothes off for men to admire my body. My changing body? I’m not sure I would want that. Yet, why am I a little excited by the thought?

I step out into the brisk evening breeze, wrapping my coat around myself. It's late October, and it's gotten chilly with the dropping temperature. It's getting darker earlier too, and winter is definitely on the way.

Shivering, I walk over to the waiting black SUV, and get into the passenger side, figuring there's no point sitting in the back by myself when I could sit next to Ryan.

Over the last few weeks, I've noticed him. A lot. He's always watching me, not in a creepy way, but like he can't take his eyes off of me. It's intoxicating and makes my cheeks burn. I can't help seeking him out if he's nearby, and the small smiles he gives me set my heart racing in my chest.

At the same time, I feel guilty. I left Tom behind, and I can't help but feel like I'm cheating on him somehow, even though it's unlikely we will see each other again. I loved him, still love him. So how can I also have feelings for Ryan? You can't love more than one person at a time, right?

“Penny for your thoughts?” his gruff voice sounds, breaking me out of my confused thoughts.

“Oh,” I reply, flushing and squirming at the question, my hands fidgeting in my lap. “Um, well, I was considering an offer that Grey made me.”

“And what was that?” He growls, and I look up to see his hands tighten on the steering wheel and his jaw clenched.

“Well, he suggested that I might consider becoming a dancer at the club,” I admit, watching for his reaction.

“Will you?” he asks, brown eyes flickering to me then back to the road.

I can't read his facial expression, whether he's happy or angry at the suggestion. And that bothers me. I realise with a start that I want to know what he thinks, whether he approves or not. This desire for his approval bothers me. I’ve had a lifetime of pleasing others at my own expense, yet I still wanted to do just that for him.

“There's good money to be made in tips, so the girls tell me,” he adds.

“I hadn't really considered it before now, however, I think there must be something freeing about taking your clothes off and being watched like that,” I tell him, and his brows dip in confusion.

“How so?” he enquires, like he's genuinely interested in what I've got to say.

“Well, society expects women to cover up, to conform to certain standards.

To be beautiful but not vain, to be admired but not to revel in it.

Getting up on a table and taking your clothes off for the sole purpose to be, well, worshipped and to have your body lusted after, it's kind of like a big F-you to society and its rules.

Don't you think?” I ask back, not realising that I actually felt so strongly about it.

Although, it's not surprising given the way my parents and then Ace tried to repress me and force me to conform to their ideals.

I look at Ryan as we pull up outside mine and Lexi’s building and can see that he's really considering what I've just said.

“I've never thought about it like that before,” he tells me, “but I guess you're right. I don't look down on any girl who dances, it's nothing to be ashamed of.”

He brings the car to a stop and parks while we sit there for a minute in silence.

“So, are you going to dance?” he asks me, his tone curious but not judgemental as he turns the full weight of his chocolate brown gaze onto me.

“I don't know. I mean, I didn't think it would be an option considering…” I trail off, realising that he's going to find out sooner or later but not quite able to make myself say it.

“Considering?” he queries with a raised brow, and I take a deep breath.

“Considering I'm pregnant,” I say, staring him straight in the eye like I'm ripping a plaster off. Both his brows go up, his eyes falling straight to my stomach as he chews on his full bottom lip in the most distracting way.

“Ah,” he starts, releasing his lip. “And Grey knows and wants you to dance anyway?” he questions me, and I nod in confirmation. “Well, pregnant birds are hot as hell,” he mutters, and I can't help the bubble of laughter that escapes my lips.

“That's what Grey said,” I chuckle, and he smiles in return. It's a smile so full of warmth that I can almost feel it seep into my skin, heating me from the inside out until it feels like the sun is inside me. Damn, he really is pretty .